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Most Test Centuries in Cricket History| Top 25 Cricketers with Test Hundreds

Can you name cricketers with the most test centuries? If you are struggling, don’t worry. We got you.

Test cricket is the most challenging format of the sport, and it takes great skill and determination to reach the pinnacle of batting performance. That’s why a century in Test cricket has become one of the most sought-after milestones for batters. In this post, we take a look at 25 cricketers who have scored the most Test centuries. From Sachin Tendulkar to Joe Root, we’ll explore the career records of each and every cricketer who have achieved this extraordinary feat.

So, come join us and let’s dive into the fascinating world of cricketing greatness!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), Kumar Sangakkara (38), and Rahul Dravid (36) are the Top 5 batters with most centuries in Test cricket.
  • Sachin Tendulkar (119), Jacques Kallis (103), Ricky Ponting (103), Rahul Dravid (99), and Shivnaire Chanderpaul (96) have the most 50+ scores in Test cricket.
  • Sir Donald Bradman (99.94), Steve Smith (59.80), Sir Garfield Sobers (57.78), Kumar Sangakkara (57.40), and Jacques Kallis (55.37) have the highest average for players on this list of most Test centuries.
  • Sir Donald Bradman (29 – 100s, 13 – 50s)/Younis Khan (34/33), Matthew Hayden (30/29), Michael Clarke (28/27), and Virat Kohli (28/28) have the best conversion rates from fifties to hundreds in Test matches.
  • Sachin Tendulkar (15921), Ricky Ponting (13378), Jacques Kallis (13289), Rahul Dravid (13288), and Alastair Cook (12472) have scored the most Test runs.
  • Australia (8), India (4), South Africa, West Indies (3), Sri Lanka, England, Pakistan (2), and New Zealand (1) have produced the most players on this elite list.
  • Only Steve Smith (30), Joe Root (29), Virat Kohli (28), Kane Williamson (28), and David Warner (25) are the remaining active players on this list.

There were some players that surprisingly missed out:

Notable Omissions: Mohammad Yousuf, Greg Chappell, Viv Richards (24) Virender Sehwag, Kevin Pietersen, Justin Langer, Javid Miandad (23), AB De Villiers, Geoffrey Boycott, Mohammad Azharuddin, Colin Cowdrey, Ian Bell (22)

Test Cricket Batting Records: Top 25 List of Most Test Centuries

In this Top 25 list of cricketers with the most Test centuries, each cricketer has more than 25 Test hundreds to their names.

Note: To break ties, we went the player with the most 50+ scores. In addition, players with * next to their names are still active in international cricket.

1. Sachin Tendulkar (51), India

  • Years Played: 1989-2013, Test Matches Played: 200
  • Total 50+ Scores: 119 (51 – 100s, 68 – 50s)
  • Average: 53.78
  • Runs Scored: 15921

Sachin Tendulkar stands at the top of the list with a whopping 51 Test centuries, establishing him as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history.

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2. Jacques Kallis (45), South Africa

  • Years Played: 1995-2013, Test Matches Played: 166
  • Total 50+ Scores: 103 (45 – 100s, 58 – 50s)
  • Average: 55.37
  • Runs Scored: 13289

Jacques Kallis was one of the greatest all-rounders to have ever played the game, and his 45 Test centuries stand testament to this.

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3. Ricky Ponting (41), Australia

  • Years Played: 1995-2012, Test Matches Played: 168
  • Total 50+ Scores: 103 (41 – 100s, 62 – 50s)
  • Average: 51.85
  • Runs Scored: 13378

Ricky Ponting is the all-time highest run scorer for Australia in Test cricket, and his 41 centuries have put him firmly at third on this list. Ponting’s career was marked by consistent runs, hundreds in various conditions, and captaincy glory.

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4. Kumar Sangakkara (38), Sri Lanka

  • Years Played: 2000-2015, Test Matches Played: 134
  • Total 50+ Scores: 90 (38- 100s, 52 – 50s)
  • Average: 57.40
  • Runs Scored: 12400

Kumar Sangakkara is one of the most prolific batsmen in Test cricket, with 38 centuries to his name. His 90 50+ scores display his longevity and consistency, making him one of the all-time greats.

