Fly-half David Warner retired the 200 after tea on the second day of his 100th Test as Australia took a big lead over South Africa in Melbourne.
The 36-year-old battled cramps and exhaustion in the 37C heat and had to be helped off the pitch.
Warner went 239 for the third wicket with Steve Smith (85) as Australia finished the day 386-3, 197 ahead.
Australia lead the three-game series 1-0 after a six-wicket win in the first Test in Brisbane.
Warner, who came into the game under some pressure after scoring just three runs in Game 1 of the series, picked up the 32 no.
He gradually closed in on his cent, sealing it by pulling Kagiso Rabada towards the thin leg fence and celebrating with a leap into the air as fans in the Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd rose to applaud him .
Warner first needed treatment for a cramp half an hour before tea, when he was at 124.
After completing his double century, hitting a four from Lungi Ngidi, he received another standing ovation and collapsed to his knees, throwing his arms in the air with a roar.
He got up to leap into the air again but failed to land and found himself standing with his bat on shaky legs.
The 254-ball shot included 16 fours as well as two sixes from Keshav Maharaj. It was its third double century, its 25th cent, and its first ton in nearly three years.
His only moment of poor judgment came before lunch when he missed batting partner Marnus Labuschagne for 14 as he tried to get another run after a knockdown.
Warner went with his team on 329-3 and they reached the end with Travis Head on 48 not out and Alex Carey undefeated on nine.
However, they had an injury concern when the versatile Cameron Green, who took five wickets on the first day, also had to retire injured after being hit on the right index finger by a short delivery from Anrich Nortje.
But the day belonged to Warner who earlier this month withdrew its appeal to lift his lifetime ban from directing Australian cricket which he received for his role in the infamous ball tampering scandal.
“For him to be able to do it with his back against the wall means even more,” Warner’s wife Candice told Fox Cricket.
“You’d think now disbarring David probably isn’t the right thing to do. He’s thriving on that.”
