A century is one of the most exciting landmarks a batter can achieve in Test cricket throughout the game, and the feedback from the players confirms the significance of a century.
A century demonstrates the ability to build their innings, requires endurance, has concentration at the elite level, with technique, and the ability to be dominant. Whether it is Bradman(godfather of cricket) or current day individuals like Smith and Root, centuries have been the most notable individual landmark in Test cricket, and it’s impossible to miss.
In this article, we look at the cricketers with the most centuries in Test cricket, those who currently hold records, and some fun details and records around hundreds in red-ball cricket.
The God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, holds the record for most centuries in the Test arena. The Indian cricket icon has 51 centuries to his name in his illustrious career, where he played 200 Test matches.
He is followed by the South African legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who has 45 centuries.
Now, let’s look at the top players with the most centuries in Test cricket. Here is the list.
| Player | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 |
| SR Tendulkar (IND) | 200 | 329 | 15921 | 248 | 53.78 | 51 | 68 |
| JH Kallis (ICC/SA) | 166 | 280 | 13289 | 224 | 55.37 | 45 | 58 |
| RT Ponting (AUS) | 168 | 287 | 13378 | 257 | 51.85 | 41 | 62 |
| KC Sangakkara (SL) | 134 | 233 | 12400 | 319 | 57.4 | 38 | 52 |
| JE Root (ENG) | 156 | 285 | 13259 | 262 | 50.8 | 37 | 66 |
| SPD Smith (AUS) | 119 | 212 | 10477 | 239 | 56.02 | 36 | 43 |
| R Dravid (ICC/IND) | 164 | 286 | 13288 | 270 | 52.31 | 36 | 63 |
| Younis Khan (PAK) | 118 | 213 | 10099 | 313 | 52.05 | 34 | 33 |
| SM Gavaskar (IND) | 125 | 214 | 10122 | 236 | 51.12 | 34 | 45 |
| BC Lara (ICC/WI) | 131 | 232 | 11953 | 400 | 52.88 | 34 | 48 |
The list includes cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Sangakkara, and more. Let’s look at the stats of these individual players.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar played 200 Test matches for India and scored 51 Test centuries in those games. He is the record holder for most centuries in Test cricket. Along with centuries, he also has the most runs in Test cricket. He scored 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78. He is the only cricketer to score more than 15,000 Test runs.
With the second-most centuries in Test cricket, Jacques Kallis sits behind Sachin in this list. He represented South Africa in 166 games and scored 13,289 runs at an average of 55.37. He has scored 45 centuries and 58 half-centuries as well. His best score in Test cricket is 224. Apart from being one of the best batsmen in the world, he was also great at bowling. He features at the top of our list of best all-rounders in the world.
The third player on this list is Ricky Ponting from Australia. The no.1 cricket captain from Australia played 168 matches, scored 13,378 runs at an average of 51.85. In his illustrious career, he scored 41 centuries and 62 fifties for Australia. He is also the second-highest run scorer for Australia after Allan Border.
Kumar Sangakkara (the best batsman in the world), the Sri Lankan legend, has scored more than 12,000 runs in Test cricket from 134 matches that included 38 centuries and 52 fifties. With a top score of 319, he also has a triple hundred. Sangakkara also has 11 double hundreds in Test cricket.
Next on the list is Joe Root with 37 Test centuries in his career. He is one of the modern era’s greats who represents England in the international arena. He has been one of the forces to be reckoned with in modern cricket, who can break Sachin’s record of most centuries in Test cricket. At the age of 34, Root has already scored 13,259 runs at an average of 50.80 and a strike rate of 57.37. Apart from 37 centuries, he also has 66 fifties.
Along with Joe Root, another modern-day legend is Steven Smith from Australia, who has 36 centuries in Tests. He has played far fewer games than anyone on the list so far. He has scored 10477 till date at an average of 56.02 from 119 games. He also has chances of catching up with Sachin Tendulkar at the top with 51 centuries.
Rahul Dravid is another Indian legend who was referred to as “the wall.” Dravid got to play 164 matches for India and scored 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31. In his test career, Dravid scored 36 centuries and five double centuries. Apart from that, he also has 63 half-centuries. Dravid is the only player in the history of the game to face more than 31000 balls.
Younis Khan, the Pakistani stalwart, appeared in 118 Tests for his country and scored 10,099 runs. He holds the record for most centuries in Test cricket for Pakistan (34). He has a high score of 313 with 33 half-centuries. He is the only Pakistani player to cross the 10,000-mark in Test cricket. He was one of the most impressive batsmen to come out of Pakistan.
Now, it’s time to talk about Sunil Gavaskar in the list of maximum centuries in Test cricket. His career spanned from 1971 to 1987, during which he played 125 matches. In those 125 games, Gavaskar scored 34 centuries and 45 half-centuries. He also completed 10,000 runs in Test cricket at an average of 43.35.
Last but not least on the list is Brian Lara from the West Indies. Lara is the most formidable batter to come from the West Indies, who played 131 games. He amassed 11,953 runs at an average of 52.88 with the help of 34 centuries and 48 fifties. He also holds the record for the highest century in test cricket with 400 not out. Yes, you heard that right, he scored 400 not out in an innings.
Well, most of the players who could have broken Sachin’s record have retired from cricket. However, active cricketers like Joe Root, Steven Smith, and Kane Williamson have an outside chance of breaking his record. It will depend on the longevity of these players in the upcoming years. All of them have crossed 34 and only have a few years remaining in their Test career. So, if anyone can break Sachin’s record, it’s one of these three.
Among active players, Joe Root holds the record for the most centuries in Test cricket. Along with Steven Smith and Kane Williamson, Joe Root leads the century race among the active Test cricketers in world cricket. Virat Kohli’s name would’ve been included in this list had he not retired from Test cricket a few months ago.
This intense battle of centuries among these modern stalwarts keeps fans engaged in the ultimate format of cricket.
Scoring a triple century in cricket is very tough – it is considered an extraordinary accomplishment for a player to score a triple century. Few players in the world have managed to score more than one triple century in their entire Test career.
Here is the list of the most triple centuries in Test cricket.
Test cricket is the true test for cricketers, and centuries signify greatness. From the incredible records of most centuries in Test of Sachin Tendulkar to the upcoming records from modern-day players Joe Root and Steve Smith, centuries will continue to interest fans worldwide. As new players develop, these records will be tested, rewritten, and celebrated, securing the place of the gentleman’s game.
Ans: Sachin Tendulkar, with 51 centuries, holds the all-time record in Test cricket.
Ans: No player has scored three triple centuries; Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag, and Chris Gayle have scored two each.
Ans: No team has reached 1000 runs in a single innings. Sri Lanka holds the highest record with 952/6d.
Ans: Virat Kohli has scored 7 double centuries, the most by an Indian player.
Ans: Brendon McCullum holds the record for the fastest Test century, scoring off 54 balls in 2016.