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5. Rahul Dravid (36), India

  • Years Played: 1996-2012, Test Matches Played: 164
  • Total 50+ Scores: 99 (36- 100s, 63- 50s)
  • Average: 52.31
  • Runs Scored: 13288

Rahul Dravid, nicknamed ‘The Wall’, is one of the only few cricketers to have scored centuries in all 10 Test playing nations. His 36 centuries and 99 50+ scores make him one of the most prolific batsmen in history. Along with Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid formed a formidable partnership for India’s batting line up during the late 90s and early 2000s.

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6. Mahela Jayawardene (34), Sri Lanka

  • Years Played: 1997-2014, Test Matches Played: 149
  • Total 50+ Scores: 84 (34- 100s, 50 – 50s)
  • Average: 49.84
  • Runs Scored: 11814

Mahela Jayawardene is the highest Test run scorer for Sri Lanka, with 11814 runs in 149 Tests. His batting style was known for its elegance and grace, and he will be remembered as one of the greats of Sri Lankan cricket.

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7. Brian Lara (34), West Indies

  • Years Played: 1990-2016, Test Matches Played: 131
  • Total 50+ Scores: 82 (34- 100s, 48 – 50s)
  • Average: 52.88
  • Runs Scored: 11953

Brian Lara is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. He holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket (400*). His elegant stroke play set him apart from the rest of the pack.

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8. Sunil Gavaskar (34), India

  • Years Played: 1971-1987, Test Matches Played: 125
  • Total 50+ Scores: 79 (34 – 100s, 45 – 50s)
  • Average: 51.12
  • Runs Scored: 10122

Sunil Gavaskar is considered to be one of the best openers to have ever played cricket. His Test centuries scores speak volumes about his ability with the bat, and he holds the record for most Test centuries by an Indian batsman. He was known for his defensive technique and in a career spanning 16 years.

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9. Younis Khan (34), Pakistan

  • Years Played: 2000-2017, Test Matches Played: 118
  • Total 50+ Scores: 67 (34 – 100s, 33 – 50s)
  • Average: 52.05
  • Runs Scored: 10099

Younis Khan was a Pakistani batting icon and his 34 centuries speak volumes of his ability. He is the only player in the world to have scored centuries in 11 countries*, and he holds the record for most Test centuries by a Pakistani batsman. His attitude towards cricket made him an inspiration to many young players.

*since UAE/Pakistan both hosted home matches for Pakistan during his career

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10. Sir Alastair Cook (33), England

  • Years Played: 2006-2018, Test Matches Played: 161
  • Total 50+ Scores: 90 (33 – 100s, 57 – 50s)
  • Average: 45.35
  • Runs Scored: 12472

Sir Alastair Cook, one of the most successful English batsmen in history, has 33 Test centuries to his name. He holds several records for England’s batting performance, including most consecutive tests and most runs scored (until Joe Root takes over, of course). His success is due to his hard work and dedication, which have made him a true legend of the game.

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11. Steve Waugh (32), Australia

  • Years Played: 1985-2004, Test Matches Played: 168
  • Total 50+ Scores: 82 (32 – 100s, 50 – 50s)
  • Average: 51.06
  • Runs Scored: 10927

Steve Waugh was one of Australia’s greatest batsmen, and one of the best captains for sure. He was known for his aggressive style of play and determination to succeed in every match.

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12. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (30), West Indies

  • Years Played: 1994-2015, Test Matches Played: 164
  • Total 50+ Scores: 96 (30 – 100s, 66 – 50s)
  • Average: 51.37
  • Runs Scored: 11867

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was one of the most consistent and reliable batsmen for West Indies. His 96 50+ scores speak of his ability to bat long and dominate the bowlers, especially as a lower middle order batter.

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13. Matthew Hayden (30), Australia

  • Years Played: 1994-2009, Test Matches Played: 103
  • Total 50+ Scores: 59 (30 – 100s, 29 – 50s)
  • Average: 50.73
  • Runs Scored: 8625

Matthew Hayden was a powerhouse of Australian cricket. He was known for his aggressive style of play and ability to dominate the bowlers in all conditions. His Test hundred conversion rate still stands tall in world cricket, and he will be remembered as one of Australia’s finest batsmen.

