The fourth innings of a Test match is a very difficult time to bat for even the best batters of the game. The pressure to chase the target, no matter how big or small is ever present on the batter. The pressure further increases if wickets are falling at one end and the main batter has to anchor.
But there have been some batters who relish such pressure and have scored centuries to win matches. Some of the centuries in the fourth innings have come in either saving the matches or in losing causes as well. But some of the batters made the most of their form with multiple centuries in the fourth innings.
Recently, Kane Williamson equalled the record for the most centuries in the fourth innings of a Test match and with that in consideration, we take a look at the five batters with the most tons in 4th innings of a Test match.
Here are the Top 5 players with the most centuries in the Fourth innings:
5. Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies)
Ramnaresh-Sarwan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Ramnaresh Sarwan was a class batter for West Indies who played 87 Tests for his team from 2000-2011. He was a classic right-hand batter with a technique that was easy on the eyes to watch. He had all the strokes in his arsenal and was aggressive in his intent. Overall he scored 5842 runs at an average of 40.01 with 15 centuries and best of 291.
In the fourth innings of a Test match, he had an enviable record. The 36 times he batted in the fourth innings of a Test, Sarwan made 1241 runs at an average of 37.60 and scored four centuries with a best of 128.
4. Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Ricky Ponting Test. (Photo Source: Getty Images)
Legendary Australia captain and batter Ricky Ponting was also one of the best batters when it came to leading the team from the front with the bat. He was very thoughtful of his approach in the fourth innings and in 43 innings, Ponting made four centuries, scoring 1462 runs with an average of 50.41. His highest score was 156 and he also made 6 fifties.
Overall, Ponting had a brilliant Test career from 1995-2011. He played 168 Tests, scoring 13378 runs with an average of 51.85 and best score of 257. He hit 41 centuries and 62 fifties in his illustrious career.
3. Sunil Gavaskar (India)
Sunil Gavaskar scoring his first ODI hundred vs NZ in 1987 WC (Photo Source: Twitter)
India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar played 125 Tests for India from 1971-1987. He made 10122 runs at an average of 51.12 and a best score of 236 runs. He made 34 centuries and 45 fifties. Gavaskar was the first batter ever to reach the 10,000 runs milestone in Test history. He was also the first batter to have 30 Test centuries.
He led the Indian batting pretty much for the whole of the 70s and early 80s. He made 1398 runs in 33 outings in the fourth innings of a Test match. He averaged 58.25 and scored four centuries and eight fifties in the fourth innings, with the highest score of 221.
2. Younis Khan (Pakistan)
Younis Khan. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Former Pakistan captain and one of the best batters the country produced, Younis Khan made 1465 runs in 40 outings in the fourth innings of a Test match. He averaged 50.51 and hit five centuries with the best of 171*. He also made six fifties in the fourth innings of a Test as well.
Meanwhile, in an illustrious career that began in 2000 and came to an end in 2017, Younis played 118 Tests, scoring 10099 runs at an average of 52.05 and hit 34 centuries as well. His highest score was 313. Younis Khan was the first Pakistani batter to make 10000 runs in Test cricket.
1. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is undergoing a purple patch off late and has converted his last 8 scores of over 50 into centuries. He achieved this feat recently against South Africa in the two-Test series. During his patch, Williamson also equalled Younis Khan’s record for most centuries in the fourth innings of a Test, hitting his 5th ton.
In 31 outings in the fourth innings, Williamson has five centuries and an average of 57.77. He has scored 1040 runs with a best of 133* and also has four fifties. Overall, Williamson has 8666 runs in 98 Tests with 32 centuries, the most by a Kiwi batter in Tests. He averages 55.90 and his highest score is 251.