Fastest Test Century in Cricket History: Top Record Holders 

What is Test Cricket?

Test cricket is the sport’s most extended and traditional format, symbolizing endurance, skill, and patience. It is played between two teams, each consisting of eleven players, over a maximum of five days. This format is the ultimate test of a cricketer’s mental and physical ability.

Brendon McCullum holds the record for the fastest century in Test cricket, scoring 100 runs in just 54 balls. He set this record during his final Test match against Australia in 2016. This broke the previous record of 56 balls, which Viv Richards and Misbah-ul-Haq shared.

A significant milestone in Test cricket is a “century,” which refers to a batsman scoring 100 or more runs in a single innings. Achieving a century is a notable accomplishment in any format, but in Test cricket, it is especially revered because of the patience, technique, and stamina required. The “fastest test century” is a remarkable feat among the many centuries recorded, reflecting a player’s ability to score quickly under immense pressure.

The Fastest Test Century in Cricket

Every cricketer aspires to excel in Test cricket, with batsmen aiming to score as many runs as possible to secure victory for their team. Some players, however, go beyond just winning; they seek to break records and leave a lasting mark on the game. Among the most prestigious achievements is scoring the fastest Test century, which showcases a unique combination of skill, aggression, and precision. The fastest century in Test cricket is a record that many cricketers dream of breaking, with only a few having the opportunity to achieve it.

It is a moment celebrated by players and fans alike, marking the player’s name in the history of cricket for achieving the fastest Test century. This record demonstrates technical skill and a fearless approach to the game as players take on the challenge of scoring the fastest 100 in Test cricket against some of the best bowlers in the world. These moments often become defining achievements in players’ careers and are regularly featured in the fastest century list across cricket archives.

Here’s a look at some players who have set the record for the fastest hundreds in Test cricket, demonstrated extraordinary prowess, and rewritten history books with incredible performances.

Read More: The Highest Wicket Taker in Test Cricket: Records and Legends

Fastest Test Century: Brendon McCullum

Thе rеcord for thе fastest Test century in cricket bеlongs to Brеndon McCullum, thе formеr captain of Nеw Zеaland. He scorеd 100 runs off just 54 balls against Australia at Christchurch in 2016. It was Brendon McCullum’s last Test match, and he made it a historic one by breaking Viv Richards and Misbah-ul-Haq’s rеcord of 56 balls. McCullum’s cеntury was also thе fastеst in all forms of intеrnational crickеt at the time, including being the fastest 100 in Test cricket history.

Brеndon McCullum Batting Naturе

Brendon McCullum is renowned for his aggressive and explosive batting style, making him one of the world’s most entertaining and dangerous batsmen. His versatility allowed him to excel in any batting position, and his leadership on the field was marked by courage and charisma, inspiring his team to perform at their best. His record-breaking fastest Test century was a fitting farewell to his illustrious career, showcasing his passion and talent for the game.

In Test cricket, a century is more than a personal achievement; it significantly contributes to the team’s score. A fast century can change the momentum of a match or even a series, giving the team a decisive edge over the opposition. It also boosts the confidence and morale of the batsman and his teammates, earning them respect and admiration from fans and critics alike.

Players who feature on the fastest century list not only entertain but redefine the pace and dynamics of Test matches. The fastest hundred in Test conditions often comes against top-tier opponents, adding value to the feat.

Read More: Fastest 1000 runs in ODI: Achievements and Records

Fastest Test Century: Viv Richards

In the 1980s, cricket legend Viv Richards broke Jack Gregory’s long-standing record by scoring a century off just 56 balls in a Test match against England in 1986 at St. John’s, Antigua. This remarkable feat stood as the fastest Test century for 30 years. During this period, only twice did other players come close to challenging Richards’ record, highlighting the extraordinary nature of his achievement and his place in the fastest century list.

Fastest Test Century: Misbah-ul-Haq

In November 2014, former Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq, renowned for his composed and steady batting in Test cricket, surprised everyone by altering his playing style during a match’s second innings. He went on to score the fastest Test century at the time. His aggressive approach, which led to scoring the fastest hundred in Test cricket in just 56 balls, showcased his versatility and ability to adapt.

