Top Five Slowest Test Centuries in History

Who has scored the slowest Test century? Don’t know? Let’s find out.

Test cricket is the oldest and quite fascinating format of cricket. However, it may get boring at times, especially when the batsman is playing very slow, whether to adjust to the difficult batting conditions or to save the game. Either way, it tires off the opposition bowlers and sometimes even puts the onlookers to sleep.

Slowest Test century

Here are the top five slowest Test hundreds with respect to the number of minutes spent at the crease.

1. Mudassar Nazar – 557 minutes

The slowest test century in history was made by stylish Pakistani opener Mudassar Nazar against England. The century came during England’s tour to Pakistan in December 1973. In the first innings of the inaugural Test in Lahore, Mudassar scored 114 runs consuming 449 balls. Studded with 12 fours, Mudassar’s innings helped Pakistan post a massive 402-run total on the board. However, his 591-minute (9 hours and 51 minutes) stay on the crease in the first innings led the match towards a draw. The event dates back to when a Test match used to be of 6 days with a rest day in between, and bowlers used to throw eight balls an over.

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2. Jackie McGlew – 545 minutes

Jackie McGlew owns the record of the second slows century in Test cricket. His innings of 105 in an unspecified number of balls came against Australia at Durban in 1957-58. This super-slow inning was spread over nearly two days of Test cricket as he consumed 545 minutes (nine hours 35 minutes). Although South Africa had bowled out Australia for 163 in the first innings, Jackie’s slow progress, though provided a lead of 221 on the first innings, reduced the chances to bowl out Australia in the second innings.

3. Asanka Gurusinha – 535 minutes

Gurusinha was Sri Lanka’s top order batsman during the golden era of Arjuna Ranatunga. He was one of the lesser-known faces who played an important role in making Sri Lanka the world champions in the 1996 World Cup. However, he is more famous for his slower Test century that came against Zimbabwe in October 1994. Batting first against once a recognized cricketing force, Zimbabwe, in Harare, he scored a 128-run innings in 461 balls, consuming 607 minutes. However, his hundred had come when his stay on the crease was 535 minutes (eight hours and 55 minutes).

4. Jeff Crowe – 516 minutes

Former New Zealand cricketer-turned International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, Jeff Crowe is fourth on our list. Jeff was a part of the Kiwis squad that visited Sri Lanka in April 1987 – a few years before the cricket was banned there. Jeff was an average middle-order batsman, who seldom batted at the top order. His innings of 120 not-out in 398 balls came while batting at No.5. During this innings, he consumed 609 minutes, while his hundred came in 516 minutes or eight hours and 36 minutes.

Jeff captained New Zealand in 6 Tests. After retirement, he served as the manager of the New Zealand cricket team, before joining ICC as the match referee. Now, he is one of the most senior and respected match referees in the ICC panel.

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5. Sanjay Manjrekar – 500 minutes

Stylish Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar, the son of Vijay Manjrekar is better known off the field (commentating) than on the field (batting.) Don’t take my words for it, refer to his Twitter bio that says: ‘A longer career talking cricket than playing cricket. Shows which is easier’ pretty much sums it up for users. Although Sanjay was a child prodigy and a ‘future star’ among Mumbai cricket circuits, he could live up to the expectations in the international arena. This could have shortened his career as a cricketer. He had four Test hundreds and a double ton in his career of 37 Tests. However, one of those that came against Zimbabwe in 1992/93 brought his name to the record books.

After Zimbabwe put up a massive total of 456 runs in the first innings, India were two down for 77 when Manjrekar walked out to bat. Although wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Manjrekar’s solid innings of 105 in 397 balls, one of the slowest Test centuries, saved the match for India. Manjrekar’s 500-minutes stay on the crease took the game to the fifth day, which ended in a face-saving draw.

These are the top five slowest centuries in Test cricket history by far. If you liked the article, feel free to share this with your friends and colleagues and help us grow as a blog.