Khelofun Guide to Top Fastest Centuries in Test Cricket

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Test cricket has always been about patience and slowly building your score up. But some batters said "no thanks" to building and went full throttle instead. These players made us think about red-ball cricket differently by belting out hundreds faster than would appear possible.

Clearly, Brendon McCullum from New Zealand is front-and-center on this list because his record is simply bonkers. McCullum brought up his 100 runs in just 54 balls in his last Test match against Australia in 2016.

That's not even 10 overs of cricket. McCullum would ultimately only score 145 runs, off just 79 balls, 21 fours and 6 sixes before getting out. Talk about going out with a bang.

The Old Guard Still Holds Strong

Before everything changed with McCullum, for 30 years, Viv Richards held the record. Richards brought up his hundred in 56 balls against England in St John's in 1986. Richards' innings was complete power and timing when he utterly destroyed the English bowlers.

And here's the kicker: Misbah-ul-Haq exactly matched Richards 30 years later. Misbah, who is generally one of the calmest and best-centered players, stunned everyone by scoring his hundred in Abu Dhabi against Australia in 2014 in just 56 balls, exactly matching Richards.

This came in the second half of the match, which makes it even more special.

Australian Power on Display

During the 2006 Ashes series, Adam Gilchrist offered a performance that has stood the test of time. In Perth, the explosive wicketkeeper-batter scored 100 runs in just 57 balls against England. What's even more bizarre was that he scored zero in the first innings. Gilchrist ended with 102 not out from 59 balls, hitting 12 fours and 4 sixes.

Prior to that, all the way back to 1921, Jack Gregory from Australia scored his hundred in 67 balls, against South Africa in Johannesburg. He then held the record for that 65 years, which is a staggering thought. Gregory had played when fast-scoring was exceedingly rare, and his innings was far ahead of its time.

When defense turns to attack

Shivnarine Chanderpaul of West Indies was classically known for his calculated approach and shot selection. But that patience was thrown out the window in Georgetown in 2003, when he scored 100 in 69 balls against Australia! His team had been in trouble at 53/5 when he walked in, but his counter-attack took them past 200 runs.

Modern Era Speed Demons

The cricket we see today has gotten faster and more aggressive. Here are some batters who brought that energy to Test matches :

• David Warner from Australia smashed 100 in 69 balls against a strong opponent in Perth back in 2012
• Chris Gayle from West Indies reached his century in 70 balls against Australia in Perth in 2009
• Roy Fredericks from West Indies scored his hundred in 71 balls against Australia at the WACA in Perth in 1975
• Colin de Grandhomme from New Zealand brought up 100 in 71 balls while batting at number 7 against West Indies in Wellington in 2017

Warner's knock was particularly impressive because he went on to score 180 runs from 159 balls total. His approach showed that you can score quickly even in the longest format of cricket.

Recent Addition to the List

Jamie Smith from England made news in 2025 with his explosive hundred against a strong side at Edgbaston. He walked in when England were in trouble at 84/5 and reached his century in just 80 balls.

Smith stayed not out on 184 and built a huge partnership over 300 runs with Harry Brook. This knock saved the match for England and put Smith among the fastest century-makers in Test history.

Why These Knocks Matter

These matches are not all about records. They represent a key moment in the change to Test cricket over the decades. From Gregory's striking innings in 1921, to McCullum's unforgettable 54-ball hundred in 2016, each innings has pushed the boundaries of what is even conceivable.

Khelofun accepts these as change-makers in cricket. The site celebrates the way batters have married technique with aggression in memorable innings. From Khelofun's perspective, when you watch Test cricket as it's intended to be viewed, you can sense the battery of energy all the explosive performances have given to this platform that has been based on patience and skill.

There is still a need for patience and calculation in Test cricket. But these fastest centuries show that there is a place for bright sparks too. McCullum's 54-ball hundred is still the current fastest, so who knows how long that record can stand. As the game continues to change and batters become even more aggressively mental, we may see even faster centuries down the road.