White jersey. Red ball. And the hard grind. This is the identity of Test cricket.
Many dream of playing Test cricket. And those who play make sure to stay in for longer, achieving milestones along the way.
One such milestone is playing 100 Tests. It’s not a small number. A lot of hard work goes into earning the 100th cap. And so players ensure to make their 100th Test memorable.
Here, we’ll look at the batters who’ve scored a century in their 100th Test match.
1. Colin Cowdrey (England): 104 vs Australia | 1968
England’s Colin Cowdrey became the first batter to score a century in his 100th Test match. He was, in fact, the first cricketer to feature in 100 Tests.
So, the 1968 Birmingham Test against Australia turned out to be a double delight for Cowdrey. But rain threatened to play spoilsport in Cowdrey’s momentous match. There was no play possible on the first day.
On the second day, Cowdrey, leading England, opted to bat first. And he made the most of the batting conditions on offer.
Cowdrey scored 104 runs batting at No. 3, helping England put up 409 runs. The match, though, ended in a draw.
2. Javed Miandad (Pakistan): 145 vs India | 1989
On a lifeless deck in Lahore, four batters scored centuries – three from Pakistan and one from India. Among the Pakistanis was Javed Miandad.
The right-hand batter accumulated 145 runs at No. 4 to join Cowdrey on this elite list. Although the match ended in a dull draw, it’s best remembered for Mianded’s rare double.
Interestingly, it’s at the same venue where Miandad made his Test debut back in 1976 and scored a hundred – 163 vs New Zealand. This made him the first batter to score centuries in debut and 100th Test matches. Quite a unique achievement, isn’t it?
3. Gordon Greenidge (West Indies): 149 vs England | 1990
Miandad isn’t the only one to have a hundred in his debut and 100th Test, though. West Indies’ Gordon Greenidge emulated Miandad’s feat in 1990.
Greenidge opened the innings along with Desmond Haynes in response to England’s 260 in the first innings. The right-hander’s 149 made sure the Windies got a good start.
He partnered for a 298-run stand for the first wicket, helping his side secure a 186-run lead, which was more than enough to bowl out England for 154 and win the Test.
4. Alec Stewart (England): 105 vs West Indies | 2000
Courtney Walsh was spewing venom with the new ball in the 2000 Manchester Test. In came Alec Stewart at No. 5, with England three down on 17.
Stewart stood tall, forging a crucial 179-run stand with debutant Marcus Trescothick. In between, he brought up his milestone hundred, scoring 105 runs.
Stewart’s valiant knock gave England a 146-run lead, though the match ended in a draw.
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan): 184 vs India | 2005
Pakistan were 1-0 down going into the third and last Test against India in Bengaluru.
After electing to bat first, Pakistan were 7 for 2. Then, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq stepped up in what was his 100th Test.
He put up a 324-run stand with Younis Khan for the third wicket. And along the way, he scored 184 runs to celebrate his milestone Test appearance.
Inzamam’s knock propelled Pakistan to 570, which ultimately led to a victory against the hosts and helped them draw the series 1-1.
6. Ricky Ponting (Australia): 120 & 143* vs South Africa | 2006
Ricky Ponting made his 100th Test special with twin centuries. And those twin strikes gave Australia a 2-0 series victory against South Africa.
South Africa declared their first innings on 451 for 9 in the 2006 Sydney Test. The hosts didn’t have a great start. But Ponting’s 120 pulled them up, though they conceded a 92-run lead.
South Africa added 194 runs to set up a 287-run target for Australia. Thanks to Ponting’s unbeaten 143, Australia crushed the target in 60.3 overs on the last day.
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7. Graeme Smith (South Africa): 131 vs England | 2012
After bowling out England for 385 in the 2012 Oval Test, Graeme Smith lost his opening partner too early. Then he got a solid partner in Hashim Amla, with whom he stitched a 259-run stand.
Smith contributed 131 runs, laying the base for South Africa’s 637 for 2 (declared). He then marshalled his bowlers well to beat England by an innings and 12 runs.
8. Hashim Amla (South Africa): 134 vs Sri Lanka | 2017
Amla, who witnessed Smith achieve the record, found himself emulating the feat in 2017. Batting one down, the right-hand batter aggregated 134 runs.
His knock stabilised South Africa’s ship after two blows on 45 and guided them towards 426 runs. The total proved more than enough, as Sri Lanka lost the 2017 Johannesburg Test by an innings and 118 runs.
9. Joe Root (England): 218 vs India | 2021
Joe Root came to India with knocks of 228 and 186 in Sri Lanka. With form in his stride, another big knock loomed to make his 100th Test more memorable.
The stars too aligned in his favour. Chennai served a good batting deck, which the England batter made the most of.
And so Root amassed 218 runs, the first for a batter to score a double century in his 100th Test. He capped off the Test with a 227-run victory.
10. David Warner (Australia): 200 vs South Africa | 2022
David Warner wasn’t in great touch going into the 2022 Melbourne Test against South Africa.
Critics raised questions over his place in the XI. But he silenced them all with his double ton in his 100th Test.
It wasn’t an easy knock for Warner. Melbourne was sizzling hot, with Warner getting frequent cramps. Despite that, he stood on the pitch and ended his century drought.
Warner is among a select few players to play 100 matches in each of the three international formats.
11. Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh): 106 vs Ireland | 2025
Mushfiqur Rahim is the latest entrant on this list. He became the first Bangladeshi player to appear in 100 Tests.
Rahim is no less than a legend in his country. He has worked hard for over two decades. And he celebrated the hard work, scoring a ton against Ireland in the 2025 Mirpur Test.
Rahim walked in at No. 5, with Bangladesh in a difficult position at 95 for 3. He then shared a crucial 107-run stand with Mominul Haq before ending the first day on 99.
Rahim then resumed his knock on the next day, getting the milestone hundred. He eventually fell for 106 runs.
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