When a new player makes their debut, there’s a lot of expectation to start their career on a high note. Some players succumb to the pressure, while a few manage to come out with flying colours by showcasing their talent.
Over the years, many batters have stepped into ODI cricket, but a few have managed to announce themselves in style. There have been instances when debutants have notched up centuries in their first appearance itself, that too by taking fewer balls.
Now, centuries are a significant milestone in a player’s career, and scoring them in fewer balls is like making a bold statement. In this article, we’ll look at the batters who have scored the fastest century on debut in ODI cricket.
Fastest Century on Debut in ODI
| Player | Balls to 100 | Final Score | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reeza Hendricks (SA) | 88 | 102 (89) | Sri Lanka | Pallekele | 05 Aug 2018 |
| Mark Chapman (HKG) | 103 | 124* (116) | U.A.E. | ICCA Dubai | 16 Nov 2015 |
| Michael Lumb (ENG) | 109 | 106 (117) | West Indies | North Sound | 28 Feb 2014 |
| Colin Ingram (SA) | 110 | 124 (126) | Zimbabwe | Bloemfontein | 15 Oct 2010 |
| Temba Bavuma (SA) | 110 | 113 (123) | Ireland | Benoni | 25 Sep 2016 |
| Abid Ali (PAK) | 111 | 112 (119) | Australia | Dubai (DSC) | 29 Mar 2019 |
| KL Rahul (IND) | 115 | 100* (115) | Zimbabwe | Harare | 11 Jun 2016 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) | 115 | 127 (127) | Ireland | Abu Dhabi | 21 Jan 2021 |
| Rob Nicol (NZ) | 120 | 108* (131) | Zimbabwe | Harare | 20 Oct 2011 |
| Martin Guptill (NZ) | 123 | 122* (135) | West Indies | Auckland | 10 Jan 2009 |
| Phillip Hughes (AUS) | 123 | 112 (129) | Sri Lanka | Melbourne | 11 Jan 2013 |
| Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) | 124 | 100 (125) | Sri Lanka | Abu Dhabi | 18 Oct 2017 |
(Note: Only those instances have been mentioned where ball-by-ball data is available.)
Key Insights
1: Dennis Amiss became the first batter to score an ODI century on debut in 1972. He amassed 103 runs off 134 deliveries against Australia. With that, Amiss became the first batter to notch up the first-ever century in ODI cricket history.
88: Reeza Hendricks holds the record for scoring the fastest century on debut in ODI cricket. The South African batter took 88 balls to bring up his hundred in style on his ODI debut.
114.6: Hendricks’ strike rate is also the highest among the batters who scored a hundred on debut.
148: Desmond Haynes has accumulated the highest individual score on ODI debut. The prolific Windies opener scored 148 runs in 136 balls against Australia in 1978.
Also Read | Top 10: Most Not Outs by an Opener in ODIs
1: Andy Flower was the first player to hammer a century on debut for an associate team. Flower represented Zimbabwe, which had yet to become a full-member team in the ICC. He scored an unbeaten 115 against Sri Lanka in February 1992.
The only other player is Mark Chapman, who notched up his hundred off 103 balls for Hong Kong — the fastest century on debut for an associate team. However, Chapman now represents New Zealand in international cricket.
