To play Test cricket for his country is the dream of every aspiring young cricketer. Very few are able to fulfill their dream because it requires a lot of hard work and patience, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. Some players break into the Test team at a very young age and even achieve success in their early days.
Recently, Prithvi Shaw, who was born in November 1999, made his Test debut for India and scored a hundred against West Indies. While he had become an adult before he played for India, in this article, we will look at those four batsmen who scored a Test hundred before celebrating their 18th birthday.
Hamilton Masakadza – 17 years 352 days
The youngest Zimbabwean batsman to score a hundred in Test cricket is their explosive top-order batsman Hamilton Masakadza. The right-handed batsman achieved this feat against West Indies in 2001-02. Playing at Harare just days before becoming an adult, Masakadza slammed a brilliant 316-ball 119 to save the Test match for his team.
Sachin Tendulkar – 17 years 107 days
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for being the youngest Indian batsman to score a hundred in Test matches. Tendulkar recorded his first Test hundred at Manchester where he was just 17. Chasing 408 runs in the fourth innings, Tendulkar’s 119* helped India draw the game.
Mushtaq Mohammad – 17 years 78 days
The youngest player to hit a century against the Indian Test team is Pakistani batsman Mushtaq Mohammad. Playing in Delhi, the 17-year-old youngster scored 101 runs for his country in the first innings after coming out to bat at number six. Mohammad’s innings helped Pakistan save the Test match.
Mohammad Ashraful – 17 years 61 days
Former Bangladeshi captain Mohammad Ashraful is the youngest batsman in Test cricket history to touch the magical three figures mark. He achieved this record while batting against Sri Lanka in the Asian Test Championship. Ashraful scored 114 runs from 212 deliveries to avoid his team from suffering an embarrassing defeat.
