Test cricket is known for its mundane style of play, with batters being tested by bowlers on every ball. In this tough battle, batters often take a cautious approach while scoring runs, as their wickets come with a hefty price.
Thus, it’s quite common to see batters score runs at a slower pace. However, there have been some notable instances when batters took a fiery approach, racing to big knocks in fewer balls.
Here, we’ll glance at the 5 fastest centuries smashed by batters in Test cricket.
5. Jack Gregory (Australia): 67 Balls vs South Africa, 1921
Jack Gregory put on a show with the bat even before ODI cricket’s existence. That’s enough to attest to his trailblazing knock against South Africa in 1921.
In the second Test match, Gregory came to bat at 128/2 and put on a formidable 209-run stand with captain Herbie Collins. He raced to his hundred in just 67 balls, smashing 19 fours and 2 sixes.
Gregory was on the pitch for 85 minutes and hammered 119 runs before losing his wicket.
4. Adam Gilchrist (Australia): 57 Balls vs England, 2006
It was the third Test of the 2006/07 Ashes in Perth, and Australia were out batting in their second innings.
The Aussies had taken a small lead over England and were in a good position at 365/5. Then came Adam Gilchrist, who boosted Australia’s scoring rate to another level.
Gilchrist had bagged a duck in the first innings, but he made a full turn and blasted a 57-ball ton in the second innings. The former keeper-batter got to work immediately, hitting fours in the first few balls.
He kept his pedal on the accelerator throughout the innings, smashing 12 fours and 4 massive sixes. Gilchrist remained unbeaten as Australia declared their innings on 527/5, scoring 102 runs off 59 balls at a strike rate of 172.88.
Also Read | The 5 Greatest Australian Spinners of All Time
3. Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan): 56 Balls vs Australia, 2014
Pakistan were taking on Australia in the second Test in Abu Dhabi in November 2014. Pakistan had secured an unassailable lead of 309 runs over Australia, and their captain Misbah-ul-Haq decided to push it further by launching an all-out assault.
Misbah walked in when Pakistan were on 152/3 and powered them to 293/3 to declare their innings. The right-hander started his knock by smashing a full toss for a four.
He continued the momentum throughout the innings, clearing the fence with ease and reaching his fifty in just 21 balls — the fastest half-century in Tests.
In no time, Misbah went past the 100-run mark with a four on the 56th delivery he faced, equalling Viv Richards’ record.
2. Viv Richards (West Indies): 56 Balls vs England, 1986
Viv Richards claimed the top spot for 30 years until Brendon McCullum surpassed him in 2016. Richards showcased his power-hitting in an era when such knocks were hard to come by, even in ODIs.
Batting at No. 3, the former West Indian batter charged against England’s bowling attack. Richards smacked 7 fours and as many sixes on his way to the century.
He completed his hundred off 56 deliveries, making it the fastest Test century at that time.
1. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand): 54 Balls vs Australia, 2016
Playing in his last career Test match, Brendon McCullum made it a memorable outing. Leading New Zealand in the second Test match against Australia, McCullum unleashed a captain’s knock.
When the skipper stepped into bat, the Kiwis were reeling at 32 for 3. Then McCullum took on the mantle, blasting boundaries all over the park for fun.
He zoomed past his fifty in 34 balls and in the next 20 balls, he got to his hundred. With that, McCullum broke Viv Richards’ record, taking 54 balls to register the fastest century in Test cricket.
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