Top 5 Slowest Test Centuries In Terms Of Balls Faced

On Friday, England Test opening batsman Dom Sibley made one of the slowest Test centuries by an English batsman. Dom Sibley’s 100 came off 312 deliveries stands fifth amongst the slowest made by an English batter in terms of balls faced. Over the years, quite a few batsmen have resorted to proper Test match batting.

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Such batsmen have managed to grind down the bowlers through immense concentration and determination, resulting in consuming plenty of deliveries in reaching their three-figure mark. However, other times such batsmen have faced criticism for prioritising their milestones over the winning cause.

We take a look at five of the slowest Test centuries made by batsmen in terms of balls faced:

Thilan Samaraweera – 345 balls:

Thilan Samaraweera was one of the best Sri Lankan batsmen, tailormade for the longest format of the game. And perhaps an underrated one too. His 81 Tests yielded 5462 runs at 48.76 with 14 centuries. The 43-year old mustered his slowest century against England, coming off 345 deliveries. England fought tooth and nail to draw the first two Tests in Galle and Kandy respectively in 2003-04.

Nevertheless, in the decider, the tourists stood no chance. In reply to England’s 265, the hosts batted in an attritional manner as Samaraweera and Mahela Jayarwadene accounted for a stand of 262 together. Thilan stood his ground for a combined 491 minutes and scored 142 runs that ended in his 408th delivery. Eventually, Sri Lanka declared at 628 and won by an innings and 215 runs.

Also Read: Batsmen Who Have Scored Centuries In All Three Formats

Jimmy Adams – 365 balls:

Jimmy Adams was one of those cricketers, who could bowl, bat, and keep wickets too. Jimmy Adams was in the penultimate year of his international cricket when Zimbabwe visited West Indies in 2000 for two Tests. The southpaw could score only 17 and 27 in Port of Spain as the hosts clinched a tight victory.

In the second Test, the 52-year old did not miss out. Murray Goodwin’s century carried the tourists to a respectable 308 after which West Indies’ top-order stuttered. Franklyn Rose was the only other batsman to reach fifty as Jimmy Adams stood tall, playing a captain’s knock while his side folded for 339.

The Jamaican was out in the middle for a jaw-dropping 505 minutes, ending with an unbeaten 101 off 372 deliveries, reaching his century in the 365th. West Indies eventually won the match by ten wickets and the series by 2-0.

Clive Radley – 396 balls:

While Clive Radley was an absolute giant in first-class cricket, his Test appearances could not go beyond eight caps. Yet, in his eight Tests, he scored 481 runs at a healthy average of 48.10 with two half-centuries—one each against Pakistan and New Zealand. The most memorable of the two was against the Kiwis arriving in Auckland in 1978.

The three-match series was locked at 1-1 with New Zealand winning in Wellington and the tourists taking the honours in Christchurch. In his debut innings, Radley scored only 15, but he maintained his vigil in his next chance. Half-centuries from Mark Burgess, Jock Edwards while a century from Geoff Horwath helped the hosts to 315.

At number three, Radley became a batting barnacle, standing his ground for 648 minutes. The right-handed batsman reached his ton in four short of 400 deliveries. Radley was the sixth wicket to fall in his 524th delivery for 158 as England scored 429 in 164 overs. The match resulted in a draw.

Sanjay Manjrekar – 397 balls:

 

India toured Zimbabwe to play one Test match in what was also the inaugural for the African nation in 1992. It saw the birth of some genius cricketers like Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Alistair Campbell, and Dave Houghton, all of whom made a mark. In particular, there was a hundred from captain Houghton, and fifties the Flower brothers to catapult the hosts to 456 in Harare.

In response, Sanjay Manjrekar took Zimbabwe through a territory they might have never seen before. At number three, the Mysore-born showcased a classical Test-match inning, surviving for 529 minutes. He brought his century in 397 deliveries and was the eighth wicket to fall, exiting in his 422nd ball. India made only 307 in nearly 170 overs, trailing by 149 runs. Zimbabwe found themselves at 146-4 before the match culminated to a draw.

Also Read: Indian Batsmen Who Have Hit Centuries In Both Innings Of A Test Match

Mudassar Nazar – 419 balls:

 

England toured Pakistan for three Tests in 1977-78 and the first Test in Lahore was a damp squib as it ushered in an attritional draw. In fact, the remaining two Tests also ended the same way between two evenly matched sides. And it began with opening batsman Mudassar Nazar as the hosts elected to bat first.

Nazar held the batting crease for a mammoth 591 minutes, completing his ton in 419 deliveries. The right-handed batsmen was Geoff Miller’s one of three victims, perishing in his 491st delivery. Haroon Rasheed also hammered a hundred as Pakistan declared in 407 after playing 133 overs.

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