November 27, 2014 is one of the saddest days in the history of cricket. Phillip Hughes passed away and cricket matches across the world was suspended for the day. Normal duties were resumed on Friday morning but it was a day where achievements and victories took a backseat. Despite all the events happening, Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum scored the fastest century by a New Zealander in tests. He reached the achievement in 78 balls thereby eclipsing his fellow team mate Ross Taylor’s 81 ball century against Australia at Hamilton in 2010. In the process he also became the second fastest Kiwi to score a half century in tests after Tim Southee’s 29 ball knock against Englishmen on his debut at Napier in 2008. In this article we look at all the fastest fifties and centuries in terms of batting positions, for and against each teams.
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| Brendon McCullum was at his explosive best |
Fastest fifties by batting position
Position
|
Player
|
Balls
|
Final Score
|
For
|
Vs
|
Venue
|
Date
|
1
|
Chris Gayle
|
28
|
80*(46)
|
WI
|
NZ
|
Port of Spain
|
6/20/2014
|
2
|
Shahid Afridi
|
26
|
58 (34)
|
Pak
|
Ind
|
Bengalaru
|
3/27/2005
|
3
|
Richie Richardson
|
35
|
106 (160)
|
WI
|
Aus
|
Adelaide
|
2/4/1989
|
4
|
Jacques Kallis
|
24
|
54 (25)
|
SA
|
Zim
|
Cape Town
|
3/4/2005
|
5
|
Misbah ul Haq
|
21
|
101*(57)
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
Abu Dhabi
|
11/2/2014
|
6
|
Ian Botham
|
28
|
66 (48)
|
Eng
|
Ind
|
Delhi
|
12/24/1981
|
7
|
Foffie Williams
|
28
|
72
|
WI
|
Eng
|
Bridgetown
|
1/23/1948
|
8
|
Bruce Yardley
|
29
|
74
|
Aus
|
WI
|
Bridgetown
|
3/17/1978
|
9
|
Kapil Dev
|
33
|
59 (48)
|
Ind
|
Pak
|
Karachi
|
11/15/1978
|
10
|
Tim Southee
|
29
|
77 (40)
|
NZ
|
Eng
|
Napier
|
3/26/2008
|
11
|
Shane Shillingford
|
25
|
53*(29)
|
WI
|
NZ
|
Kingston
|
6/11/2014
|
* McCullum fifty today is the joint 2nd fastest with T Dilshan at 30 balls
* Richarson remained not out on 39* at the close of play on 4th April & completed his half century on 5th April morning session.
* Botham remined 47* at the close of play on 24th Dec & completed on 26th Dec as the Christmas Day in bw was rest day
* The 2nd and 3rd fastest 50 at #5 Mohammed Ashraful (26 balls) & Yousuf Youhana (27 balls). Both batsmen were dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings and scored fifties while following on.
|
Fastest centuries by batting position
Position
|
Player
|
Balls
|
Final Score
|
For
|
Vs
|
Venue
|
Date
|
1
|
Chris Gayle
|
70
|
102 (72)
|
WI
|
Aus
|
Perth
|
12/17/2009
|
2
|
David Warner
|
69
|
180 (159)
|
Aus
|
Ind
|
Perth
|
1/13/2012
|
3
|
Viv Richards
|
56
|
110 (58)
|
WI
|
Eng
|
St John's
|
4/15/1986
|
4
|
Jack Gregory
|
67
|
119
|
Aus
|
SA
|
Johannesburg
|
11/12/2024
|
5
|
Misbah ul Haq
|
56
|
101*(57)
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
Abu Dhabi
|
11/2/2014
|
6
|
S Chanderpaul
|
69
|
100 (72)
|
WI
|
Aus
|
Georgetown
|
4/10/2003
|
7
|
Adam Gilchrist
|
57
|
102*(59)
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
Perth
|
12/16/2006
|
8
|
Daniel Vettori
|
82
|
127 (98)
|
NZ
|
Zim
|
Harare
|
8/7/2005
|
9
|
Ray Lindwall
|
89
|
100 (90)
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
Melbourne
|
1/7/1947
|
10
|
Abul Hassan
|
106
|
113 (123)
|
Ban
|
WI
|
Khulna
|
11/21/2012
|
* McCullum’s century is the joint 3rd fastest at #2 with Sehwag (vs WI, St Lucia, 2006) after David Warner (69 balls) and Majid Khan (74 balls).
* The highest score by a #11in test cricket in 98 by Ashton Agar.
Fastest fifties for each team
Player
|
Balls
|
Final Score
|
For
|
Vs
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Bruce Yardley
|
29
|
74
|
Aus
|
WI
|
Bridgetown
|
3/17/1978
|
M Ashraful
|
26
|
67 (41)
|
Bang
|
Ind
|
Mirpur
|
5/27/2004
|
Ian Botham
|
28
|
66 (48)
|
Eng
|
Ind
|
Delhi
|
12/24/1981
|
Kapil Dev
|
33
|
59 (48)
|
Ind
|
Pak
|
Karachi
|
11/15/1978
|
Tim Southee
|
29
|
77 (40)
|
NZ
|
Eng
|
Napier
|
3/26/2008
|
Misbah ul Haq
|
21
|
101*(57)
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
Abu Dhabi
|
11/2/2014
|
Jacques Kallis
|
24
|
54 (25)
|
SA
|
Zim
|
Cape Town
|
3/4/2005
|
T Dilshan
|
30
|
92 (72)
|
SL
|
NZ
|
Galle
|
8/18/2009
|
Shane Shillingford
|
25
|
53*(29)
|
WI
|
NZ
|
Kingston
|
6/11/2014
|
Andy Blignaut
|
33
|
50 (38)
|
Zim
|
Pak
|
Harare
|
11/10/2002
|
* McCullum’s fifty is the second fastest for NZ.