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14. Steve Smith* (30), Australia

  • Years Played: 2010-, Test Matches Played: 96
  • Total 50+ Scores: 67 (30 – 100s, 37 – 50s)
  • Average: 59.80
  • Runs Scored: 8792

Steve Smith is a modern-day batting legend, and his Test average around 60 (after almost 100 tests) is one of the highest among contemporary batsmen. His success has been due to his meticulous approach to the game and ability to dominate any bowling attack.

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15. Joe Root* (29), England

  • Years Played: 2012-, Test Matches Played: 129
  • Total 50+ Scores: 86 (29 – 100s, 57 – 50s)
  • Average: 50.22
  • Runs Scored: 10948

Joe Root is the name that comes to mind when talking about England’s current batting lineup. He has been a consistent performer for England, and his dedication and commitment to improving as a player are admirable. His stellar 2021-22 season has definitely put him as one of greatest batsmen of our generation, if not all-time.

Also Read: What is Bazball? The Official Definition of Bazball is…

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16. Sir Donald Bradman (29), Australia

  • Years Played: 1928-1948, Test Matches Played: 52
  • Total 50+ Scores: 42 (29 – 100s, 13 – 50s)
  • Average: 99.94
  • Runs Scored: 6996

Probably the greatest batsman of all time, Sir Donald Bradman needs no introduction. His incredible average of nearly 100 is a testament to his legendary batting skills and ability to dominate any bowling attack in the world. He was one of the most feared batsmen of his era, and he will continue to inspire generations of cricketers for years to come.

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17. Hashim Amla (28), South Africa

  • Years Played: 2004-2019, Test Matches Played: 124
  • Total 50+ Scores: 69 (28 – 100s, 41- 50s)
  • Average: 46.64
  • Runs Scored: 9282

Hashim Amla was one of South Africa’s most consistent batsmen, and his style of play has been a delight to watch. His ability to stay focused and grind out long innings made him an integral part of the Proteas’ batting line-up for many years.

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18. Michael Clarke (28), Australia

  • Years Played: 2004-2015, Test Matches Played: 115
  • Total 50+ Scores: 55 (28 – 100s, 27 – 50s)
  • Average: 49.10
  • Runs Scored: 8643

Michael Clarke was one of Australia’s most successful captains, and his batting record speaks for itself. He was known for his calm approach to the game, and he had a knack for scoring big runs when it mattered the most. The way he batted in the double century filled 2012-13 season was just amazing to watch.

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19. Kane Williamson* (28), New Zealand

  • Years Played: 2010-2023, Test Matches Played: 93
  • Total 50+ Scores: 60 (27 – 100s, 33 – 50s)
  • Average: 53.80
  • Runs Scored: 7909

Kane Williamson is one of the best batsmen in the world, and his ability to build an innings from scratch and score big runs has made him a star. His calm demeanor and sound technique have enabled him to dominate in all conditions, making him one of the most respected cricketers of our time.

With Ross Taylor, he formed the core of a World Test Championship winning middle order.

Also Read: Ross Taylor, An Underrated Cricketer Who Was A Giant Among New Zealand’s Greatest Generation, World Test Championship Final Review 2021

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20. Virat Kohli*(28), India

  • Years Played: 2011-, Test Matches Played: 108
  • Total 50+ Scores: 56 (28 – 100s, 28 – 50s)
  • Average: 48.93
  • Runs Scored: 8416

Virat Kohli is a modern-day batting great, and his ability to score runs at will has made him one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket. His aggressive style of play combined with his natural technique make him a force to be reckoned with, especially his exploits in Australia, South Africa, and memorable comeback in England.

Also Read: Virat Kohli’s 25 Best Innings Across International Formats (RANKED): Mohali 2016, MCG 2022, Hobart 133*, Adelaide 141…Which One is Your Favorite?

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21. Allan Border (27), Australia

  • Years Played: 1978-1994, Test Matches Played: 156
  • Total 50+ Scores: 90 (27 – 100s, 63 – 50s)
  • Average: 50.56
  • Runs Scored: 11174

Allan Border was known for being a gritty player with an eye for scoring big runs, and he was able to do so even on difficult pitches. His contribution to Australia’s success in the 1980s and 1990s cannot be understated.

