Batsmen with Most Centuries in Test Cricket

Indeed, Test cricket had driven large crowds over the years. The quality of batting has further improved with equally competitive pitches on offer in the overseas conditions. Beyond dust bowls, there’s plenty of freedom for the batsmen to deliver. The players with most centuries in Test cricket have added a new flavor to the traditional format.

Interestingly, with bowlers playing the chin music, the batters have suffered a major series of body blows before walking out victorious.

Here’s the top ten list of batsmen with most centuries in Test cricket:

1. Sachin Tendulkar – 51 Test tons:

In the top-flight cricket, Sachin Tendulkar managed to reap the rewards for his remarkable consistency with the bat. The former Team India batsman scored runs at his will. In addition to, he played a vital role at the top for his national team while donning the whites.

Scoring runs all-around the park, Tendulkar represented India in exactly 200 Tests which is a record. The veteran cricketer has 51 hundreds and 68 half-centuries to his name in 329 Test innings.

Overall, Tendulkar who is the leading Test run-getter amassed 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78. Also, he tops the chart of batsmen with most centuries in Test cricket.

      2. Jacques Kallis – 45 Test tons:

You can’t keep the Proteas star Jacques Kallis out of any provided contest He proved his mettle by emerging as one of the best all-rounders–the South African have had ever produced.

The exquisite timer of the ball, Kallis amassed 13,289 runs at an average of 55.37. He further smashed 45 tons and 58 fifties in 280 Test innings.

Kallis had shouldered the responsibility often than not with the bat. He further paced up his innings as per the demand and that made him most threatening batsman in the world cricket.

     3. Ricky Ponting – 41 tons:

Calm before the storm and to be honest, legendary Ricky Ponting was the man to absorb the pressure with such each. The experienced campaigner for Australia represented his national team in 168 Tests. He further registered 41 hundreds and 62 half-centuries in 287 Test innings.

While scoring at the highly-impressive average, Ponting further won hearts for his resilience and determination. The elegant right-handed batsman amassed 13,378 runs in 168 Tests at an average of 51.85.

4. Kumar Sangakkara – 38

Another familiar name among the cricketing circles is Kumar Sangakkara. The left-handed batsman has 38 hundred to his name in 134 Tests for Sri Lanka. Moreover, in 233 Test innings, Sangakkara amassed 12,400 runs at an average of 57.40.

Enterprising in his stroke-making, Sangakkara has been responsible for lifting the morale of the youngsters during his remarkable Test career.

5. Rahul Dravid – 36 Test tons:

Rahul Dravid, who is now nursing the young crop of Indian cricketers did a pretty good job while donning whites for his National Team. The quality batsman of his time Dravid further represented the country in 164 Tests. He amassed 13,288 runs at an average of 57.40.

The right-handed batsman Dravid has 36 Test tons to his name in 286 Test innings. He further garnered 63 half-centuries. Playing alongside Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, Dravid walked out as one of the stalwarts of the game for Team India.

6. Younis Khan – 34 Test tons:

Younis Khan had to weather the criticism from all corners. The leading Test run-getter from Pakistan played 118 Tests before retiring from the five-day format in May 2017. He played his farewell alongside former Pakistan National Cricket Team skipper Misbah-Ul-Haq against the Windies at Roseau.

Known for rotating the strike to take off the pressure early on, Younis further converted his starts into big ones. He has 34 hundred and 33 half-centuries to his name in 213 Test innings.

Interestingly, Younis scored 10099 Test runs at an average of 52.05.

7. Sunil Gavaskar – 34 Test tons:

Another great in the form of Sunil Gavaskar has graced the list of players with most centuries in Test cricket. Gavaskar smashed 34 hundred in 125 Tests. He is listed seventh among batsmen with most centuries in Test cricket.

Apart from it, the elegant top-order batsman, Gavaskar struck 45 fifties in 214 Test innings. Overall, he scored 10122 runs at an average of 51.12.

Having the go-slow approach, Gavaskar played balls according to its merit. At the same time, he scored runs at a pace to put pressure right back on to the opposition.

8. Brian Lara – 34 Test tons:

Windies stalwart Brian Lara has 34 Test tons to his name in 131 Tests before announcing his retirement. The left-handed batsman further went on to smash 48 fifties to strengthen his cricketing CV.

Lara has amassed 11953 runs at an average of 52.88 in 323 Test innings. The former Windies captain has also set an innings individual score record. His unbeaten 400 came against quality England way back in 2004.

Lara, who instilled fear among the spinners as well, was further entertaining himself by playing a marathon of knocks.

9. Mahela Jayawardene – 34 Test tons:

There have been many things that batters aim to accomplish over the years. So, did former Sri Lanka National Cricket Team skipper Mahela Jayawardene. He represented the Island Nation in 149 Tests which further saw him amassing 11814 runs at an average of 49.84.

The star left-handed batsman Jayawardene smashed 34 hundred and 48 fifties after featuring in 252 Test innings. He is among the batsmen with most centuries in Test cricket.

Furthermore, Jayawardene represented Lions between 19997 and 2004.

10. Alastair Cook – 33 Test tons:

England Cricket Team’s former skipper Alastair Cook is placed tenth on the list of players with most centuries in Test cricket.

The southpaw had faced a tough time during his Test career, but he didn’t set off his foot. Cook amassed 12,472 runs at an average of 45.35 in 161 Tests.

Overall, in 291 Test innings, Cook smashed 33 hundred and 57 half-centuries. He wraps the list of top ten batsmen with most centuries in Test cricket.

Cook’s Test career started on a bright note when he smashed a fine century against India, before doing the same against the Virat Kohli-led Team India at the Oval. He has been such a character to look at in the red-ball cricket.

