5 Youngest players to score a One Day International hundred

Charlotte Edwards retired in 2016.
Charlotte Edwards retired in 2016.

Amelia Kerr, a 17-year old batswoman from New Zealand, batted herself into the history books when she surpassed Belinda Clark's long-withstanding record of the highest individual score in Women's ODI cricket.

But what's more surprising is that this talented White Ferns player is just 17-years old and she has broken a record that was created three years before she was even born.

While people tend to start dreaming of donning their national colours and representing their countries at the international level since a very young age, not many of them do succeed to turn their dream into a reality.

However over the 47 years that ODI cricket has been played for, it has given the game of cricket many 'teenage sensations' to be proud of.

Here is the list of 5 youngest cricketers from Men's and Women's ODI cricket to have a hundred to their name:


#5 Charlotte Edwards (17y 243 days)

Charlotte Edwards is one of the more renowned names in Women's cricket with a career spanning over 20 years. When Charlotte made her debut in 1996, she became the then youngest player to have played for England.

The young female prodigy had already scored two ODI centuries before her 18th birthday, first of which came against a touring South Africa.

Edwards scored 102 but her first ODI ton went in vain as SA chased down England's total of 253.

This teen centurion then went on to become one of England's all-time greats and one of the most successful captains in men's and women's cricket for England.

She led England in 220 matches and won three Ashes series (2008, 2013 and 2014) and World Cup and World T20 double in 2009.

#4 Usman Ghani (17y 242 days)

CRICKET-WIS-AFG
Usman Ghani

Usman Ghani was quick to rise from the ranks in Afghanistan cricket. The dashing opening batsman made his international debut at the age of 17.

Not only that, he raced away to an ODI century in just his fourth ODI while he was still 17 years old. The young player proved his mettle at an early stage when he scored 118 (143b) against Zimbabwe. The second highest score for Afghanistan in that innings was Gulbadin Naib's 23.

Ghani too didn't end up on the winning side of things when Zimbabwe easily chased the target set by Afghanistan on the back of Sikandar Raza's 141.

Ghani is still 21 years old and a shining prospect for Afghanistan, atleast in T20Is.


#3 Laura Wolvaardt

England Women v South Africa Women - 2nd ODI: ICC Women's Championship
Laura Wolvaardt against England

Laura Wolvaardt is making early strides in her international cricket. The South African batswoman made her ODI debut in February 2016 vs England.

In August 2016, she became the youngest ODI centurion for South Africa, male or female. The 17-year old opener smashed a match-winning 105 against Ireland and led her team to a 67-run win.

While it is still early days for Wolvaardt, she was one of the fourteen players to be awarded a national contract by Cricket South Africa ahead of the 2018-19 season.

#2 Shahid Afridi (16y 217 days)

Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi holds
Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi holds

If there exists a young player list that 'Lala' is not a part of, you know that the list is a total sham. Afridi made his international debut in October 1996 at the age of 16 when he was drafted into the ODI team as a leg spinner for the series against Kenya. He went wicketless and did not get a chance to bat.

However, he more than compensated for it when he played his next game against Sri Lanka. 'Boom Boom' Afridi was sent in to bat at no. 3 and the intrepid batsman whacked his way into the record books when he broke the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket, reaching the landmark in 37 balls. He equalled the record for the most sixes struck in an ODI innings (11).

And just like that, Shahid 'Boom Boom' Afridi, aged 16 years and 217 days became the youngest player to score an ODI century.

The Pakistani superstar's record of the fastest One Day ton went on to stand for more than 17 years.

#1 Mithali Raj (16y 205 days)

Australia v India: Semi-Final - ICC Women's World Cup 2017
Mithali Raj has set a number of records in Women's Cricket

Mithali Dorai Raj has been the face of Indian Women's cricket and a pioneer of women's cricket in general for close to two decades.

Considered as one of the greatest batswomen of all-time not only because she is the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket, but also because Raj has many more accolades to her name, including being the youngest player in the history of the game to score an ODI century.

Mithali was just 14 when she was named in the probables for the 1997 Cricket World Cup but missed out on a spot. Soon, she made her international debut at the age of 16. She scored a 114* leading the Women in Blue to a massive 161 run victory against Ireland Women.

She ripped open the record books in her debut match when she became the youngest cricket player to have an ODI century to her name at the age of 16 years and 205 days and she has been batting her way to numerous records since then.

The Indian skipper's record still stands, across both genders.

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Edited by Rajdeep Puri