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22. Graeme Smith (27), South Africa

  • Years Played: 2002-2014, Test Matches Played: 117
  • Total 50+ Scores: 65 (27 – 100s, 38 – 50s)
  • Average: 48.25
  • Runs Scored: 9265

Graeme Smith was known for his fearless batting, and he led the South African team with bravery and determination. He was able to stay at the crease for long periods of time and score big runs in difficult conditions, making him one of the greatest opening batsmen in history.

The way he batted with a broken hand to try to save a Test match against Mitchell Johnson and Australia is exemplary of his bravery and fearlessness. A ‘mighty figure,’ commentators declared.

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23. Sir Garfield Sobers (26), West Indies

  • Years Played: 1954-1974, Test Matches Played: 93
  • Total 50+ Scores: 56 (26 – 100s, 30 – 50s)
  • Average: 57.78
  • Runs Scored: 8032

Sir Garfield Sobers is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-round cricketers in history. His talent and skill with both bat and ball have rarely been matched, and his ability to control a match with his batting was remarkable. He will forever be remembered for his incredible achievements on the cricket field.

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24. Inzamam Ul-Haq (25), Pakistan

  • Years Played: 1992-2007, Test Matches Played: 120
  • Total 50+ Scores: 71 (25 – 100s, 46 – 50s)
  • Average: 49.60
  • Runs Scored: 8830

Inzamam Ul-Haq was one of Pakistan’s most consistent batsmen, and he was able to score big runs when the team needed them. His ability to play with power and finesse made him a formidable opponent for any bowler. With Younis & Yousuf, Pakistan had a stable middle order that they had lacked earlier.

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25. David Warner (25), Australia

  • Years Played: 2011-, Test Matches Played: 103
  • Total 50+ Scores: 59 (25 – 100s, 34 – 50s)
  • Average: 45.57
  • Runs Scored: 8158

David Warner is one of Australia’s most explosive batsmen, and his ability to score quickly and aggressively has made him a vital asset for the team.

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Final Thoughts on Test Crickets Greatest Centurions

Test cricket is a game of patience, skill and strategy, and several cricketers have been able to master it.

The players on this list are have scored the most test centuries in cricket history. This indicates the impact they had and the number of the games they changed. Each one has made an incredible contribution to the sport through their individual performances. Their feats will continue to be remembered for years to come as a testament to the sheer brilliance and dedication of these players. Test cricket will always be a game of heroes.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the game!

Also Read: 155 Greatest Cricketers of All Time (Men’s): The Complete List (Updated 2023), 76 Greatest Women Cricketers of All Time

Most Test Centuries – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who has the most centuries in Test Cricket?

Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), Kumar Sangakkara (38), Rahul Dravid (36), Mahela Jayawardene (34), Brian Lara (34), Sunil Gavaskar (34), Younis Khan (34), and Alastair Cook (33), are the Top 10 batters with most centuries in Test cricket.Collage of Cricketers with Most Test Centuries

2. Who has scored the most double centuries in Test cricket?

Sir Donald Bradman (12), Kumar Sangakkara (11), Brian Lara (9), Wally Hammond (7), Virat Kohli (7), and Mahela Jayawardene have scored the most Test double centuries.

3. Who has scored the most Test centuries in a calendar year?

Mohammad Yousuf (9, 2006), Ricky Ponting (7, 2006), Sir Vivian Richards (7, 1976), Aravinda de Silva (7, 1997), and Sachin Tendulkar (7, 2010) scored the most Test centuries in a calendar year.

4. Who has scored the most Test centuries for India?

Sachin Tendulkar (51), Rahul Dravid (36), Sunil Gavaskar (34), Virat Kohli (28), Virender Sehwag (23), Mohammad Azharuddin (22), Cheteshwar Pujara (19), Dilip Vengsarkar (17), VVS Laxman (17), and Sourav Ganguly (16) have scored the most Test hundreds for India.

5. Who has scored the most Test centuries for England?

Alastair Cook (33), Joe Root (29), Kevin Pietersen (23), Wally Hammond, Colin Cowdrey, Geoffrey Boycott, Ian Bell (22), Andrew Strauss (21), Ken Barrington, Graham Gooch (20), Len Hutton (19), Michael Vaughan, David Gower (18), and Denis Compton (17) scored the most Test hundreds for England.

