Top Five Youngest Players to Score a Century in Test Cricket

Explore exciting details about the top five youngest cricketers who defied their age and scored a roaring century in Test cricket

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Smashing a Test century is undoubtedly one of the most highlighted and cherished moments of a cricket’s professional career and in exceptional cases where some iconic cricketers achieve this feat in the early phase of their career, it undeniably makes it even more special. Although a considerable number of cricketers have marked their excellence in the annals of international cricket with their formidable centuries, a few of them have been able to fight the odds of their age and managed to smash a century for their teams at a very young age. 

Would you like to take a guess on the youngest cricketer to ever score a century in Test cricket? Well, it’s 17 years! But that’s not it! Without much ado, let’s explore the brilliance of top five youngest players to score a century in Test cricket. 

In this article, we will take a look at the top five youngest international cricketers who have scored a Test century. 

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Top Five Youngest Players to Score a Century in Test Cricket

  • Mohammed Ashraful, Bangladesh – 17 Years 61 Days 

The Bangladesh cricket squad found itself stuck in a dire situation when it needed to score a huge total 465 runs against the deadly bowling attack from Sri Lanka at the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka test match in 2001 when Mohammed Ashraful took the command and dominated the Sri Lankan bowlers with his fierce and aggressive batting style. While the top-order of Bangladesh miserably crumbled in front of Sri Lanka’s annihilating bowling attack, Mohammad Ashraful went on to play a formidable innings of 114* runs. Although his phenomenal efforts couldn’t make Bangladesh win the match as Sri Lanka bowled out the entire Bangladesh’s squad at 328 runs, Mohammed Ashraful made a record of being the youngest-ever cricketer to smash a century in test cricket at the age of 17 years and 61 days – a record that is still unbeaten!

  • Mushtaq Muhammad, Pakistan – 17 Years 78 Days 

The India vs Pakistan test match of 1961 is infamous for many reasons, and the right-handed Pakistani batsman Mushtaq Muhammad is certainly one of those reasons. While the undercurrent of rivalry was extremely high at the ground as the arch-rivals were facing each other amidst huge political tension between the two countries, Mushtaq Muhammad made his iconic test debut and ended up smashing a phenomenal innings of 101* runs against India. With his incredible test debut innings against India,  Mushtaq Muhammad became the youngest cricketer to score a test century at the age of 17 years and 78 days and the second-youngest cricketer in the world to score a ton at such young age.

  • Sachin Tendulkar, India – 17 Years 107 Days 

Next at the third spot in our list of top five youngest cricketers to ever score a century in the test cricket format we have the legendary former Indian international cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar. Although there’s no doubt about the fact that Sachin Tendulkar has played countless memorable and match-winning innings for the Indian side across all formats, his debut test match against England in 1990 is often hailed as one of the most highlighted moments of his cricket career. While even the greatest of batsmen in india’s top-order found it tough to face the English bowlers, Sachin Tendulkar proved his mettle and knocked a brilliant innings of 119* runs against England and became the third-youngest cricketer to smash a test century at the age of 17 years and 107 days. 

  • Hamilton Masakadza, Zimbabwe – 17 Years 352 Days 

Shockingly, Zimbabwe found itself in a vulnerable position against West Indies at the 2001 test series. The West Indies bowled out the Zimbabwean squad at just 131*runs in the first innings and they were left to chase a mammoth total of 347* runs in order to clinch the test series. Well, just when the Zimbabwean fans were on the verge of giving up their hopes, Hamilton Masakadza made his roaring test debut and turned the tables around with his stellar 119* runs innings. The match was ultimately drawn and West Indies finished at 98/1 on the final day. After a successful debut test knock against West Indies, Hamilton Masakadza became the fourth-youngest player to score a century in the test format. 

  • Imran Nazir, Pakistan – 18 Years 154 Days 

Another legendary international cricketer that Pakistan has ever produced in international cricket, Imran Nazir is at the fifth spot in our list of top five youngest cricketers to score a century in test cricket format. The 18 years old Imran Nazir walked in during the second inning of the West Indies vs Pakistan test series of 2000 and delivered an impressive innings of 131* runs. Imran Nazir’s dominating innings managed to place Pakistan in the leading spot yet again in the test series against West Indies who took a commendable lead of 145-runs in the first innings. Imran Nazir undoubtedly became a mainstay for Pakistan’s test cricket squad after his successful debut innings against West Indies in 2000.

Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar to Lead Cricket Clinic for Young Players in Texas

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