Top 10 Batsmen with most Test centuries in a calendar year

Every Test hundred is special for a batsman and it is not easy to hit hundreds on the trot. But, every batsman goes through at least one golden year during their career if not more when runs come easy and fifties convert into centuries. We have seen some or the other batsman bat like immortal and pile tremendous amount of runs each year in the game. Though the pitches seem easier to bat these days, say in the past five years, but still no batsman from the current lot of ‘exceptionally talented players’ features in this list. Here, we bring to you the list of batsmen with most centuries in a calendar year in Tests. 10. Ricky Ponting, 2003 – 6: Ricky Ponting. (© Getty Images) The year 2003 was a very special one for Ricky Ponting. Ponting had a brilliant run in both the formats of the game. He scored 1503 runs at a staggering average of 100.33 in 18 innings which included 6 centuries and 4 half-centuries. The best knock by Ponting that year was his innings of 257 runs which he played against India at Melbourne. 9. Michael Vaughan, 2002 – 6: Michael Vaughan. (© PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) The stylish batsman from Yorkshire was one the finest ever for England. In 2002, Michael Vaughan was in the form of his life. In 26 innings, he scored 6 centuries and 2 half-centuries that year. Overall, he aggregated 1481 runs and averaged around 61. His feisty knock of 197 runs against India at Trent Bridge was the best innings he played that year. 8. Matthew Hayden, 2002 – 6: Australia’s Mathew Hayden. (Photo by PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images) The brawny left-hander was at his destructive best in 2002, scoring runs at a thick pace. Matthew Hayden brought his best performance of the year against arch-rival England in the 2002/03 Ashes series. He scored twin centuries in the 1st Ashes Test – 197 and 103. In all, Hayden hammered 6 tons and hit 1160 runs at a stunning average of 72.50 in 17 innings. 7. Gary Sobers, 1958 – 6: Sir Garry Sobers. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Gary Sobers’ batting prowess is very well-known. He was to a point unstoppable in the year 1958. Sobers, just 21 at that time, batted like Bradman and plundered 1299 in just 8 Tests at a mind-boggling average of 144.33 which included 6 centuries and 3 half-centuries. His best score of 365* that year came against Pakistan which was a world record for the highest individual Test score for 36 years. 6. Dennis Compton, 1947 – 6: Denis Compton. (© Getty Images) The English batting legend is still a cult figure in the cricketing circles. The year 1947 was a very fruitful one for Compton as he hit 6 centuries and three half-centuries. Overall that year, he played nine matches in which he accumulated 1159 runs. He tore apart South Africa’s bowling attack with his 208 runs knock which was his highest score that year. This also happens to be his second highest score of his career. 5. Sachin Tendulkar, 2010 – 7: Sachin Tendulkar.(Photo Source: AFP) With 51 Test centuries, Sachin Tendulkar is the best when it comes to century making. In 2010, Tendulkar scored 1562 runs at a highly impressive average of 78.10 which included seven centuries and five half-centuries. Another amazing fact is that 2 out of the 7 centuries were converted into double tons by the Master Blaster. His innings of 214 against Australia at Bangalore was his highest score that year. 4. Ricky Ponting, 2003 – 7: Ricky Ponting. (© Getty Images) After 2003, Ponting once again had a purple patch in the year 2006. He again scored runs heavily that year. In 10 Tests, he scored 1333 runs which included 7 tons and 4 half-centuries. Ponting missed a double-century just by four runs after he was dismissed for 196 against England during the 2006/07 Ashes series, it was his best innings in the particular season. 3. Aravinda de Silva, 1997 – 7: Aravinda de Silva. (© Getty Images/Allsport) In his Test career spanning 18 years, Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka’s trendsetting batsman, scored 20 centuries. However, the exciting part is that seven out of those 20 career centuries came in one year- 1997. It was, obviously a highly successful year for him as he scored 1220 runs overall. His best knock was of 168 which came against Pakistan at Colombo. 2. Vivian Richards, 1976 – 9: West Indies batsman Viv Richards. (Bob Thomas/Getty Images) The master blaster tamed every opposition during his playing days. He was just two years into his Test career in 1976, but King Vivian showed his competitors what kind of swagger he possessed. Richards amassed 1710 runs at an average of 90 runs which included seven centuries. Those seven centuries included two double centuries- 291 and 232 both of which were the highest scores of his career. 1. Mohammad Yousuf, 2006 – 9: Mohammad Yousuf. (© Getty Images) Until 2006, Mohammad Yousuf was just an ordinary batsman. But, the year brought a turnaround in his career. In the most prolific year of his career, Yousuf featured in 11 Tests and scored 1788 runs at an average of 99.33 with nine hundreds. His 9th ton eventually broke Sir Viv Richards’ 30-year-old record for most runs and centuries in a calendar year. All stats updated till 29th Jan 2016. Also read: Top 6 Batsman with Most Hundreds in Consecutive ODIs

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Top 10 Batsmen with most Test centuries in a calendar year

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