One of the most impressive displays of skill and consistency in cricket is making most hundreds against one team.
A batsman’s mental edge over a particular opponent, demonstrated by their ability to decipher the opposition’s strategy and exploit their flaws time and time again, is reflected in this record.
The story behind the record for the most hundreds scored against a single squad goes beyond the raw figures.
Every over counts in the fast-paced arena of One Day Internationals (ODIs), so scoring a century is no small feat.
It’s remarkable that you’ve managed to pull this off multiple times against the same team. The limited-overs T20i format is an additional challenge.
Here, every ball matters, and a batsman’s ability to adapt and excel in the shortest format is demonstrated by the fact that he has scored the most hundreds against a single team.
Test cricket, on the other hand, is played over a longer period of time and requires more concentration, stamina, and skill.
For a player to break the record for most hundreds scored against a single team in Tests, it is evidence of their mastery of the game’s traditional format.
The record for the most hundreds scored against a single side in all formats of cricket is essentially a recognition of greatness on the field.
This is the tale of cricket players who not only succeed once but again against the same opponents, forever cementing their place in cricket lore.
Cricket’s ODI Showdowns: Players Who Shine Against One Teams
One-day internationals are a special kind of international cricket. Batters in ODIs are given more leeway to settle into a rhythm than in T20Is, where they are expected to go for broke right away.
Once they’ve settled in, they’ll be able to strategically increase their innings. It’s not uncommon for them to cross the century mark.
It’s interesting to watch how some batters favor certain pitchers. They have a pattern of dominating particular opponents offensively. Let’s investigate this fascinating occurrence.
1. Virat Kohli’s Dominance Over Sri Lanka and West Indies
Virat Kohli, a stalwart of the Indian cricket team, boasts 10 centuries against Sri Lanka in ODIs. That’s a record! Additionally, he’s notched up nine tons against the West Indies.
Fun fact: Kohli’s first ODI century came against Sri Lanka in December 2009. He continued his spree with four more tons against them in 2012.
Against the West Indies, his century journey began in December 2011. He added three more in 2018 and two in 2019. His ODI average against both these teams? A whopping 60-plus!
2. Tendulkar’s Aussie Conquest
Sachin Tendulkar, often dubbed the ‘God of Cricket’, loved playing against Australia. He scored nine of his 49 ODI centuries against them.
His maiden ODI century? It came against Australia in September 1994. In 1998, he smashed three tons against the Aussies.
One of his standout innings was the 175-run knock in November 2009. Despite India’s loss, it remains one of his best.
And who can forget February 2010? Tendulkar became the first batter to score an ODI double century, leading India to one of the highest team totals ever.
3. Rohit Sharma’s Aussie Adventures
Rohit Sharma, another Indian cricket sensation, has eight centuries against Australia. Known as the ‘hitman’, he’s made some remarkable achievements.
His first century against Australia? It came in November 2013. Fast forward to January 2016, and he scored a whopping 171* at Perth.
This score was a record for the highest ODI score against Australia by a visiting batter. His latest century against them? That was in 2020.
ODI Century Leaders Against One Team: A Quick Glance
- Virat Kohli (India) vs Sri Lanka: 10
- Virat Kohli (India) vs West Indies: 9
- Sachin Tendulkar (India) vs Australia: 9
- Rohit Sharma (India) vs Australia: 8
- Virat Kohli (India) vs Australia: 8
- Sachin Tendulkar (India) vs Sri Lanka: 8
- Aaron Finch (Australia) vs England: 7
- Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) vs Sri Lanka: 7
- Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) vs India: 7
Test Matches: Batsman Who Dominated Against Specific Teams
Not many people can say they have scored a century in cricket. It’s especially impressive in the world of test cricket.
Why? Playing cricket with a red ball requires great skill and patience. A batter needs to show tenacity if he or she is going to get close to 100 runs.
Unlike their white-ball counterparts, test matches don’t happen as often. Due to the rarity of this longer game format, players rarely get the opportunity to switch from ODIs to T20Is.
Yet, certain players have a tendency for flourishing against certain opponents. Let’s go into this exciting topic.
1. Don Bradman: The Ultimate Nemesis for England
Sir Don Bradman is often hailed as test cricket’s finest. His average nearing 100 is testament to his prowess. Out of his 52 tests, 37 were against England.
He scored a staggering 5028 runs at an average of 89.78. This includes 19 centuries, with his highest being 334.
In conclusion, while every century in cricket is a testament to a player’s skill and determination, some players have consistently shone against specific teams. This list celebrates those batters who turned specific rivalries into their personal playgrounds.
2. Sunil Gavaskar’s Feats Against the West Indies
Sunil Gavaskar, an Indian legend, sits second. He was the first to score over 30 test centuries. Out of his 34, a significant chunk came against the formidable West Indies.
Facing their fierce pacers, he played 27 matches, scoring 13 centuries. His top score? An impressive 236 not out.
3. Jack Hobbs: England’s Gem Against Australia
Jack Hobbs, a former England star, ranks third with 12 test centuries against Australia. His international career spanned an impressive 22 years and 233 days.
Remarkably, he notched a century against Australia at 46 years and 82 days of age. In total, he played 32 matches against them, also scoring 15 half-centuries.
4. Steve Smith’s Ashes Brilliance
Australia and England share a fierce rivalry, epitomized by the Ashes. These historic teams have players eager to outdo each other.
Steve Smith stands tall among them. Against England, he’s played 32 matches, scoring 3044 runs at an average of 59.68. This includes 11 centuries, with his top score being 239.
5. Sachin Tendulkar’s Mastery Over Australia
Many might raise eyebrows seeing the top century-maker at number five. Sachin’s record speaks volumes. Out of his 51 test centuries, 11 were against Australia.
He played 39 tests, amassing 3630 runs at an average of 55. This tally includes 16 half-centuries. His standout score? A whopping 241 not out against the Aussies.
The Ultimate Dominance: Scoring Most Hundreds Against One Team
In the past of cricket, there are some records that stand out not only for how amazing they are, but also for what they mean for a player’s mental edge over an opponent.
In ODI, T20i, and Test cricket, one of these awards is the record for the most hundreds against one team. Over and over, it shows how well a player can learn, adapt to, and take advantage of a team’s strategies and weaknesses.
When playing ODIs, where the pace is fast and there isn’t much room for error, getting hundreds against the same team over and over again shows how versatile and skilled they are.
In the fast-paced game of T20i, this is an even bigger accomplishment that shows how skilled a batsman is at staying aggressive while keeping their wicket.
In the Test arena, on the other hand, facing the same opponent over and over again and still finding ways to hit the coveted three-figure mark shows how patient, tough, and skilled the player is.
To sum up, the record for the most hundreds against one team in all forms is more than just a number. It’s a story about power, determination, and getting to know your enemy better than anyone else.
It’s a tribute to the players who have risen above and left a lasting mark on the game, even though they’ve played the same opponents many times.
