Listing batters with 40-plus hundreds in Test cricket history
05 Dec 2025

England batting great Joe Root has finally scored his first Test century on Australian soil.

The landmark achievement came during the opening day of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba, Brisbane.

His innings of 138* off 206 balls helped England post 334/10 after they opted to bat first.

Meanwhile, here we look at the batters with 40 or more hundreds in Test cricket.

Joe Root - 40 centuries
#4

Root's knock in the aforementioned game marked his 40th Test hundred. The star batter also has 66 fifties to his name.

Across 160 Tests, Root has been a model of consistency and adaptability, scoring 13,689 runs at an average of 51.46.

The veteran, who is the second-highest run-getter in Tests, also has six scores of 200 or more.

Ricky Ponting - 41 centuries
#3

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is also one of the four batters with at least 40 tons in Test cricket.

One of the greatest batters, Ponting racked up 13,289 runs across 166 Test matches at an astronomical average of 55.37.

His tally also included 62 half-centuries and six double-tons.

Notably, Ponting smacked 19 centuries while leading Australia, the third-most for a captain in the format.

Jacques Kallis - 45 centuries
#2

South Africa's Jacques Kallis comes second on this list with 45 Test centuries.

Hailed as the greatest all-rounder in cricket history, Kallis tallied 13,289 runs from 166 Tests at a remarkable average of 55.37.

He also owns 58 half-centuries and a couple of double-hundreds.

The legendary Proteas all-rounder claimed as many as 292 wickets in the format.

Sachin Tendulkar - 51 centuries
#1

Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most centuries in Test cricket, with an unmatched 51 tons.

The Indian batting maestro is also the highest run-scorer in Tests, amassing a staggering 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78 over a career spanning more than two decades and 200 matches.

Tendulkar's tally of 68 Test fifties is also the most for any player. He recorded six double-hundreds.