Most Test Centuries: In its 146-year history, Test cricket has witnessed a variety of records being made or broken. Even in an era dominated by limited-overs cricket, Test cricket is still considered the purest form of the game. Over the years, many players from diverse countries have established themselves as some of the finest Test cricketers. Among them, certain batters have attained legendary status due to their significant contributions. In this article, we will explore the top 10 batters with the most centuries in Test cricket.
List of Players With Most Test Centuries in International Cricket
S.No | Player | Team | Mat | Inn | Runs | Highest | 100s | 50s | Avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 200 | 329 | 15,921 | 248* | 51 | 68 | 53.78 |
2 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 166 | 280 | 13,289 | 224 | 45 | 58 | 55.37 |
3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 168 | 287 | 13,378 | 257 | 41 | 62 | 51.85 |
4 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 134 | 233 | 12,400 | 319 | 38 | 52 | 57.40 |
5 | Rahul Dravid | India | 164 | 286 | 13,288 | 270 | 36 | 63 | 52.31 |
6 | Younis Khan | Pakistan | 118 | 213 | 10,099 | 313 | 34 | 33 | 52.05 |
7 | Sunil Gavaskar | India | 125 | 214 | 10,122 | 236* | 34 | 45 | 51.12 |
8 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 131 | 232 | 11,953 | 400* | 34 | 48 | 52.88 |
9 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 149 | 252 | 11,814 | 374 | 34 | 50 | 49.84 |
10 | Alastair Cook | England | 161 | 291 | 12,472 | 294 | 33 | 57 | 45.35 |
List of Top 10 Players With Most Hundreds in Test Matches
10. Alastair Cook (England) – 33 Centuries
Alastair Cook, England’s former captain, ranks tenth on the list of cricketers with the most centuries in test. With 12,472 runs from 161 Test matches, Cook is England’s leading run-scorer in the longest format of the game, where he has notched up 33 centuries. Cook announced his retirement from international cricket in September 2018 at the age of 33.
9. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
34 Centuries Sri Lankan cricket legend Mahela Jayawardene is widely regarded as one of the greatest Test cricketers in history. During his career, Sri Lankan cricket enjoyed some of its most successful periods, including winning the 2014 T20 World Cup. Jayawardene was the first Sri Lankan to surpass 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Over his 149-Test career, he accumulated 11,814 runs at an average of 49.84, scoring 34 centuries. He retired from international cricket in July 2014, at the age of 37.
8. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 34 Centuries
Brian Lara, the West Indian cricket icon, is widely recognized as one of the greatest Test cricketers in history. His flamboyant style of play during the 1990s made him a nightmare for bowlers. Lara holds the eighth position on the list of players with the most Test centuries and remains the only batter to have scored 400 runs in a single Test innings. Over the course of 131 Test matches for the West Indies, he amassed 11,953 runs at an impressive average of 52.88, which includes 34 centuries.
7. Sunil Gavaskar (India) – 34 Centuries
Known as the ‘Little Master,’ Sunil Gavaskar is one of the finest batters ever to represent India. He was an immensely popular cricketer in his time, and his wicket was considered a prized possession for any bowler. Gavaskar was also a part of India’s historic 1983 World Cup win. Over his 16-year cricketing career, he represented India in 125 Test matches, accumulating 10,122 runs at an average of 51.12 and hitting 34 centuries.
6. Younis Khan (Pakistan) – 34 Centuries
Younis Khan is one of the modern greats of Pakistani batting and ranks among the country’s greatest Test cricketers. He is the all-time leading run-scorer for Pakistan in Test cricket and also holds the record for the most centuries by a Pakistani in the longest format of the game. In his 118 Test appearances for Pakistan, Younis amassed 10,099 runs at an impressive average of 52.05, including 34 centuries.
5. Rahul Dravid (India) – 36 Centuries
Commonly referred to as “The Wall,” Rahul Dravid was one of Test cricket’s finest batters. He was renowned for his solid defensive technique, which made his wicket a hard-earned prize for any bowler. Dravid ranks fifth on the list of players with the most centuries in test international cricket and is second among Indian batters. Over the course of his 164 Test matches for India, Dravid scored 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31, with 36 centuries to his name.
4. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 38 Centuries
Kumar Sangakkara stands as one of the greatest cricketers Sri Lanka has ever produced. The left-handed batter is Sri Lanka’s all-time leading run-scorer in Test matches and ranks fourth on the list of players with the most centuries in the longest format of the game. Over his 15-year cricketing career, Sangakkara appeared in 134 Test matches, amassing 12,400 runs at an average of 54.19, including 38 centuries.3
3. Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 41 Centuries
After Sir Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting is often hailed as the greatest batter Australia has ever produced. Ponting’s excellence extended to his captaincy as well; under his leadership, Australia won two World Cups (2003 and 2007) and two Champions Trophies (2006 and 2009). As a batter, Ponting is Australia’s all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket and ranks third among international players for the most centuries in the format. In his 168 Test matches for Australia, Ponting accumulated 13,378 runs at an average of 51.85, scoring 41 centuries.
2. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 45 Centuries
Jacques Kallis epitomized the classical cricketer in the modern era. With a rock-solid technique, he was one of the finest batters of his generation. Kallis is the leading run-scorer for South Africa in Test cricket. Over his 166 Test matches for the Proteas, he amassed 13,289 runs at an average of 45.97, including 45 centuries.
1. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 51 Centuries
Often referred to as the ‘God of Cricket,’ Sachin Tendulkar was one of the most complete batters the game has ever seen and is arguably the sport’s biggest icon globally. Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs scored across all formats and is the only batter to achieve 100 international centuries. Making his debut at the age of 16 in 1989, Tendulkar enjoyed a remarkable 24-year cricketing career, appearing in 200 Test matches for India. In these tests, he accumulated a staggering 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, which includes a record 51 centuries.
FAQs
Who has the most test centuries in history?
Sachin Tendulkar tops the chart with 51 centuries in 200 Test matches for India
How many 300 runs in test?
In test cricket, a triple hundred has ben scored in 31 occasions by 27 batters from all over the world. Notably, no player from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ireland or Zimbabwe has scored 300 in Test.
Who scored 200 in 100 test?
England’s Joe Root is the first batter to score a 200 in his 100th Test. He achieved this feat. in a Test match against India in Chennai, 2021
Which batsman has scored 400 not out in Test cricket?
On April 12, 2004, Brian Lara from West Indies became the first and the only batter to score a 400 in Test cricket.