Representing the country in the 100th Test match of the career is every aspiring cricketer’s dream. The path to the same isn’t easy by any means as the player has to first perform exceedingly well in age-group cricket, making his way into the stateside. Then after years of consistent performances at the domestic circuit that a player gets an opportunity to ply his trade at the highest level. Even then, the job is not over as the player has to constantly justify his place in the team by pulling off match-winning performances. Having surpassed all these levels successfully, a player procures the greatest honour of playing the 100th Test match for the country. While a few players failed under the pressure of the precious moment, there were many, who sealed the deal, scoring centuries for the team and commemorating the important moment. In the below piece, we look at 5 such batsmen, who scored a century in their 100th Test:
1. Javed Miandad
A free-spirited batsman from Pakistan, who loved taking on the bowlers and dispatching them for boundaries, Miandad achieved the feat against India during his 100th Test at Lahore in 1989. India, who batted first, piled a mountain of runs on the board, posting 509 in their first innings. Right-hand aggressive batsman, Manjrekar top-scored for India with a scintillating knock of 218 and was nicely supported by Azharuddin in the middle order, who scored 77.
Given the home conditions and conduciveness for batting, Pakistan too accumulated plenty of runs on the board, scoring 699-5 on the back of brilliant centuries by Miandad and Malik, who scored 145 and 113 respectively and a superb double-century by Mohammad. It was a run-fest, to say the least, and the game rightly ended in a draw.
2. Sir Gordon Greenidge
Described as one of the best batsmen of his generation, Greenidge chronicled this knock against England during his 100th Test at Antigua in 1990. Having halted the England chariot at 260 in the first innings, West Indies posted a commanding total of 446 in the replay, courtesy brilliant knocks of 149 by Greenidge and 167 by Haynes.
With such a hefty lead procured by the hosts in the first innings, it was important for England to bat with authority in the second. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as they were bowled out for a lower score, 154 to be precise, handing the home team a victory by an innings and 32 runs. Bishop and Ambrose were the stars with the ball for the Windies, picking up 5-84 and 4-22 in the first and second innings respectively.
3. Inzamam-ul-Haq
A towering figure in the Pakistani set-up, who had earned a reputation of bailing the team out of trouble and winning games from seemingly improbable situations, Inzamam mustered this knock against India during his 100th Test at Bengaluru in 2005. Batting first, Pakistan made the most of the conditions that were on offer, scoring 570 in the first innings on the back of sublime knocks of 267 by Younis Khan and 184 by Inzamam.
India, in reply, tried to get close but were dismissed for 449, giving Pakistan a valuable first-innings lead. Riding high on the same, the visitors hammered 261-2 in their second innings and set India a target of 383.
With the wicket deteriorating and plenty of assistance for the spinners, India were cleaned up for 214 in their second innings, bestowing Pakistan a memorable win by 168 runs. Shahid Afridi was the premier reason behind the same, who scalped 3-13 to go with his 2-30 with the ball and 58 off 34 with the bat in the first and second innings respectively.
4. Ricky Ponting
A classical right-hand batsman from Australia, Ponting scored 2 centuries to commemorate the landmark of playing 100 Test matches for the country. He accomplished the feat against South Africa during his 100th Test at Sydney in 2006. The Proteas, who batted first, managed a competitive total of 451-9 in their first innings, owing to centuries by Prince and Kallis.
Being the host nation, Australia in the abled company of Ponting and Gilchrist, who scored 120 and 86 respectively, posted 359 in the first innings and put up a fight. The advantage did lie with South Africa, who declared their second innings at 194-6 and set the hosts a target of 287 in the fourth innings.
In what culminated being one of the most memorable chases in the Test history, Australia achieved the target by 8 wickets on the back of incredible knocks of 90 by Hayden and 143 by Ponting, showcasing their prowess in home conditions.
5. Joe Root
A crucial member of the celebrated Fab 4 in world cricket, Root plundered the knock recently against India during his 100th Test at Chennai in the England tour of India 2021 series. Winning the crucial toss, England batted first and posted a mammoth total of 578 in their first innings, courtesy staggering innings of 218 by Root and 87 by Sibley.
Inspite of knowing these conditions in and out, India couldn’t get anywhere closer to the English total, being bowled out for 337 in the first innings and doing away with the advantage. The hosts, however, made a good comeback by restricting England to 178 in the second innings and setting themselves a target of 420 to chase.
With the ball turning square and posing plenty of problems to the batsmen, India were skittled out for 192 where Kohli top-scored with a valiant 72 while Leach picked up 4-76 for the visitors. England won the first contest comprehensively by 227 runs and went 1-0 up in the momentous series.
