Jaiswal, Brook, Smith, Williamson, Mendis, Root (Source: @BCCI, @CricCrazyJohns, @mufaddal_vohra/X.com)
The 2023-25 cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) saw South Africa emerge as the eventual champions, earning their first ICC title in a very long time. During this cycle, there have been numerous top-class individual performances with both bat and ball, where teams have been dominated solely by some individual brilliance.
As was the case with this WTC, there were some outstanding performances with the bat, where players managed to notch up tons after tons during this two-year period. Therefore, in this article, we will examine the players with the most centuries in the WTC 2023-25 cycle.
3. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Harry Brook - 4 Centuries
At joint number three are youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harry Brook from India and England, respectively. Jaiswal, who had an outstanding past couple of years, featured in 19 matches during the cycle, as he battled in 36 innings to score 1798 runs, with a best of 214*, as he scored runs at an average of 52.88, where he notched up four centuries during this particular cycle, and he also has 10 half-centuries to his name for India during this period. Jaiswal was at his best, but unfortunately, couldn't help India cross over the line as they failed to reach the WTC final for the very first time in history.
On the other hand is England's young Harry Brook, who turned the fortune for England with his pyrotechnics, even in Test cricket. Playing in a total of 29 innings after playing 17 matches, Brook scored 1463 runs at an average of 50.44, where he also smashed four centuries during this period to go along with seven half-centuries for England. Just like India, England also failed to reach the WTC final, but Brook's contribution remained vital to England's success in long-form cricket.
2. Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Kamindu Mendis - 5 Centuries
Moving to the number two position, which is jointly held by three players from three different countries. Starting with Australian Steve Smith, who notched up five centuries during the two-year period, battled in a total of 37 innings to notch up 1,403 runs at an average of 41.26. Australia crossed the hurdle on most occasions as they were the eventual runners-up during this cycle, only to be defeated by South Africa in the final.
Smith was quite instrumental during Australia's home and away tours, as he would continue to relentlessly score runs even on the toughest of pitches. Not just five centuries, Smith also had five half-centuries to his name, where Australia had a golden period, especially in red-ball cricket.
New Zealand's legendary batter, Kane Williamson, was also quite professional during this cycle. Leading his side to the inaugural WTC title in 2021, Williamson was also at his best during the 2023-25 cycle, as he also notched up five centuries during the period to go along with four half-centuries, smashing 1,152 runs in 22 innings at an average of 64.85, helping New Zealand on most occasions.
Williamson's mantra of remaining calm and composed under immense pressure would always be handy for the BlackCaps, who would rely on Williamson to bail them out of trouble on most occasions, as was the case during this WTC as well.
Now the third player in second position is Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis, who is also an ambidextrous bowler, which is a unique attribute for any player. Talking about his batting abilities, Mendis smashed 1,123 runs for Sri Lanka during the period in 20 innings at an average of 62.38, while striking at 65.98, where he smashed five centuries and three half-centuries for the Island Nation.
Mendis is surely one of those generational players for Sri Lanka in this decade, as he displayed his resilience with the bat and his ability to change the game with the ball for Sri Lanka. Currently in his early days, Mendis is expected to notch up many more records, as his temperament will be under the supervision of many.
1. Joe Root - 7 Centuries
Finally, moving to the number one player on the list is England's legendary batter, Joe Root, who, during the period, played in 22 matches and batted in 40 innings to smash 1,968 runs at an average of 54.66 while striking at 65.46. Root's biggest attribute during the cycle was that he thumped up seven centuries and as many half-centuries for the Three Lions with the bat.
Putting up a best of 262, Root did not back down even on one occasion, but unfortunately, couldn't help England cross the line, as they failed for the third consecutive occasion to reach the WTC final, despite his best efforts. Root single-handedly has been England's soul torchbearer and is expected to be in that role for the foreseeable future. Therefore, with all that in mind, the legacy that Root has left behind would be hard to even touch, as he already has 13,409 runs in Test cricket so far.
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