The iconic Manchester ground has witnessed countless memorable moments, but a triple century remains an incredibly rare feat — achieved only once in its long cricketing history.
That historic moment came back in 1964, when Australian opener Bob Simpson etched his name in the record books during an Ashes Test.
Simpson, displaying immense patience and technical brilliance, scored a marathon 311-run innings, facing 740 deliveries and striking 23 boundaries. His triple ton played a crucial role in that match against England, which ultimately ended in a draw.
Since that remarkable knock, no other player has managed to replicate such a massive individual score at Old Trafford, making Simpson the only batter to score a triple century on this ground.
Decades have passed, generations of cricketers have come and gone, but his record remains untouched — and it appears unlikely to be broken even in the ongoing IND vs ENG 4th Test match.
All Eyes on Joe Root – Can He Do It?
As the fourth Test between India and England unfolds, one name stands out as a potential challenger to that record — Joe Root.
The former England captain is already his country’s highest Test run-scorer and continues to be one of the most consistent performers in world cricket.
Root’s recent form, including a century earlier in the current series, makes him the prime candidate to attempt a triple century at Manchester.
If there is any English batter with the technique, temperament, and class to match Bob Simpson’s effort, it’s Joe Root.
Joe Root at Old Trafford: Manchester Test Stats & Records
Root leads the ground’s all-time run charts with 978 runs in 11 Tests, averaging 65.20. His tally includes 1 century (a monumental 254 against Pakistan in 2016) and 7 fifties. That unbeaten 254 in 2016 involved a display of endurance—27 boundaries and facing 406 deliveries.
England will be hoping for another monumental innings from him to shift the momentum in England’s favour — and perhaps, rewrite a piece of Manchester’s cricket history.