Top 5 Indians with most centuries outside Asia
In the year 1932, India became the 6th nation to be granted Test status but it took 20 years for them to win their first ever Test match. India gained popularity in the cricketing circles with the emergence of batsmen like Vijay Hazare, Vijay Merchant, Polly Umrigar and the batting started improving with the emergence of these players.
The year 1971 witnessed the rise of one of the greatest ever batsman India has produced – Sunil Gavaskar. He rewrote history by scoring 774 runs in his debut Test series with 4 centuries against the mighty West Indies. It was an extraordinary achievement by the “Little Master” against the best bowling attack in the world. Gundappa Vishwanath along with Sunil Gavaskar forged a solid base for the India batting line-up during the 1970s and India became a very competitive side. Dilip Vengsarkar and Ravi Shastri also contributed to the team’s success.
Mohammed Azharuddin brought flair and flamboyance to the batting line-up during the 1990s and his wonderful strokeplay changed the complexion of India batting. He had wonderful wrists and was one of the best exponents of the flick shot. Just 2 years after the retirement of Sunil Gavaskar, a man of the same physique and height entered the scene who went on to break every possible batting records in the subsequent years – none other than the ‘Superhero” of cricket Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
The class of batsmen like Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid and Kohli meant that India was gradually becoming a force to reckon with especially outside the subcontinent. Slowly, but steadily, India became competitive when touring countries like England, Australia, and the West Indies.
We bring you the list of 5 Indians with most Test centuries outside the Indian subcontinent -
#5 VVS Laxman (8 centuries)
VVS Laxman, the stylish batsman from Hyderabad made his Test debut in the year 1996 against South Africa, scoring a fifty in his second innings. Laxman was unable to cement his place in the star-studded middle order as he got to play only one Test in the tour to South Africa, that followed the home series.
He was eventually dropped from the team and regained his place after solid performances in the domestic circuit. The home series against Australia in 2001 changed Laxman’s career forever. His unbelievable 281 at Kolkata helped India win the Test match after following on.
Laxman played a pivotal role in the tour to Australia in 2004 where India drew the series 1-1. He scored heavily against the Australians and they gave him a special name, ‘Very Very Special Laxman’. The playing style of Laxman resembled his childhood idol, Mohammed Azharuddin, and both of them were the two best exponents of the wristy flick shot.
Laxman scored 8 Test centuries away from Asia: 4 in Australia, 2 in West Indies and 1 each in New Zealand and Zimbabwe.