Test cricket is often seen as slow and boring. While it is a challenging test of skill, it might not seem very exciting on the surface.
But there are exceptions. Test cricket can be fun and interesting, especially when aggressive batsmen bring excitement with their attacking style and powerful strokes.
Here’s a list of the top ten fastest centuries in Test cricket.
10. Colin de Grandhomme – 71 balls
On the second day of the first Test against the West Indies in Wellington, Colin de Grandhomme came in to bat when New Zealand was at 272/5. By the time he got out, the score had moved to 429/7, and he had scored a century off just 71 balls, making it the second-fastest century ever by a New Zealand batsman in Test history.
This was also his first-ever Test century, and his 71-ball innings was the fastest maiden century in Test cricket, beating the previous record of 76 balls set by G. Jessop. It was also the fastest century against the West Indies in Test history.
De Grandhomme was effective against both pace and spin, hitting the West Indies bowlers all around the Basin Reserve. He struck 11 fours and 3 sixes, and while he played some big shots, he was also skilled with his running and played some classic shots on his way to the century.
He was eventually out for 105 off just 74 balls, but his performance gave New Zealand a huge lead.
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9. Roy Fredericks- 71 balls
Facing a fast Perth pitch with bowlers like Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson was a real challenge for any batsman. These two bowlers loved to bowl very quickly, and the WACA pitch made it even harder for opponents. Australia used this to their advantage, causing trouble for visiting teams.
However, in 1975, Roy Fredericks had a different approach. The West Indies opener not only handled the fast bowling well but also hit the bowlers hard with his powerful strokes. In response to Australia’s score of 329, the West Indies were 130 for one wicket in just 14 overs before lunch on the second day. Fredericks was the main reason for this impressive performance, scoring fifty runs in 31 balls and a hundred in 71 balls.
He was eventually out for 169 runs off 145 balls, but by then, the West Indies’ total was already too high for Australia to catch up.
8. Chris Gayle- 70 balls
In 2009, Australia scored 520 runs on a batting-friendly WACA pitch, but no Australian batsman made a hundred. The West Indies’ response was thrilling and remarkable.
Chris Gayle, famous for his powerful hitting in T20 cricket, showed his skill in Test cricket by scoring a hundred off just 70 balls, taking apart the Australian bowlers.
In the second Test, Gayle had been patient with a score of 165, but at Perth, he displayed his full range of hitting. He was especially aggressive against balls pitched up and effortlessly hit several sixes.
Unfortunately, Gayle’s impressive performance wasn’t enough as his teammates didn’t contribute much, and the West Indies lost by 35 runs.
7. David Warner- 69 balls
India’s tour of Australia in 2012 was a disaster. The Australian team completely dominated the series, and their most impressive performance came on the first day of the third Test.
India had already lost the first two Tests, and their batting fell apart again in the first innings of the third Test. India was all out for 161 runs, and David Warner came in to bat and made a big impact.
Warner, who was known more for his limited-overs cricket at the time, used this Test to show his skills in Test matches. He hit Umesh Yadav hard and took apart Vinay Kumar, who was playing his first Test.
Warner scored his fifty in just 36 balls and reached his hundred in only 69 balls, all on the first day of the Test. He was out for 180 runs, dismissed by Ishant Sharma. Warner’s aggressive batting led to India being defeated in just three days.
6. Shivnarine Chanderpaul- 69 balls
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, known for his slow and patient batting, usually doesn’t take many risks in Test cricket. However, he surprised everyone during a 2003 Test match against Australia at his home ground in Guyana.
In the first Test of the series, Australian bowlers had already knocked out most of the West Indies’ top order when Chanderpaul came in with the team struggling at four wickets for 47 runs. The situation got worse when Brian Lara was out, leaving the team at five wickets for 53 runs.
Feeling the pressure and with little support from his teammates, Chanderpaul decided to take charge. He started playing aggressively, attacking every delivery. Although he offered several chances for Australia to get him out, they missed all of them. Chanderpaul scored his century in just 69 balls before being dismissed by Andy Bichel.
5. Jack Gregory- 67 balls
The Test match was played on a pitch that favored batting, and Jack Gregory was dropped three times during his innings. However, this doesn’t take away from the significance of Gregory’s century, which he scored in just 67 balls. This was the fastest hundred in Test cricket for over sixty years.
In the second Test of their 1921 tour to South Africa, Australia won the toss but was struggling at 2 wickets down for 128 runs.
Gregory came in and immediately started attacking, putting pressure on the South African bowlers. He was confident and aggressive, scoring his hundred in just 67 balls, setting a world record at the time and helping Australia build a big score.
Gregory reached his hundred in 70 minutes, and to this day, no other batsman has made a century in less than 70 minutes.
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4. Adam Gilchrist- 57 balls
Adam Gilchrist was known for his aggressive batting style. He only had one approach: to hit the bowlers hard. His best performance came in 2006 when he scored a century off just 57 balls against England in Perth.
In the third Test, Australia had a small lead after the first innings but made the most of it in their second innings with strong performances from their top-order batsmen.
By the time Gilchrist came in, Australia was 400 runs ahead and in a strong position. He made things worse for England by scoring quickly. With the declaration coming soon, Gilchrist attacked every bowler, hitting the fast bowlers and charging at the spinners.
He was bold, aggressive, and unstoppable. His century, the second fastest at that time, helped push England out of the match.
3. Misbah-ul-Haq- 56 balls
Misbah-ul-Haq is known for his ability to hit big sixes, but he usually played a more defensive style. His slow batting earned him the nickname ‘tuk-tuk.’ However, in 2014, he decided to showcase his hitting skills.
In the second Test against Australia in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan was already 461 runs ahead when Misbah came to bat in the second innings. He had scored a century in the first innings and was now there to score some quick runs before declaring the innings.
The Australian bowlers were exhausted and couldn’t stop Misbah, who scored a century off just 56 balls.
Misbah played his favorite shots on the leg side and was confident enough to step out and hit the ball.
His quick hundred helped secure Pakistan’s victory and gave him a new reputation.
2. Viv Richards- 56 balls
Viv Richards was cricket’s first flashy batsman who mixed style with aggression. When he batted, runs came easily, and bowlers struggled to get him out. His best performance was against England in the 5th Test of 1986.
West Indies had already won the first four Tests, so the last match didn’t really matter. The West Indies had a huge lead in the first innings, making it clear they were in control.
But Richards wanted to make the game more exciting. When he batted in the second innings, he hit everything that was bowled to him, and even his mishits went for boundaries.
It was Richards’ day, and he was unstoppable. He scored the fastest hundred in Test history, hitting seven sixes and seven fours off just 58 balls.
1. Brendon McCullum- 54 balls
What’s the best way to end your cricket career: with a century, a double century, or the fastest century in Test cricket? For a player known for his aggressive style, Brendon McCullum ended his career with the most aggressive innings in Test cricket.
In 2016, during his last Test match in Christchurch against Australia, McCullum came in to bat with New Zealand struggling at 32 runs for 3 wickets after 19 overs, on a pitch that favored bowlers. Despite the tough conditions, McCullum played his usual aggressive game and gave his team a much-needed boost.
He hit 21 fours and six sixes, taking on a formidable bowling attack including Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, and Nathan Lyon. McCullum reached his hundred in just 54 balls, ending the innings with a stylish four off Pattinson and soaking in the cheers from the crowd.
Although New Zealand lost the match, McCullum made a memorable mark on cricket history.
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