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Fastest Century in Test Cricket

The ability to score a century quickly in Test cricket is a combination of skill, bravery, and timing

By dobiPublished 2 months ago 3 min read

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What Is the Quickest Test Century?

The term "fastest century in Test cricket" is used to refer to the count of balls a player used to score 100 runs, not the duration in the wicket.

Consequently, the first batsman to score 100 runs in Test cricket is a very exceptional event considering the slow and tactical character of Test cricket. Still, very masterful, very assured, and very resourceful players can do it in a couple of balls only.

Brendon McCullum: The Record Holder

At number one is Brendon McCullum, who's got this record of scoring a century and a half in just 54 balls against Australia in 2016.

Why was it such an outstanding event?

  • This was his final Test appearance.
  • He was up against the finest Australian bowlers.
  • His score was increased by 50 runs in 34 balls and 50 more in only 20 balls.

The entire innings was a complete reversal of the traditional style of playing Test cricket and the long innings took aggressive scoring in the longest format to prove that it is possible.

Other Fastest Centuries in History

There were a handful of players who scored Test centuries within only few minutes:

Viv Richards – 56 balls (1986)

Unquestionably one of the boldest innings within the slower Test period.

Misbah-ul-Haq – 56 balls (2014)

He did it like Richards, that too with a calm and composed manner.

Adam Gilchrist – 57 balls (2006)

A fearless attack with nothing less than a startling inning at Perth.

All these times are considered as brave and artistic batting.

How Indian Batters Compare?

India has frequently been the country of players being capable of producing quick scores, yet no one has managed to do a hundred in less than sixty minutes. Fans who want to stay informed can use the application for updates to follow such records as they happen.

Those players include:

Virender Sehwag

The fastest among Test scorers in India, with hundreds in about 80 balls.

Kapil Dev

A batter who was very hard hitting and considered a powerhouse in the 80s.

Rishabh Pant

The current aggressive batter who is often getting his fifties quite quickly.

Shubman Gill & Yashasvi Jaiswal

The young generation of players who might even surpass the record making the future bright.

Why India Hasn’t Produced a Record Fast Century Yet

There are primarily three factors:

First of all the playing style: India has always preferred the stability of long partnerships to the excitement of very quick ones.

Second, the home conditions: The Indian spin-friendly pitches are such that the batsmen can make longer innings.

And thirdly the order of batting: Top order batsmen will build the foundation, the middle order will add to it, and the tail will just finish - the very fast centuries are rare here.

Is it possible that an Indian player would soon break the record?

Because of the modern training and conditioning along with the fearless new generation of batters, the scenario becomes highly likely. Players such as Pant, Gill, and Jaiswal might even challenge the highest speed record, especially in the overseas where the conditions are more conducive to faster scoring.

To sum up

The fastest centuries in Test cricket are a demonstration of skill, courage, and strategy. Although Indian cricketers have not yet reached the highest peak, the next ones will be soon breaking these records' incarcerations.

It is possible for an Indian batsman to instantly score a hundred in less than 60 balls, thus entering this elite circle and rewriting the cricket's past.

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