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Sachin Tendulkar On 3rd Place 5 Youngest Players To Score A Century In Tests

Arnav Chopra

Nazir, Masakadza, Tendulkar, Mushtaq and Ashraful (Source: @ZimCricketv, @ICC/X.com)Nazir, Masakadza, Tendulkar, Mushtaq and Ashraful (Source: @ZimCricketv, @ICC/X.com)

Scoring a century in Test cricket is a feat that many aim to accomplish in their international cricketing careers. However, some achieve them after grinding through long periods, while others successfully manage them at a very young age.

Many of those young players who have represented their international sides went on to become legends for their nations. Therefore, in this article, we will have a look at players who were the youngest ever to score a century in Test cricket's history.

5. Imran Nazir: 131 vs West Indies, 2000, 18y 154d

Starting with the fifth player on the list is Pakistan's Imran Nazir, who, at the age of 18 years and 154 days, struck a scintillating ton against the West Indies at Bridgetown, Barbados, in the year 2000. Making his debut against Sri Lanka in 1999, Imran hit his first century against the Caribbean side in the second innings of the second Test, after failing in the first innings.

In that innings, he played 180 deliveries to smash 131 with 20 boundaries as he helped Pakistan post 419 runs on the board in their second innings, asking West Indies to chase 275 in the fourth innings, as the match ended in a draw. Unfortunately for Nazir, he could only survive eight Tests and could only score 427 runs at an average of 32.84, with two centuries and a half-century in his short career. He last featured in a Test against Australia at Sharjah in the year 2002.

4. Hamilton Masakadza: 119 vs West Indies, 2001, 17y 352d

Following Nazir, Zimbabwe's Hamilton Masakadza did better than the Pakistani batter, as the Zimbabwean slapped a hundred against the West Indies in the year 2001 at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, at the tender age of 17 years and 352 days. Masakadza scored 119 in the second Test of the series, as in the second innings, he played 316 deliveries to score 119 with 12 boundaries to his name as Zimbabwe posted a strong total of 563 runs.

West Indies were asked to chase a target of 348, as the game ended in a draw. Hamilton went on to become a legend for the Zimbabwe side, where he featured in a total of 38 Test matches to pile up 2,223 runs at an average of 30.04, with 5 centuries and eight half-centuries to his name. He hung up his boots from Test cricket after last playing against Bangladesh in 2018.

3. Sachin Tendulkar: 119* vs England, 1990, 17y 107d

Finally, the number three player on this list is the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar made his debut against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 and played until 2013, when he featured in his last Test against the West Indies at his home ground in Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

This legendary player scored his first ton against England at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1990 at the age of 17 years and 107 days, where he played a scintillating unbeaten knock of 119* in India's second innings as they were chasing 408 runs for the victory. 

Staying till the end, India scored 343 for six as time ran out, and the match ended in a draw. Even in the first innings, Sachin Tendulkar played a brilliant 68-run knock, powering India to 432. Tendulkar went on to play a total of 200 Test matches in his career, where he thumped 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, with 51 tons to his name, and remains the highest run-getter in Test cricket history.

2. Mushtaq Mohammad: 101 vs India, 1961, 17y 78d

Now, the number two player on this list was the one who did it at the age of 17 years and 78 days back in the year 1961 against India, Pakistan's former legendary batter, Mushtaq Mohammad. In the Delhi Test of 1961, the fifth Test of the series saw India and Pakistan battle it out. In Pakistan's first innings, Mushtaq batted beautifully to put up 109 with 19 boundaries to his name.

In the end, the match was drawn, as it was then remembered for Mushtaq's outstanding innings at the young age of just 17. Mushtaq, who debuted in the year 1959 against the West Indies at Lahore, played his final Test against Australia at the WACA in Perth in the year 1979, during which he featured in a total of 57 Test matches, pounding 3,643 runs at an average of 39.17, while smashing 10 centuries in his career.

1. Mohammad Ashraful: 114 vs Sri Lanka, 2001, 17y 61d

Finally, moving to the number one player on the list is former Bangladeshi cricketer Mohammad Ashraful. Ashraful recorded his maiden Test century at the age of 17 years and 61 days against Sri Lanka at the Colombo SSC stadium in the year 2001 on his debut.

Bangladesh batted first and were bowled out for just 90 in the first innings, while Sri Lanka put on a mammoth 555 runs on the board. Batting to survive in the game, Bangladesh put up a fight courtesy of young Ashraful, who scored 114 off 212 deliveries with 16 boundaries to his name, taking Bangladesh's total to 328, but unfortunately, they fell short by an innings of 137 runs as Sri Lanka claimed the game with ease, as this match was a part of the Asian Test championship in the year 2001.

Ashraful last played for Bangladesh against Zimbabwe in the year 2013 at Harare, where he featured in a total of 61 matches for Bangladesh, scoring 2,737 runs with an average of 24 while banging eight half-centuries and six centuries in his international red-ball career.