Scoring a century in Test cricket is a dream of many in their international cricketing careers. Some achieve them after toiling for years, while others get them at a very young age
Many of those young players who have represented their international sides went on to become legends for their nations. So in this article we will look at players who were the youngest ever to score a century in Test cricket’s history.
Youngest Player to Score Century in Tests
5. Imran Nazir: 131 vs West Indies, 2000, 18y 154d
Starting with the fifth player on the list is Pakistan’s Imran Nazir, who at the age of 18 years and 154 days scored a ton against West Indies at Bridgetown, Barbados, in 2000. He made his debut against Sri Lanka in 1999 and scored his first century against the Caribbean side in the second innings of the second Test, after failing in the first innings.
In that innings he played 180 balls to score 131 with 20 boundaries as Pakistan posted 419 in their second innings and asked West Indies to chase 275 in the fourth innings as the match ended in a draw. Unfortunately for Nazir he could only play 8 Tests and scored 427 runs at an average of 32.84 with 2 centuries and a half-century in his short career. He last played a Test against Australia at Sharjah in 2002.
4. Hamilton Masakadza: 119 vs West Indies, 2001, 17y 352d
Next is Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza who did better than Nazir as the Zimbabwean scored a hundred against West Indies in 2001 at Harare Sports Club in Harare at the age of 17 years and 352 days. Masakadza scored 119 in the second Test of the series, as in the second innings he played 316 balls to score 119 with 12 boundaries as Zimbabwe posted 563 runs.West Indies were asked to chase 348 as the match ended in a draw. Hamilton went on to become a legend for the Zimbabwe side, where he played 38 Tests and scored 2,223 runs at an average of 30.04 with 5 centuries and 8 half-centuries. He last played a Test against Bangladesh in 2018
3. Sachin Tendulkar: 119* vs England, 1990, 17y 107d
And finally the number three player on this list is the Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar made his debut against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 and played till 2013 when he played his last Test against West Indies at his home ground in Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
This player scored his first ton against England at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1990 at the age of 17 years and 107 days, where he played an unbeaten 119* in India’s second innings as they were chasing 408.
He batted till the end, India scored 343 for six and the match was drawn. Even in the first innings, Sachin Tendulkar played a 68-run knock, India scored 432. Tendulkar went on to play 200 Test matches in his career, scored 15,921 runs at 53.78, 51 tons and is the highest run-getter in Test cricket.
2. Mushtaq Mohammad: 101 vs India, 1961, 17y 78d
The number two player on this list was the one who did it at the age of 17 years and 78 days in 1961 against India, Pakistan’s former great batsman, Mushtaq Mohammad. In the Delhi Test of 1961, the fifth Test of the series, India and Pakistan played out a draw. In Pakistan’s first innings, Mushtaq batted well and scored 109 with 19 fours.
The match was drawn and it was remembered for Mushtaq’s innings at 17 years of age. Mushtaq, who made his debut in 1959 against West Indies at Lahore, played his last Test against Australia at the WACA in Perth in 1979, during which he played 57 Test matches, scored 3,643 runs at 39.17, 10 centuries in his career.
1. Mohammad Ashraful: 114 vs Sri Lanka, 2001, 17y 61d
And finally the number one player on the list is former Bangladeshi cricketer Mohammad Ashraful. Ashraful scored his first Test century at the age of 17 years and 61 days against Sri Lanka at the Colombo SSC stadium in 2001 on his debut. Bangladesh batted first and were bowled out for 90 in the first innings, while Sri Lanka scored 555. Batting to survive in the game, Bangladesh fought back thanks to young Ashraful who scored 114 off 212 with 16 fours, took Bangladesh to 328 but unfortunately they fell short by 137 runs as Sri Lanka won the game easily, this was an Asian Test championship match in 2001.
Ashraful last played for Bangladesh against Zimbabwe in 2013 at Harare, he played 61 matches for Bangladesh, scored 2,737 runs at 24, 8 half-centuries and 6 centuries in his international red-ball career.