Misbah’s remarkable feat earned him a place among those with the fastest centuries in Test history and made him part of an elite group of players who had achieved this rare accomplishment. His record-breaking innings demonstrated how the fastest test century could be scored with a blend of audacity and skill. His effort equaled Viv Richards’ long-standing record and proved that fast scoring is possible even in the most traditional format of the game.

Fastest Test Century in Cricket: Top Fastest Test Century List

Hеrе is a list of thе top scorеs of thе fastest century in test cricket, along with thеir scorеs, balls facеd, match vеnuе, opponеnt tеam, and yеar.

Balls	Player	Match	Location	Season
54	BB McCullum	New Zealand v Australia	Christchurch	2015/16
56	IVA Richards	West Indies v England	St John’s	1985/86
56	Misbah-ul-Haq	Pakistan v Australia	Abu Dhabi	2014/15
57	AC Gilchrist	Australia v England	Perth	2006/07
67	JM Gregory	Australia v South Africa	Johannesburg	1921/22
69	S Chanderpaul	West Indies v Australia	Georgetown	2002/03
69	DA Warner	Australia v India	Perth	2011/12
70	CH Gayle	West Indies v Australia	Perth	2009/10
71	RC Fredericks	West Indies v Australia	Perth	1975/76
71	C de Grandhomme	New Zealand v West Indies	Wellington	2017/18
74	Majid Khan	Pakistan v New Zealand	Karachi	1976/77
74	M Azharuddin	India v South Africa	Calcutta	1996/97
74	BB McCullum	New Zealand v Sri Lanka	Hagley Oval, Christchurch	2014/15
75	AB de Villiers	South Africa v India	Centurion	2010/11
76	GL Jessop	England v Australia	The Oval	1902
77	BC Lara	West Indies v Pakistan	Multan Cricket Stadium	2006/07
77	JM Bairstow	England v New Zealand	Nottingham	2022
78	Shahid Afridi	Pakistan v West Indies	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown	2004/05
78	Shahid Afridi	Pakistan v India	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	2005/06
78	V Sehwag	India v West Indies	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet	2006
78	BB McCullum	New Zealand v Pakistan	Sharjah Cricket Stadium	2014/15
78	DA Warner	Australia v Pakistan	Sydney Cricket Ground	2016/17
79	CH Gayle	West Indies v South Africa	Newlands, Cape Town	2003/04
80	CH Gayle	West Indies v England	Kennington Oval	2004
80	Sarfraz Ahmed	Pakistan v Australia	Dubai Sports City Stadium	2014/15
80	Harry Brook	England v Pakistan	Rawalpindi	2022/23
80	Jamie Smith	England v India	Kennington Oval	2025
81	DPMD Jayawardene	Sri Lanka v Bangladesh	Sinhalese Sports Club Ground	2001/02
81	Kamran Akmal	Pakistan v India	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	2005/06
81	LRPL Taylor	New Zealand v Australia	Seddon Park, Hamilton	2009/10
82	BC Lara	West Indies v Australia	Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s	1998/99
82	DL Vettori	New Zealand v Zimbabwe	Harare Sports Club	2005/06
82	DA Warner	Australia v West Indies	Sydney	2015/16
83	BR Taylor	New Zealand v West Indies	Eden Park, Auckland	1968/69
84	AC Gilchrist	Australia v India	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai	2000/01
84	AC Gilchrist	Australia v Zimbabwe	Perth	2003/04
84	ML Hayden	Australia v Zimbabwe	Sydney Cricket Ground	2003/04
85	CH Lloyd	West Indies v India	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore	1974/75
85	J Darling	Australia v England	Sydney	1898

