10 batsmen to have scored a century on their birthday

While having a match-day on your birthday is in itself a huge rarity, scoring a century on your birthday is arguably the best thing that can happen to a batsman on his birthday. Here is a list of batsmen who took their birthday party on to the pitch and gifted themselves with a ton on their birthdays:

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1) Sachin Tendulkar (India)

When: April 24,1998 Where: Sharjah Opposition: Australia

The desert storm! Warne's nightmares! Steve Waugh's post match comments! So many things pop up to our minds when we think about this final innings of the Sharjah Cup.

However, it was the birthday boy Sachin Tendulkar who partied hard on the pitch by dancing down the track with the wonderful music of the ball hitting the middle of the bat thereafter.

The Little Master won the game for his country single-handedly with a blistering 134. Chasing 275 at that time was near to impossible as the rules and conditions were not exactly as batsman friendly as it is now. However, Tendulkar was at his aggressive best and played an unforgettable innings.

2) Vinod Kambli (India)

When: January 18, 1993 Where: Jaipur Opposition: England

Next on the list is Sachin Tendulkar's childhood buddy, Vinod Kambli.

The graceful southpaw scored 100 runs off 149 balls in the second ODI of the series against England. In a rain curtailed encounter, India pedaled their way to 223 off the maximum 48 overs that was allotted per side. England chased the modest total in the last ball of the match.

Even though Kambli ended up in the losing side, a man of the match performance on his birthday is something that he would treasure all his life.

3) Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

When: 30 June, 2008 Where: Karachi Opposition: Bangladesh

It was a group match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the 2008 Asia Cup hosted by Pakistan.

Sri Lanka won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first in a batting paradise. Sanath Jayasuriya, the man who redefined the opening batting style blasted from the word go. The birthday boy had an able partner in the name of Kumar Sangakkara. The two champion lefties went on to put a mammoth 200 run stand for the opening wicket.

Sri Lanka posted 332 runs on the board before the inevitable happened. The island nation won the game by a massive margin of 158 runs. Jayasuriya's 130 off 88 balls puts itself among the best birthday centuries ever made.

4) Ross Taylor (New Zealand)

When: 8 March, 2011 Where: Kandy Opposition: Pakistan

Ross Taylor is the only cricketer in this list who is still playing the beautiful game at the international stage.

It was a group encounter during the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Ross Taylor helped New Zealand to put on 302 runs on the board by playing the sheet anchor role with his composed 124 ball 131 runs innings. His tally included 8 fours and 7 sixes. He also turns out to be the only batsman to have scored a World Cup century on his birthday.

New Zealand went on to win the match easily and there is no prize for guessing the man of the match.

5) Jason Gillespie (Australia)

When: 19 April, 2006 Where: Chittagong Opposition: Bangladesh

Surprise! Surprise! It's Jason Gillespie who makes it into this list that boasts some of the great batsmen across the world. And it's not just a century but a double. The double's delight got doubled by the fact that he got to the landmark on his birthday.

Having walked into crease as a night-watchman in the Test against Bangladesh, Gillespie scored an unbelievable double hundred on his birthday. Bangladesh batted first in the Test match and were bundled out for 197 runs. In the second innings, Aussie openers put on a good show before Hayden got out to send Gillespie to negotiate the remaining overs for the day. And as they say, the rest is history.

He stitched a big partnership with Micheal Hussey and put Australia in a commendable position before the Aussies declared. Australia registered a huge win by an innings and 80 runs over the Tigers.

6) Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies)

When: 23 June, 2006 Where: St. Kitts Opposition: India

It was the third Test of the four match Test series between India and West Indies. West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first.

Sarwan celebrated his birthday with a free flowing century and helped West Indies put on 581 runs on the board. The match ended in a draw and India went on to register the only win of the series in the fourth Test and won the series 1-0.

Sarwan's birthday knock of 116 comprised of 17 fours and a solitary six.

7) Alec Stewart (England)

When: 8 April, 1994 Where: London Opposition: West Indies

Having been asked to bat first, Alec Stewart opened the innings with his skipper Micheal Atherton. The opening duo put on a 171 run opening stand with the former scoring a century on his birthday. Stewart achieved a rare feet of scoring a century in each innings of a Test match. He scored 118 runs with 18 fours in the first innings and 143 runs with 19 hits to the boundary in the second innings.

England won the Test match by 208 runs.

8) Chris Lewis (West Indies)

When: 14 February, 1993 Where: Chepauk Opposition: India

In a match dominated by Indian batsmen, Chris Lewis fought a lone battle to save the Test match only to run out of partners and end up in the losing side.

Batting first, India piled on 560 runs with centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu. West Indies were rolled over for 286 and followed on. In the second innings, the birthday boy played a gritty knock trying to pull off a draw.

Lewis saved some grace with a knock of 117 runs but it came all too late as West Indies suffered an innings loss.

9) Imran Khan (Pakistan)

When: 25 November, 1980 Where: Lahore Opposition: West Indies

The inspirational World Cup winning captain has made to the list by scoring a century in the first innings of the first Test match against west Indies in Lahore on his birthday.

The match was affected by rain and ended in a boring draw. However, Imran Khan was adjudged Man of the Match for his wonderful knock of 123, batting at number 7.

10) Graeme Pollock (South Africa)

When: 25 February 1967 Where: Port Elizebath Opposition: Australia

Graeme Pollock scored a stupendous 105 in reply to Australia's first innings total of 173. He also remained unbeaten on 33 runs in the second innings while successfully chasing a target of 176.

It was a memorable birthday for Pollock as he capped off his century with a Test match victory.