The world of cricket has seen several fearsome strikers of the cricket ball, who cared for none and their only aim was to demolish opposition bowling attacks. Anything in their hitting arc or away from it was dispatched alike and oppositions hardly withstood a chance in front of their menacing batsmanship. The knocks chronicled by these batsmen had a huge bearing on the final outcome of the game as it set the momentum in the favour of their side, who then capitalised on all the opportunities that came their way.
Naturally, the oppositions were pushed into submission, who not only lost the contest but also had to do away with the prospect of a series win. We will be talking about a few such knocks hit in a manner quite contrasting to the ideal Test match approach, in the present article. In the below piece, we look at 5 batsmen, who scored the fastest century in Test cricket:
1. Brendon McCullum – 54 balls
The fiery wicketkeeper-batsman from New Zealand, McCullum struck this knock against Australia during the 2nd Test at Christchurch in 2016. Batting first, New Zealand scored 370 in the first innings, on the back of knocks of 145(79) by McCullum and 72(66) by Anderson. With this knock, McCullum became the fastest to reach a century in the format, doing it in just 54 balls.
Australia, in reply, posted a mammoth total of 505 in their first innings, owing to innings of 170(321) by Burns and 138(241) by Smith. Wagner picked up 6-106 for the hosts to leave an impact. The pressure was now on the Kiwis to bounce back and they did put up a fight, scoring 335 in the second innings and setting Australia a target of 201.
The Australians yet again responded in a fine fashion chasing the total down on the back of innings of 65(162) by Burns and 53(46) by Smith, winning the Test by 7 wickets.
2. Viv Richards – 56 balls
The great West Indian batsman carted the knock against England during the 5th Test at St. John’s in 1986. Put into bat first, the hosts managed 474 in the first innings, owing to knocks of 131(283) by Haynes and 76(115) by Marshall.
In return, England were halted at 310 in their first innings where Garner picked up 4-67 for the hosts to showcase his prowess. Having gained a lead over 150, the home team batted without any inhibitions in the second innings, blasting 246-2 courtesy brilliant innings of 110(58) by Richards and 70(96) by Haynes. The former also became the second-fastest to score a century in the format with that knock.
England now needed 411 for victory and as expected, they couldn’t get anywhere near, being bowled out for a mere 170 and losing the contest by 240 runs. Harper was the pick of the bowler for the Windies, snapping up 3-10.
3. Misbah-ul-Haq – 56 balls
The former Pakistani captain, Misbah stroked this knock against Australia during the 2nd Test at Abu Dhabi in 2014. Electing to bat first, Pakistan scored 570-6 in the first innings, owing to fantastic knocks of 109(250) by Ali, 213(349) by Younis and 101(168) by Misbah.
Australia, however, couldn’t live up to their lofty standards as they were skittled out for just 261 in their first innings and bestowed the advantage to the home team. Riding high on the same, Pakistan yet again posted a convincing total of 293-3 in the second innings, where Ali and Misbah smashed knocks of 100(174) and 101(57) respectively. The latter in the process became the third-fastest to reach the feat, achieving it in just 56 balls.
The control lied with Pakistan, who set the opposition a target of 603 for victory and as anticipated they pressed home the advantage, dismissing Australia for 246 and clinching the encounter by a massive margin of 356 runs.
4. Adam Gilchrist – 57
A swashbuckling batsman, who could bat anywhere in the top 6, Gilchrist hammered the knock against England during the 3rd Test at Perth in 2006. The home team, who batted first, posted a below-par total of 244 in the first innings, where Hussey top-scored with 74(162) while Harmison and Panesar snapped up 4-48 and 5-92 for the visitors respectively.
England too batted poorly in their first innings, getting bowled out for 215 and affording some lead to the Australians. Though small, the lead gained brought the best out of the hosts in the second innings, who posted 527-5 on the back of fabulous innings of 135(164) by Clarke, 103(156) by Hussey and 102(59) by Gilchrist. With this effort, Gilchrist became the fourth-fastest to reach a century in the format.
Set a target of 557 for an improbable win, England were bundled out for 350 in their second innings and lost the contest comprehensively by 206 runs. Both Cook and Bell showed some fight for the Englishmen, scoring 116(290) and 87(163) respectively while Warne was the most effective bowler for the Aussies with a spell of 4-115.
5. Jack Gregory – 67 balls
Predominantly a fast bowler, who contributed crucial runs batting left-handed, Gregory achieved the landmark against South Africa during the 2nd Test at Johannesburg in 1921. Australia while batting first, managed a commanding first-innings total of 450 on the back of superb knocks of 203 by Collins and 119 by Gregory. The latter scored his century in just 67 balls, becoming the fifth fastest.
The Proteas, in reply, were castled for just 243 in their first innings, where yet again Gregory left his mark, picking up 4-71 for the Aussies. The Australians rightly enforced the follow-on and built pressure on the hosts to overcome the deficit.
In a spectacular display of batting, the home nation posted 472-8 in the second innings, courtesy scintillating knocks of 152 by Frank and 111 by Nourse, and set a target of 266 for the visitors. Gregory was the standout with the ball once again, scalping 3-68. The game eventually ended in a draw and is still fondly remembered for the all-round heroics by none other than Gregory.
