Ricky Ponting with his 242 in Australia's first innings in the second Test match at the Adelaide Oval now holds the dubious distinction of achieving the highest individual score in Test cricket history for a losing side.
The previous record was in the name of New Zealander Nathan Astle who made 222 against England at Christchurch in 2001-02 but England went on to win the match by 98 runs.
The accompanying table lists all instances of a batsman scoring a double century for a losing cause.
| Runs | Batsman | For | Vs | Inns | Test | Venue | Season |
| 242 | RT Ponting | Aus | Ind | 1st | 2nd | Adelaide | 2003-04 |
| 222 | NJ Astle | NZ | Eng | 2nd | 1st | Christchurch | 2001-02 |
| 221 | BC Lara | WI | SL | 1st | 3rd | Colombo SSC | 2001-02 |
| 214* | VT Trumper | Aus | SA | 1st | 3rd | Adelaide | 1910-11 |
| 209 | RG Pollock | SA | Aus | 1st | 2nd | Cape Town | 1966-67 |
| 205 | RN Harvey | Aus | SA | 1st | 5th | Melbourne | 1952-53 |
| 204 | GA Faulkner | SA | Aus | 1st | 2nd | Melbourne | 1910-11 |
| 203 | ML Hayden | Aus | Ind | 1st | 3rd | Chennai | 2000-01 |
| 203 | DL Amiss | Eng | WI | 1st | 5th | The Oval | 1976 |
| 202* | L Hutton | Eng | WI | 1st | 4th | The Oval | 1950 |
| 202 | BC Lara | WI | SA | 1st | 1st | Johannesburg | 2003-04 |
| 201 | ES Gregory | Aus | Eng | 1st | 1st | Sydney | 1894-95 |
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