Who has hit the most Test centuries for Australia?

Jonhenry Wilson 20 Dec 2024

Steve Smith now has more Test centuries than Steve Waugh.

Steven Smith recently overtook Steven Waugh among Australia’s most prolific centurions in Test cricket.

Smith welcomed a 33rd Test century during December 2024’s Border-Gavaskar Series in Australia.

He has now struck the second-highest number of centuries in Test cricket for Australia.

He keeps elite company, indeed.

5. Don Bradman – 29 Test centuries

Bradman hit 29 centuries during a Test career that started in 1928 and ended two decades later in 1948. He is arguably the most iconic cricketer from Australia.

Bradman, as is well documented, averaged just short of 100 in Test cricket – a truly phenomenal statistic. He complemented his 29 centuries with 13 half-tons.

4. Matthew Hayden – 30 Test centuries

Hayden played 103 Tests from 1994 to 2009. He opened the batting on some truly tricky wickets and some veritable roads.

He was the man for the occasion and will be remembered for walking barefoot across pitches before the start of matches to get a real feel for the conditions. One of the most prolific left-handers of his time, Hayden hit 30 Test centuries.

3. Steven Waugh – 32 Test centuries

From 1985 to 2004, Waugh collected a whopping 32 centuries and 50 half-tons in Test cricket.

He exemplified middle-order determination and scored many of his tons and runs as captain of the national team. He scored two centuries in one match against England in Manchester in 1997. He really knew how to dig deep and cash in against the Aussies’ old Ashes enemy.

2. Steven Smith – 33 Test centuries

Smith is the most contemporary cricketer on this list and is still going at it 14 years since debuting in Test cricket. Smith now has 33 Test tons. A dozen of those have come against England and 10 more versus India.

He has two Test tons against each of New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka – and three against West Indies. It is well worth noting that five of Smith’s 33 Test tons were scored in Asia.

Smith isn’t about to retire from Test match cricket, so watch this space for more of the prolific same from him.

1. Ricky Ponting – 41 Test centuries

With 41 centuries in 168 Tests, Ponting is Australia’s most prolific centurion in the longest format of the international game. He loved batting against South Africa, England and India, scoring eight centuries against each country. He also hit seven against West Indies. Interestingly, he only managed one Test ton against Sri Lanka in 23 innings.

Elsewhere among Australia’s most prolific Test centurions, there’s Michael Clarke with 28, Allan Border with 27, David Warner with 26, Greg Chappell with 24 and Justin Langer with 23.