 |
| Coming to bat at #10, Tim Southee scored a 29 ball 50 on his debut |
Fastest centuries for each team
Player
|
Balls
|
Final Score
|
For
|
Vs
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Adam Gilchrist
|
57
|
102*(59)
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
Perth
|
12/16/2006
|
Tamim Iqbal
|
94
|
103 (100)
|
Ban
|
Eng
|
Lord's
|
5/30/2010
|
Gilbert Jessop
|
76
|
104
|
Eng
|
Aus
|
The Oval
|
8/13/2002
|
Kapil Dev
|
74
|
163 (165)
|
Ind
|
SL
|
Kanpur
|
12/22/1986
|
M Azharuddin
|
74
|
109 (77)
|
SA
|
Kolkata
|
11/28/1996
| |
Brendon McCullum
|
78
|
153*(145)
|
NZ
|
Pak
|
Sharjah
|
11/28/2014
|
Misbah ul Haq
|
56
|
101*(57)
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
Abu Dhabi
|
11/2/2014
|
AB de Villiers
|
75
|
129 (112)
|
SA
|
Ind
|
Centurion
|
12/18/2010
|
M Jayawardene
|
81
|
150 (115)
|
SL
|
Ban
|
Colombo (SSC)
|
9/7/2001
|
Viv Richards
|
56
|
110 (58)
|
WI
|
Eng
|
St John's
|
4/15/1986
|
Neil Johnson
|
107 (117)
|
Zim
|
Pak
|
Peshawar
|
11/28/1998
|
* The fastest century by a Zimbabwean recorded in terms of balls faced in Brendan Taylor’s 117 ball century against NZ at Bulawayo in 2011. However Neil Johnson’s final analysis during maiden test century was 107 of 117 balls. Therefore in all probability he must have reached him century in less than 117 balls.
Fastest fifties against each team
Player
|
Balls
|
Final Score
|
For
|
Vs
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Misbah ul Haq
|
21
|
101*(57)
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
Abu Dhabi
|
11/2/2014
|
Sanath Jayasuriya
|
35
|
89 (56)
|
SL
|
Ban
|
Colombo (SSC)
|
9/6/2001
|
Foffie Williams
|
28
|
72
|
WI
|
Eng
|
Bridgetown
|
1/23/1948
|
Shahid Afridi
|
26
|
58 (34)
|
Pak
|
Ind
|
Bengalaru
|
3/27/2005
|
Shane Shillingford
|
25
|
53*(29)
|
WI
|
NZ
|
Kingston
|
6/11/2014
|
Kapil Dev
|
30
|
59 (48)
|
Ind
|
Pak
|
Karachi
|
11/15/1978
|
B McCullum
|
30
|
153*(145)
|
NZ
|
Sharjah
|
11/28/2014
| |
Yousuf Youhana
|
27
|
50 (29)
|
Pak
|
SA
|
Cape Town
|
1/4/2003
|
Hansie Cronje
|
31
|
82 (63)
|
SA
|
SL
|
Centurion
|
3/30/1998
|
Bruce Yardley
|
29
|
74
|
Aus
|
WI
|
Bridgetown
|
3/17/1978
|
Jacques Kallis
|
24
|
54 (25)
|
SA
|
Zim
|
Cape Town
|
3/4/2005
|
Fastest centuries against each team
Player
|
Balls
|
Final Score
|
For
|
Vs
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Misbah ul Haq
|
56
|
101*(57)
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
Abu Dhabi
|
11/2/2014
|
M Jayawardene
|
81
|
150 (115)
|
SL
|
Ban
|
Colombo (SSC)
|
9/7/2001
|
Viv Richards
|
56
|
110 (58)
|
WI
|
Eng
|
St John's
|
4/15/1986
|
David Warner
|
69
|
180 (159)
|
Aus
|
Ind
|
Perth
|
1/13/2012
|
Majid Khan
|
74
|
112
|
Pak
|
NZ
|
Karachi
|
10/30/1976
|
Brian Lara
|
77
|
216 (262)
|
WI
|
Pak
|
Multan
|
11/21/2006
|
Jack Gregory
|
67
|
119
|
Aus
|
SA
|
Johannesburg
|
11/12/2024
|
Kapil Dev
|
74
|
163 (165)
|
Ind
|
SL
|
Kanpur
|
12/22/1986
|
Shahid Afridi
|
78
|
122 (95)
|
Pak
|
WI
|
Bridgetown
|
5/28/2005
|
Daniel Vettori
|
82
|
127 (98)
|
NZ
|
Zim
|
Harare
|
8/7/2005
|
* McCullum’s century today is the second fastest against Pakistan in tests after Brian Lara’s 77 ball century at Multan in 2006.
 |
| Chanderpaul during his 69 ball century against Aus |
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