Batsmen scoring centuries in their 100th Test

by Karthik Atchuta

There are a total of 9 batsmen scoring 10 centuries in their 100th Test Match. Joe Root of England became the latest batsman to achieve this feat. Ricky Ponting is the only batsman to record a century in both innings of a Test match in his 100th appearance.

Here are the batsmen with their scores in decreasing order:

Joe Root 218 v India

In February 2021, Joe Root became the first ever batsman in Test history to score a double century in his 100th Test. He also became just the 3rd England batsman to score a century in his 100th Test match. This was Root’s 3rd consecutive Test century – 2 of them being double centuries.

Root’s 218 included 19 fours and 2 sixes. He was trapped LBW by Shahbaz Nadeem.

David Warner 200 v South Africa

On December 27, 2021, during the boxing day Test between Australia and South Africa at the MCG – David Warner became the first ever left handed batsman and opener to record a double century in his 100th Test. He achieved this feat in just 254 balls.

He had scores of 5, 48, 21, 28, 0 & 3 in his last 3 Tests before walking in to bat in his 100th Test.

Warner left the ground retired hurt after he could hardly walk moments after reaching his double century with a four off Lungisani Ngidi. He walked in to bat the next day but was bowled out by Anrich Nortje off the very first ball he faced.

David Warner b Nortje 200 (255b 16×4 2×6 ) SR: 78.74

David Warner became the second Australian batsman after Ricky Ponting to achieve the feat of scoring a ton in his 100th Test!

Inzamam-ul-Haq 184 v India

Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 184 is the highest score by a batsman in their 100th Test. He achieved this feat in 2005 at Bengaluru which helped Pakistan tie the 3 match Test series against India. Inzamam scored the 184 in 264 balls with the help of 25 fours before being trapped lbw by L Balaji. He followed it up with a unbeaten 32 ball 31 in the second innings.

Gordon Greenidge 149 v England

West Indies opener Gordon Greenidge’s 149 came in a winning cause against England at St John’s in 1990. West Indies went on to win the series 2-1. Greenidge’s 149 came off 207 balls with the help of 18 fours and 3 sixes. He is the 3rd batsman to join the 100 club in their 100th Test match.

He was the first West Indies batsman to achieve this feat and also the first batsman ever to record a century with at least 1 six in his 100th Test match!

Javed Miandad 145 v India

In 1989, Javed Miandad became the first ever Asian batsman to score a century in his 100th Test. His 145 came off 289 balls with the help of 10 fours – in a tiring draw against India at Lahore.

Ricky Ponting 120 & 143* v South Africa

Ricky Ponting became the first ever batsman in Test history to score 2 centuries in his 100th Test match. He won both the Man of the Series and Match awards for his feat against South Africa in 2006.

His first innings knock of 120 came in 174 balls with the help of 12 fours and 1 six – which helped Australia (359) get close to South Africa’s 451-9 from a situation of 54/3.

In the second innings Australia needed 287 runs to win and it was captain Ponting’s unbeaten heroic 143 in just 159 balls with the help of 16 fours that helped Australia chase down the target in 60.3 overs at Sydney Cricket Ground. A grand way to celebrate your 100th Test indeed!

Hashim Amla 134 v Sri Lanka

Hashim Amla became the second South African batsman to achieve this feat. His 134 against Sri Lanka at Johannesburg came in 265 balls with the help of 16 fours. South Africa went on to win the match by an innings and 118 runs and whitewashed the series 3-0.

Graeme Smith 131 v England

In 2012, Graeme Smith’s 131 in 273 balls at Kennington Oval in London – made him the 4th captain in Test history to score a century in his 100th Test match – after Colin Cowdrey, Ricky Ponting and Inzamam-ul-Haq. His innings had 20 fours.

Alec Stewart 105 v West Indies

Alec Stewart became the first ever wicket keeper batsman to score a century in his 100th Test in the year 2000. His 105 against West Indies at Manchester came off 153 balls with the help of 13 fours. He walked in to bat when his team was struggling at 17/3 as Courtney Walsh wrecked havoc. The match ended in a draw and Stewart was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Colin Cowdrey 104 v Australia

England captain Colin Cowdrey was the first ever batsman to score a century in his 100th Test Match in the year 1968. He was also the first ever cricketer to win the Man of the Match award in his 100th Test match. He scored his 104 runs in 247 balls at Birmingham with the help of 15 fours. The match ended in a draw.