Who scored the fastest century in terms of balls played before 1971?

Question

I want to know since when the balls played by a player were recorded in a test match.

Answer 1

Jack Gregory, 67 balls and 70 minutes, Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1920-21.

Scorecard at http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/10/10326.html

>> I want to know since when the balls played by a player were recorded in a test match.

Since I don't know how serious your interest in the subject is, I'll avoid too many details.

The data on balls faced is now available for nearly 80% of all Test matches (though not all of it appears in online sources). The first scorer to record balls on a regular basis was the Australian Bill Ferguson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ferguson ) who also scored in many matches in England and other countries. Ferguson starting his scoring career in 1905.

The scorers recorded the number of balls faced on the odd occasion as in Gilbert Jessop's extremely fast 100 at Oval 1902 (http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/6/6056.html )

In many other cases, even if the balls were not recorded in the scorebook, it is possible to estimate it with some accuracy. See the recreation of the first ever Test match hundred at http://www.sportstats.com.au/bannerman165.html and part of the first Test in England in 1880 at http://www.sportstats.com.au/1880article.html On the other hand, scorebooks are not available for some of the matches in India/Pakistan/Srilanka from as recently as the mid 1980s. The tied test in Madras in 1986-87 is one such match.

Keith Booth's Knowing the score ( http://www.acumenbooks.co.uk/kscor.htm ) is a work which will answer most of your questions on the history of scoring.

Answer 2

The fastest centuries scored in terms of Balls prior to 1971 are listed below:

1) J.M. Gregory of Australia scored century in 67 Balls against
South Africa at Johannesburg in 1921-22 series.

2) Mr. H.L.Jessop of England scored cetury in 76 balls against
Australia in 1902 at Oval.

Please check the following links for score card of the above matches:

http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1920S/1921-22/AUS_IN_RSA/AUS_RSA_T2_12-16NOV1921.html

http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1900S/1902/AUS_IN_ENG/AUS_ENG_T5_11-13AUG1902.html

Answer 3

Jack Gregory

Answer 4

Jack Gregory

Answer 5

Ginger Lynn

Answer 6

J.M.Gregory

Answer 7

said afridi

Answer 8

Don't know.

But i know ONE THING.

No one can beat AFRIDI .