Top five fastest hundreds in Test cricket ft. Brendon McCullum
While we now live in the era of T20 cricket, those who have been watching the sport for at least the past couple of decades know which is the ultimate format of the game. T20 cricket attracts a lot of attention, but Test cricket provides that contest between bat and ball that a cricket lover yearns for. Test cricket tests a cricketer in every aspect. As a batter, it demands a lot more than just power-hitting and carrying a repertoire of shots in his arsenal. It tests your patience, endurance, and mental toughness as you have to bat for a long period of time and under different conditions.
Over the years, many cricketers have represented their countries in Test cricket, but the ones who had the most sound technique and were mentally and physically tough ended up etching their names in the history books. Amidst that, world cricket also saw batters who didn’t have the most adept technique and had their own way to play and excel in red-ball cricket. Test cricket has witnessed players who brought their aggressive batting demeanour to the red-ball format and dominated.In this article, let's delve into five such players who feature in the list of the fastest hundreds in Test cricket:
Fastest hundred in Test cricket:
1. Brendon McCullum - 54 balls
An out-and-out entertainer, Brendon McCullum brought his white-ball approach to Test cricket and dazzled everyone with his aggressive hitting. McCullum was, in fact, more successful in Tests as compared to ODIs. The former New Zealand skipper gave his fans an ideal farewell to his Test cricket career on 20th February 2016. Playing his final Test match of his career against Australia at Christchurch, Brendon McCullum took the Aussie bowling unit on a leather hunt.
He played exquisite cut shots, pulled with disdain, and left everyone speechless when charged down the track and hit sixes down the ground. He took a special liking to Josh Hazlewood, smashing him for 6,4,4,4 to bring up his hundred in just 54 balls. With that, he surpassed Viv Richards and Misbah Ul Haq to smash the fastest hundred in Test cricket. Brendon went on to score a sensational knock of 145 runs in just 79 balls, including 21 fours and six sixes.
2. Sir Vivian Richards - 56 balls
Ranked second on the list is West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards. His name inevitably comes up whenever discussions about the greatest players in cricket history take place. In an era of the greatest fast bowlers, Viv Richards dominated with the bat without even wearing a helmet.
He would just walk out and own the ground with his fearless hitting. Before Brendon McCullum played his farewell Test, Viv Richards held the record of the fastest hundred in Test cricket. In the fifth Test of England’s tour of the West Indies in 1986, the West Indies had taken a 164-run lead in the first innings. Viv Richards walked to bat on 100/1 in the second innings and smashed the ball in all parts of the ground.
He dominated the English attack as he always did and went on to smash a Test century off just 56 balls. His unbeaten 58-ball 110 helped West Indies set a target of 411 and eventually won the game by 240. Viv Richards currently holds the record for hitting the second fastest hundred in Test cricket.
3. Misbah Ul Haq: 56 balls
Pakistan’s former captain Misbah Ul Haq finds his name at number three in the list. His famous ton came in Pakistan’s historic Test series win vs Australia in 2014. Misbah Ul Haq notched a century in the first innings and followed it with another ton in the second innings. Misbah smashed 11 fours and five sixes en route to an unbeaten 101 off just 57 balls. He brought up his hundred in just 56 balls, thereby becoming the joint second-fastest to reach a Test hundred. Pakistan won that game by 356 runs.
4. Adam Gilchrist - 57 balls
Ahead of the third Test of the five-match Test series against England in 2006, there was talk about Adam Gilchrist’s poor form with the bat. The Australian wicket-keeper batter, however, put all that to rest after he smashed a spectacular century off just 57 balls against England and helped Australia regain the Ashes. After Hussey and Clarke put together a brilliant partnership for the third wicket in the second innings, Gilchrist walked out in the 90th over. He looked a bit nervy initially, but once he got set, the southpaw hit some gigantic sixes. The pitch offered turn for the spinners, and Monty Panesar had a great outing with the ball.
But Gilchrist tore him apart, smashing 34 runs in a single over. He brought up his century off just 57 balls.
5. Jack Gregory- 67 balls
Back in 1921, during a three-match Test series, Jack Gregory set the record for the fastest century in Test cricket at the time. Batting first, Australia piled on a gigantic 450-run total in the first innings. Jack Gregory starred with the bat, smashing centuries off just 67 balls. The game resulted in a draw, but Australia won the series 1-0. Jack Gregory currently holds the record for smashing the fifth fastest century in Test cricket.
