Top 5 fastest centuries (100) by New Zealand batsmen in test cricket

Brendon McCullum has hit three of the five fastest centuries in test cricket for New Zealand.

The New Zealand cricket team made their test debut in 1930. So far they have played 470 test matches, out of which they won 115 and lost 185.

The Black Caps have a rich history of producing a couple of world-class batsmen in every generation. Two of them, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson, were instrumental in New Zealand winning the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 tournament.

The Kiwi batsmen have had some iconic moments in test cricket, which includes smashing test centuries in quick time. In fact, there have been 11 instances of a New Zealand batsman hitting a test century in less than 100 balls. On that note, let’s take a look at fastest hundreds scored by Kiwi batsmen in test cricket.

Top 5 fastest centuries (100) by New Zealand batsmen in test cricket:

5. Ross Taylor – 81 balls vs Australia, 2010

In the second test of the 2010 test series against Australia in Hamilton, Ross Taylor blasted a 81-ball century in his side’s first innings in reply to Australia’s total of 231. Taylor cracked 19 fours and four sixes in his knock of 138 (104), but none of the other batters could support him for long.

Australia amassed 511 runs in their second innings and then bowled the hosts out for 302, winning the match by 176 runs, with Mitchell Johnson claiming 10 wickets in the match.

4. Brendon McCullum – 78 balls vs Pakistan, 2014

During the Sharjah test against Pakistan in the 2014 series, the then Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum hammered a 78-ball century in New Zealand’s first innings. McCullum converted this ton into a double century, finishing with 202 runs off 188 balls, in the process collecting 21 fours and 11 sixes.

His double century and Kane Williamson’s 192 helped the Kiwis amass 690 runs and eventually win the test by an innings.

3. Brendon McCullum – 74 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2014

McCullum attained an extraordinary batting peak towards the end of his career and dazzled in his aggressive brand of cricket. Against Sri Lanka in the Christchurch test in 2014, the former Kiwi captain blitzed a 74-ball century.

He finished his innings with 195 runs in 134 balls, with 18 fours and 11 sixes. That helped New Zealand’s first innings total to 441. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 138 and 407 after being enforced the follow-on. The hosts won by eight wickets with their captain playing a starring role with the bat.

2. Colin de Grandhomme – 71 balls vs West Indies, 2017

Colin de Grandhomme had a brief but impactful test career, where he played part in some famous wins with both bat and ball. He holds the record for the second-fastest test century by a Black Caps batsman.

He walloped a 71-ball hundred against West Indies in the 2017 Wellington test. Grandhomme’s innings included 11 fours and three sixes and was supported by Tom Blundell’s century. The hosts piled up 520 runs and won by an innings.

1. Brendon McCullum – 54 balls vs Australia, 2016

Brendon McCullum produced one of the most epic farewell performances in test cricket when in his last test match, he clattered a 54-ball century to create the new world record for the fastest test century, breaking the previous record of 56 balls, jointly held by Misbah-ul-Haq and Viv Richards.

McCullum achieved this feat in 2016 against Australia in Christchurch. In New Zealand’s first innings, he came out with ultra-aggressive intent and aimed for the boundary from the onset of his innings.

He smoked 21 fours and six sixes in his entertaining knock and shattered the record for the fastest test hundred. However, McCullum’s 145 (79) eventually went in vain as Australia won the match by seven wickets.

(All stats updated till 16 September 2024.)

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