From Adam Gilchrist to Travis Head, know who scored fastest hundreds in Ashes history

Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist scored the fastest hundred in Ashes history.

During England’s tour of Australia in 2006, Adam Gilchrist smashed a 57-ball hundred in the second innings of the Perth Test.

Gilchrist broke the previous record for the fastest hundred in Ashes held by England’s Gilbert Jessop, who registered an impressive century off just 74 balls against Australia at The Oval in London in 1902.

Among active cricketers, Australia’s Travis Head owns the record for the fastest hundred in Ashes. He scored a 85-ball hundred against England in Brisbane in 2021. Get fastest hundreds in Ashes list.

Fastest hundreds in Ashes 

Adam Gilchrist | 57 balls vs England, Perth, 2006

Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist etched his name in the history books after he smashed the fastest hundred in Ashes history. With a 2-0 lead in the five-match Ashes Test series, the hosts opted to bat first in the third Test at Perth. Australia were later bowled out for 244, while England managed 215 in their first innings. In the second innings, Australia rode on centuries from Michael Hussey (103) and Michael Clarke (135) to put the hosts in a commanding position. Later, Gilchrist inflicted more misery on the England bowlers as he clobbered a blitzkrieg hundred off just 57 balls. Gilchrist remained not out on 102 with 12 fours and four sixes as Australia declared their innings at 527/5. The hosts bowled out England for 350 in their second innings to secure a massive 206-run victory. Australia went on to win the Ashes series 5-0.

Gilbert Jessop | 74 balls vs Australia, London, 1902

Former England cricketer Gilbert Jessop previously held the record for the fastest hundred in Ashes. Chasing a target of 263 in the fourth innings of a Headingley Test in 1902, England were reduced to 48/5 before Gilbert Jessop played a knock for the ages. Batting at number seven, Jessop hammered a 74-ball hundred to bring the hosts back into the game. Having batted for 77 minutes, Jessop slammed 17 boundaries before he was dismissed for 104. Jessop’s scintillating hundred helped England secure a thrilling one-wicket win in London. This is still the fastest Ashes hundred scored by an English batter. Despite winning the fifth Test at The Oval, England went down 1-2 to Australia in the five-match Ashes Test series.

Travis Head | 85 balls vs England, Brisbane, 2021

Australia’s Travis Head joined this illustrious list after he recorded the joint-third fastest hundred in Ashes history. The southpaw scored a hundred off just 85 balls against a star-studded England bowling line-up during the first Test of England’s tour of Australia in Brisbane in 2021. After bowling out England for 147 in their first innings, Australia took a massive lead courtesy Travis Head’s big hundred. Head scored 152 off 148 balls to power Australia to 425 in their first innings. Head’s brilliant knock included 14 fours and four sixes. Australia later won the Brisbane Test by nine wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The hosts clinched the series 4-0.

Photo credit: ICC