World Test Championship: Three teams to concede the most centuries
While the obnoxious ramifications of the pandemic did initially haunt the game’s first-ever Word Test Championship event, pretty soon the establishment of bio-secure bubbles has allowed the game to complete its first-ever WTC cycle. Although the first cycle is yet to unveil its final two proponents for the Lord’s frontier, there have been some mind-boggling performances from the players across nations.
With India and New Zealand being on top along with Australia and England in the following, the race for the top two has now become captivating to watch. However, on the flip side, there have also been some contrasting records being attained such as most hundreds being conceded. So here’s a list of three teams conceding most centuries in WTC:
3. Sri Lanka (12 centuries in 8 matches)
Although the Sri Lankans did create a history of winning a Test series in South Africa just before the start of WTC, one wouldn’t have expected them to perform so badly even in their home conditions. Regardless of starting their WTC campaign with a win over the Kiwis, they suffered a disastrous defeat when the duo of Tom Latham (154) and BJ Watling (105*) scored their match-winning tons against them.
End of a terrific knock from Joe Root. Scored 186 runs himself out of 339 of team total. Missed a solid double century here, he’s started the year with some consistency. pic.twitter.com/dMtRmznhjM
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 24, 2021
In addition to this, they also suffered a humiliating defeat when the Pakistani batters had aggregately amassed six centuries against them while visiting Pakistan. Recently, we also witnessed their underwhelming spirits when Joe Root single-handedly clinched a series win along with two hundreds (228 & 186) at their home. Their embarrassment got much bigger when the duo of Du Plessis and Dean Elgar smashed two top-notch tons (199 & 127) to redeem themselves from their previous home series loss.
2. Pakistan (12 centuries in 10 matches)
Regardless of sharing the same number of centuries with Sri Lanka, Pakistan also has been an underwhelming performer with two Test wins so far in the WTC cycle. Out of those 12 centuries, twice we had the likes of David Warner (154 & 335) and Marnus Labuschagne (185 & 162) amassing imposing tons which completely had ripped Pakistan in their away tour of Australia.
Kane Williamson’s innings comes to an end on 238 at Hagley Oval. Pakistan players coming from around the ground to acknowledge the skipper. Kyle Jamieson joins Daryl Mitchell 61* with the team total 585/6 and a 288 run lead. Follow play LIVE in NZ with @sparknzsport #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/zWeAzZZoQk
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 5, 2021
In addition to this, there came two impressive tons by Dhananjaya de Silva (102*) and Oshada Fernando (102) during their home series against Sri Lanka. Later on, when Pakistan first toured England, there came a 267-run knock from the 22-year-old Zak Crawley alongside Jos Buttler’s 152 which endured Pakistan to face a follow-on. Lastly, while touring for a short two-match Test series in NZ, their bowling attack faced utter mortification when the NZ batters scored four hundreds including twin tons from skipper Williamson.
1. South Africa (12 centuries in 9 matches)
It’s highly unusual to see a team like South Africa being part of this list but such has been their story of despondency. They had a horrendous tour of India where the newly formed opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal itself whacked a total of five hundreds. In between them, skipper Virat Kohli scored a gobsmacking unbeaten 254. Deputy Ajinkya Rahane also scored a remarkable 115 in that series.
SIX!!! @iamfawadalam25 brings up his ? in style ?
Watch #PAKvSA Live: https://t.co/f9MKWY0Mje#HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/bRsr2vBHY6
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 27, 2021
While hosting England at home, Dom Sibley first scored a match-winning 133* which helped England to win the second Test. In the third Test where England did win by an innings and 53 runs, the duo of Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes scored two staggering centuries (135* & 120). Recently Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne and Pakistan’s Fawad Alam also added to the count.