Balls	Player	Match	Location	Season
85	S Dhawan	India v Australia	Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali	2012/13
85	BA Stokes	England v New Zealand	Lord’s	2015
86	IT Botham	England v Australia	Headingley, Leeds	1981
86	IT Botham	England v Australia	Old Trafford, Manchester	1981
86	Kapil Dev	India v England	Modi Stadium, Kanpur	1981/82
86	CL Cairns	New Zealand v Zimbabwe	Eden Park, Auckland	1995/96
86	Wasim Akram	Pakistan v Sri Lanka	Galle International Stadium	2000
86	AC Gilchrist	Australia v New Zealand	Basin Reserve, Wellington	2004/05
86	MG Johnson	Australia v South Africa	Newlands, Cape Town	2008/09
86	HH Pandya	India v Sri Lanka	Pallekele	2017
86	Zak Crawley	England v Pakistan	Rawalpindi	2022/23
87	V Sehwag	India v Sri Lanka	Galle International Stadium	2008
87	V Sehwag	India v South Africa	Eden Gardens, Kolkata	2009/10
87	HM Amla	South Africa v Australia	Perth	2012/13
87	S Dhawan	India v Afghanistan	Bengaluru	2018
88	RJ Hadlee	New Zealand v West Indies	Lancaster Park, Christchurch	1979/80
88	M Azharuddin	India v England	Lord’s	1990
88	BC Lara	West Indies v Pakistan	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown	2005
88	KP Pietersen	England v West Indies	Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain	2008/09
88	Ben Duckett	England v India	Rajkot	2023/24
89	RR Lindwall	Australia v England	Melbourne Cricket Ground	1946/47
89	RR Pant	India v England	Birmingham	2022
90	ST Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe	Harare Sports Club	2004
90	V Sehwag	India v Sri Lanka	P Sara Oval, Colombo	2010
90	V Sehwag	India v England	Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad	2012/13
90	Ollie Pope	England v Pakistan	Rawalpindi	2022/23
91	AC Gilchrist	Australia v South Africa	Newlands, Cape Town	2001/02
91	Harry Brook	England v New Zealand	Wellington	2024/25
91	Harry Brook	England v India	Kennington Oval	2025
92	Abdul Razzaq	Pakistan v Bangladesh	Multan Cricket Stadium	2001/02
93	DR Smith	West Indies v South Africa	Newlands, Cape Town	2003/04
93	V Sehwag	India v Pakistan	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	2005/06
93	MS Dhoni	India v Pakistan	Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad	2005/06
93	TM Dilshan	Sri Lanka v Bangladesh	Chittagong	2008/09
93	DA Warner	Australia v South Africa	Adelaide Oval	2012/13
94	Zaheer Abbas	Pakistan v India	Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad	1982/83
94	SM Gavaskar	India v West Indies	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi	1983/84
94	AC Gilchrist	Australia v England	Sydney Cricket Ground	2002/03
94	BB McCullum	New Zealand v Zimbabwe	Harare Sports Club	2005/06
94	Tamim Iqbal	Bangladesh v England	Lord’s	2010
94	Soumya Sarkar	Bangladesh v New Zealand	Hamilton	2018/19

Balls	Player	Match	Location	Season
95	DT Lindsay	South Africa v Australia	New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg	1966/67
95	Kapil Dev	India v West Indies	Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain	1982/83
95	JN Rhodes	South Africa v West Indies	Centurion Park, Centurion	1998/99
95	SM Pollock	South Africa v Sri Lanka	Centurion Park, Centurion	2000/01
95	Graham Gooch	England v India	Lord’s, London	1990
96	CH Gayle	West Indies v South Africa	Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s	2004/05
96	Shahid Afridi	Pakistan v India	Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad	2005/06
96	Tom Blundell	New Zealand v England	Basin Reserve, Wellington	2024/25
97	K Srikkanth	India v Australia	Sydney Cricket Ground	1985/86
97	JE Taylor	West Indies v New Zealand	University Oval, Dunedin	2008/09
97	V Sehwag	India v Sri Lanka	Modi Stadium, Kanpur	2009/10
97	Brian Bennett	Zimbabwe v England	Trent Bridge, Nottingham	2025
98	RS Kaluwitharana	Sri Lanka v New Zealand	Carisbrook, Dunedin	1996/97
98	Mominul Haque	Bangladesh v New Zealand	Chittagong	2013/14
99	IT Botham	England v New Zealand	Trent Bridge, Nottingham	1983
99	LRPL Taylor	New Zealand v India	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore	2012
99	KDK Vithanage	Sri Lanka v Bangladesh	Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur	2013/14
100	Tamim Iqbal	Bangladesh v England	Old Trafford, Manchester	2010
100	Ben Duckett	England v Zimbabwe	Trent Bridge, Nottingham	2025

Fastest Test Century: Indian Players

Mohammad Azharuddin and Kapil Dev jointly hold the record for the fastest Test century for India, each scoring 100 runs in just 74 balls. This blazing effort earned them a spot on the fastest century list, showcasing rare brilliance and attacking flair in red-ball cricket.

