Top 10 Batsmen With Most Centuries In International Cricket
Published - 22 Mar 2020, 09:23 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:04 AM
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In the sport of cricket, hitting a century is considered a big achievement for a player. They are known to dream about getting to the three-figure mark again and again, in order to have a lasting legacy. For some batsmen, it’s more about pride though rather than records.
Speaking of records, there is a particular illustrious list of batsmen who have scored the most number of centuries in international cricket, and that exactly what we’ve got in store for you today. In this article, we will take a look at who among the long and glorious history of the gentleman’s game, have made it to the top ten.
Here are top ten batsmen with most centuries in international cricket:
10) AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 47
Renowned by the nickname of ‘Mr 360’, AB de Villiers is one of the best batsmen of this generation. In his international career of 14 years, the 36-year-old played 420 matches for South Africa.
In the same period, he was able to score 20,014 runs in all formats, with an impressive average of 48.11. De Villiers struck a total of 47 centuries in his playing career.
9) Rahul Dravid (India) – 48
At number nine, we have Rahul Dravid who played international cricket between 1996 and 2012. Known for his temperament and resilient style of batting, Dravid represented India in 509 international matches.
In total, he scored 24,208 runs, across all formats, with an average of 45.41. The 47-year-old has 48 centuries to his name. After retirement, Dravid moved into coaching and he currently monitors the India ‘A’ and India U19 cricket teams.
8) Brian Lara (West Indies) – 53
Widely regarded as one of the best cricketers of all time, Brian Lara ranks on number eight in the list of top ten batsmen with most centuries in international cricket. He started playing in the 1990s and continued to mesmerize cricket lovers until 2007.
In all, Lara played 430 matches for the West Indies, amassing 22,358 runs in all formats, with an average of 46.28. The Trinidadian registered a total of 53 centuries while playing for the national team.
7) Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 54
Former Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardene scored a massive 54 centuries in his playing career, and therefore he ranks seventh on this list.
Having played for the national team from 1997-2015, Jayawardene collected a total of 652 caps, as he racked up 25,957 runs in international cricket across all formats, with an average of 39.15. The 42-year-old moved into coaching after retirement is currently the head coach of Mumbai Indians (MI).
6) Hashim Amla (South Africa) – 55
South African phenom Hashim Amla in his career, spanning across 15 years, from 2004 to 2019, scored a surreal 55 centuries in international cricket. He is considered one of the best opening batsmen of contemporary cricket.
The 36-year-old earned 349 caps in his career and scored 18,672 runs in the process with an average of 46.56. While Amla will not represent the Proteas any more, he continues to ply his trade in various domestic leagues across the world.
5) Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 62
Jacques Kallis is often hailed as one of the greatest batsmen from South African shores. He played from 1995 to 2014, amassing 519 caps for his country.
Kallis, in his illustrious career, registered 25534 runs across all formats, with a stunning average of 49.10. The 44-year-old hit an incredible 62 centuries, before calling time on his two-decade-long career.
4) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 63
Often heralded as the best Sri Lankan batsman of all time, Kumar Sangakkara ranks at number four on the list of batsmen with most centuries in international cricket.
Sangakkara’s playing career spanned for a total of 15 years, from 2000-2015, wherein he represented the national team in 594 matches in all formats. The 42-year-old scored 28,016 runs for Sri Lanka, with an average of 46.77, courtesy of his record 63 tons.
3) Virat Kohli (India) – 70
The only active player on this illustrious list, Virat Kohli has struck a mind-boggling 70 tons in his international career. The 31-year-old began his career in 2008 and he has collected 416 caps for India so far.
Kohli has scored 21,901 runs in his playing career, with an average of 56.15, the best among all the legendary players on this list. The Indian skipper has opened up clear daylight between himself and Sangakkara and he is just one century shy of equalling the number two spot.
2) Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 71
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is regarded as one of the greatest players of cricket of all time. He represented his nation in 560 matches, between 1995 and 2012.
Ponting racked up a total of 27,483 runs in international cricket across all formats, with an average of 45.95. The 45-year-old’s record of 71 tons is on the verge of being broken, with Kohli just one century short of his tally. The Indian skipper will surpass Ponting one day, that’s a matter of when and not if.
1) Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 100
The man, the myth, the legend, the only batsman in this world to score 100 centuries, Sachin Tendulkar sits atop the list of players with most international tons. Beginning his illustrious career in 1989, the 46-year-old went on to achieve an almost demigod like status in India, until his retirement, in 2013.
Renowned as the ‘God of Cricket’ Tendulkar turned for a record 664 times for India. He struck 34,357 runs in 24-year-long playing career and still holds the record for being the highest run-scorer in international cricket.
(All stats updated till 22nd March, 2020)
