Number 10 racing to 100: Test centuries scored by number 10 batsmen

Though there have been quite a few scores of 90s by No.11 batters, none managed to score a century at this position. Hence, the number 10 is the lowest position to witness an individual century not only in Test cricket but also in all international cricket. As many as four players scored a hundred in the longer format at No.10 batting position but none of them came in the last 8 years.

The first-ever instance was recorded by Walter Read of England in the 1884 Oval Test against Australia. The No.10 batsman of the home team scored 117 from 155 balls with 20 fours in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid follow-on after his team was 181/8 in response to Australia’s 551. Walter’s 117 is still the highest individual score for any player at No.10 position in Test cricket.

The England team was on the receiving end of a second such hundred during the 1902 Test match at the MCG against Australia. The home team player Reggie Duff scored 104 while batting at No.10 even though he was a top-order batsman. Australia got bowled out of 112 in the first innings but came back strongly to keep England down to 61.

Skipper Joe Darling ensured few players batted low down the order which turned out to be a handy move as they finished with 353 and won the game by a huge margin. Pat Symcox replicated the feat 96 years later when he made 108 in the 1998 Johannesburg Test against Pakistan. Symcox put on 195-run partnership for the 9th wicket with Mark Boucher (78) after South Africa were 8 wickets down for 166 runs.

The most recent entry to this elite list was Bangladesh’s Abul Hasan against West Indies in the 2012 Khulna Test. The interesting part of Abul’s knock was the No.10 batsman was making his debut in the longer format during this game. Abul scored 113 from 123 balls with help of 14 fours and three maximums as Bangladesh finished with 387 from being 8 down for 193.

Centuries at No.10 position in Test cricket: