Sibley achieved the feet at the age of 18 years and 21 days, 216 days fewer than Sales when he made his double-hundred in the second innings of his debut. Sibley became the second youngest Englishman after WG Grace to score a first-class double century and the second-youngest player to score a first-class century in England. He is the first 18 year old to score a century since Graham Thorpe against Cambridge University in 1988.
Sibley began the day on 18 and reached his first landmark when he became Surrey's youngest ever century maker, beating the 119 that Jack Crawford made against Derbyshire in 1905. He shared a third-wicket stand of 236 with Amla and reached his double century from the 483rd ball he received with his 19th four off Kane Williamson's off-spin. Sibley was 220 not out at the close, having faced 512 balls and batted for 20 minutes short of 10 hours. In doing so, he became surrey's youngest centurion beating the record of Jack Crawford, who was aged 18 years and 257 days when he scored 119 not out against Derbyshire in 1905.
Sibley batted for more than nine and a half hours, faced 512 balls and hit 21 fours and two sixes. It was more relief this morning to get to a hundred, he said. Doing it here at The Oval is great. I had my parents here and my dad came back from Singapore last night." At 18 years and 21 days Sibley broke the record set in 1905 by Jack Crawford for being the youngest Surrey player to reach three figures in first-class cricket. He was given time off by his school, Whitgift, to play the final three fixtures of the season before returning on Monday to begin his final year. Hashim Amla struck a majestic 151 as Surrey built a 138 run lead by finishing on 572 for four. He went to 150 off 394 balls and survived a caught-behind chance off Ryan Sidebottom on 159. Jonny Bairstow made amends later in the same over when Amla departed for 151.