Most Centuries In Tests



Joe Root is closing in on Sachin Tendulkar [Source: @OneCricketApp/x.com]Joe Root is closing in on Sachin Tendulkar [Source: @OneCricketApp/x.com]

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Test cricket is the ultimate trial by fire. It’s where batters cement their legacies, go through gruelling sessions, and script their names in history. Some do it with grace, some with grit, and some with sheer dominance. But they all have one thing in common: a liking for centuries.

Let’s take a closer look at the players with most centuries in Test cricket.

1. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 51 Centuries

The 'God of Cricket' and the undisputed king of longevity, Sachin Tendulkar batted like a maestro painting a masterpiece. Over 200 Tests, the Master Blaster racked up 51 centuries and 15,921 runs—both world records. Whether it was a match-saving knock in Australia or a silken drive at Wankhede, Tendulkar made batting look effortless. His century tally is a mountain that no one has climbed yet, and only time will tell if anyone ever will.

2. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 45 Centuries

If there was ever a Swiss Army knife in cricket, it was Jacques Kallis. With 45 Test tons and 13,289 runs, he wasn't just South Africa’s greatest batter but also a beast with the ball, picking up 292 wickets. A wall of patience, a batter with rock-solid technique, and a bowler with a golden arm, Kallis was cricket’s ultimate all-rounder.

3. Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 41 Centuries

The word ‘dominance’ in Test cricket should have a photo of Ricky Ponting next to it. The former Aussie skipper bullied bowlers with his aggressive strokeplay and piled up 41 centuries and 13,378 runs. Whether it was pulling fast bowlers with disdain or leading Australia to World Cup glories, ‘Punter’ was all about intensity. His back-to-back double tons in the 2006 Ashes are still the stuff of legend.

4. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 38 Centuries

If batting was poetry, Kumar Sangakkara was a Shakespearean sonnet. With 12,400 runs and 38 centuries, he was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s batting for over a decade. A master of elegant cover drives and wristy flicks, Sanga had a hunger for daddy hundreds with his highest score being a 319 against Bangladesh. A thinking man’s cricketer, and one of Sri Lanka’s finests.

5. Rahul Dravid (India) – 36 Centuries

‘The Wall’ was built to last. Rahul Dravid’s 36 centuries and 13,288 runs were proof of his unshakable concentration. When India needed a saviour, Dravid answered the call -whether it was the 233 at Adelaide (2003), the legendary 180 in Kolkata (2001), or his epic marathon knocks in England. Technique, temperament, and a truckload of patience, Dravid had it all.


6. Joe Root (England) – 36 Centuries

The English run-machine is still going strong, and at 33 years old, Joe Root could very well surpass Dravid and Sangakkara soon. With 36 centuries and 12,972+ runs (and counting), Root has been England’s batting mainstay for over a decade. His knack for scoring in all conditions and his love for spinning bowlers make him a nightmare for oppositions. He’s already England’s greatest Test batter, and there’s plenty more to come.

7. Steve Smith (Australia) – 35 Centuries

From the 'next Shane Warne' to the Bradman of this era, Steve Smith has rewritten Test cricket’s rulebook. With an unconventional technique, Smith has stacked up 35 centuries and 10,140+ runs. His dominance in Ashes series is unparalleled and his insatiable hunger for runs makes him Australia’s most important batter. If he stays fit and continues his form, breaking into the 40+ century club seems inevitable.

8. Sunil Gavaskar (India) – 34 Centuries

Before Tendulkar, there was Sunny Gavaskar, the original Indian batting giant. Facing the meanest fast bowlers in the pre-helmet era, Gavaskar was fearless. With 34 centuries and 10,122 runs, he was the first cricketer to cross 10,000 Test runs and the first to score 30+ tons. Whether it was taming the West Indian quicks or batting for eternity, Gavaskar set the gold standard.

9. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 34 Centuries

Sri Lanka’s most graceful batter, Mahela Jayawardene, had an eye for big runs. His 34 centuries and 11,814 runs were built on sheer elegance and his 374 against South Africa remains the highest Test score by a right-hander. A true artist at the crease, Jayawardene’s effortless strokeplay made batting look like a walk in the park.

10. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 34 Centuries

If cricket was about style, Brian Lara would be the Picasso of it. The West Indian magician not only had 34 centuries and 11,953 runs, but he also holds the highest individual Test score (400). Lara’s flair, charisma, and audacious strokeplay made him a global icon. When in full flow, he was simply unstoppable.