You might be surprised to know that the record for most test centuries doesn’t belong to Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, or any of the other batting greats you’re thinking of. In fact, it’s a record currently held by a player who hasn’t even played half as many Tests as many of those legends.
So, who is it? And how many centuries has he scored? Keep reading to find out.
Matthew Hayden – 380
You’re probably familiar with the name Matthew Hayden. He was an Australian cricketer who played in the late 1990s and 2000s and is considered one of the best openers in the game’s history. He made his Test cricket debut in late 1994, and over the course of his career, he scored a total of 380 Test centuries—the most in history.
This is an incredible feat, and it’s one that’s unlikely to be surpassed any time soon. In fact, as of 2017, the next-highest scorer is just short of half of Hayden’s total, with 190 centuries. So what makes Hayden’s record so impressive?
For one thing, scoring 380 centuries is no easy task. It requires a lot of dedication and skill, as well as a great deal of stamina and determination. And for Hayden, it wasn’t just about scoring lots of centuries—he was also highly successful when it came to winning matches for his team. In fact, he was part of the Australian team that won the Cricket World Cup in 2007.
Brian Lara – 375
You are probably familiar with Brian Lara. He is a West Indian cricketer who has made over 11,000 runs in Test cricket. On 6 December 2005, he made 375 not out against England, the highest individual Test score of all time.
To date, Brian Lara has scored a total of 37 Test centuries (a century is 100 runs or more scored in a single inning). This is the most Test centuries by any player in history.
Sachin Tendulkar – 362
It’s no secret that Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest batsmen to ever grace the sport of cricket. In a career spanning more than two decades, Tendulkar scored a record 362* Test centuries—more than any other player in history.
What’s even more impressive is the way he achieved this feat. He holds the record for the most Test centuries scored in a single inning (199*) and the most Test centuries scored against a single country (52 against Australia). He was also the first player to score a double century in a One Day International match.
Clearly, Tendulkar was a cricketing genius, and his record for most Test centuries will likely never be beaten.