Their achievement resembles a sprinter racing to the finish line, pure speed and precision. In the realm of the fastest hundred in Test cricket, scoring a century in such a short span elevates a batsman’s legacy. It’s not only about runs, it’s about doing it at pace, breaking traditions, and earning recognition among the fastest centuries in Test records.

Breaking Test Traditions: Virender Sehwag vs Rahul Dravid

Virender Sehwag revolutionized the role of a Test opener with his fearless, attacking style, contrasting sharply with the traditional defensive mindset. Relying on hand-eye coordination over classic technique, he scored rapidly, often unsettling bowlers from the outset. His aggressive approach led to two triple centuries and near entries on the fastest century list.

In contrast, Rahul Dravid, “The Wall,” epitomized patience and technical mastery, anchoring innings with composure. Their contrasting styles, Sehwag’s explosiveness and Dravid’s resilience, offered India a perfect balance. While Dravid accumulated runs methodically, Sehwag redefined what an opener could achieve in Tests. His legacy endures as a disruptor who proved that bold strokeplay and historic milestones, like the fastest Test century, could go hand in hand.

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has achieved something extraordinary in Test cricket by scoring 30 centuries, each a significant milestone. One of his most remarkable performances was against Australia in 2014 at Adelaide.

In that match, Kohli reached a century swiftly, amassing 100 runs in 184 balls. While it wasn’t the fastest test century, it was among the fastest by an Indian captain, reinforcing his ability to play aggressively. This rapid scoring is akin to hitting the ball far and running between the wickets at a blistering pace. His achievement deserves mention among the fastest centuries in test matches led by Indian players.

What makes this feat even more impressive is that it was Kohli’s debut match as the captain of the Indian team, stepping in for MS Dhoni, who was injured. In his first match as captain, Kohli scored this century, scoring the fastest hundred in test by an Indian captain. This achievement showcased his exceptional talent and made the nation proud of its new leader, Virat Kohli. He continues to be a contender in the evolving fastest century list.

2. Chеtеshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara is a dependable batsman for India’s cricket team. He typically bats at the crucial number three position. He has established himself as a solid performer in Test matches, having scored 19 centuries. One of his standout performances came in a game against England in 2016, played in Rajkot.

Pujara scored an impressive 124 runs from 206 balls in that match, marking one of his fastest centuries in Test cricket. Though not the fastest 100 in test, his knock was a reminder that even steady players can accelerate when required. This was his ninth century in Test matches and his third against England, solidifying his reputation as a reliable and skilled batsman.

India was in a challenging position then, trailing by 49 runs after the first innings. Pujara’s century was pivotal in turning the game around and helping India level the score. His remarkable effort ensured that the match ended in a draw, which was a commendable result given the circumstances. Pujara’s resilience and determination were key to India’s performance in that game, and he showed he could match the tempo with players in the fastest test century pursuit.

3. Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is a dynamic and exciting young talent in the Indian cricket team. He is known for his impressive wicketkeeping and powerful batting. In the highly challenging format of Test cricket, Pant has already scored eight centuries. One of his most remarkable achievements came in 2021, when he scored a blistering century against England, reaching 101 runs in just 89 balls.

This was one of his fastest centuries, and a significant milestone as he achieved it on home soil in India. His quick century was notable, as it matched the pace of another fastest test century for India by a wicketkeeper. Moreover, it became the fastest century ever scored by a wicketkeeper in test cricket, showcasing Pant’s exceptional talent and flair. His performances inspire a new generation of players aiming to break into the fastest century list and emulate the flair seen in Brendon McCullum’s last test match heroics.