Here’s the table of batsmen with most centuries in Test cricket:

Serial No.	Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	100
1	SR Tendulkar (INDIA)	200	329	15921	53.78	51
2	JH Kallis (ICC/SA)	166	280	13289	55.37	45
3	RT Ponting (AUS)	168	287	13378	51.85	41
4	KC Sangakkara (SL)	134	233	12400	57.4	38
5	R Dravid (ICC/INDIA)	164	286	13288	52.31	36
6	Younis Khan (PAK)	118	213	10099	52.05	34
7	SM Gavaskar (INDIA)	125	214	10122	51.12	34
8	BC Lara (ICC/WI)	131	232	11953	52.88	34
9	DPMD Jayawardene (SL)	149	252	11814	49.84	34
10	AN Cook (ENG)	161	291	12472	45.35	33
11	SR Waugh (AUS)	168	260	10927	51.06	32
12	ML Hayden (AUS)	103	184	8625	50.73	30
13	S Chanderpaul (WI)	164	280	11867	51.37	30
14	DG Bradman (AUS)	52	80	6996	99.94	29
15	MJ Clarke (AUS)	115	198	8643	49.1	28
16	HM Amla (SA)	119	205	9022	47.23	28
17	GC Smith (ICC/SA)	117	205	9265	48.25	27
18	AR Border (AUS)	156	265	11174	50.56	27
19	GS Sobers (WI)	93	160	8032	57.78	26
20	V Kohli (INDIA)	75	128	6508	54.23	25
21	Inzamam-ul-Haq (ICC/PAK)	120	200	8830	49.6	25
22	GS Chappell (AUS)	87	151	7110	53.86	24
23	Mohammad Yousuf (PAK)	90	156	7530	52.29	24
24	IVA Richards (WI)	121	182	8540	50.23	24
25	SPD Smith (AUS)	64	117	6199	61.37	23
26	V Sehwag (ICC/INDIA)	104	180	8586	49.34	23
27	KP Pietersen (ENG)	104	181	8181	47.28	23
28	JL Langer (AUS)	105	182	7696	45.27	23
29	Javed Miandad (PAK)	124	189	8832	52.57	23
30	WR Hammond (ENG)	85	140	7249	58.45	22
31	M Azharuddin (INDIA)	99	147	6215	45.03	22
32	MC Cowdrey (ENG)	114	188	7624	44.06	22
33	AB de Villiers (SA)	114	191	8765	50.66	22
34	G Boycott (ENG)	108	193	8114	47.72	22
35	IR Bell (ENG)	118	205	7727	42.69	22
36	RN Harvey (AUS)	79	137	6149	48.41	21
37	DA Warner (AUS)	74	137	6363	48.2	21
38	G Kirsten (SA)	101	176	7289	45.27	21
39	AJ Strauss (ENG)	100	178	7037	40.91	21
40	DC Boon (AUS)	107	190	7422	43.65	21
41	KF Barrington (ENG)	82	131	6806	58.67	20
42	PA de Silva (SL)	93	159	6361	42.97	20
43	ME Waugh (AUS)	128	209	8029	41.81	20
44	GA Gooch (ENG)	118	215	8900	42.58	20
45	KS Williamson (NZ)	69	123	5815	51.91	19
46	MEK Hussey (AUS)	79	137	6235	51.52	19
47	L Hutton (ENG)	79	138	6971	56.67	19
48	CH Lloyd (WI)	110	175	7515	46.67	19
49	CG Greenidge (WI)	108	185	7558	44.72	19
50	MA Taylor (AUS)	104	186	7525	43.49	19
51	MP Vaughan (ENG)	82	147	5719	41.44	18
52	DL Haynes (WI)	116	202	7487	42.29	18
53	DI Gower (ENG)	117	204	8231	44.25	18
54	DCS Compton (ENG)	78	131	5807	50.06	17
55	MD Crowe (NZ)	77	131	5444	45.36	17
56	AC Gilchrist (AUS)	96	137	5570	47.6	17
57	LRPL Taylor (NZ)	89	159	6456	46.11	17
58	DB Vengsarkar (INDIA)	116	185	6868	42.13	17
59	VVS Laxman (INDIA)	134	225	8781	45.97	17
60	H Sutcliffe (ENG)	54	84	4555	60.73	16
61	CA Pujara (INDIA)	66	111	5127	49.77	16
62	TM Dilshan (SL)	87	145	5492	40.98	16
63	RB Richardson (WI)	86	146	5949	44.39	16
64	MS Atapattu (SL)	90	156	5502	39.02	16
65	GP Thorpe (ENG)	100	179	6744	44.66	16
66	SC Ganguly (INDIA)	113	188	7212	42.17	16
67	MA Atherton (ENG)	115	212	7728	37.69	16
68	CL Walcott (WI)	44	74	3798	56.68	15
69	ED Weekes (WI)	48	81	4455	58.61	15
70	JB Hobbs (ENG)	61	102	5410	56.94	15
71	KD Walters (AUS)	74	125	5357	48.26	15
72	Azhar Ali (PAK)	70	133	5610	44.88	15
73	RB Kanhai (WI)	79	137	6227	47.53	15
74	JE Root (ENG)	77	141	6508	50.44	15
75	Saleem Malik (PAK)	103	154	5768	43.69	15
76	RR Sarwan (WI)	87	154	5842	40.01	15
77	CH Gayle (WI)	103	182	7214	42.18	15
78	AJ Stewart (ENG)	133	235	8463	39.54	15

*The stats for most centuries in Test cricket were updated on December 23, 2018.