Australia legend Meg Lanning boasts record for most international tons, New Zealand's Suzie Bates close second

Former Australian skipper and cricket legend Meg Lanning holds the record for scoring the most centuries in women's cricket across all international formats.

The Australian legend boasts 17 centuries in international cricket - more than any other women’s cricketer in the history of the game.

Scoring a century in international cricket is by no means an easy feat across all formats. However, some players seem to have mastered the formula for scoring tons and have enjoyed great success with the bat on the international stage as a result.

As far as Indian players are concerned, the likes of Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana have made the most number of international centuries.

The Indian batters both have eight international hundreds to their names with seven coming in ODIs and one in Tests.

With that in mind, let’s have a look at the top players with the most centuries in women's cricket on the international stage.

Most centuries in women's cricket

Meg Lanning (Australia) | 17 centuries

One of the greatest players to ever play women’s cricket, the legendary Meg Lanning has the distinction of being the player with the most hundreds in international cricket. She smashed 15 centuries in ODIs - the most by any woman - and also has two T20 tons. A seven-time World Cup winner - five ODI and two T20 titles - Lanning has retired from international cricket but still leads the way as far as most tons by a woman cricketer is concerned. Her top scores in ODIs and T20Is were in wins against Sri Lanka and England respectively. She made 152 off 135 balls not out against the Lankans and an unbeaten 63-ball 133 against the English.   

Suzie Bates (New Zealand) | 14 centuries

Second on the list of players with the most centuries in women’s international cricket is Suzie Bates. The New Zealand all-rounder is one of the best in the world and has smashed 14 centuries over the course of her international career. While 13 of her tons came in ODIs, one was scored in a T20I. Bates’ top score of 168 off 105 balls came in a win against Pakistan in a 2009 World Cup game, while her highest T20 score of 124 not out off 66 balls was in a win against South Africa in 2018. The highest run-scorer in the women’s T20 format, Bates could surpass Lanning’s record in the future but has already cemented her legacy in the game as one of the best of all time irrespective of whether she breaks the Australian legend’s record.

Charlotte Edwards (England) | 13 centuries

Widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in women's cricket, former England star Charlotte Edwards is third on the list of players with the most centuries in international cricket. Edwards, who retired from the international stage in 2016, struck 13 tons during her playing days. An ICC Cricket Hall of Fame inductee in 2022, Edwards notched up four tons in Tests and nine in ODIs. Her biggest ton in ODIs was an unbeaten knock of 173 from 155 balls in a win against Ireland in 1997, while her 117 in a draw against New Zealand was Edwards’ best Test score.  

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