Blazing beginning: Three fastest Test centuries by openers
While limited over matches have gained massive popularity in recent years, Test cricket remains the hardest format to thrive. A player needs to put the hard yards in to reap rewards in the purest format with a game spanning for five days. Meanwhile, tackling the new ball is one of the sternest challenges in the longest version of the game.
The new red cherry tends to do a lot of talking and bowlers have the liberty to go for wickets. Hence, the openers can’t afford to put wrong. However, there have been some openers who have taken this challenge head on. Players like Virender Sehwag and David Warner have earned success by backing their attacking instincts even in Test matches.
Meanwhile, let’s look at the 3 fastest Test centuries in terms of balls faced by openers:
3) Roy Fredericks – 71 balls
Now Perth is regarded as one of the toughest pitches to bat on due to the pace and bounce in the surface. Ironically, the top three fastest Test hundreds by openers have come at this venue. At number three, we have West Indies’ Roy Fredericks who tormented Australian bowlers during the 1975-76 series. Facing the likes of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, the Caribbean opener slammed a ton off 71 balls. His efforts took West Indies to a thumping innings triumph.
2) Chris Gayle – 70 balls
Majorly known for his heroics in white-ball cricket, Chris Gayle slammed over 7000 runs in Test cricket. One of his best knocks in the format was recorded in West Indies’ 2009-10 tour of Australia. Gayle unleashed mayhem in Perth and made a mockery of Australia’s bowling attack. He reached his hundred off just 70 balls. His efforts, however, went in vain as the hosts walked away with a 35-run win.
1) David Warner – 69 balls
The spot on this list is occupied by Australia’s David Warner. It was the third Test of India’s 2011-12 tour and Warner was on a roll. He went after the Indian bowlers from the outset and slammed Indian bowlers all over the park. Warner subsequently slammed a 69-ball ton, the fastest by any opener in Test cricket. Riding on his efforts, Australia won that clash by an innings and 37 runs.
