5 elite cricketers who scored more Test 100s than 50s

Archie Starkey 16 Dec 2024

Younis Khan collected 34 centuries and 33 half-tons in Test cricket.

Runs are the currency in Test cricket, and converting good starts into fifties and then centuries is what makes a memorable career.

Those who regularly turn that first milestone into the second are the foundations of a successful Test side.

With form being everything and the competition for places so tough, consistency is important, but a poor conversion rate is unlikely enough.

Many reach a half-century but often falter due to lapses of concentration or the pressure of the nervous nineties.

For many, scoring a Test century is a lifetime achievement, but others have carried out the feat repeatedly, churning out runs with immense regularity.

A Test century requires a skillset that few are fortunate to have, but a bespoke group of players have remarkably claimed more centuries than fifties in their careers.

An extremely rare pattern and one that draws legendary status and appraisal.

Here are 5 players with more 100s than 50s on the world stage…

5. Mohammad Azharuddin, India

In a 16-year Test career for India, spanning 99 Test matches, Azharuddin notched 6215 Test runs at an average of 45.03.

The cricketer turned politician joins this rare group, having racked up 22 centuries and 21 fifties.

4. Michael Clarke, Australia

The former Australia skipper is an often underrated player, with his 8643 Test runs coming at a crucial time in a period of change for his country.

An average just shy of 50 and 28 tons with 27 fifties highlights the importance of Clarke’s contributions.

3. Don Bradman, Australia

Bradman’s record on paper is quite frankly mindblowing, with him being sporting royalty in Australia.

29 tons, 13 halves and an utterly ridiculous average of 99.94 for his country only backs up his plaudits.

2. Matthew Hayden, Australia

One half of the memorable opening partnership with Justin Langer, Hayden pipped his countryman to a place in this record book.

He averaged a smidge over 50, collecting 30 centuries and 29 fifties during his career.

1. Younis Khan, Pakistan

With a Test cricket career stretching 118 matches, Khan was the first-ever Pakistan player to reach 10,000 Test runs.

With an average of 52.05 as well as 34 and 33 Test tons and fifties, respectively, Khan tops this remarkable group of elite Test batsmen.