Top Cricket Centuries Scored in the Shortest Time (by Minutes)

Test cricket is traditionally known for its slow and methodical approach, but some players have broken the mold with rapid centuries. Here’s a look at some of the fastest test centuries based on the minutes taken to reach the milestone:

• Jack Gregory’s Whirlwind Knock (70 minutes): In 1922, Australian batsman Jack Gregory made history with a lightning-fast century against South Africa in Johannesburg. He reached his hundred in just 70 minutes, setting a record that has endured for decades. Gregory’s rapid scoring was a testament to his aggressive batting style and candidacy for the fastest century list.
• Misbah-ul-Haq’s Masterful Assault (74 minutes): The Pakistani captain showcased his explosive batting ability during the 2014/15 series against Australia in Abu Dhabi. He reached his century in a brisk 74 minutes and just 56 balls, setting the fastest hundred in test then, equaling Viv Richards.
• Gilbert Jessop’s Early Burst (77 minutes): In 1902, Jessop scored a century in 77 minutes against Australia at The Oval, showing that the hunger for the fastest century in test existed even in cricket’s early days.

These instances highlight how particular batsmen have defied traditional expectations of Test cricket’s slow pace, achieving remarkable feats of scoring speed worthy of the fastest 100 in test records.

Fastеst Doublе Cеntury in Tеst Cricket

Scoring a double century in Test cricket is a significant achievement, showcasing a player’s exceptional skill, concentration, and stamina. Unlike limited-overs formats, Test cricket can last up to five days, making reaching 200 runs in a single innings particularly impressive.

Achieving the fastest double century adds another layer of prestige. It demonstrates the ability to maintain focus while accelerating the score, much like efforts made in the fastest test century domain.

Fastеst Doublе Cеnturiеs in Tеst Crickеt: Top 5 Players

These players not only reached 200 runs but did so in the shortest amount of time, which is incredibly impressive. They faced the cricket balls and bowlers with determination and power.

Here are their names, the scores they achieved, the number of balls they faced, where the match was played, the opposing team, and the year it happened:

1. Nathan Astle (2002): Scored 222 runs off 153 balls against England in Christchurch, earning him a place near the top of the fastest century list for double hundreds.
2. Ben Stokes (2016): Delivered 258 from 198 balls against South Africa in Cape Town, a fierce knock rivaling Brendon McCullum’s last test match for sheer intensity.
3. Virender Sehwag (2006): His 254 off 247 balls against Pakistan in Lahore placed him high on India’s fastest test century and fastest double century records.
4. Brendon McCullum (2014): Scored 302 off 559 balls against India in Wellington, a mix of grit and aggression, highlighting why his last test match became historic.
5. Ian Botham (1982): Notched 208 off 226 balls, carving his name into the archives of the fastest century in test and double-century accolades.

Fastеst Triplе Cеntury in Tеst Cricket

Scoring a triple century in Test cricket is rare and remarkable. Players who do so must possess technical expertise and the physical and mental resilience to endure and dominate. When achieved at pace, these milestones often rival those in the fastest test century and fastest century in test debates.

• Virender Sehwag (2008): Blasted 319 off just 304 balls in Chennai vs South Africa, the fastest triple century in test cricket by balls faced.
• Chris Gayle (2005): Scored 317 from 483 balls against South Africa in Antigua.
• Matthew Hayden (2003): His 380 vs Zimbabwe ranking on multiple fastest-scoring lists was monumental.
• Brian Lara (2004): His unbeaten 400 off 582 balls remains a record for the highest individual score in Test cricket.
• Don Bradman (1930): The original icon, his 334 off 448 balls is etched among the most influential innings in the longest format.

Conclusion

The Test cricket world has been shaped by legends who compiled runs and redefined the pace of play. From Brendon McCullum’s last test match heroics to Sehwag’s dazzling centuries and Pant’s modern-day brilliance, the fastest test century remains one of the most coveted and celebrated achievements.

Whether you’re analyzing the fastest 100 in test records, admiring the technique of players with the most test runs in international cricket, or simply scanning the fastest century list, one thing is clear: speed, flair, and precision now play as much a role in Tests as endurance and defense.

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