Fastest Test tons for England
England might have struggled in the WTC points table earlier, but with the appointment of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes as Test coach and captain, they have gone on to do wonders in the longest format this year.
They have replicated their home success in the ongoing Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan and scored over 500 runs on Day 1. While new batting sensation Harry Brook etched his name in history books for scoring one of the fastest Test centuries, without further ado, here’s a look at two of the other big names on this elite list.
3. Harry Brook (80 balls), Rawalpindi, 2022:
The opening day of the first Test match between Pakistan and England at Rawalpindi looked like a tailor-made batting pitch that saw four centurions and Harry Brook was one of the who was also the top-scorer. Brook scored his 100 off just 80 deliveries as he took full advantage of the flat wicket at Rawalpindi and took the Pakistani bowlers to the cleaners at regular intervals. The middle-order batter was eventually dismissed after scoring a quickfire 116-ball 153 and his knock included 19 fours and five sixes at a strike rate of almost 132.
2. Jonny Bairstow (77 balls), Nottingham, 2022
Jonny Bairstow is not taking part in the ongoing series as he is out of action with a broken leg. However, he had scored an explosive 77-ball century against the reigning World Test champions New Zealand in Nottingham in June. Bairstow’s knock of 136 runs from 92 deliveries included 14 fours and seven maximums as he made a mockery of New Zealand’s tamed bowling attack as the hosts successfully chased down the 299-run target in style. More importantly, this emphatic victory also helped the Three Lions in registering a series win and surprisingly, it was their first Test series win after a long wait of 17 months. The previous one had come in Sri Lanka in January 2021.
1. Gilbert Jessop (76 balls), The Oval, 1902
Yesteryear English batter Gilbert Jessop tops this list courtesy of a blistering 76-ball ton in the longest format which came against arch-rivals Australia at The Oval in August 1902. Chasing a challenging target of 263 runs, England were reduced to 48/5 in almost unplayable conditions. Braving all odds, Jessop registered a memorable 104 runs in just 76 balls to completely change the complexion of the game. Courtesy of his knock, the English team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by one wicket.