6. Who has scored the most Test centuries for Australia?

Ricky Ponting (41), Steve Waugh (32), Steve Smith (30), Matthew Hayden (30), Sir Don Bradman (29), Michael Clarke (28), Allan Border (27), David Warner (25), Greg Chappell (24), Justin Langer (23), Neil Harvey, David Boon (21), Mark Waugh (20), Mike Hussey, Mark Taylor (19), and Adam Gilchrist (17) scored the most hundreds for Australia.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 03/14/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Top 5 Greatest Cricket Teams Ever To Be Assembled

West Indies from the 1980s and Australia from the early 2000s have usually held the tag of the greatest cricket teams to ever to be assembled, but do they have a new challenger now?

With the Australia women team winning the 2022 Commonwealth Gold medal, the debate is on—is this Australian women team among the greatest cricketing sides ever?

List of Greatest Cricket Teams

We will consider the modern-day cricket i.e. only the eras after the 1970s (there were great dominant Australian teams in the 1940s and earlier as well).

West Indies (1970-95)

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Claim to Fame

Winners of the 1975 ODI World Cup, 1979 ODI World Cup, and Runner Up in the 1983 ODI WC (regarded as a massive upset), Clive Lloyd’s men etched their name into glory. They were world beaters in Test match cricket as well with towering fast bowlers even till the mid-1990s.

Record

Most Consecutive Test Series without defeat (29), from 1980-1995

Key Players

Clive Lloyd (C), Garfield Sobers, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Sir Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Lance Gibbs, Colin Croft, Deryck Murray, Lawrence Rowe, Alvin Kallicharan, Roy Fredericks, Rohan Kanhai, Larry Gomes

Australia Women (2018-2022)

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Claim to Fame

2020 T20 World Cup, 2022 ODI World Cup, 2022 Commonwealth Gold, 26 Winning ODI Streak (2018-2021)

Women’s cricket in Australia was always going to be one step forward due to awareness and funding. They have most of the ODI and T20 World Cups anyway, so how much better could this team be?

Well, this team is very, very good. They do not lose Test matches, have only lost a couple of ODIs in the last four years, and when it seemed the gas was running out, Ash Gardner & co made sure Australia had the mental strength to comeback from jaws of defeat. All this with the great Ellyse Perry on the sidelines.

Key Players

Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy, Megan Schutt, Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Annabel Sutherland, Alana King, Grace Harris, Nicola Carey, Darcie Brown, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Delissa Kimmince

Australia Men (1999-2007)

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Claim to Fame

1999, 2003, & 2007 ODI World Cups

Record

16 Series Without Defeat (2001-2004) followed by 9 series (2005-2008)

Key Players

Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Shane Watson, Andrew Symonds, Michael Bevan, Mark Waugh, Dean Jones, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn, Stuart MacGill, Jason Gillespie, Simon Katich, Brad Hogg, Brad Hodge, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel, Nathan Bracken

South Africa (2007-2015)

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Claim to Fame

During this era, South Africa did not win a World Cup. Nor did they establish absolute dominance, but the thing was in an era where the Australian side had begun their descent, no team in the world was quite as strong.

South Africa though challenged teams all around the world, most notably winning in Australia and drawing in India. The era finally collapsed after 2015-16 season, but they gave it all in their final stand – The Blockathon.

Test Record

14 series without defeat (2008-14)

Key Players

Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, AB De Villiers, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Mark Boucher, Vernon Philander, JP Duminy, David Miller, Imran Tahir, Shaun Pollock (end of career), Makhaya Ntini (end of career), Ashwell Prince

England ODI (2015-2022)

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Claim to Fame

Most World Cup winning teams are some of the greatest teams in a nations history, but why did I choose the England 2015-2022 team? It is because of the dominant nature of their high risk ODI cricket that they became famous for. Started by Brendon McCullum in the 2015 ODI World Cup, Eoin Morgan took the baton and carried England forward.

Yes flat pitches, bigger bats, and all but 498/4, 481/6, 444/3, 418/6, 408/9, & 399/6 is just another level of dominance. High risk meant that they lost more often, but they changed ODI cricket forever.

Key Players

Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, David Willey, Sam Curran, Mark Wood, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, James Vince, Joe Denly

Honorable Mention

Sri Lanka (1996-2015), Pakistan (1985-1999), India (2008-2013), India (2018-present), South Africa (1992-1999), England (2008-2011)

Do you agree that these are the greatest cricket teams? Comment below and let us know.

