Fewest innings taken to reach 29 Test tons
Test surely is the toughest format of cricket. The batters can not be quick like the ODIs or T20Is. They need to take their time to settle in before going big in the red-ball games. It needs a batter to remain calm, composed, and patient and play the game tactically, be it whichever team is in the opposition. While many cricketers have played Test for their respective countries, only a few have aced the game to perfection.
They have taken their game to newer heights and set a benchmark for generations to come. And one of the prime examples of one such player is Australia’s Steve Smith who recently equalled the legendary Don Bradman’s record by scoring his 29th Test ton. On that note, let us have a look at the top three players who took the least amount of innings to reach 29 Test tons.
3. Steve Smith- 155 innings
During the first Test between Australia and West Indies, Steve Smith registered his 29th Test ton before converting it into a double-hundred, which led the Aussies to reach a big total of 598/4d. With that ton, Smith levelled Bradman’s record of most Test centuries for Australia and took his tally to 29. Notably, it took him 155 innings to achieve the feat.
2. Sachin Tendulkar- 148 innings
Sachin Tendulkar broke multiple records and kept achieving milestones in his playing days. He still remains to be the all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket, with 15921 to his name from a record- 200 Tests. It took him 148 innings to score his 29Test hundreds.
1. Don Bradman- 79 innings
Don Bradman ended his career after his 29th Test ton. He played cricket for almost 20 years, from 1928 to 1948, and to date has the highest-ever career batting average of 99.94. He scored his last Test hundred in his 79th Test innings as the record is still intact. No other cricketer has even come close to breaking Bradman’s record.
