Only four England captains have struck double centuries in overseas test matches. Joe Root has done it thrice.
Alastair Cook
England were under a lot of pressure after Pakistan batted first and declared on 523/8 in the first test match on the England tour of the UAE in 2015 on a batting paradise at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Captain Alastair Cook responded in style to Shoaib Malik's brilliant 245 with a 263 of himself while opening the batting.
Cook faced 528 deliveries and batted at a strike rate of 49.81. He lasted for 836 minutes to suck the life out of the Pakistan bowling. Three other England batsmen, Ian Bell, Joe Root and Ben Stokes struck half centuries but could not go on to convert them into big ones.
Regardless, England also scored 598 in their first innings and the match inevitably ended in a draw but not before England came threateningly close to the target of just 99 in the last innings. However, that was not Cook's highest score (294) in test cricket.
Joe Root
The first double century that Joe Root struck as skipper came against New Zealand at Hamilton in November 2019. Root made 226 off 441 balls at a strike rate of 51.24. He faced 441 deliveries and batted for 636 balls. Root also struck 22 fours in the process to make the most of brilliant batting conditions.
Root brought up his second double century as skipper when he made 228 against Sri Lanka on the team's tour of the island nation in 2021. It was the first test match of the series, being played at Galle, when Root set up things with a brilliant double century.
The fact that the knock came at a strike rate of over 70 kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely and did not drag the match towards a draw but brought England a hard fought victory overseas. His third one came against India in Chennai.
Leonard Hutton
In 1954, Leonard Hutton made 205 against West Indies at Kingston. Hutton struck 24 boundaries and one six during his 532 minute stay at the crease. The 205 proved to be his 19th and last test century.
Ted Dexter
In 1962, England captain Ted Dexter scored 205 against Pakistan in their own den at Karachi. Dexter batted for 495 minutes and struck 22 boundaries during his double century.