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© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2022. Originally published on 08/11/2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Most Stylish Batsman Of The Modern Era: Which Player Plays Each Shot Best – Tendulkar’s Drive, Ponting’s Pull, Lara…?

Who do you think is the most stylish batsman of the century? Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, or the Fab 5?

Let’s have some fun today. Instead of just picking 11 today, we will pick an entire squad of 15 members with 7 reserves, similar to the guidelines for the COVID-19 bio-security bubble age.

Today’s Twist – Most Stylish Batsman:

Pick a squad of 22 members, where each player plays the best of a certain shot. The constraint is that you can only pick 1 player per shot. Who would you pick for the best cover drive, the best square cut, etc.? Note, we only pick players from the past 25 years for the current iteration.*

The Catch:

Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli was all over twitter this past week, but who do you think plays the best cover drive? For someone like Sachin Tendulkar who has all the shots in the game, if you were to only pick one, which shot would it be?

Almost all shots are linked next to a video, so have fun watching some of our favorite shots!

Straight Drives

  1. Straight Drive (Ground): Sachin Tendulkar
  2. Straight Drive (Aerial) : Martin Guptill
  3. Dancing Down Straight Six: Sourav Ganguly

Cover Drives

4. Steady Cover Drive: Babar Azam

5. Lefty Cover Drive: Kumar Sangakkara

6. Expansive Cover Drive: Jacques Kallis

Pulls/Flicks

7. Pull Shot: Ricky Ponting

8. Flick: Virat Kohli

9. Square Cut: Rahul Dravid

Unorthodox Shots

10. Dilscoop: Tillakaratne Dilshan

11. McDilscoop: Brendon McCullum

12. Reverse Sweep: Kevin Pietersen

13. Reverse Scoop (Aerial): AB De Villiers

14. Helicopter Shot: MS Dhoni (for more on MS Dhoni, check this out)

15. Just Pick Any Shot: Brian Lara (The Winner)

I mean which shot would you have given Brian Lara, probably the most stylish batsman of this era?

Reserves

16. Lefty Cover Drive (Aerial): Soumya Sarkar

17. Dab to Third Man: Kane Williamson

18. Single Off the Hip: Alastair Cook

19. Lefty Leg Aerial Hoick: Adam Gilchrist

20. Wristy Flick/Pull: VVS Laxman

21. Reverse Reverse Sweep: Eoin Morgan

22. The Leave/Weird Stuff: Steven Smith

Which players would you pick? Which is your favorite video?

Who is the most stylish batsman in your opinion? Comment below with some of your favorite videos, share, and don’t forget to subscribe!

Well, that is it for right now. Stay tuned for more coming up later this week!

Sources: Youtube (Videos), cricket.com.au

*The article has been edited to only include the players of the recent past for the current iteration. We will do a sequel to this article considering players from earlier eras in our future iterations.

Image courtesy of Pete Souza / Public domain

All-Time XI Cricket – World Cup Edition

Today’s twist:

Create an All-time XI with the twist that you can pick only one player from each World Cup. Since we have 12 world cups to choose from, we will create a XI with a 12th player. There are multiple players who have shined in each of cricket’s finest ODI tournament, but who do you pick-the best batsman, bowler, player of the series, or the inspirational captain?

The catch:

How would you go about choosing between Martin Crowe and Wasim Akram in ’92, Lance Klusener and Shane Warne in ’99, or more recently between Kane Williamson, Rohit Sharma, Mitchell Starc, and the infallible Ben Stokes in 2019? Whatever it is, this is bound to be a fun ride.

Before we reveal our XI, let’s refresh our memory with relevant statistics regarding the highest run-scorer, wicket taker, player of the series, and captain of the winning team from each cricket world cup.

