Andy Flower, Sean Williams, Brendan Taylor, Grant Flower, Hamilton Masakadza (Source: @ZimCricketv, @ICC/X.com)
Donning the Test jersey is a dream that many hope to accomplish in their professional playing career. And while some get to wear the Test jersey, only a handful of them get the opportunity to score a Test hundred.
While many have scored centuries for major Test-playing nations, only a few have managed to score a century for Zimbabwe, where Test cricket is played in scarcity. Therefore, in this article, we will look at the players with the most centuries in Test cricket for Zimbabwe.
5. Hamilton Masakadza - 5 Hundreds
At number five on this list is former Zimbabwean powerhouse Hamilton Masakadza. Masakadza, who played for Zimbabwe from 2001 until 2018, featured in 38 Test matches and scored 2,223 runs with an average of 30.04, went on to score five centuries for his proud nation. While he also had eight half-centuries to his name, Masakadza provided a solid start for Zimbabwe at the top of the order with his ball-striking abilities. The right-hander was a reliable top-order batter who was sensational for the Chevrons, as they would be off to positive starts, thanks to him.
2. Grant Flower - 6 Hundreds
The number two spot is jointly held by three players, each of whom has six centuries. Starting with Grant Flower, the former right-handed batter, who played from 1992 until 2004, scored 3,457 runs in 67 matches with a highest score of 201* and an average of 29.54 in Test cricket, where he scored six centuries alongside 15 half-centuries. Grant was one of the finest players to have ever represented Zimbabwe in Test cricket, as he was an outstanding player in his approach, consistently putting together decent scores on most occasions.
2. Brendan Taylor - 6 Hundreds
Another player with six centuries to his name was the former Zimbabwean skipper, Brendan Taylor, who was also the backbone of the Zimbabwean cricket team from 2004 until 2021, when he completely retired from international cricket. Playing 34 Test matches, Taylor scored 2,320 runs at an average of 36.25, with six centuries and 12 half-centuries in his illustrious career.
He was a useful middle-order batter in all three formats of the game, and he would also keep wickets for his side, a role that allowed Zimbabwe to express themselves freely. Taylor has been one of the most prolific players, not just for Zimbabwe, but overall during his playing era, as he was one of their most reliable players. Taylor's solid batting approach, marked by his fearless intent, made him one of the most dominant batters of his era, as he consistently scored runs in almost all conditions with his effective batting technique.
2. Sean Williams - 6 Hundreds*
And the final player in the number two column is current Zimbabwean, left-handed middle-order batter Sean Williams, who debuted in 2013 and is still an active member of the side, as he scored his 6th century in the ongoing Test against South Africa in Bulawayo. Currently playing in his 21st Test match, Williams has amassed over 1,700 runs at an average of 48.25, with his highest score to date being 154.
To go along with that, Williams also has six half-centuries to his name, as he has often done a tremendous job for Zimbabwe's side with the bat in hand. Sean, who bats in the middle order, has often played a crucial hand, as seen in the ongoing game against the Proteas, where he is keeping hold of the situation by scoring crucial boundaries at regular junctures of the game, thereby keeping Zimbabwe in the contest. This has been a story for Williams throughout his career, as he has been one of the most integral parts of the current Zimbabwean side.
1. Andy Flower - 12 Hundreds
Finally, moving to the number one player on the list is former Zimbabwean skipper Andy Flower, who has been nothing short of tremendous. Andy, who also played alongside his brother, Grant, from 1992 until 2002 for Zimbabwe in 63 Test matches and scored 4,794 runs at an average of 51.54, with 12 centuries to his name. Alongside that, he also had 27 half-centuries for the Zimbabwean side and was the best ever player to come out of the nation.
Left-handed with the bat and currently one of the finest coaches going around in the T20 circuit, Andy Flower was an astute Test cricketer who would be difficult to get out, especially against top-quality nations back in the day. Therefore, without any doubt, both statistically and in terms of his playing approach, Andy Flower tops this list by heaps and bounds with double what the second player on the list had, as he has 12 centuries to his name in red-ball cricket.
.jpg?type=mq?im=Resize=(250, 250) "Arnav Chopra")
