Century in Cricket — 100 Runs, Records & What Makes a Great Ton
What is a century in cricket? Learn what makes scoring 100 runs so significant, the highest centuries in Test and T20 history, what a double century is, and which batsmen have scored the most.
A century in cricket is when a batsman scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. It is considered one of the most celebrated individual achievements in the sport — the moment a batsman passes 99 and reaches the three-figure mark is one of cricket's most iconic scenes, typically marked with the batsman raising their bat to the crowd and teammates. The century is called a 'ton' in informal cricketing language.
Why is 100 the milestone?
The number 100 is the conventional milestone in cricket because it represents a significant sustained effort at the crease. In Tests, scoring 100 typically requires 80–200 balls over 2–4 hours at the crease, depending on conditions. In ODIs, a century is typically scored at a strike rate of 80–100. In T20 cricket, a century (struck at 150+ strike rate) is extremely rare and requires extraordinary hitting.
Double century and beyond
A double century (200+ runs) is only possible in Test cricket where innings can run to several days. The highest individual Test score is 400* by Brian Lara (West Indies vs England, 2004) at Antigua Recreation Ground. In ODIs, the highest individual score is 264 by Rohit Sharma (India vs Sri Lanka, 2014), while in T20 internationals 100 is itself exceptional.
| Format | Highest individual score | Scored by |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 400* | Brian Lara (West Indies vs England, 2004) |
| ODI | 264 | Rohit Sharma (India vs Sri Lanka, 2014) |
| T20I | 100* | Multiple batsmen (first: Brendon McCullum, 2004) |
Most Test centuries — the all-time list
Sachin Tendulkar (India) holds the world record with 51 Test centuries — far ahead of any other batsman. He also holds the record for most international centuries (Tests + ODIs combined: 100 centuries — a landmark no other player has matched). Ricky Ponting (Australia) has 41 Test centuries; Steve Smith (Australia) 35 and counting. In ODIs, Virat Kohli leads with 54 centuries (surpassing Tendulkar's 49 in November 2023, during the World Cup semifinal vs New Zealand).
T20 centuries — the rarest achievement
A century in T20 cricket (scoring 100 in a 20-over innings) is extremely rare because an entire T20 innings is only 120 balls. Brendon McCullum scored the first T20 international century in the inaugural ICC World T20 in 2007. Chris Gayle is the most celebrated T20 centurion with multiple 100s in the IPL — including 175* off 66 balls for RCB vs PWI in 2013.
Frequently asked questions
What is a century in cricket?
A century (or 'ton') is when a batsman scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. It is one of cricket's most celebrated individual milestones, marked by the batsman raising their bat to acknowledge the crowd when they reach 100.
Who has scored the most Test centuries?
Sachin Tendulkar (India) holds the record with 51 Test centuries. He also holds the overall international cricket record with 100 centuries across Tests and ODIs combined.
What is the highest individual score in Test cricket?
Brian Lara (West Indies) holds the record with 400* (not out) against England at Antigua in 2004. Lara also previously held the record with 375, and he reclaimed it from Matthew Hayden (380) in the same ground.
Is a century possible in T20 cricket?
Yes, but extremely rare. A batsman must score 100 runs in a 20-over innings (120 balls). T20 centuries typically come at a strike rate of 150–200+. Chris Gayle's 175* off 66 balls for RCB in the 2013 IPL is the highest T20 individual score.