Test cricket is the oldest and longest format of the game, which is why the history of this format can’t be matches. Batting in test cricket takes a lot from the batters, including skills, determination, and resilience. Countless cricketers have shown some incredible batting mastery by playing some incredible knocks in history. Over the years, there have been some great innings which made into the history books.
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A test hundred is always a great milestone for a cricketer in his career. Playing against a quality bowling unit in tough conditions tests the batter’s toughness. Sometimes, a batter ends up taking a lot of deliveries eventually and plays slowest knocks. In this article, we will talk about the top ten slowest Test centuries in history.
List of Top 10 Slowest hundreds in Test Cricket
| Player | Balls Taken to 100 | Vs | Venue | Year | |
| Michael Cowdrey (ENG) | 535 | West Indies | Birmingham | 1957 | |
| Nazar Mohammad (PAK) | 520 | India | Lucknow | 1952 | |
| Derrick McGlew (SA) | 485 | Australia | Durban | 1958 | |
| Albert Watkins (ENG) | 480 | India | Delhi | 1951 | |
| Hanif Mohammad (PAK) | 448 | England | Dacca | 1962 | |
| Peter Richardson (ENG) | 440 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 1956 | |
| Mudassar Nazar (PAK) | 419 | England | Lahore | 1977 | |
| Hanif Mohammad (PAK) | 410 | England | Dacca | 1962 | |
| Asanka Gurusinha (SL) | 405 | Zimbabwe | Harare | 1994 | |
| John Wright (NZ) | 399 | India | Auckland | 1981 | |
10. John Wright (NZ) – 399 balls vs India
The slowest centuries for New Zealand in test cricket are registered under the name of John Wright. He did it against India back in March 1981 in Auckland. In reply to India’s 238, New Zealand made 366 and took a 128-run lead. Wright made a century off 399 balls and scored 110 runs off 434 balls, with ten fours and one six. He played for 7 hours and 40 minutes, and the game ended in a draw.
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9. Asanka Gurusinha (SL) – 405 balls vs Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka’s Asanka Gurusinha holds the record for the ninth slowest century in test cricket. He did it against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club in October 1994. This was the first of the three-match test series. He played for the first two days and made a century off 405 balls. He scored 128 runs off 461 balls, with 14 fours and one six. Sri Lanka played for 175.1 overs and scored 383 runs. Rain spoiled the sport, and it ended in a draw.
8. Hanif Mohammad (PAK) – 410 balls vs England
Hanif Mohammad is one of the best test batters that played for Pakistan and was known for his temperament and batting style. He had 12 test centuries, and his slowest came against England in Dhaka (part of former Eastern Pakistan) in January 1962. He took 410 balls for his century and made 111 runs from 497 balls, with 14 fours. The match ended in a draw.
7. Mudassar Nazar (PAK) – 419 vs England
Mudassar Nazar was another stylish Pakistani opener that had a pretty decent amount of success. He scored one of the slowest centuries in test cricket. He scored a ton off 419 balls against England in Lahore in December 1977. It came in the first inning and scored 114 balls from 449 balls and batted for 9 hours and 51 minutes. Pakistan declared at 407/9, and it ended in a draw.
6. Peter Richardson (ENG) – 440 vs South Africa
Another slowest test century by an opener was registered by South African opener Peter Richardson. He scored a 440-ball century against South Africa in Johannesburg in December 1956. He scored 117 runs with only six fours. He batted for a period of 8 fours and 45 minutes. England eventually win the game by a massive 131 runs.
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5. Hanif Mohammad (PAK) – 448 balls vs England
It is very rare that two of the top ten slowest centuries came in the same test, and even more rare as both centuries came from the bat of Hanif Mohammad. He scored a 410-ball century in the first inning, and in the second inning, he took 448 balls to score his second century in the same test. He made 111 and 104 runs in two innings of the test, and the same ended in a draw.
4. Allan Watkins (ENG) – 480 balls vs India
The test between India and England in Delhi in November 1951 saw a great battle between the two teams where three batters played for more than 8 hours. But the slowest one came from the bat of Allan Watkins, who scored his hundred off 480 balls. He scored 137 runs and batted for nine hours. Indian captain Vijay Hazare scored 164 runs and batted for 8 fours and 25 minutes. That game ended in a draw.
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3. Derrick McGlew (SA) – 485 balls vs Australia
The third-slowest century in test cricket was registered by Derrick McGlew in the test match against Australia in January 1958 in Durban. In reply to Australia’s 163 in the first innings, South Africa made 384 runs in 163.7 overs. Derrick McGlew scored his century from 485 balls and scored 105 runs, and he batted for 9 hours and 35 minutes. That game ended in a draw.
2. Nazar Mohammad (PAK) – 520 balls vs India
Pakistan made their test debut with a five-match test series against India in 1952. They lost their maiden game, but in their second test, they beat India by an inning and 43 runs. Nazar Mohammad played a massive role in Pakistan’s maiden test win. He scored 124 not out in the innings that Pakistan batted. He batted for 515 minutes and scored 124 runs, and Pakistan dismissed India for 106 and 182 to win the game.
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1. Colin Cowdrey (ENG) – 535 balls vs West Indies
Former English opener Colin Cowdrey, who scored over 7500 test runs, holds the record for the slowest test hundred in history. He scored it against West Indies in Birmingham in June 1957. His innings helped his team draw a game. Trailing by 288 runs, England declared at 583/4 in their second innings. Colin Cowdrey scored a century off 535 balls, and he made 154 runs with 16 fours. In the end, England were able to draw the game.
