Top 10 centuries by tail-enders in international cricket

There’s a particular thrill about watching a sportsman awkwardly trying his hand at a foreign trade. While the batsmen may be spared from humiliating themselves with the ball in hand, the poor old bowlers have no choice but to pad up and head out, straight into the firing line.

Some like Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath, and Chris Martin remained utterly clueless with the bat in hand, others such as Mitchell Johnson and Harbhajan Singh have often excelled at the task better than most. Even a few runs contributed to the team’s cause provides immense satisfaction, however, a hundred is equivalent to a gold mine. No matter how many wickets or five-wicket hauls, the joy in reaching that three-figure mark is unparalleled.

There have been several instances where a tail-ender i.e, batting at number 8 or beyond, went on to score historic hundreds in test cricket (None in ODI’s and T20I’s). Here are 10 of the best:

Note: Jason Gilespie’s mind-boggling 201* against Bangladesh has not been included in this list as it was scored batting as a nightwatchman at number three.

#10 R. Ashwin – 103 vs. West Indies, Mumbai (2011)

The sell-out crowd at the Wankhede Stadium had come in anticipation of a century. But the hundred that was witnessed on the fourth day was not the one the fans wanted.

Even as Sachin Tendulkar fell agonizingly close of that elusive 100th hundred yet again, one man remained unfazed through it all. R. Ashwin backed up his five-wicket haul with a classy maiden test hundred. At a time when India were facing the prospect of a humiliating follow-on on a rather flat track in Mumbai, Ashwin and Kohli helped reduce the deficit to a far more respectful 108.

With another four-wicket haul from Ashwin in the second innings, West Indies were bundled out for 134, setting a target of 243 from 67 overs on the final day. Kohli and Ashwin were in the thick of it again as India were left wobbling by Ravi Rampaul, securing a dramatic draw off the last ball.

#9 Jerome Taylor – 106 vs. New Zealand, Dunedin (2008)

Shivnarine Chanderpaul congratulates Jerome Taylor for a glorious maiden test hundred at Dunedin

On another overcast day in Dunedin, after posting a comfortable 365 in their first innings, New Zealand had West Indies on the mat at 173-6. It may have been a different match, but what was being witnessed was the same old Caribbean story.

With the defiant Shivnarine Chanderpaul at the other end, Jerome Taylor strode in at number eight. What followed was nothing short of magnificent. The circumstances made it even more so. Taylor displayed every shot at his disposal as runs flowed in from every direction. With fierce front-foot drives, wristy flicks and some neat smashing down the ground against Vettori, Taylor broke the shackles on Chanderpaul. By the time Taylor was dismissed, New Zealand’s lead had been trimmed to a mere 39, changing the complete course of the match.

#8 Mohammad Rafique – 111 vs. West Indies, Gros Islet (2004)

Known rather for his left-arm tweakers, Mohammad Rafique got going with the bat at Gros Islet

On a rather gloomy day in St. Lucia, Mohammed Rafique, the veteran Bangladeshi left-arm spinner, became only the third No. 9 to score a century in a Test. With rain interrupting the play at regular intervals, West Indies would’ve expected to wrap up the Bangladesh innings pretty quickly. However, stubborn resilience from Rafique and Mohammad Ashraful left Brian Lara frustrated.

Riding his luck, Rafique played some bold, attacking strokes as West Indies paid the price for a mediocre bowling and fielding performance – being dropped twice in three balls in the nineties by a hapless Fidel Edwards. Still happy to continue playing his shots, he reached his century off what was eventually the last ball of the day by cutting Chris Gayle for a four. A jubilant Rafique was mobbed by his team-mates as the rain began to pour.

#7 Harbhajan Singh – 115 vs. New Zealand, Ahmedabad (2010)

Harbhajan Singh roars after reaching his maiden test hundred on the fifth day at the Motera

The first test between India and New Zealand at Motera in 2010 was almost certainly headed for a draw until a ferocious spell of fast bowling from Chris Martin absolutely stunned India in the final session of day four. With a slender lead of 28 runs, India’s second innings was torn apart even before it began at 15/5 as the ‘Phantom’ Chris Martin wrecked havoc.

On 65-6 at stumps on day four, New Zealand had tightened their grip on the match, leaving Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman to bat out almost the entire fifth day for India to save the game. But the second innings master is not known by that name for nothing. Laxman composed Harbhajan after a few nerve-wracking moments where the spinner almost committed hara-kiri in the second over on the fifth day. Despite Laxman having been unlucky to be adjudged out on 91, Harbhajan continued on his merry way, stroking a gritty 115 to help salvage the draw.

Harbhajan’s batting reputation only improved from thereon as he collected yet another test hundred in the next test at Hyderabad; the only player to score consecutive tons batting at number eight and beyond.

#6 Sohag Gazi – 101* vs. New Zealand, Chittagong (2013)

A test hundred, six-wicket haul, hat-trick. What could’ve gone wrong for Sohag Gazi?

Sohag Gazi lived a test match of dreams in Chittagong if there was any!

It began with an unbeaten hundred batting at No. 8 and concluded with a six-wicket haul, which encompassed a hat-trick that reserved an exclusive space for him in cricket history.

Gazi seemed to be on a five-day mission for Bangladesh, as he almost single-handedly pulled off an upset over New Zealand. After an impressive rear-guard effort with the bat alongside captain Mushfiqur Rahim, Gazi was once again in the thick of things with the ball in hand. Trapping Corey Anderson in front with the slider, Gazi wrapped up the innings with a hat-trick, two consecutive arm balls getting rid of BJ Watling and Doug Bracewell. Despite missing out on the chance of a win, the performance of Gazi was a massive positive for Bangladesh in a confidence boosting performance for the underdogs.

