Stats: Brendon McCullum's exploits; a look at fastest fifties, centuries and doubles
November 27, 2014, is one of the saddest days in the history of cricket: Phillip Hughes passed away, and cricket matches across the world, broadly speaking, were suspended for the day as a mark of respect. Normal duties were resumed on Friday morning, but it was a day where achievements and victories took a backseat. Amidst all these, Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum scored the fastest century by a New Zealander in Tests. He reached the achievement off 78 balls, thereby eclipsing his fellow teammate Ross Taylor’s 81-ball century against Australia at Hamilton in 2010.
In the process, he also became the second fastest Kiwi to score a half century in Tests after Tim Southee’s 29-ball knock against Englishmen on his debut, at Napier in 2008. Come Saturday, he reached his double century off just 186 balls, the fourth fastest ever in Test cricket behind Nathan Astle and Virender Sehwag (twice). In this article, we look at all the fastest fifties, centuries and double centuries in terms of batting positions, for and against each teams.
Fastest fifties by batting position
|
Position |
Player |
Balls |
Final Score |
For |
Vs |
Venue |
Date |
|
1 |
Chris Gayle |
28 |
80*(46) |
WI |
NZ |
Port of Spain |
6/20/2014 |
|
2 |
Shahid Afridi |
26 |
58 (34) |
Pak |
Ind |
Bengalaru |
3/27/2005 |
|
3 |
Richie Richardson |
35 |
106 (160) |
WI |
Aus |
Adelaide |
2/4/1989 |
|
4 |
Jacques Kallis |
24 |
54 (25) |
SA |
Zim |
Cape Town |
3/4/2005 |
|
5 |
Misbah ul Haq |
21 |
101*(57) |
Pak |
Aus |
Abu Dhabi |
11/2/2014 |
|
6 |
Ian Botham |
28 |
66 (48) |
Eng |
Ind |
Delhi |
12/24/1981 |
|
7 |
Foffie Williams |
28 |
72 |
WI |
Eng |
Bridgetown |
1/23/1948 |
|
8 |
Bruce Yardley |
29 |
74 |
Aus |
WI |
Bridgetown |
3/17/1978 |
|
9 |
Kapil Dev |
33 |
59 (48) |
Ind |
Pak |
Karachi |
11/15/1978 |
|
10 |
Tim Southee |
29 |
77 (40) |
NZ |
Eng |
Napier |
3/26/2008 |
|
11 |
Shane Shillingford |
25 |
53*(29) |
WI |
NZ |
Kingston |
6/11/2014 |
* McCullum’s fifty is the joint 2nd fastest at #2 with T Dilshan at 30 balls
* Richarson remained not out on 39* at the close of play on 4 April and completed his half century on 5 April morning session.
|
* Botham remained 47* at the close of play on 24 December and completed his 50 on 26 December as the Christmas Day in between was rest day * The 2nd and 3rd fastest 50 at #5 – Mohammed Ashraful (26 balls) and Yousuf Youhana (27 balls). Both batsmen were dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings and scored fifties while following on. |
Fastest centuries by batting position
|
Position |
Player |
Balls |
Final Score |
For |
Vs |
Venue |
Date |
|
1 |
Chris Gayle |
70 |
102 (72) |
WI |
Aus |
Perth |
12/17/2009 |
|
2 |
David Warner |
69 |
180 (159) |
Aus |
Ind |
Perth |
1/13/2012 |
|
3 |
Viv Richards |
56 |
110 (58) |
WI |
Eng |
St John's |
4/15/1986 |
|
4 |
Jack Gregory |
67 |
119 |
Aus |
SA |
Johannesburg |
11/12/2024 |
|
5 |
Misbah ul Haq |
56 |
101*(57) |
Pak |
Aus |
Abu Dhabi |
11/2/2014 |
|
6 |
S Chanderpaul |
69 |
100 (72) |
WI |
Aus |
Georgetown |
4/10/2003 |
|
7 |
Adam Gilchrist |
57 |
102*(59) |
Aus |
Eng |
Perth |
12/16/2006 |
|
8 |
Daniel Vettori |
82 |
127 (98) |
NZ |
Zim |
Harare |
8/7/2005 |
|
9 |
Ray Lindwall |
89 |
100 (90) |
Aus |
Eng |
Melbourne |
1/7/1947 |
|
10 |
Abul Hassan |
106 |
113 (123) |
Ban |
WI |
Khulna |
11/21/2012 |
* McCullum’s century is the joint 3rd fastest at #2 with Sehwag (vs WI, St Lucia, 2006) after David Warner (69 balls) and Majid Khan (74 balls).
* The highest score by a #11 in Test cricket is 98 by Ashton Agar.
