Most Test match double hundreds in a calendar year

Australian Test captain Michael Clarke scored an unbeaten double century on the opening day of the 2nd Test between Australia and South Africa in Adelaide, Australia, on 22 November 2012 to notch up his fourth score of 200 or more in 2012. Earlier in 2012, Clarke scored 329 not out against India in Sydney, Australia, on 3–5 January, 210 against the same opposition in Perth, Australia, on 24–25 January, and 259 not out against South Africa in Brisbane, Australia, on 11–13 November. In 2012, Clarke scored a total of 1,595 Test runs at an average of 106.33 runs per innings, surpassing Ricky Ponting’s (Australia) national record of 1,544 runs in 2005 but falling 193 runs short of the most Test match runs scored in a calendar year: Mohammad Yousuf’s (Pakistan) 1,788 runs in 2006. Clarke’s Test match batting average was 52.46 at the date of his fourth double hundred. His fourth score of 200-plus in 2012 came with a single off the bowling of South African spinner Imran Tahir in the 82nd over of the Australia innings. He reached stumps on 224 not out from 243 balls, including a six and 39 fours. Don Bradman and Ricky Ponting (both Australia) recorded three 200-plus scores in a calendar year (in 1930 and 2003, respectively), but Clarke is the first to achieve four double hundreds. At stumps on day one of the 2nd Test, Clarke had scored 483 runs without being dismissed in the first two Tests of the three-match series against South Africa, adding 224 not out to the 259 not out (his third double hundred of 2012) he made in the 1st Test nine days earlier. On day two of the 2nd Test, he was dismissed for 230, giving him a series average of 489 at that time. Clarke scored 1,595 Test runs in 18 innings (11 matches) in the calendar year 2012. Clarke’s 22nd Test hundred was achieved on 27 December 2012, when he hit 106 in the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Melbourne, Australia. That innings gave him 1,595 Test runs in 18 innings in 2012, beating the Australian calendar year record held by Ricky Ponting (1,544 runs in 28 innings in 2005). Most Test match runs in a calendar year 1. Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) - 1,788 in 11 matches at 99.33, 2006 2. Viv Richards (West Indies) - 1,710 in 11 matches at 90.00, 1976 3. Graeme Smith (South Africa) - 1,656 in 15 matches at 72.00, 2008 4. Michael Clarke (Australia) - 1,595 in 11 matches at 106.33, 2012 5. Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 1,562 in 14 matches at 78.10, 2010 6. Ricky Ponting (Australia) - 1,544 in 15 matches at 67.13, 2005