Steve Smith closing on! List of players with most centuries in The Ashes history

Aakash Saini

Most Ashes centuries [Source: @Arnavv43, @ImTanujSingh, @CrickeTendulkar/x]Most Ashes centuries [Source: @Arnavv43, @ImTanujSingh, @CrickeTendulkar/x]

Steeped in tradition and fierce rivalry, the Ashes has long stood as the ultimate test of skill, temperament, and legacy in cricket. Over its near 150-year-old history, several batting heavyweights from both nations have risen to the occasion by crafting centuries that have etched their names into the rivalry’s folklore.

In lieu of the upcoming Ashes 2025-26 series in Australia, here is a look at five players with the highest number of Ashes centuries to their names.

5. Wally Hammond – 9 centuries

Late England all-rounder Wally Hammond hammered down nine Test centuries in 58 Ashes innings spanning 33 matches against Australia between the years 1928 and 1947. The cricketer also punched out seven additional fifty-plus scores, and held a prolific batting average of 51.85.

One of Wally Hammond’s magnum opus Test performances also occurred against Australia, back in December 1928 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) when he hauled an epic 251. Facing over 600 deliveries during his marathon seven-and-a-half-hour stay at the crease, Hammond’s masterclass helped England clinch an eight-wicket win to set up path of a comprehensive 4-1 Ashes series win ‘Down Under’.

4. Steve Waugh – 10 centuries

Former Australian captain and multi-Ashes winner Steve Waugh towed 10 Test tons and 14 half-centuries against England in the Ashes. Turning up with the bat in 72 innings from 45 matches, Waugh’s batting average marked 58.75, the second-best among all Australians with over 2,000 Ashes runs to their names, falling only behind the great Sir Donald Bradman.

Waugh also led Australia in nine of those matches, winning eight of them to hold the best winning percentage in Ashes history among skippers who led their nation in at least three Tests. Ably shouldering the responsibility of captaincy, his batting remained unflinching, as he constantly produced some match-winning epics during his Ashes years between 1986 and 2003.

3. Jack Hobbs – 12 centuries

Surrey veteran and late England batter Jack Hobbs earned a reputation as a masterful stroke-player whose class and composure defined English batting in his time. He also demonstrated his elegance in all his Ashes appearances against Australia, be it on home soil or away. The cricketer played 41 of his 61 career Tests in the Ashes, and earmarked it by minting 3,636 runs, the highest among any Englishman.

He also plundered 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries in his Ashes career to remain England’s most successful batter to date in this storied rivalry. Notably, while Hobbs averaged 52.29 in Ashes Tests at home, he averaged even higher in Australia, that of a proficient 57.97.

2. Steve Smith – 12 centuries

Modern-day batting behemoth Steve Smith seems to reserve some of his very best against England in the Ashes. With a tally of 3,417 runs in just 66 innings from 37 Tests at a proficient average of 56.01, the cricketer has earmarked himself as one of the most formidable batters in Ashes history.

He has further glittered his career with 12 Ashes tons out of his 36 overall centuries in the format, which includes his career-best score of 239. Across the Ashes of 2017-18 and 2019 in Australia and England respectively, Steve Smith averaged over 110 in both series, aggregating 1,461 runs in just 14 innings with six hundreds.

1. Sir Don Bradman – 19 centuries

Even after more than 75 years since playing his final Test, Sir Donald Bradman continues to remain the most prolific batter in the history of the Ashes. His tally of 19 Ashes hundreds remains the highest by a landslide, however, Steve Smith might well challenge this illustrious tally with a couple of unreal Ashes campaigns.

In 37 Tests, Bradman compiled 5,028 runs at an average of 89.78, thus finding himself nearly 1,500 runs ahead of second-placed Jack Hobbs among the leading run-getters in history. His unmatched mastery over England overs, regardless of playing conditions, remains the gold standard for batting greatness in the Ashes.