West Indies batsman Brian Lara set a new world record for the most runs in Test cricket with a double-century in the third Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Lara made a brilliant 226 to lift his career tally to 11,187 from 121 Tests, eclipsing the previous record of 11,174 held by former Australian captain Allan Border.

Playing possibly his final Test on Australian soil, the 36-year-old Lara started the day on 202 and needing 12 to pass the record.

The left-hander equalled Border's mark when he drove Glenn McGrath through the on-side for two runs then passed it when he flicked the paceman to fine leg for a single.

Lara raised both his arms in triumph as the Adelaide Oval crowd rose to their feet and the Australian players offered their congratulations.

"I think it's testimony to the fact that I've spent 15-16 years playing Test cricket," he told a news conference on Friday.

"Anybody who has spent that sort of time and is any sort of decent batsman is going to be in and around records.

"I've had my ups and downs but I'm still here, I'm still fighting."

Lara added another 12 runs to his score before he took a wild swipe at McGrath and was bowled after an innings lasting 405 minutes, 298 balls and featuring 22 boundaries.

The Trinidadian became the first West Indian since Gary Sobers to hold the run-scoring record. Lara also holds the world record for the highest individual test (400 not out) and first-class (501 not out) scores.

Lara overtook Steve Waugh as the second highest run-scorer in history in the second Test at Hobart last week and arrived in Adelaide needing 213 to equal Border's record.

He had been out of form, having failed to make at least 50 in his four previous innings in the series, but was clearly in the mood for runs in Adelaide.

He joined Border as the only players to score 11,000 Test runs when he eased his way to 39 on Friday afternoon then raised his half-century off 92 balls.

He brought up his 31st Test hundred when he dispatched Brett Lee to the boundary twice in one over then his 200 when he hooked the same bowler to the fence to end the first day in sight of one of the sport's greatest landmarks.