In cricket, there’s a timeless saying: “form is temporary, class is permanent.” But when a world-class player hits a rich vein of form, they become truly unstoppable. Scoring a century in Test cricket is a monumental achievement, a test of skill, endurance, and mental fortitude. To do so in consecutive innings is to achieve a state of batting nirvana that few have ever experienced.
This is the story of those who turned a “purple patch” into a history-making streak. While over 40 players have scored a hat-trick of hundreds, only a handful have ascended to the next level. This article breaks down the incredible achievements of the elite batsmen who have scored four or more centuries in a row.
Who Holds the All-Time Record for Most Consecutive Test Centuries?
The world record for the most centuries in consecutive Test innings belongs to a single West Indian legend. Sir Everton Weekes holds this remarkable record with five consecutive hundreds, a feat he accomplished in 1948 that has never been surpassed.
1. Sir Everton Weekes (West Indies) – 5 Centuries
A cornerstone of the legendary “Three Ws,” Everton Weekes was a batsman who blended elegance with aggression. His historic streak began at home against England at Sabina Park with a commanding 141. However, it was on the subsequent tour of India where his form exploded into the stuff of legend.
In India, Weekes was in a class of his own, scoring four more centuries on the trot to set the world record. During this incredible run, he amassed 779 runs at a staggering average of 111.29.
His superlative performances also made him the fastest player at the time to reach 1,000 Test runs (in just 12 innings) and the first-ever batsman to score seven consecutive 50+ scores in Test cricket.
- Period: March 1948 – December 1948
- Scores:
- 141 vs England (Home)
- 128 vs India (Away)
- 194 vs India (Away)
- 162 vs India (Away)
- 101 vs India (Away)
Read More : Fastest Ball in Cricket History
Which Other Batsmen Have Scored Four Consecutive Centuries?
While Weekes stands alone at the summit, only three other players in the long history of Test cricket have reached the elite milestone of four consecutive hundreds.
2. John Fingleton (Australia) – 4 Centuries
The first player to ever reach this landmark was the gritty Australian opener, John Fingleton. In 1936, he embarked on his historic run during a tour of South Africa, where he registered three tons.
He completed the streak with a fourth hundred against arch-rivals England in the Ashes. In a unique statistical quirk, he was dismissed for a duck in the second innings of that same Test. Despite his heroic scoring, Fingleton’s career was unfortunately cut short to just 18 Tests due to injuries.
- Period: January 1936 – December 1936
- Scores: 112 vs South Africa (Away), 108 vs South Africa (Away), 118 vs South Africa (Away), 100 vs England (Home)
3. Alan Melville (South Africa) – 4 Centuries
Alan Melville’s story is one of incredible class and perseverance. The South African opener began his streak with a century against England in 1939. His career was then interrupted for eight years by the Second World War.
In a stunning display of talent, he returned to the Test side in 1947 and, as if no time had passed, immediately scored three more back-to-back centuries against England at Trent Bridge and Lord’s to complete his remarkable sequence.
- Period: March 1939 – June 1947
- Scores: 103 vs England (Home), 189 vs England (Away), 104* vs England (Away), 117 vs England (Away)
4. Rahul Dravid (India) – 4 Centuries
Known to the cricketing world as “The Wall,” Rahul Dravid produced a masterclass in batting to join this exclusive club in 2002. During a challenging tour of England, he was India’s standout performer, scoring three consecutive centuries and amassing 602 runs. His innings of 217 at The Oval remains one of his finest ever.
Dravid resumed his dream run in the next home series against the West Indies, scoring an unbeaten 100* to become the only Indian batsman to achieve this historic streak.
- Period: August 2002 – October 2002
- Scores: 115 vs England (Away), 148 vs England (Away), 217 vs England (Away), 100* vs West Indies (Home)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who has scored the most consecutive centuries in Test cricket?
Sir Everton Weekes of the West Indies holds the all-time record with five consecutive centuries in Test innings, a feat he accomplished in 1948.
2. Which Indian batsman has scored 4 consecutive Test hundreds?
Rahul Dravid is the only Indian batsman to have scored four consecutive centuries in Test cricket. He achieved this in 2002 against England and the West Indies.
3. Who was the first player to score three consecutive Test centuries?
The first player to score three consecutive hundreds was Australian cricketer Warren Bardsley, who set the benchmark in 1910.
4. Has any player scored 3 consecutive centuries multiple times?
Yes. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara holds the unique record of achieving a streak of three consecutive centuries on three separate occasions. Aravinda de Silva and David Warner have done it twice.
