Test Cricket is a game that tests your patience, strategy, and endurance. And scoring a century in test cricket is considered a remarkable achievement, but what matters is how players have made this record in the shortest time frame. This not only represents the performance of the players but also shows their skills, confidence and fearless play among cricketers. So, do you want to know who these players are and how they manage to do so? If so, read on to learn more.
What Is Test Cricket?
Test Cricket is a format of cricket considered the oldest and most traditional form of the game. Test cricket is also known as the "ultimate test" of a cricketer's skill, endurance and temperament. It is a first-class format of international cricket where two teams in white clothing, each representing a country, compete over a match that can last up to five days or more.
The duration of a test cricket match is around five days, with each day having around 90 overs. Each team gets the chance to bat twice, and the team with the higher total score wins. Unlike the ODIs or the T20S, there is no fixed number of overs in the test innings. Since it is the largest format of the cricket series, it tests the skill of the players, their patience and also their different playing conditions during the gameplay.
Fastest Century in Test Cricket
The following is the list of players who have made the fastest century in test cricket.
Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum is a former New Zealand cricketer and the current head coach of the England Men's cricket team in all formats of the game. McCullum has managed to score a century in a test in just 54 balls. He scored a total of 145 runs from 79 deliveries, hitting 21 fours and 6 sixes. He took command in his hands, delivering shots one by one with his aggressive style and ability. Apart from all these achievements, he has also made the highest individual score in the IPL.
Viv Richards
Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards is a retired Antiguan cricketer who represented the West Indies cricket team between 1974 and 1991. He held the record for the fastest century in test cricket for 30 years. While playing against England in St.John's, Antigua, in 1986, Richards reached his hundred in just 56 balls. His innings set a benchmark for over three decades. He is also known as one of the best finishers in cricket.
Misbah-ul-Haq
Misbah-ul-Haq is a former Pakistani cricket coach and a former international cricketer who has captained all formats of cricket and is also a former head coach and the chief selector of the Pakistan national team. He surprised everyone with his fierce century against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014. Equalling Viv Richards, even Misbah-ul-Haq scored a century within 56 balls with his own unique batting style.
Jack Gregory
Jack Gregory is another legendary cricket player who has made the fastest century in test cricket. Jack Morrison Gregory was an Australian cricketer known for his amazing skills. He made a 67-ball century against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1921, which was a record that stood for an astonishing 65 years. He scored 119 runs in just 67 balls, taking the name of his country and also of cricket to incredible heights, with his surprising performance.
David Warner
David Warner is an Australian former international cricketer and a left-handed opening batsman. He was also regarded as one of the best opening batsmen of his generation and a cricketer who had made the most runs in IPL history. His aggressive style was praised when he made a century just within 69 balls against India in Perth in 2012. One of the best things about him was his ability to score quickly, even in the longest format of cricket.
Chris Gayle
Chris Henry Gayle, a Jamaican cricketer who served for the West Indies from 1999 to 2021, is an amazing cricketer known for his aggressive style that has brought him a century with 70 balls against Australia in Perth in 2009. His innings of 102 balls from 72 balls proved to be a treasure with 9 fours and 6 sixes proving his skill of domination in the game of cricket. Also, Chris Gayle has won the title for the most valuable player in IPL history for the year 2011.
Roy Fredericks
Roy Clifton Fredericks was a West Indian cricketer who played test cricket from 1968 to 1977. He made a century just within 71 balls against Australia at the WACA in Perth cricket stadium in 1975, which was considered one of the significant innings of his career that portrayed his skills and performance. Another legendary score which he made was 169 from just 145 balls, hitting 27 fours and a six. What made his career special was his aggressive approach against the fearsome Australian bowling attack of that Era, which made his innings particularly special.
Colin de Grandhomme
Colin de Grandhomme is a Zimbabwean-born former New Zealand international cricketer and was a member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship. Another wonder that caught fans' attention was the 71-ball century against the West Indies in Wellington in 2017. While batting at seven, de Grandhomme's knock of 105 from 74 balls included 11 fours and three sixes. However, the innings highlighted his all-around capabilities and also his ability to change the course of the match quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Fastest Century in Test Cricket
Which Indian Player Holds the Record for the Fastest Century in Test Cricket?
Mohammad Azharuddin holds the record for the fastest century in test cricket in India in just 74 balls in the year 1996 against South Africa. This is the fastest century ever scored by an Indian in Test Cricket.
How to Score a Century as Fast as Possible?
To score a century as fast as possible, you have to adapt to a distinct batting style from the usual players, take advantage of the weakened or the tired bowling attack, shorten the boundaries and fast outfields.
Who Holds the Record for the Fastest Century in Test Cricket to Date?
The fastest century in test cricket is held by Brendon McCullum. He just achieved this feat in just 54 balls.
Many players have shown that even the longest format of cricket can be made interesting with amazing, wonderful talent, shattering records, and earning fame across the globe. However, records like this prove that test cricket is not just about patience and defence, but is also about how fast it can be, thrilling and full of big moments.
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