As of April 2025, New Zealand's Brendan McCullum held the record for the fastest test cricket century of all time - he took just 54 balls to reach the milestone in a match against Australia in Christchurch in the 2015/16 season. The record was previously held by Sir Viv Richards, who took 56 balls to reach triple figures against England during the 1985/86 season.
Fastest centuries scored in men's international test match cricket as of April 2025, by balls faced
Characteristic
Number of balls faced
BB McCullum (New Zealand v Australia - 2015/16)
54
IVA Richards (West Indies v England - 1985/86)
56
Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan v Australia - 2014/15)
56
AC Gilchrist (Australia v England - 2006/07)
57
JM Gregory (Australia v South Africa - 1921/22)
67
S Chanderpaul (West Indies v Australia - 2002/03)
69
DA Warner (Australia v India - 2011/12)
69
CH Gayle (West Indies v Australia - 2009/10)
70
RC Fredericks (West Indies v Australia - 1975/76)
71
C de Grandhomme (New Zealand v West Indies - 2017/18)
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ESPNcricinfo. (April 28, 2025). Fastest centuries scored in men's international test match cricket as of April 2025, by balls faced [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 11, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1011356/cricket-test-hundreds-quickest/
ESPNcricinfo. "Fastest centuries scored in men's international test match cricket as of April 2025, by balls faced." Chart. April 28, 2025. Statista. Accessed June 11, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1011356/cricket-test-hundreds-quickest/
ESPNcricinfo. (2025). Fastest centuries scored in men's international test match cricket as of April 2025, by balls faced. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 11, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1011356/cricket-test-hundreds-quickest/
ESPNcricinfo. "Fastest Centuries Scored in Men's International Test Match Cricket as of April 2025, by Balls Faced." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Apr 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1011356/cricket-test-hundreds-quickest/
ESPNcricinfo, Fastest centuries scored in men's international test match cricket as of April 2025, by balls faced Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1011356/cricket-test-hundreds-quickest/ (last visited June 11, 2025)
Fastest centuries scored in men's international test match cricket as of April 2025, by balls faced [Graph], ESPNcricinfo, April 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1011356/cricket-test-hundreds-quickest/
