Top 10 players with the most number of centuries in competitive cricket

The game of cricket is played in three formats. These three formats broadly classified into days format, limited-overs format, and T20 format. The classification deepens into Tests, ODIs, T20I, First-Class, List-A, and T20.

India is a land of cricket fanatics. People here passionately follow the sport of cricket and possibly stay versed to every record. We are generally aware of our batting heroes and keep track of their records in international cricket. But sometimes we stay eluded of few remote facts and figures related to our favorites and other giants in other forms of the game.

In this segment, we will take a look at players who have most centuries in the competitive cricket, that is all the formats combined.

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#10 Sachin Tendulkar (142 Centuries)

Sachin Tendulkar has scored 100 centuries in International cricket

Though we are not used to of seeing him at this place, strangely he is 10th on this list. Often regarded as the best batsman ever, Sachin Tendulkar has scored 142 centuries in competitive cricket across all formats including First-class cricket and List-A cricket.Tendulkar has 100 International centuries, 51 Tests and 49 ODIs, and this record looks indomitable as of now.

Moreover, he has one hundred in T20 cricket. He had scored 100 not out against Kochi Tuskers Kerela in the IPL 2011. He also holds the record of scoring 50000 runs in competitive cricket and sixteenth overall and first Asian to achieve this feat.

Also, he is one of the three players, apart from Graham Gooch and Graeme Hick to have scored more than 20000 runs List-A cricket in his career.

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#9 F E Woolley (145 Centuries)

Frank Woolley in action

Frank Edward Woolley was an English cricketer whose active years were between 1906-1938. He was a left-handed batsman and a left-arm bowler and is often regarded highly for his all-around cricketing skills.

He represented England in 64 Test matches and also played for Kent. He holds the record of grabbing over 1000 first-class catches as a fielder. He has 145 centuries to his name and stands 9th on the list.

#8 Herbert Sutcliff (151 Centuries)

Herbert Sutcliff has the fifth best batting average in Tests

Herbert Sutcliff was a professional English batsman and represented England and Yorkshire between 1919-1945. He was an opening batsman and was famous for delivering the best performances in hostile situations. Sutcliff played 54 tests for England and averages 60.73 which is the fifth highest batting average ever. He has 151 centuries to his name with the top score of 313 in first-class cricket.

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#7 CP Mead (153 Centuries)

CP Mead(on the right) walks out to bat with Jack Hobbs

Charles Philip Mead was an English professional cricketer between 1905-1936. He was a left-handed batsman and represented England and Hampshire. He only played 17 tests for England but featured in over 800 other first-class games. He scored 153 centuries overall in his cricket career.

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#6 Geoffrey Boycott (159 Centuries)

Geoffrey Boycott played 108 Tests for England

Well, the recent generation has seen most of him as a commentator, but Geoffrey Boycott is one the most successful English batsman ever. Not just physically charming but equally attributable in his batting style, Boycott had his illustrious career in between 1962-1986.

He represented England in 108 Test matches and amassed over 8000 Test runs, highest at that time. He also represented Yorkshire in county cricket. Boycott stands fifth at all-time leading run scorers list and has 159 centuries to his name.

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#5 Wally Hammond (167 Centuries)

Wally Hammond is described as one of the four best batsmen in cricket history by Wisden Almanack

Walter Hammond or fondly remembered as Wally Hammond was an English cricketer and represented England and Gloucestershire in Tests and first-class cricket. His career spanned from 1920-1951 and in this period, he played 634 First-class matches including 85 Tests.

Hammond was a prolific run-getter and is regarded as one of the four best in cricket history by Wisden Almanack. Hammond scored 167 centuries in his career. His English record of 22 centuries in Tests stayed unbroken until Alastair Cook surpassed the feat in 2012.

#4 EH Hendren (170 Centuries)

Patsy Hendren represented England in 51 Tests

Elias Henry Hendren or fondly known as Patsy Hendren was an English batsman in the period 1907-1937. This right-handed batsman played for England and Middlesex and was a prolific batsman in the between world war period.

Patsy represented England in 51 Tests and averaged over 47.63. However, his average swells up to 50 in first-class cricket with 170 centuries to his name. His highest first-class score is 301.

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#3 Graham Gooch (172 Centuries)

Graham Gooch holds the record for most runs in professional cricket

Graham Alan Gooch is a former English cricketer who represented England and Essex in his cricket career that spanned from 1973-2000. This former English captain was a prolific run scorer and one of the best from his generation.

He holds the record of amassing the most runs, with 67057 runs in first-class and limited overs game. In his career, he scored 172 centuries across formats. He even holds the record for most runs in List-A cricket in a professional career.

#2 Graeme Hick (178 Centuries)

Graeme Hick has second most runs and centuries in professional cricket

Graeme Hick is a former English cricketer who has played 65 Tests and 120 ODIs for England. Born in the then Rhodesia, Hick played his junior cricket for Zimbabwe, later heading to England for better prospects. He made his test debut in 1991 and played his last in 2001.

However, he continued playing first-class cricket and limited overs cricket till 2008. He is second on the list for the most number of runs in professional cricket combined and has scored 178 centuries across all formats.

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#1 Jack Hobbs (197 Centuries)

Sir Jack Hobbs has 197 centuries in professional cricket

Sir Jack Hobbs has mind-boggling figures of 197 centuries in professional cricket. Jack Hobbs was an English cricketer and played for Surrey and England. His professional cricket career span from 1905 to 1934. Hobbs represented England in 65 Tests and was famous for his unsatiable hunger of scoring runs.

In his professional career, Hobbs scored 61760 runs and is often regarded as the greatest cricketer in the history of cricket.