Fastest double centuries by batting position
|
Position |
Player |
Balls |
Final Score |
For |
Vs |
Venue |
Date |
|
1 |
Virender Sehwag |
182 |
254 (247) |
Ind |
Pak |
Lahore |
1/14/2006 |
|
2 |
Virender Sehwag |
168 |
293 (254) |
Ind |
SL |
Mumbai |
12/3/2009 |
|
3 |
Brian Lara |
241 |
216 (262) |
WI |
Pak |
Multan |
11/20/2006 |
|
4 |
Kevin Pietersen |
250 |
226 (262) |
Eng |
WI |
Leeds |
5/25/2007 |
|
5 |
Nathan Astle |
153 |
222 (168) |
NZ |
Eng |
Christchurch |
3/16/2002 |
|
6 |
MS Dhoni |
231 |
224 (265) |
Ind |
Aus |
Chennai |
2/24/2013 |
|
7 |
Adam Gilchrist |
212 |
204*(213) |
Aus |
SA |
Johannesburg |
2/22/2002 |
|
8 |
Wasim Akram |
329 |
257*(363) |
Pak |
Zim |
Sheikhapura |
10/18/1996 |
* McCullum’s double century is the second fastest at #2 position.
Fastest fifties for each team
|
Player |
Balls |
Final Score |
For |
Vs |
Venue |
Date |
|
Bruce Yardley |
29 |
74 |
Aus |
WI |
Bridgetown |
3/17/1978 |
|
M Ashraful |
26 |
67 (41) |
Bang |
Ind |
Mirpur |
5/27/2004 |
|
Ian Botham |
28 |
66 (48) |
Eng |
Ind |
Delhi |
12/24/1981 |
|
Kapil Dev |
33 |
59 (48) |
Ind |
Pak |
Karachi |
11/15/1978 |
|
Tim Southee |
29 |
77 (40) |
NZ |
Eng |
Napier |
3/26/2008 |
|
Misbah ul Haq |
21 |
101*(57) |
Pak |
Aus |
Abu Dhabi |
11/2/2014 |
|
Jacques Kallis |
24 |
54 (25) |
SA |
Zim |
Cape Town |
3/4/2005 |
|
T Dilshan |
30 |
92 (72) |
SL |
NZ |
Galle |
8/18/2009 |
|
Shane Shillingford |
25 |
53*(29) |
WI |
NZ |
Kingston |
6/11/2014 |
|
Andy Blignaut |
33 |
50 (38) |
Zim |
Pak |
Harare |
11/10/2002 |
* McCullum’s fifty is the second fastest for NZ.
Fastest centuries for each team
|
Player |
Balls |
Final Score |
For |
Vs |
Venue |
Date |
|
Adam Gilchrist |
57 |
102*(59) |
Aus |
Eng |
Perth |
12/16/2006 |
|
Tamim Iqbal |
94 |
103 (100) |
Ban |
Eng |
Lord's |
5/30/2010 |
|
Gilbert Jessop |
76 |
104 |
Eng |
Aus |
The Oval |
8/13/2002 |
|
Kapil Dev |
74 |
163 (165) |
Ind |
SL |
Kanpur |
12/22/1986 |
|
M Azharuddin |
74 |
109 (77) |
SA |
Kolkata |
11/28/1996 |
|
|
Brendon McCullum |
78 |
153*(145) |
NZ |
Pak |
Sharjah |
11/28/2014 |
|
Misbah ul Haq |
56 |
101*(57) |
Pak |
Aus |
Abu Dhabi |
11/2/2014 |
|
AB de Villiers |
75 |
129 (112) |
SA |
Ind |
Centurion |
12/18/2010 |
|
M Jayawardene |
81 |
150 (115) |
SL |
Ban |
Colombo (SSC) |
9/7/2001 |
|
Viv Richards |
56 |
110 (58) |
WI |
Eng |
St John's |
4/15/1986 |
|
Neil Johnson |
107 (117) |
Zim |
Pak |
Peshawar |
11/28/1998 |
* The fastest century by a Zimbabwean recorded in terms of balls faced is Brendan Taylor’s 117-ball century against New Zealand at Bulawayo in 2011. However, Neil Johnson’s final analysis during maiden Test century was 107 off 117 balls; therefore, in all probability, he must have reached his century in less than 117 balls.
Fastest double centuries for each team
|
Player |
Balls |
Final Score |
For |
Vs |
Venue |
Date |
|
Adam Gilchrist |
212 |
204*(213) |
Aus |
SA |
Johannesburg |
2/22/2002 |
|
Mushfiqur Rahim |
320 |
200 (321) |
Ban |
SL |
Galle |
3/10/2013 |
|
Ian Botham |
220 |
208 (226 |
Eng |
Ind |
The Oval |
7/9/1982 |
|
Virender Sehwag |
168 |
293 (254) |
Ind |
SL |
Mumbai |
12/3/2009 |
|
Nathan Astle |
153 |
222 (168) |
NZ |
Eng |
Christchurch |
3/16/2002 |
|
Yousuf Youhana |
243 |
204 (243) |
Pak |
Ban |
Chittagong |
1/17/2002 |
|
Herschelle Gibbs |
211 |
228 (240) |
SA |
Pak |
Cape Town |
1/2/2003 |
|
Aravinda de Silva |
229 |
206 (234) |
SL |
Ban |
Colombo (PSS) |
7/22/2002 |
|
Chris Gayle |
221 |
333 (437) |
WI |
SL |
Galle |
11/15/2010 |
|
Guy Whittall |
355 |
203 (359) |
Zim |
NZ |
Bulawayo |
9/25/1997 |
* McCullum’s double century is the 2nd fastest for New Zealand.
