Credit: ICC
England veteran Joe Root broke into the record books after scoring a century against Team India in the third Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test getting played at the iconic Lord’s. On the first ball of the second day, he hit a four against Jasprit Bumrah and completed his ton in 192 balls. Root, who holds exceptional batting numbers at the iconic venue, continued his dominance on the ground with his scintillating ton.
This was his eighth Test hundred at Lord’s while the second came against India at this venue. With his latest knock, he also became the player with the fifth-highest number of red-ball tons. Noting Root’s sensational achievement, let’s talk about top five players with most hundreds in the longest format of the sport.
Here are the top five players with most hundreds in Tests
5. Joe Root (37 Hundreds)
Joe Root’s latest innings helped him surpass Australia’s Steven Smith to grab the position on the elite chart. Before this game, both Root and Smith scored 36 Test centuries apiece. The 34-year-old took 284 innings and 156 matches to reach the milestone. In the upcoming months, he might elevate himself on the list. It was Root’s 11th Test century against India, which is the most by any England batter.
4. Kumar Sangakkara (38 Hundreds)
Former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper batter Kumar Sangakkara served Sri Lanka for 15 years from 2000 to 2015 and during this period, he emerged as the best Test batter for Sri Lanka. The southpaw notched up 38 centuries in 233 innings of 134 Tests. His last Test century came against New Zealand in January 2015 at Basin Reserve, Wellington.
3. Ricky Ponting (41 Hundreds)
Australia legend Ricky Ponting, who is the second-highest run-getter in Tests, is in the third spot on the chart of red-ball batters with most centuries. In his 17-year career, he amassed 41 hundreds in 287 innings of 168 matches. His first century came against England in Leeds in 1997. Against quality sides such as South Africa, India, and England, he scored eight centuries respectively.
2. Jacques Kallis (45 Hundreds)
Former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis hoarded 45 Test tons after delivering his services to South Africa for 18 years. He played his final Test of his career against India in Durban in 2013 and in that game, he showcased his batting prowess and scored 115 runs in the first innings. Kallis appeared in 166 Tests for South Africa and batted in 280 innings.
1. Sachin Tendulkar (51 Hundreds)
Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar holds the feat of racking up the most Test centuries. He accumulated 51 hundreds in 329 innings of 200 matches for Team India. He is the only batter to hit 50+ centuries in cricket’s oldest format. He scored his maiden ton against England at Old Trafford in 1990 while in January 2011, his final century came against South Africa in Cape Town. He struck 11 centuries against Australia, who were dominating world cricket during the India’s batter’s playing times.