World Cup – YearMost runs (runs scored)Most Wickets (wickets taken)Player of the series Winning Captain
1975Glenn Turner (333)Gary Gilmour (11)N/AClive Lloyd
1979Gordon Greenidge (253)Mike Hendrick (10)N/A Clive Lloyd
1983David Gower (384)Roger Binny, Ashantha de Mel (18)N/AKapil Dev
1987Graham Gooch (471)Craig McDermott (18)N/AAllan Border
1992Martin Crowe (456)Wasim Akram (18)Martin Crowe Imran Khan
1996Sachin Tendulkar (523)Anil Kumble (15)Sanath Jayasuriya Arjuna Ranatunga
1999Rahul Dravid (461)Geoff Allott, Shane Warne (20)Lance KlusenerSteve Waugh
2003Sachin Tendulkar (461)Chaminda Vaas (23)Sachin Tendulkar Ricky Ponting
2007Matthew Hayden (659)Glenn McGrath (26)Glenn McGrath Ricky Ponting
2011Tillakarante Dilshan (500)Shahid Afridi, Zaheer Khan (21)Yuvraj SinghMahendra Singh Dhoni
2015Martin Guptill (547)Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult (22)Mitchell Starc Michael Clarke
2019Rohit Sharma (648)Mitchell Starc (27)Kane WilliamsonEoin Morgan
ODI World Cup Statistics

Our All Time XI:

  1. Graham Gooch (1987)
  2. Sachin Tendulkar (2003)
  3. Kane Williamson (2019)
  4. Martin Crowe (1992)
  5. MS Dhoni (2011) – WK
  6. Clive Lloyd (1979) – Captain
  7. Arjuna Ranatunga (1996)
  8. Lance Klusener (1999)
  9. Kapil Dev (1983)
  10. Mitchell Starc (2015)
  11. Glenn McGrath (2007)
  12. Glenn Turner (1975)

Honorable Mentions: Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Wasim Akram, Kumar Sangakkara (most World Cup dismissals and 4 centuries in 2015)

Note, we chose MS Dhoni at the expense of Yuvraj Singh in order to have a wicket-keeper in the side. We decided not to factor great finals’ innings like Ben Stokes in 2019 and Adam Gilchrist in 2017…’Great World Cup Innings’ would have to wait till a later post.

In any case, choosing from the great 1975-1983 West Indian and 1999-2015 Australian sides was always going to be a difficult task anyway…

Agree? Disagree? In any case, let us know in the comments below what your ideal Cricket World Cup XI would be.

For more articles in our series World XIs – With Twists, check this page out!

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Cricket All-Time World XI – With a Twist

Creating fantasy World XI? We have all been here before. There is just one issue—there are just too many good players across eras. So, here is our new series on creating our World XIs, with a twist of specific constraints. In all of our posts, we will limit the category of players after ODI cricket began.

Today’s twist:

Build a Test and ODI World XI so that (1) there is a maximum of two players per country in the XI and (2) a player is not repeated in both lists.

The catch:

There are some greats that could easily fit in both teams. For example, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and AB De Villiers are fan favorites and a versatile players, but which list are you going to put them in?

Test World XI:

  1. Sir Alastair Cook (Eng)
  2. Graeme Smith (SA) – Captain
  3. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) – WK
  4. Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)
  5. Brian Lara (WI)
  6. Steven Smith (Aus)
  7. Jacques Kallis (SA)
  8. Kapil Dev (Ind)
  9. Shane Warne (Aus)
  10. James Anderson (Eng)
  11. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)

Honorable Mentions: Rahul Dravid (Ind) , Dale Steyn (SA), Courtney Walsh (WI), Richard Hadlee (NZ)

ODI World XI:

  1. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)
  2. Chris Gayle (WI)
  3. Ricky Ponting (Aus) – Captain
  4. Virat Kohli (Ind)
  5. Vivian Richards (WI)
  6. AB De Villiers (SA)
  7. MS Dhoni (Ind) – WK
  8. Shakib Al Hasan (Bang)
  9. Wasim Akram (Pak)
  10. Waqar Younis (Pak)
  11. Glenn McGrath (Aus)

Honorable Mentions: Brett Lee (Aus), Daniel Vettori (NZ), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Adam Gilchrist (Aus)

Well, only choosing two out of Sehwag, Kohli, Tendulkar, and Dhoni or Gilchrist, Ponting, Warne and Mcgrath was always going to be a tough task…

Anyway, send us your World XIs and let us know what you think in the comments section below! Stay tuned for the next fantasy team, where we will build an ODI World XI with exactly one player from each World Cup.

Image Courtesy: Kroome111 via CC BY-SA 4.0