5 fastest centuries in Tests

For years, the glory of Test cricket lied within the long-lasting batting innings and some phenomenal bowling performances. It is believed that Test cricket is made for people with utmost resilience and patience. It is a contest of skill and technique. It is the format which requires only one attitude from the batsmen: block-blunt-boom.

However, there are some players who were known for playing aggressively even in Test cricket and some instances when a batter completed his century with a strike rate of more than 150.

Here is a collection of top 5 fastest Test centuries:

#5 Jack M Gregory (Australia) - 67 balls

Australia toured South Africa in 1921-22. Australia elected to bat first but then found themselves at 128 for 2. Jack Gregory was next batsman to arrive and what the world witnessed in the next 70 minutes was something superior, especially at that time of cricket.

Gregory, from the first ball itself, started to attack the South African bowlers. On what seemed to be a flat pitch, he took off like a jet and launched the South African bowlers all across the ground. He played some bizarre shots, putting the hosts under even more pressure. He had a clear mindset and a firm batting approach. With some fierce batting performance, Jack M Gregory reached his century in just 67 balls. This remained as the fastest Test century ever for more than five decades.

He took just seventy minutes after coming on the ground to complete his hundred. This, to date, remains the fastest Test century as far as the minutes spent on the ground is concerned.

#4 Adam C Gilchrist (Australia) - 57 balls

Adam Gilchrist, former Australian batsman

Adam Gilchrist, the former Australian cricketer, remains as one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen in Test cricket and the most attacking batsman in Tests ever. For over a decade, on many occasions, he showed his batting prowess.

The third Test of Ashes-2006 witnessed one such Gilchrist special at the Perth. Australia acquired a small lead in the first innings. But, it was in second innings that the Aussie batsmen capitalized on the lead and tried to put on a big total. The top order produced big knocks.

The lead was 400 when Gilchrist arrived. The leftie dealt even more damage to the visitors by scoring quick runs. The declaration was around the corner and Aussies needed as many runs as they could add. Gilchrist brutally smacked the English bowlers all around the ground as he hooked and pulled and danced down the wicket on almost every occasion.

Adam Gilchrist completed his century off just 57 balls and knocked the second-fastest century of that time.

#3 Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan) - 56 balls

Former Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was known for gulping out big overs in tricky situations, even in Tests. One of his finest performances came when the Australians toured UAE in 2014.

In the second Test of the series, the world witnessed some serious batting from the 40-year-old Pakistani skipper. Having scored a century in the first innings, Misbah arrived on the ground with full confidence. The need of the hour was to score quickly and put as many runs as possible for Aussies to chase. Azhar Ali was well set on the other end and they decided to have a go at the bowlers.

Misbah hit 20 runs off a single over from the leg-spinner Steve Smith to complete his 50 - the fastest ever in Tests off 21 balls. Being dropped at 4 by Siddle, he took full advantage of it. Hitting 5 sixes and 11 fours, he reached the triple figure mark in just 56 balls, equalling the 28-year-old record of Sir Viv Richards.

#2 Sir Viv Richards (West Indies)- 56 balls

Sir Vivian Richards, former West Indian batsman

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards held the record of fastest Test century for almost 30 years. In the fifth Test of England's tour to the Carribean in 1986, the then Master Blaster, compiled arguably his most devastating innings in a career that was filled with devastating innings.

In the third innings, West Indies were leading quite comprehensively when the master walked down at number three. This innings led England to a humiliating series white-wash. Nothing to take away from the English side as they were up against the most ruthless team the game had ever seen, that too in their own backyard, led by the most attacking batsman ever in the sport.

Missing out on the century in the previous five occasions, and an everlasting rivalry with opposition skipper Ian Botham, Richards plundered in with seven sixes and three fours to complete his century in just 56 balls. He ended up scoring 110 runs taking only 58 deliveries.

Here is the video of the majestic spat from the majestic batsman-

#1 Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)- 54 balls

New Zealand v Australia - 2nd Test: Day 1

McCullum spent his 101-Test career doing the only thing he knew, hit, hit, hit. It's quite ironic that the most fierce innings from one of the most fierce batsmen in Tests came in his farewell Test.

Just before the second Test against the Australians, the Kiwi skipper shocked the cricketing fraternity by calling it a day. In the first innings, his penultimate in Tests, McCullum arrived with his team struggling at 32-3. He feared none and started to play his natural game, scoring over the boundaries against the Aussie pacers.

He was batting on 68 of 44 and required 32 more in the next 12 balls to break the 30-year-old world record and surpass Sir Viv Richards and Misbah-ul-Haq. He completed it with a ball to spare, scoring the century in just 79 minutes - third fastest in terms of time. He went on to score 145 off 79 balls with 21 fours and 6 sixes.

In his final Test, which the Kiwis went on to lose, McCullum cemented his legacy as one of the best batsmen his country has ever produced.

Below is the footage from the fastest century in the slowest format!