Depending on what nation they play for, a pure Test batter in the Men’s game is considered solid if they have an average of at least 40. That target by itself is difficult enough to achieve, with only the select best out of thousands going on to achieve the feat. However, shorter bursts of incredible form are much more attainable, and most players have at least one within the span of their careers.
The extent of this sporadic burst of extreme form, however, is what’s under the microscope for this article. A century is no easy feat, but while even some bowlers have scored the odd century in Test cricket, getting multiple centuries in a calendar year is the mark of a truly talented batter. Here are the 10 batters who got the most of them.
List of 10 players with the most Test centuries in a calendar year
| Player | Year | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 0 |
| Mohammad Yousuf (PAK) | 2006 | 11 | 19 | 1 | 1788 | 202 | 99.33 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| RT Ponting (AUS) | 2006 | 10 | 18 | 3 | 1333 | 196 | 88.86 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| IVA Richards (WI) | 1976 | 11 | 19 | 0 | 1710 | 291 | 90.00 | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| PA de Silva (SL) | 1997 | 11 | 19 | 3 | 1220 | 168 | 76.25 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| SR Tendulkar (INDIA) | 2010 | 14 | 23 | 3 | 1562 | 214 | 78.10 | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| DCS Compton (ENG) | 1947 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 1159 | 208 | 82.78 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| ML Hayden (AUS) | 2002 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 1160 | 197 | 72.50 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| RT Ponting (AUS) | 2003 | 11 | 18 | 3 | 1503 | 257 | 100.20 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| TM Dilshan (SL) | 2009 | 11 | 18 | 1 | 1097 | 162 | 64.52 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| DA Warner (AUS) | 2014 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 1136 | 145 | 63.11 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
1. MohammaContents
1. Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan)
greatest batters in Pakistan history, Mohammad Yousuf had a great career by any measure, but in the year 2006, he went on a rampage of epic proportions. Not only did he score an incredible 1,788 runs across 19 innings at an average of 99.33, but he did so with 9 centuries — 2 more than the next highest number of centuries ever scored in a calendar year. His exploits also included three half centuries and a not-out, but the presence of a duck in the mix prevented his average from climbing into triple figures.
2. Ricky Pon2. Ricky Ponting (Australia)
two captains to win two ODI World Cups makes it to this list not once, but twice. This particular entry was warranted by his 7 centuries in 18 innings in 2006, during which he averaged a massive 88.86 and also had four fifties to his name. He also remained unbeaten three times, was never out for a duck, and scored 1,333 runs.
3. Sir Vivia3. Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies)
6 saw the great Sir Vivian Richards step up with 7 centuries in 19 innings. He also scored 1,710 runs that year, which remained the record until Mohammad Yousuf broke it in 2006, and still remains in second place despite an increase in the number of Tests being played each year. Richards’ centuries came with five half centuries, and his run fest averaged 90.
4. Aravinda de4. Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka)
fide Lankan legend and the hero of their successful 1996 World Cup campaign, de Silva was in his element the following year, picking up 7 centuries in 19 innings. It was a mixed bag of a year, though, as the highs were separated by lows. He only had two fifties alongside his hundreds, and two ducks didn’t help. Nevertheless, de Silva racked up 1,220 runs that year, averaging 76.25 with 3 not outs.
5. Sachin Tendul5. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
tting records which the Master Blaster hasn’t graced with his presence, but this one came in the twilight of his batting career. Even while turning 37 in 2010, Tendulkar was still an incredible player, and he got 7 centuries in 23 innings that year to establish this beyond any doubt. This was boosted by 5 fifties, with a total run tally of 1,562 at 78.10, and there were 3 not outs among his innings.
6. Denis Compton (6. Denis Compton (England)
r to batting records, Compton was nevertheless a fantastic batter and an English mainstay in the post-war years. He is also the oldest player on this list, having predated even Sir Richards by quite some way. Compton’s 1947 saw him pick up 6 centuries in just 15 innings, with 3 fifties and a not out involved. All in all, he scored 1,159 runs at an average of 82.78.
7. Matthew Hayden (A7. Matthew Hayden (Australia)
ries in 17 innings, Hayden comes in 7th place on this list. It was the year 2002, and Australia were at an imperious high. Hayden scored 1,160 runs at 72.50, and had 3 fifties and a solitary not out to his name. He was a terrific opener for Australia throughout the late nineties and early noughties, and just a year later, he would go on to break Lara’s record of 375.
8. Ricky Ponting (Aust8. Ricky Ponting (Australia)
rance comes in the form of his 6 centuries from 18 innings in 2003. Although this entry comes pretty late in the list, it is the only time the batter had a three-digit average. Ponting went for 100.20 per innings, with 4 fifties and 3 not outs among his 1,503 runs.
9. Tillakaratne Dilsha9. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
is list, Dilshan was a force to be reckoned with in any format of the game. Equally capable of slowing it down for Tests and speeding it up for white-ball formats, his crowning year in the white kit game came in the year 2009, when he got 6 centuries in just 18 innings, with a singular 50 on the side. Like de Silva before him, his highs were split between lows, and he only made 1,097 runs that year, averaging a relatively low 64.52 courtesy of two ducks.
10. David Warner (Aust10. David Warner (Australia)
atter throughout his career, the powerhouse Australian opener reached his Test peak in 2014. Picking up 6 centuries in just 18 innings and scoring 1,136 runs at 63.11. Warner also had three fifties added to his stats, but failed to stay unbeaten in any of his innings.
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