Test cricket goes in with patience, technique, and long hours at the crease. But over the years, a few great batters have broken that mould by achieving centuries very fast, which in turn has redefined what aggressive Test cricket is. By 2026, these fastest of the fast centuries have become our benchmarks of fearlessness, raw power and supreme confidence. We look at in detail the top 15 fastest centuries in Test cricket history for fans into the thrill behind the numbers.
Brendon McCullum – 54 Balls
Brendon McCullum set the mark for the fastest Test century, which he did against Australia in 2016. At the end of his international career, he put on a magnificent performance, which was the epitome of his aggressive approach to batting and in the process changed how the world saw Test match batting.
Viv Richards – 56 Balls
In 1986, Richards dominated England with a very aggressive brand of play. At a time which saw little of that from batsmen in Tests, his century stood out even more, which added to its legend.
Misbah-ul-Haq – 56 Balls
In 2014, at the hands of Australia, Misbah-ul-Haq broke Richards’ record. Known for his level head, this performance was a surprise change from the norm, which also quietened many of his critics.
Adam Gilchrist – 57 Balls
Adam Gilchrist transformed the wicketkeeping batting role. In a match against England, he scored a brilliant century, which showed how to turn the tide in Tests with a positive negative play.
David Warner – 69 Balls
In 2014, David in 2014 put together a very quick century against Pakistan. Also, it was his natural aggression and hand-eye coordination that made him the most destructive opening batsman we have seen in recent Test cricket.
Chris Gayle – 70 Balls
Chris Gayle brought his T20 power play to Test cricket, which saw him post a brilliant century against Australia, which in turn proved that power and precision in shot making transcends the longer format.
Shivam Amarnath – 74 Balls
Shivam Amarnath left Zimbabwe in awe with a bold performance, which secured him a place among the greats, although he had a short international career.
Jacques Kallis – 74 Balls
Jacques Kallis put on a man-of-the-match performance, which saw him go to the crease quickly for a century that was at once elegant and authoritative.
Herschelle Gibbs – 75 Balls
Herschelle Gibbs dominated Bangladesh’s bowlers with perfect and easy boundary hits.
Shahid Afridi – 76 Balls
Shahid Afridi put out a display of his characteristic aggression in Tests, which thrilled fans with a rare red-ball performance.
Virender Sehwag – 78 Balls
Virender Sehwag restructured the way we see opening in Tests. His century was a display of the fact that he saw value in each ball.
Matthew Hayden – 78 Balls
Matthew Hayden dominated bowlers with power and precision, especially on subcontinental pitches.
AB de Villiers – 78 Balls
AB de Villiers was a man of the moment; he pulled off the innovative and the traditional with ease, which made his high score play appear so simple.
Sanath Jayasuriya – 79 Balls
Sanath Jayasuriya put his ODI pizzazz into Tests, which in turn disturbed bowlers at the start of innings.
Kapil Dev – 74–80 Ball Range
Kapil Dev is noted for his fearless play, which at times saw India break out of inertia.
Conclusion
These fastest Test centuries show that it is possible for aggression and tradition to go hand in hand in the longest format of cricket. In 2026, we see these innings still do the thing that inspires present-day players to take risks, to put on a show for the fans, and to, in turn, redefine what we see in Test cricket.
