Batting Records

Top 10: Most Centuries in Losing Cause in Test

Cricket is a team sport where everyone has to contribute, either with the bat or the ball. However, on some occasions, teams might find themselves in tough situations with players failing to put up a fight.

A lone fighter then might pull the team out of precarious condition with a gritty knock. Despite the heroics, the batter might fail to take the team over the ropes.

In this article, let’s look at the top 10 batters with the most centuries in losing cause in Test.

Most Centuries in Losing Cause in Test

Player 100s in Losing Cause High Score
Brian Lara (WI) 14 226
Sachin Tendulkar (IND) 11 177
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) 9 136*
Mohammad Yousuf (PAK) 8 192
Mohammad Azharuddin (IND) 7 121
Andy Flower (ZIM) 7 199*
Virat Kohli (IND) 7 153
Younis Khan (PAK) 7 177
Asad Shafiq (PAK) 6 137
Sunil Gavaskar (IND) 6 137

Key Insights

14: Brian Lara holds the unwanted record for scoring the most centuries in losing causes in the Test format. Out of his 34 hundreds, 14 ended up on the losing side, with 5 of them coming against Australia.

30: In contrast, Ricky Ponting has scored the most Test centuries in winning causes, with 30 under his belt.

242: Australia’s former captain Ricky Ponting smashed a brilliant 242-run knock in the first innings against India in 2003. However, it didn’t materialise in a win, making it the highest individual score in a Test defeat.