#5 Ajit Agarkar – 109* vs. England, Lord’s (2002)

Ajit Agarkar is on the Lord’s honours board for his batting. Still hard to believe!

Any test century is a special feat; however a test century at Lord’s is an even better feeling. Many greats of the game such as Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting have failed to reach the three-figure mark at the Home of Cricket. However, one surprising name that features on the Lord’s honours board is that of Indian medium pacer Ajit Agarkar, not for his bowling exploits, but the classy hundred against England in 2002.

For a man infamously nicknamed the ‘Bombay Duck’ due to his repeated habit of falling for zero, it was quite a surprise for an average fan to witness Agarkar stroke his way to a majestic hundred. With a defeat all but certain, Agarkar and Laxman provided stubborn resistance, frustrating Nasser Hussain and his bowlers to no end.

Timing the ball sweetly, Agarkar hammered Flintoff in front of the wicket thrice in a single over and then pushing a delivery off Simon Jones through the covers for a two when on 99, Agarkar reached his hundred. Jumping in celebration, he scampered for the double as the entire team with wide smiles on their faces applauded from the balcony. Albeit a consolation as India crashed to a defeat, the match has since forever been remembered for Agarkar’s innings of a lifetime.

#4 Mitchell Johnson – 123* vs. South Africa, Cape Town (2009)

Mitchell Johnson smashed his way to an unbeaten 123 at Newlands

Mitchell Johnson – the slogger or the all-rounder? The debate had gripped the cricketing world ever since Johnson smashed his way to a rapid 96 in the first test at Johannesburg. Despite having wrapped up the series at Durban, Australia were on course to a landslide innings defeat in the third test at Cape Town.

As Michael Clarke chopped on against Steyn at 218 for six, Johnson walked in at number eight. If it were his sixes that had the Wanderers’ crowd enthralled, it was a different side of Johnson’s batting that was on show at Newlands. Combining with Andrew McDonald for a 163-run seventh-wicket stand, he kept the scoreboard ticking along with powerful cover drives and trademark flicks through the leg.

On 96 at Johannesburg, the milestone had come agonisingly close for Johnson, only for him to lose his last two partners off consecutive balls. There was another similar nervy moment in Cape Town as he watched McDonald and Peter Siddle being dismissed off consecutive balls to Paul Harris. However, number eleven batsman Bryce McGain held through and Johnson was able to bring up a well-served ton in the next over, dispatching a Steyn delivery over the boundary.

#3 Anil Kumble – 110* vs. England, The Oval (2007)

Anil Kumble’s smile on reaching his hundred said it all!

On the cusp of a memorable series win in England, an Indian batting line-up boasting of the likes of Sachin, Dravid and Laxman had surprisingly failed to record even a single individual century. Heading into the third and final test match at The Oval, Anil Kumble took matters into his own hands, compiling a maiden hundred that all but sealed the series in India’s favour.

Riding on the back of Kumble’s magnificent unbeaten 110, India posted a formidable first-innings total of 664. For a man having 7 first-class hundreds to his credit, Kumble hadn’t quite done justice to his batting potential. But on a particularly cold afternoon in London, everything came through for Kumble, the batsman.

With Dhoni blasting away at the other end, Kumble moved along smoothly, cutting Chris Tremlett for boundaries behind point and coming down the wicket to Panesar. Once RP Singh departed, number eleven batsman Sreesanth stuck around at the other end just long enough for Kumble to reach the milestone. With an inside edge off Panesar, the three figures were reached and the smile on Kumble’s face said it all!

#2 Stuart Broad – 169 vs. Pakistan, Lord’s (2010)

Stuart Broad and Jonathan Trott combined for a massive 332-run eighth-wicket partnership against Pakistan

For a test match known for all the wrong reasons – the spot-fixing saga that shook the world – it can be quite easily forgotten what actually transpired during the four days of cricket that was played out. Mohammad Amir, riding the overcast conditions, produced a sensational spell of swing bowling, leaving England reeling at 102-7 on the first morning.

Coming in at number nine, Stuart Broad produced a maiden first-class century, putting on a mammoth 332-run partnership with Jonathan Trott, a world record for an eight-wicket partnership as England produced one of the finest fightbacks in test cricket.

Broad riding his luck, having been dropped by Kamran Akmal, went on to score a brilliant 169 from 297 deliveries with 18 fours and a six. Once having revived England from a deeply unpromising situation, both batsmen were able to milk the runs easily from a flagging Pakistani attack as Lord’s reverted back to its habitual flatness under the sunny skies.

#1 Wasim Akram – 257* vs. Zimbabwe, Sheikhpura (1996)

Renowned for his mastery with the ball, it is quite easy to forget that Wasim Akram was more than a capable lower-order batsman, contributing vital runs to Pakistan’s cause. On October 20, 1996, the ‘Sultan of Swing’ wrote his name into the history books not for his bowling craft, but with the willow in hand, smashing an unbeaten 257 against Zimbabwe at the Sheikhpura Stadium. To this date, the record stands as the highest score at number eight in Test cricket.

In reply to Zimbabwe’s 375, Pakistan’s first innings was in tatters at 183 for six, in danger of conceding a huge lead. In came the captain, Wasim Akram, fully intent on playing his shots. Everything in the slot headed the distance as the spinners were mercilessly carted straight over their heads, or swept nonchalantly behind square. First combining with Moin Khan, and later for a colossal partnership with Saqlain Mushtaq, Akram rescued the innings, earning Pakistan a draw and avoid a possible humiliation at home.