Flashback: Youngest batter to score a century in international cricket

Every cricketer dream of scoring a hundred in international cricket. Few achieve the feat early on while others reach the landmark at some stage in their respective career. Talking about international matches (Men and Women), Ireland’s Amy Hunter became the all-time youngest centurion in history when she notched up a ton against Zimbabwe in 2021.

Right-handed Hunter holds the record for the youngest player to smash a century in all-international cricket. She achieved the landmark against Zimbabwe in a one-day international in Harare in 2021 aged 16y 0d. Coincidently, the instance took place on her Birthday as she turned 16 that day.

The Irish Women’s team toured Zimbabwe for a four-match ODI series in October 2021 and led the series 2-1 heading into the final game. Laura Delany-led Ireland team batted first and posted a mammoth total of 312/3 on the board. Hunter, who batted at no. three, struck an unbeaten 121 off 127.

Her magnificent innings included eight fours as Ireland won the match by 85 runs to grab the series 3-1. She also won the Player of the Match award for her terrific century. With this feat, Amy surpassed the over two-decade record held by former India captain Mithali Raj. The legendary Indian batter smashed a ton against Ireland in an ODI in 1999 aged 16y 205.

Born on October 11, 2005, Amy has played eight ODIs so far in her career and scored 215 runs at an average of 35.83 with one century and one half-century to her name. The batter has also appeared in 11 T20Is, amassing 139 runs at an average of 19.85 with the highest score of 43.

In Men’s cricket, former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi holds the record. The destructive right-handed batter achieved the milestone against Sri Lanka in a one-day international at Nairobi in 1996 aged 16y 217d.