Scoring a century in Test cricket is considered a great achievement because the batters will be up against top-quality bowling attacks and also the red ball used in the format tends to swing more in comparison to the white ball that is used in limited-overs cricket.
Batting at No. 3 in the longest format comes with its own challenges and demands a certain level of skill, technique and temperament. No. 3 batsmen often come in to bat against the relatively new ball. This means facing bowlers with a ball that has more shine and swing, making it tough to negotiate the early movement.
However, the batters who managed to tackle all these challenges to better effect went on to bring the best out of themselves and also scored centuries. Let’s take a look at the six batsmen who scored the most Test centuries at No.3
1. Kumar Sangakkara
Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara scored over 12,400 runs in the longest format of the game impressive average of around 57.40. He is known for his elegant strokeplay and consistency during the heydays of his cricketing venture. The former left-handed batsman tops the list as he scored the most centuries at the No.3 slot in Test – 37 centuries, a record that remains intact.
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2. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting is one of Australia’s most successful captains and batsmen during the heydays of his cricketing venture. It is worth noting that he has been one of the top performers in Test cricket wherein he scored over 13,000 runs in Test cricket with an average of around 51.85. He was known for his aggressive style, powerful shots, and excellent captaincy. He comes second on the list as he scored as many as 32 centuries at No.3.
3. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid is popularly known as “The Wall of Indian Cricket”. India’s batting great has amassed more than 13,000 runs in Test cricket at an average of around 52.31. The former right-handed batsman was known for his solid technique, patience, and ability to anchor the innings. He comes third on the list as he piled up as many as 28 centuries at the No.3 position.
4. Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson is currently one of the Fab 4 batsmen in international cricket. He is known for his solid technique and has consistently performed well across all three formats of the game. He has scored over 8,124 runs in Test cricket with an average of around 54.9. He comes fourth on the list as he hit a total of 27 centuries at the No.3 position.
5. Hashim Amla
Hashim Amla has been one of the most consistent batters in international cricket during the heydays of his cricketing career. He was best known for his stylish batting and the potential acumen to play long innings. The former right-handed batter has smashed as many as 25 centuries at the No.3 position. He scored 9282 runs in Tests at a batting average of 46.6.
6. Don Bradman
Bradman holds a staggering Test batting average of 99.94, scoring over 6,000 runs in just 52 Test matches. He left an indelible mark on Test cricket, and his contributions have been pivotal in shaping the history of Australian cricket. He scored as many as 20 centuries in Tests at No.3
Most Test Centuries at no.3 position
37 – K Sangakkara
32 – Ricky Ponting
28 – Rahul Dravid
27 – Kane Williamson*
25 – Hashim Amla
20 – Don Bradman— Cricbaba (@thecricbaba) November 30, 2023
