Century (cricket)
In cricket, a century is a score of 100 or more runs in a single innings by a batter. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for batters and a player's number of centuries is generally recorded in their career statistics. Scoring a century is loosely equivalent in merit to a bowler taking a five-wicket haul, and is commonly referred to as a ton or hundred. Scores of more than 200 runs are still statistically counted as a century, although these scores are referred to as double (200–299 runs), triple (300–399 runs), and quadruple centuries (400–499 runs), and so on. Reaching 50 runs in an innings is known as a half-century.
Scoring a century at Lord's earns the batter a place on the Lord's honours boards.[1]
Earliest known centuries
Centuries were uncommon until the late 19th century because of the difficulties in batting on pitches that had only rudimentary preparation and were fully exposed to the elements. There is doubt about the earliest known century, but the most definite claim belongs to
The first definite century in a top-class match was scored by
When Hambledon played Kent at Broadhalfpenny in August 1768, the Reading Mercury reported: "what is very remarkable, one Mr Small, of Petersfield, fetched above seven score notches off his own bat". Unfortunately it is not known if Small did this in one innings or if it was his match total.[4] Hambledon batsmen Tom Sueter and George Leer are the first two players definitely known to have shared a century partnership when they made 128 for the first wicket against Surrey at Broadhalfpenny Down in September 1769.[6]
Highest number of centuries
First-class cricket
W. G. Grace was the first batsman to score 100 career centuries in first-class cricket, reaching the milestone in 1895. His career total of 124 centuries was subsequently passed by Jack Hobbs, whose total of 199 first-class centuries is the current record.[7][8]
Test cricket
The first century in
The current holder of the record for most centuries in Test cricket is Sachin Tendulkar of India, who has scored 51 centuries.[10]
One Day International cricket
The first
Twenty20 International cricket
The first
Fastest centuries
The fastest recorded century in Test cricket in terms of balls faced is held by
In One day International cricket (ODI), the fastest century is held by South African batsman
David Miller of South Africa hit the fastest century in Twenty20 international cricket against Bangladesh on 29 October 2017. Miller brought up his century in just 35 balls. Rohit Sharma of India equalled the record of the fastest century in T20 international cricket against Sri Lanka on 22 December 2017. Czech Republic's Sudesh Wickramasekara reached the three-figure mark in 35 balls against Turkey on 30 August 2019, equalling Rohit Sharma's and David Miller's joint-fastest T20I hundred.[13]
On 22 April 2019, Scottish cricketer George Munsey scored 100 in 25 balls playing for Gloucestershire 2nd XI; his 39-ball total of 147 included 20 sixes.[14][15]
List of cricketers who have scored centuries in all three international formats
See also
References
- ^ "About The Honours Boards". Lords.org. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
By scoring a century, taking five wickets in an innings or ten wickets in a match, a player ensures that their name is added to one of the famous Honours Boards in the Pavilion.
- ^ G. B. Buckley, Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket, Cotterell, 1935.
- ^ Arthur Haygarth, Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744–1826), Lillywhite, 1862.
- ^ a b H. T. Waghorn, Cricket Scores, Notes, etc. (1730–1773), Blackwood, 1899.
- ^ Ashley Mote, The Glory Days of Cricket, Robson, 1997.
- ^ H. T. Waghorn, The Dawn of Cricket, Electric Press, 1906.
- ^ Most Hundreds in a Career, Stats.cricinfo.com
- Variations in first-class cricket statistics.
- ^ "1st Test, England tour of Australia at Melbourne, Mar 15-19 1877 - Match Summary". ESPNcricinfo.com.
- ^ "Records | Test matches | Batting records | Most hundreds in a career". ESPNcricinfo.com. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ 1st ODI: England v Australia, 24 Aug. 1972, ESPNcric.info
- ^ "Result: 1st Match, Group A (N), ICC World Twenty20 at Johannesburg, Sep 11 2007". ESPNcricinfo.com. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Czech Rep. beat Turkey Czech Rep. won by 257 runs - Czech Rep. vs Turkey, Continental Cup, 6th Match Match Summary, Report". ESPNcricinfo.com. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "George Munsey blasts epic 25-ball hundred for Gloucestershire 2nd XI". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- ^ Heatly, Gary (22 April 2019). "George Munsey smashes rapid 147 to warm up for Scotland duty". The Scotsman. Retrieved 23 May 2019.