Fifteen batters have scored more centuries in Test matches than Don Bradman. But here’s the catch: Bradman, born way back in 1908, passed away in Australia on February 25, 2001. From 1928 to 1948, he scored 29 centuries. So, it doesn’t make any point to Bradman with other players. Don Bradman was regarded as the best player of his time, while other players have also been great at different times.
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Batters With More Centuries Than Don Bradman –
Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest batsman in world cricket. He scored 51 centuries in his Test career from 1989 to 2013. He holds the top position in the list of most centuries in Test matches, and his record will likely remain unbroken for the next few decades and seems like an impossible task.
Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
Jacques Kallis, the all-rounder from South Africa, is the second player with the most centuries in Test matches. He managed to score an impressive 45 Test centuries from 1995 to 2013.
Ricky Ponting (Australia)
The former captain of Australia and the current coach of Delhi Capitals Ricky Ponting in the IPL is the third player with the most centuries in Test matches. He achieved 41 centuries during his Test career from 1995 to 2012.
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
The fourth player on the list of most centuries in Test matches is Kumar Sangakkara from our neighboring country Sri Lanka. Sangakkara has an impressive record of scoring 38 centuries in his Test career from 2002 to 2015. He was undeniably one of the finest players of his era.
Rahul Dravid (India)
Rahul Dravid holds fifth in the list of most centuries in Test matches. Everyone knows Dravid; when he stepped onto the pitch, he stood like a barren rock against the bowlers. No matter how much bowlers changed their strategies, Dravid seemed to have all the answers.
Nowadays, he serves as the coach of the Indian national cricket team, and throughout his Test career from 1996 to 2012, Dravid scored an impressive 36 centuries.
Younis Khan (Pakistan), Sunil Gavaskar (India), Brian Lara (West Indies), and Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
Younis Khan from Pakistan, Sunil Gavaskar from India, Brian Lara from the West Indies, and Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka scored 34 centuries in their Test careers. It’s worth mentioning that Brian Lara holds a unique record among them. He is the only player to have achieved the highest individual innings 400, not out in Test cricket.
Alastair Cook (England)
The seventh player on the list of most centuries in Test matches is Alastair Cook, the former England opener. Cook amassed 33 centuries during his Test career from 2006 to 2018.
Steve Waugh (Australia)
Following Alastair Cook, Steve Waugh is the eighth player on the list of most centuries in Test matches. Waugh, who played from 1985 to 2004, achieved a remarkable feat of scoring 32 centuries in Test matches.
Steve Smith (Australia)
Moving on to the ninth position, we have Steve Smith, who has already scored 31 centuries in Test matches from 2010 to 2023. Smith’s exceptional batting style has helped him gain recognition, and he is expected to add more centuries to his name. Even former captain Virat Kohli recently praised Smith, stating that he believes Smith is the best Test player of this era.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies), Joe Root (England), and Matthew Hayden (Australia)
In the 10th position, we have three players who have scored 30 centuries each in Test matches. The first player is Matthew Hayden, the former opener from Australia, who played from 1994 to 2009. Then we have Joe Root from England, who has been actively playing since 2012 and continues to add to his tally. There’s Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the West Indies, who had a remarkable Test career from 1994 to 2015. Joe Root recently achieved his thirtieth century during the Ashes 2023 series and surpassed Bradman.
In the 11th place, we have the legendary Don Bradman, who scored 29 centuries in his Test match career from 1928 to 1948. Bradman’s remarkable achievements and incredible batting average have made him an iconic figure in the history of cricket.
