Top 10 Fastest Hundred in Test Cricket History (2026 List)
Test cricket used to be about patience, leaving the ball, and wearing down the bowler. Not anymore. In the era of “Bazball” and aggressive intent, the red ball is being hit harder than ever.
But amidst this modern revolution, one record still stands tall. Who holds the fastest hundred in Test cricket history? Is it a modern Bazball star, or a legend from the 80s?
In this 2026 updated guide, we rank the top 10 quickest centuries in the longest format of the game, analyzing the balls faced and the legends who dared to attack.
1. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) – 54 Balls (The World Record)
- Balls to 100: 54
- Opponent: Australia (2016)
- The Innings: In his absolute final Test match, Brendon McCullum wrote a fairytale script. Walking out at Christchurch, he smashed the Australian attack to all parts of the ground. He broke the record for the fastest hundred in Test history, reaching the milestone in just 54 balls. It was the perfect goodbye to an aggressive career.
2. Sir Viv Richards (West Indies) – 56 Balls
- Balls to 100: 56
- Opponent: England (1986)
- The Context: For 30 years, this record seemed unbreakable. The “Master Blaster” Viv Richards decimated England in Antigua, setting a benchmark that defined aggressive batting for generations. He reached his hundred with a swagger that no one has matched since.
3. Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan) – 56 Balls
- Balls to 100: 56
- Opponent: Australia (2014)
- The Surprise: Known as “Tuk-Tuk” for his usually slow batting, Misbah shocked the world in Abu Dhabi. He equaled Viv Richards’ record out of nowhere, proving that even defensive batters can switch gears to score the fastest hundred in Test cricket when the team needs quick runs.
4. Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – 57 Balls
- Balls to 100: 57
- Opponent: England (2006)
- The Ashes Moment: In the famous 2006-07 Ashes whitewash, “Gilly” pummeled the English bowlers at Perth, falling just one ball short of the world record at the time. It remains the fastest Ashes century ever.
Full List: Fastest Hundred in Test Cricket (Top 10)
Here is the official leaderboard for the fastest centuries in Test history as of 2026.
| Rank | Player | Country | Balls Faced | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 54 | 2016 |
| 2 | Viv Richards | West Indies | 56 | 1986 |
| 3 | Misbah-ul-Haq | Pakistan | 56 | 2014 |
| 4 | Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 57 | 2006 |
| 5 | Jack Gregory | Australia | 67 | 1921 |
| 6 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | West Indies | 69 | 2003 |
| 7 | David Warner | Australia | 69 | 2012 |
| 8 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 70 | 2014 |
| 9 | Roy Fredericks | West Indies | 71 | 1975 |
| 10 | Colin de Grandhomme | New Zealand | 71 | 2017 |
For a detailed breakdown of these statistics, you can visit the official ESPNcricinfo Test Records page.
The Bazball Effect: Is the Record in Danger?
Since 2022, England’s “Bazball” approach has changed how Test cricket is played. Players like Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, and Australia’s Travis Head are consistently scoring at strike rates over 90.
While no one has broken the 54-ball barrier yet, the frequency of 70-ball hundreds has increased. Travis Head, in particular, has come close with blistering knocks in the World Test Championship cycles. It is only a matter of time before a modern player on a flat deck challenges McCullum’s spot for the fastest hundred in Test cricket.
What About the Indian Record?
Indian fans often ask: Where are the Indians on this list?
The record for the fastest Test century by an Indian is jointly held by Kapil Dev (1986 vs Sri Lanka) and Mohammad Azharuddin (1996 vs South Africa). Both took 74 balls to reach the milestone.
Virender Sehwag, India’s greatest aggressive opener, came close many times (scoring hundreds in 78 balls), but never broke the 74-ball mark. Recently, Rishabh Pant broke the record for the fastest Test fifty by an Indian (28 balls), but he is yet to break the century record. With Pant’s form in 2026, he remains India’s best bet to enter this elite Top 10 list.
If you enjoy speed records, you must check our viral post on the Fastest Century in T20 History.
Conclusion
The fastest hundred in Test cricket is a rare feat. While T20s see 30-ball hundreds, scoring a 54-ball ton against a red ball, aggressive field settings, and no fielding restrictions is a different beast. Brendon McCullum’s record has stood for a decade—will the Bazball generation finally break it?
Who do you think will break McCullum’s record? Rishabh Pant or Travis Head? Tell us in the comments!
