Test cricket is usually played at a measured pace, but a handful of batters have reached three figures faster than most manage in a one-day international. Brendon McCullum holds the record for the fastest Test hundred by balls faced: 54 balls against Australia at Christchurch in February 2016, in his final Test. Measured in minutes, Jack Gregory’s 70-minute hundred at Johannesburg in 1921 has never been beaten.
The five fastest by balls have not changed since McCullum’s innings. The most recent addition near the top is Travis Head’s 69-ball hundred against England at Perth in November 2025, which sits joint sixth.
Fastest Test hundreds by balls faced
| Balls | Batter | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Brendon McCullum | NZ v Aus, Christchurch, 2015/16 |
| 56 | Viv Richards | WI v Eng, St John’s, 1985/86 |
| 56 | Misbah-ul-Haq | Pak v Aus, Abu Dhabi, 2014/15 |
| 57 | Adam Gilchrist | Aus v Eng, Perth, 2006/07 |
| 67 | Jack Gregory | Aus v SA, Johannesburg, 1921/22 |
| 69 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | WI v Aus, Georgetown, 2002/03 |
| 69 | David Warner | Aus v Ind, Perth, 2011/12 |
| 69 | Travis Head | Aus v Eng, Perth, 2025/26 |
| 70 | Chris Gayle | WI v Aus, Perth, 2009/10 |
| 71 | Roy Fredericks | WI v Aus, Perth, 1975/76 |
| 71 | Colin de Grandhomme | NZ v WI, Wellington, 2017/18 |
Brendon McCullum v Australia – 54 balls (February 2016)
McCullum chose his last Test to set the record. He came in with New Zealand on 32/3 on the first day at Christchurch and made 145 off 79 balls, with 21 fours and six sixes, reaching his hundred in 54 balls. He added 179 for the fifth wicket with Corey Anderson, and New Zealand made 370. Australia still won by seven wickets. His hundred took 78 minutes, joint fourth on the list by minutes.
Viv Richards v England – 56 balls (April 1986)
Richards broke Gregory’s 64-year-old record in the fifth Test at St John’s. West Indies had already won the first four Tests, and in the second innings he made 110 not out off 58 balls, with seven fours and seven sixes, before declaring. West Indies won by 240 runs to complete a 5-0 series win.
Misbah-ul-Haq v Australia – 56 balls (2014)
Misbah, better known for slow, rescuing innings, equalled Richards’ record in Abu Dhabi. He had made 101 off 168 balls in the first innings, then hit 101 not out off 57 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes, to set Australia 603 to win. Australia were bowled out for 246, and Pakistan won by 356 runs to take the series 2-0.
Adam Gilchrist v England – 57 balls (December 2006)
Gilchrist was out for a duck in the first innings of the third Ashes Test at Perth. In the second he made 102 not out off 59 balls, with 12 fours and four sixes, reaching his hundred in 57. Australia won by 206 runs to regain the Ashes.
Jack Gregory v South Africa – 67 balls (November 1921)
Gregory’s hundred in the second Test at Johannesburg came in 67 balls and 70 minutes. He made 119, with 19 fours and two sixes. It was the fastest Test hundred by balls until Richards in 1986, and it is still the fastest by minutes. The match was drawn.
Fastest Test hundreds by minutes
| Minutes | Batter | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Jack Gregory | Aus v SA, Johannesburg, 1921/22 |
| 74 | Misbah-ul-Haq | Pak v Aus, Abu Dhabi, 2014/15 |
| 75 | Gilbert Jessop | Eng v Aus, The Oval, 1902 |
| 78 | Richie Benaud | Aus v WI, Kingston, 1954/55 |
| 78 | Brendon McCullum | NZ v Aus, Christchurch, 2015/16 |
Records: ESPNcricinfo, fastest Test hundreds by balls faced and by minutes; scorecard details from Statsguru. To 9 October 2026.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Greg Wood