Top 10 Fastest Centuries in Test Cricket

With the evolution of T20 cricket, modern batsmen have started to score at a rapid pace in the longest version of the game as well. But there have been many great players who played a different brand of cricket even when there were no such compulsions. They were the trendsetters for the next generation to follow. Test cricket is popularly believed to be played with a comparatively safer and conservative approach than the other two formats. However over the years some cricketers have thought otherwise and scored test centuries at a strike rate above 150. These have been knocks that simply took our breath away. Here is an insight into the Top 10 Fastest Centuries in Test Cricket: 10. G L Jessop – 76 balls: G L Jessop is one of the immortal names in the game. His powerful drives were a treat to watch. It was difficult to place the field for him when he got going. Playing for England his most amazing innings was against Australia at the oval in 1902 when he smashed a hundred of just 76 deliveries. 9. AB de Villiers – 75 balls: Ab de Villiers. (© Getty Images) This AB de Villiers hundred came against India in a city aptly named “Centurion” during the 2010-11 series. India was bowled out for a paltry 136 on the opening day of first test which helped AB play freely in the second innings. An innings including 12 fours and 5 sixes, it helped the Proteas post a mammoth 620 on the board. 8. (i) – Brendon McCullum – 74 balls: Brendon McCullum in Tests. (Photo Source: AFP) New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum broke his own record for the fastest hundred in test cricket by a New Zealand batsman when he hit a 74 ball ton at Christchurch against Sri Lanka. He had the opportunity to score the fastest double ton but fell short by just five runs. His 195 off 134 balls also included a record 11 sixes. (ii) – Kapil Dev – 74 balls: Kapil Dev. (Photo Source: Getty Images) India’s first world cup winning skipper also has one of the fastest test hundreds. Playing against Sri Lanka at the Green Park in Kanpur, Kapil achieved the feat during the 1986-87 series. He was supported well by Sunil Gavaskar and Mohd. Azharuddin; on the wicket that proved to be a batting paradise. The match ended in a draw but wasn’t dull by any means as the crowd saw one of the greats of the game smashing the ball to all parts of the ground. (iii) – Mohammad Azharuddin – 74 balls: Mohammad Azharuddin. (Photo Source: AFP) It took another decade after the century of Kapil to see somebody score the fastest test hundred. Azhar played a blistering knock of 109 against South Africa at Kolkata in 1996 which included 18 fours and a six. India was in trouble after the Proteas put up 428 runs on the board but a brilliant counter attack from Azhar gave the home team some respite. Though Team India eventually lost the match, the viewers witnessed a memorable innings at the Eden Gardens. (iv) – Majid Khan – 74 balls: Pakistan’s former captain Majid khan with a 74 ball hundred to his name. Playing against New Zealand at Karachi in 1976, he blasted 2 sixes and 18 fours in his innings of 112 runs. He almost helped Pakistan whitewash the Kiwis at home but New Zealand battled it out to hold on for a draw. 7. Roy Fredericks – 71 balls: West Indies batsman Roy Fredericks also has one of the fastest test centuries to his name. He scored a 71 ball century against Australia at Perth in 1975. In his innings, the stylish batsman scored 169 from just 145 balls and smashed 27 fours and a six. Fredericks later went on to become one of the mainstays of a famous Windies batting line up for years to come. 6. Chris Gayle – 70 balls: Chris Gayle. (Photo Source: WICB Media Photo/Randy Brooks ) Christopher Henry Gayle is one of the most destructive batsmen of the modern generation. The Jamaican Calypso King scored a 70 ball century against Australia in Perth in 2009. The blistering knock included 6 sixes and 9 fours. Gayle is also among the only four players to have scored two triple centuries in test cricket. The ability to win games single handedly is the X factor which Gayle brings to the table. 5. (i) – David Warner – 69 balls: David Warner Test. (© Getty Images) The Australian pocket size dynamo also finds himself on the list. He famously scored a 69 ball century against India at Perth in 2012. During his knock, he smashed the ball all over the ground and took the game away from India. He eventually went on to score 180 from 159 deliveries smashing 5 sixes and 20 fours in total. (ii) – Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 69 balls: Shivnarine Chanderpaul. (Photo Source: AFP) One of the most underrated batsmen of the modern era, the West Indies legend scored a 69 ball hundred against the mighty Australians, in Georgetown, Guyana in 2003. The knock ensures him an important place on the list. His innings included 15 fours and 2 sixes. Though none of the batters supported him enough, Chanderpaul played a knock to be rated as one of the finest test centuries of all time. 4. JM Gregory – 67 balls: Australian batsman John Gregory finds himself a mention in the fastest hundreds in test cricket list. He reached the milestone from 67 deliveries against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1921. Gregory blasted 19 fours and 2 sixes in his innings of 119. His knock meant South Africa had to follow on but the Proteas eventually went on to save the match. 3. Adam Gilchrist – 57 balls: Adam Gilchrist Test. (© Getty Images) Gilchrist missed out on the world record by an agonizing one ball. One of the most destructive wicketkeeper batsmen the game has seen, Gilli finds himself right at the top, for being one of the fastest centurions’. He scored his ton from 57 balls against England at Perth in 2007 Ashes series, which was also the last in his career. He remained unbeaten on 102 from 59 deliveries and hit 12 fours and 4 sixes. 2. (i) – Sir Viv Richards – 56 balls: Sir Viv Richards. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The man from the Carribean was all about swagger but reliability at the same time. Vivian Richards demolished a capable England attack comprising the likes of Ian Botham at Antigua in 1986. His 56 ball century remains a world record till date and places him right at the top. Sir Viv remained unbeaten on 110 runs from 58 deliveries and blasted 7 sixes and 7 fours in his innings. (ii) – Misbah-ul-Haq – 56 balls: Misbah Ul Haq scored the fastest century in tests and leveled sir Viv Richards of 56 ball century. (Photo Source : Getty Images) Known for his sedate style of batting, the Pakistan skipper surprised everybody in the second test of the 2014 series against the Aussies with his blistering 56 ball blinder at Abu Dhabi. He is the latest entrant and the joint number one now. Misbah also made the record for the fastest test fifty during the process. He remained not out on 101 and hit 11 fours and 5 sixes. 1. Brendon McCullum – 54 balls: (Photo Source: Getty Images) New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum playing the ultimate Test of his career was successful in signing off on a high. He walked out to bat when his team was three wickets down for 30 odd runs and with his fantabulous hundred got them to a comfortable score. It was an actionfilled knock, where he treated the Australian bowlers like he wanted to, smashed, dashed and thrashed them to all parts of Christchurch. It took McCullum just 54 balls to get to the triple figures and with that he bettered Sir Viv and Misbah’s record for the fastest Test ton by a couple of deliveries. His innings lasted for just 79 balls and he scored 145 runs with 21 fours and 6 sixes. (All stats updated till 20th February 2016)