5 Batsmen With The Most Centuries In The 4th Innings In Tests

Updated - 27 Nov 2023, 04:08 PM

Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith (Image Credit: Twitter)

Scoring runs in Test Cricket requires great control, discipline and immaculate technique. As a batsman, you face a variety of bowlers on different tracks. Some offers swing, while some pitches offer help for the spinners.

It’s important to note that as the match progresses, the pitch becomes even more difficult to bat on. Batsmen tend to find it difficult to bat on deteriorating surfaces. Batting in the fourth innings of a Test match is indeed the most challenging task.

The batsmen have to play on a crumbing fifth or fourth-day track. However, some of the finest cricketers have played heart-warming knocks in the fourth innings in Test Cricket. Not only they had played well but also scored centuries. And, on the note, let’s have a look at five players who have scored the most centuries in the fourth innings of a Test match.

5 Batsmen With The Most Centuries In The 4th Innings In Tests

5. Graeme Smith: 4 centuries 

Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith. Image-JON HNRUSA/REX FEATURES

Graeme Smith was only 22 years old when he was asked to captain South Africa’s Test team.  A fantastic leader, Graeme Smith went to hold the record for captaining the most Test matches by any cricketer in World Cricket.

Apart from his leadership, Smith is regarded as one of the greatest openers of all time. He played 117 Tests in his illustrious career and scored 9265 runs at an average of 48.25. The southpaw scored 27 centuries and 38 half-centuries during his international cricket career.

Smith played some notable knocks for South Africa in the fourth innings of a Test match. He has, in fact, four centuries to his name scored during the fourth innings in Tests.

4. Ramnaresh Sarwan –4 centuries

Ramnaresh Sarwan
Image Source: Twitter

Ramnaresh Sarwan made his debut against Pakistan in May 2000 and played all the Test matches without getting dropped for the next six years. Sarwan is regarded as one of the best batsmen ever to play for the West Indies.

Having a technique designed to excel in Test Cricket, Sarwan played notable knocks during the toughest stages of the game. Sarwan has four centuries to his name while playing in the fourth innings of a Test match.

In his illustrious cricketing career, Sarwan played 5842 runs in 87 Tests at an average of 40.00. He has 15 centuries and 31 half-centuries to his name in Test Cricket.

3. Ricky Ponting: 4 centuries

Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting (Image Credit: Twitter)

Legendary cricketer, Ricky Ponting holds a plethora of records to his name. He has 13378 runs in Test Cricket at an average of 51.9. His records speak for themselves. Ponting is the most successful captain in the history of the game.

Apart from his leadership skills, he led the way with the bat in international cricket. Ponting boasts of a successful record in the fourth innings of a Test match. In 43 innings, he managed to score 1462 runs at an average of 50.41 in the fourth innings of a test match.

Ricky Ponting has four centuries and six half-centuries in the fourth innings in Tests.

2. Sunil Gavaskar – 4 centuries

Sunil Gavaskar, Indian Player
Sunil Gavaskar (Image Credit: Twitter)

The legendary Indian batsman, Sunil Gavaskar needs no introduction. Sunil Gavaskar made a stellar entry to his international cricket career.

He was a cornerstone of India’s batting attack during the late 80s and 90s. Gavaskar was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in international cricket. Besides, he has an outstanding record while batting in the fourth innings in Test Cricket.

Sunil Gavaskar scored 1398 runs in 33 innings at an average of 58.25 in the fourth innings. He has 4 centuries and 8 half-centuries in the fourth innings of a Test.

1. Younis Khan- 5 centuries

Younis Khan
Younis Khan (Image Credit: Twitter)

Former Pakistan cricketer, Younis Khan has scored the most centuries in world cricket while batting in the fourth innings in Test Cricket. Younis Khan was known for playing big knocks for Pakistan in Test Cricket. Younis Khan scored 34 centuries and 33 half-centuries during his Test Cricket- a stat that tells you his penchant for converting the fifties into hundreds.

The former Pakistan cricketer scored 10,099 runs in 118 Tests at an average of 52.0. For those of you who don’t know, Younis Khan is the only Pakistan cricketer to have scored more than 10,000 runs in Test Cricket. He scored 10,099 runs in 118 Tests at an average of 52.0.

Younis Khan has a great record while batting in the second innings of a Test. Khan scored 1465 runs in 40 innings at an average of 50.52 in the fourth innings. He has five centuries and six half-centuries while batting in the fourth innings of a Test match.

Tagged:

Graeme Smith Ramnaresh Sarwan Ricky Ponting Sunil Gavaskar Younis Khan