In Test cricket, the batters usually take time and more balls to score runs. However, there are also some batters, who use the same attacking approach while batting in Tests and still turn out to be among the best batters in the longest format of the game.
Throughout the years, there have been several players who have scored some of the fastest centuries in the longest format. In the following listicle, we will discuss the top 10 players to score the fastest centuries in Test cricket.
Fastest centuries in Test cricket
10. Colin de Grandhomme – 71 balls
Colin de Grandhomme took just 71 balls to complete his century in a match against West Indies in Wellington in December 2017. He scored 105 runs off 74 balls as New Zealand defeated West Indies by an innings and 67 runs.
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9. Roy Fredericks – 71 balls
Roy Fredericks turned out to be the hero for West Indies in a Test match against Australia in Perth in December 1975. The opening batter scored 169 off 145 balls as West Indies defeated Australia by an innings and 87 runs. Fredericks completed his hundred in just 71 balls.
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8. Chris Gayle – 70 balls
West Indies’ great, Chris Gayle smashed a 70-ball hundred in a Test match against Australia in Perth in December 2009. The left-hander scored 102 runs off 72 balls in the first innings. However, it couldn’t help the Windies as Australia won the match by 35 runs.
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7. David Warner – 69 balls
David Warner’s 180-run knock helped Australia to a big win by an innings and 37 runs in a match against India in Perth in January 2012. Australia posted 369 runs in their first innings where Warner completed his hundred in just 69 balls.
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6. Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 69 balls
Australia registered a dominant nine-wicket victory against West Indies in Georgetown in April 2003. However, despite losing the match, Shivnarine Chanderpaul etched his name in history books by scoring in just 69 balls. The Windies batter scored 100 runs off 72 balls in the first innings.
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5. Jack Gregory – 67 balls
Australia’s Jack Gregory is the sixth player in the list to score fastest hundred in Test cricket. In a match against South Africa in Johannesburg in November 1921, Gregory scored 119 runs off 85 balls while completing his hundred in just 67 balls.
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4. Adam Gilchrist – 57 balls
Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter, Adam Gilchrist scored one of the fastest hundred in Test cricket in a match against England in Perth in December 2006. After getting out on a duck, Gilchrist went on to smash a century in just 57 balls. He scored 102*(59) runs as Australia defeated England by 206 runs.
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3. Misbab-ul-Haq – 56 balls
Misbah-ul-Haq scored the fastest Test hundred for Pakistan in Test cricket in a match against Australia in Abu Dhabi in November 2014. After scoring 101 runs in the first innings, Misbah-ul-Haq went on to reach the triple figure mark in the second innings as well while completing his hundred in just 56 balls as Pakistan defeated Australia by 356 runs.
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2. Sir Vivian Richards – 56 balls
West Indies great, Sir Vivian Richards smashed the second-fastest hundred in Test cricket in a match against England at St John’s in April 1986. He took just 56 balls to complete his hundred during his knock of 110(58) runs as West Indies won the match by 240 runs.
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1. Brendon McCullum – 54 balls
Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum smashed the fastest hundred in the history of Test cricket that too in his final Test match for the Kiwis. McCullum achieved this feat while playing his 145(79) run knock in a match against Australia in Christchurch in February 2016. He completed his hundred in just 54 balls and gave a perfect ending to his Test career.
