Australia have been one of the giants of one-day international cricket for their incredible consistency and the ruthlessness with which they beat their oppositions. Several great players have represented Australia and have helped them win five ODI world cups, the most by any team in the history of ODI cricket. While several batsmen from Australia have gone on to become all-time greats in ODI cricket, some others have created records while batting that are very difficult to be broken. Here we have a look at one such record which is the fastest centuries hit by Australian batsmen in ODI cricket.
Fastest ODI Century For Australia
- Glenn Maxwell (51 balls)
Glenn Maxwell had burst on to the international scene in 2013 and had made his name as one of the most dangerous all-rounders in white-ball cricket. His incredible ability to clear the fence and being smart with the ball in hand saw him win a place in Australia’s 2015 World Cup squad. In a group game against Sri Lanka, Maxwell came into his very own and started smashing the Sri Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground. He smashed 10 fours and smoked 4 huge sixes as he scored 102 runs off just 53 balls. Scoring his hundred in 51 balls, Maxwell broke Matthew Hayden’s record of fastest ODI hundred for Australia. Australia ended up winning that game comfortably and went on to win the 2015 World Cup. Maxwell continues to be an integral part of Australia’s white-ball setup.
2. James Faulkner (57 balls)
Another all-rounder in this list, James Faulkner had become one of the most reliable batsmen for Australia down the order in white-ball cricket. He produced special knocks when his team needed him the most and one such special knock came against India in the 2013 ODI series. In the 7th ODI, Rohit Sharma’s maiden ODI double-hundred in ODIs saw India post a mammoth total of 383-6 in their 50 overs. In reply, Australia never really got going and kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Faulkner walked out to bat when Australia were in deep trouble at 132-5. Soon after losing Maxwell, Faulkner knew that it was down to him to give Australia a miraculous victory. Smashing the Indian bowlers all around the park, Faulkner dished out a memorable 57-ball hundred which was the fastest for Australia in ODIs at that point. Hitting 11 fours and 6 sixes, he scored 116 runs off just 73 balls and threatened to run away with the game. Although India ended up winning the game by 57 runs, this innings from Faulkner remains one of the best for Australia.
3. Steve Smith (62 balls)
Steve Smith smashed the third fastest ODI century for Australia in the first ODI against India on November 27, 2020. After an incredible opening partnership of 156 runs from openers David Warner and Aaron Finch, Smith continued to pile on the misery on the Indian bowlers. He smashed a 62-ball century which was enough to propel Australia to a mammoth total of 374-6 in their 50 overs. India ended up losing the game by 66 runs and Steve Smith’s century was instrumental in Australia’s emphatic win.
4. Matthew Hayden (66 balls)
One of the finest white-ball openers of his generation, Matthew Hayden played a brilliant knock of 101 runs off just 68 balls against South Africa in the group stages of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup. Smashing 14 fours and 4 huge sixes, Hayden scored a 66-ball century which was a record for the fastest century in ODI cricket for Australia at that point. His consistent contributions for Australia helped them win the world cup and dominate world cricket for a long period of time.