* Aravinda de Silva didn’t play another Test. He joined Andy Sandham, Bill Ponsford, Seymour Nurse and Jason Gillespie as the players who scored a double century in their last Test.
Fastest fifties against each team
|
Player |
Balls |
Final Score |
For |
Vs |
Venue |
Date |
|
Misbah ul Haq |
21 |
101*(57) |
Pak |
Aus |
Abu Dhabi |
11/2/2014 |
|
Sanath Jayasuriya |
35 |
89 (56) |
SL |
Ban |
Colombo (SSC) |
9/6/2001 |
|
Foffie Williams |
28 |
72 |
WI |
Eng |
Bridgetown |
1/23/1948 |
|
Shahid Afridi |
26 |
58 (34) |
Pak |
Ind |
Bengalaru |
3/27/2005 |
|
Shane Shillingford |
25 |
53*(29) |
WI |
NZ |
Kingston |
6/11/2014 |
|
Kapil Dev |
30 |
59 (48) |
Ind |
Pak |
Karachi |
11/15/1978 |
|
B McCullum |
30 |
153*(145) |
NZ |
Sharjah |
11/28/2014 |
|
|
Yousuf Youhana |
27 |
50 (29) |
Pak |
SA |
Cape Town |
1/4/2003 |
|
Hansie Cronje |
31 |
82 (63) |
SA |
SL |
Centurion |
3/30/1998 |
|
Bruce Yardley |
29 |
74 |
Aus |
WI |
Bridgetown |
3/17/1978 |
|
Jacques Kallis |
24 |
54 (25) |
SA |
Zim |
Cape Town |
3/4/2005 |
Fastest centuries against each team
|
Player |
Balls |
Final Score |
For |
Vs |
Venue |
Date |
|
Misbah ul Haq |
56 |
101*(57) |
Pak |
Aus |
Abu Dhabi |
11/2/2014 |
|
M Jayawardene |
81 |
150 (115) |
SL |
Ban |
Colombo (SSC) |
9/7/2001 |
|
Viv Richards |
56 |
110 (58) |
WI |
Eng |
St John's |
4/15/1986 |
|
David Warner |
69 |
180 (159) |
Aus |
Ind |
Perth |
1/13/2012 |
|
Majid Khan |
74 |
112 |
Pak |
NZ |
Karachi |
10/30/1976 |
|
Brian Lara |
77 |
216 (262) |
WI |
Pak |
Multan |
11/21/2006 |
|
Jack Gregory |
67 |
119 |
Aus |
SA |
Johannesburg |
11/12/2024 |
|
Kapil Dev |
74 |
163 (165) |
Ind |
SL |
Kanpur |
12/22/1986 |
|
Shahid Afridi |
78 |
122 (95) |
Pak |
WI |
Bridgetown |
5/28/2005 |
|
Daniel Vettori |
82 |
127 (98) |
NZ |
Zim |
Harare |
8/7/2005 |
* McCullum’s century today is the second fastest against Pakistan in Tests after Brian Lara’s 77-ball century at Multan in 2006.
Fastest double centuries against each team
|
Player |
Balls |
Final Score |
For |
Vs |
Venue |
Date |
|
MS Dhoni |
231 |
224 (265) |
Ind |
Aus |
Chennai |
2/24/2013 |
|
Aravinda de Silva |
229 |
206 (234) |
SL |
Ban |
Colombo (PSS) |
7/22/2002 |
|
Nathan Astle |
153 |
222 (168) |
NZ |
Eng |
Christchurch |
3/16/2002 |
|
Ian Botham |
220 |
208 (226 |
Eng |
Ind |
The Oval |
7/9/1982 |
|
Graham Thorpe |
231 |
200*(231) |
Eng |
NZ |
Christchurch |
3/15/2002 |
|
Virender Sehwag |
182 |
254 (247) |
Ind |
Pak |
Lahore |
1/14/2006 |
|
Virender Sehwag |
194 |
319 (304) |
Ind |
SA |
Chennai |
3/27/2008 |
|
Virender Sehwag |
168 |
293 (254) |
Ind |
SL |
Mumbai |
12/3/2009 |
|
Kevin Pietersen |
250 |
226 (262) |
Eng |
WI |
Leeds |
5/25/2007 |
|
Gary Kirsten |
251 |
220 (286) |
SA |
Zim |
Harare |
9/7/2001 |
* McCullum’s double century is the 2nd fastest against Pakistan.