Brian Lara holds the world record with 400 not out

Stephen Cook’s 390 national record this weekend highlights a feature lacking in our national cricket – a complete inability by Proteas players to score triple centuries!

Stephen and his father Jimmy, who made 313 not out for Somerset in 1990, are the only father-and-son to achieve triple centuries in the first-class game. But on an international level, SA lags badly.

The highest score while playing for South Africa was 277, by Graeme Smith, followed by Daryll Cullinan (275 not out), Gary Kirsten (275) and Graeme Pollock (274).

Australia boast five players who scored six triple centuries – Don Bradman made two, 334 and 304, and the most recent was Matthew Hayden with 380.

England also have five players, the most recent being Graham Gooch (333) in 1990. West Indies have four players topped by Brian Lara with the world record 400 not out, a notorious innings that cost his team the chance of a victory against England. Chris Gayle (317) is also on their list.

All three of the main sub-ccontinent teams have achieved triple centuries. For India, Virender Sehwag is the only player to have reached the milestone, and he’s done this twice – scoring 319 and 309 (surprisingly, Sachin Tendulkar is not there, but then again, neither is Jacques Kallis).

Pakistan have three players, including Younus Khan (313), while Sri Lanka have two, captain Mahela Jayawardene (374) and Sanath Jayasuriya (340).

Like South Africa, New Zealand have nobody, although their top-scorer, Martin Crowe, got out on a heart-breaking 299.

Only Zimbabwe (Dave Houghton with 266) and Bangladesh (Mohammad Ashraful with 158 not out) have lower top scores than South Africa.

Admittedly, SA’s ranking does not rest on having a triple centurion, but it would be nice to join the club.

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