Rishabh Pant quickly staking a claim in this top 8 list of particularly prolific Test wicketkeeper-batters
The role of wicketkeeper has changed significantly in the modern game.
For many years, the gloveman was in the team based, first and foremost, on his abilities behind the stumps.
In the same way that a team would select the best spinner available to fill a role, or the best opener available to bat at the top of the order, so too would they pick the best keeper to don the gloves.
But that has changed significantly in recent times, with the keeper’s ability to bat now almost as significant a contribution to his selection as the tidiness of his keeping.
So, which keepers have scored the most Test cricket centuries? Let’s take a look:
8. BJ Watling (New Zealand) – 6 centuries from 101 innings | Batting average: 39.05
BJ Watling was the cornerstone of New Zealand’s middle order for nearly a decade, especially during a transitional era where the Black Caps became a genuine Test force.
Often batting with the tail, Watling was a specialist in rescuing tough situations. His centuries were rarely flashy, but they were always invaluable. His standout knock was a gritty 205 against England in Mount Maunganui in 2019.
That double ton was emblematic of his understated but immensely effective approach. While not the most naturally gifted batsman on this list, his temperament and technique were second to none.
7. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 6 centuries from 81 innings (as keeper) | Batting average: 40.48
Kumar Sangakkara’s greatness is beyond question; by the time he ended his Test career he had scored over 12,000 runs and hit 38 centuries. But for the purposes of this list, we’re only counting the innings where he kept wicket, and even then, his numbers are stellar.
With 6 centuries in 81 innings as keeper, Sangakkara still makes the top five. He was a rare talent who combined elegance with grit, equally at home against spin in Galle or pace at the Gabba.
While he eventually gave up the gloves to extend his batting longevity, his contributions while doubling as keeper were world-class.
6. Matt Prior (England) – 6 centuries from 123 innings | Batting average: 40.18
Matt Prior was instrumental in England’s climb to the top of the ICC Test rankings in the early 2010s. Known for his counter-attacking style, Prior often played game-changing knocks from number seven.
His ability to take on the second new ball and turn a tricky situation into a dominant one was a hallmark of his game. His first Test innings was a century on debut against the West Indies in 2007, setting the tone for a career filled with critical knocks.
More than just a gritty lower-order batter, Prior was also an aggressive stroke-maker who could change the tempo of a match.
5. Rishabh Pant (India) – 6 centuries from 77 innings | Batting average: 43.66
The most explosive name on this list, Rishabh Pant brings a fearless and attacking dimension to the role of wicketkeeper-batsman. With centuries in Australia, England, and India already to his name, Pant has shown an appetite for the big stage.
His 89* at the Gabba in 2021 may not have been a century, but it cemented his place in folklore. With six hundreds already in just 77 innings and an average north of 43, Pant could climb even higher on this list in the years to come.
His strike rate, audacity, and unorthodox brilliance make him one of the most watchable players of his generation. He has already passed countryman MS Dhoni on the list to become India’s most prolific Test keeper.
4. AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 7 centuries from 39 innings (as keeper) | Batting average: 57.41
Like Sangakkara, AB de Villiers was so good with the bat that he eventually relinquished the gloves to focus on batting full-time, but it wasn’t before doing significant damage as a keeper for South Africa.
In the 39 innings where he kept wicket, he managed an incredible 7 centuries at an average of 57.41, the highest average on this list. His versatility was unmatched: capable of occupying the crease for hours or accelerating like a T20 finisher.
AB’s blend of elegance and power made him a nightmare for bowlers, and his numbers behind the stumps suggest that he could have been one of the all-time great keepers had he stuck with the role longer.
3. Les Ames (England) – 8 centuries from 67 innings | Batting average: 43.40
Les Ames is the only pre-war player on this list, and his record has stood the test of time. Playing in the 1930s, Ames was the original wicketkeeper-batsman, a revolutionary figure in an era when most keepers were chosen solely for their glove work.
Scoring 8 centuries in just 67 innings, he was well ahead of his time. His batting average of 43.40 remains remarkable considering the era, the uncovered pitches, and the nature of low-scoring games for England.
Without modern equipment and in vastly different conditions, Ames still managed to create a blueprint for the modern keeper-batsman.
2. Andy Flower (Zimbabwe) – 12 centuries from 100 innings | Batting average: 53.70
Andy Flower’s brilliance often went unnoticed due to the relative obscurity of Zimbabwean cricket in his time. But make no mistake, he was world-class.
Flower notched up 12 centuries as a wicketkeeper from just 100 innings, boasting an average of 53.70. His twin centuries in one game against South Africa (he made scores of 142 and 199*) or his efforts against India in 2000 where he scored 183* and 70 in the same match, remain one of the finest performances by a visiting batsman on the subcontinent.
Flower combined technical excellence with mental toughness and could perform under pressure, often while carrying an entire batting line-up on his shoulders.
1. Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – 17 centuries from 137 innings | Batting average: 47.60
At number one, and by some distance, is Adam Gilchrist, the man who redefined what a wicketkeeper could be. With 17 centuries from 137 innings, and an average just under 48, Gilchrist was both a game-changer and a match-winner.
His ability to turn a game on its head with rapid, counter-attacking innings made him a lethal weapon for Australia’s all-conquering side of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Whether smashing 149 in a World Cup final or rescuing a Test with the tail, Gilchrist made impact his currency. His legacy isn’t just about numbers; it’s about shifting the role of keeper-batsman into an attacking asset.