Cricket : Fastest ODI Centuries Scorers of All Time

ODI cricket or 50 over cricket is very popular format of the cricket match since its inception. ODI cricket has been dominated mostly by the batsmen as ODI rules are more in favor to batsman than the bowlers. Here in this article we are going to see the list of fastest ODI hundred scorers in the ODI cricket history. Corey Anderson the all-rounder from New Zealand holds the record of fastest century in the history of ODI cricket. Corey Anderson scored the century in just 36 balls against West Indies hitting 12 sixes and bettered the record of Shahid Afridi by 1 ball.

Corey Anderson : Fastest ODI Century Scorer in ODI Cricket History

Earlier the record was held by Pakistan's flamboyant all-round cricketer Shahid Afridi. Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi scored 2nd fastest ODI century against Sri Lanka in just 37 balls hitting 11 sixes and 4 fours in his whirl wind inning way back in 1996. The record made by Afridi remained on top for approximately 18 long years. The below given list of fastest ODI century scorers is dominated by the cricketers from the Asian sub-continent.

Shahid Afridi : Fastest ODI Century Scorer from Asia

South African wicket-keeper batsman Mark Boucher holds the record of scoring 3rd fastest ODI hundred against Zimbabwe in 2006. Boucher completed his century in just 44 balls hitting 10 sixes and 8 fours. West Indies great batsman Brian Lara scored fourth fastest ODI hundred against Bangladesh in just 45 balls. Lara struck 4 sixes and 18 boundaries in 1999 to complete the century. Shahid Afridi also holds the record of scoring fifth fastest ODI century against the Indian in just 45 balls comprising of 9 sixes and 10 fours.

List of Fastest Century Scorers in ODI Cricket

Player(Country)	Runs	Balls	Sixes	Fours	Opponent	Year
Corey Anderson(NZ)	131*	36	14	06	WestIndies	2014
Shahid Afridi(PAK)	102	37	11	06	Sri Lanka	1996
Mark Boucher(RSA)	147*	44	10	18	Zimbabwe	2006
Brian Lara(WI)	117	45	04	18	Bangladesh	1999
Shahid Afridi(PAK)	102	45	09	10	India	2005
S Jayasuriya(SL)	134	48	11	11	Pakistan	1996
Kevin O’Brien(IRE)	113	50	06	13	England	2011
Virat Kohli(IND)	100*	52	07	08	Australia	2013
Shahid Afridi(PAK)	124	53	04	17	Bangladesh	2010
S Jayasuriya(SL)	130	55	06	16	Bangladesh	2008

Indian batting sensation Virat Kohli is only player from India to get his name into the list of fastest century scorers with hundred in just 52 balls. Virat Kohli scored this century against the Australia hitting 7 sixes and 8 fours in recently concluded Star-Sports ODI Cricket Series 2013. This list is dominated by Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi who has scored three of the top 10 fastest ODI hundreds followed by Sanath Jayasuriya who has two hundreds in his name. 

Virat Kohli : Fastest ODI Cricket Century Scorer from India

Apart from the Shahid Afridi and Sanath Jayasuriya players like Virat Kohli, Kevin O’Brien, Brian Lara and Mark Boucher have their name in the list of top 10 fastest ODI century scorers in ODI cricket history. This list is quite surprising as it doesn't have a single player from the Australian cricket team. Australian team has dominated the ODI cricket along with the West Indies for the most period of time since the inception of ODI cricket. 

There have been many changes in the ODI cricket rules such as two new balls in an innings and presence of 4 fielders at most in an inning. The way rule of ODI cricket has changed this list is definitely going to see the addition of the new names in the near future soon as these rules are more suitable for the free scoring of batsman. Inception of the T20 cricket has also helped batsman to play more strokes even in the 50 over format of cricket.

India Wins India-Australia ODI Cricket Series 2013, Rohit Sharma Scores Double Hundred

India not only defeated the Australians in the India-Australia cricket series 2013 but also retained the world number 1 rank in ODI format of the Cricket. This match was virtual final for the Star Sports Cricket series as the series was well balanced at 2-2. In the earlier matches India chased the score of 350 and 360 quite comfortably while India batting star Virat Kohli broke the India record of fastest ODI ton made by Virendra Sehwag also. Rohit Sharma scored career best 209 runs in this match and became only third cricketer to score double hundred along with Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag.

Indian Cricket Team with Star Sports Cricket Trophy 2013

Australia picked up Nathan Coulter-Nile in place of inform Mitchell Johnson as the later had to leave for Australia while India brought in pacer Vinay kumar in place of leg spinner Amit Mishra in the squad for the 7^th and final ODI match. Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. The decision was expected as their bowler struggled to save the score 350+ runs twice against the strong Indian batting line up on the flat India tracks.

India scored 383 runs in their allotted 50 overs at the loss of 6 wickets. Indian opening batsman Rohit Sharma was the star performer for the Indian team. Rohit Sharma scored career best 209 runs in just 158 balls hitting 16 glorious sixes along with 12 glorious fours. Rohit Sharma became only third batsman in the cricket history to score double hundred in ODI. Apart from Rohit Sharma, captain MS Dhoni scored quick 62 runs from just 38 balls while opener Shikhar Dhawan also scored 62 runs for the team.

Rohit Sharma Celebrating After Hitting the Double Century Against Australia

Chasing the record target of 384 runs Australia bundled for the score of 326 runs losing the match by 57 runs. Australian all rounder James Faulkner scored career best 116 runs but couldn’t stop the loss. Glen Maxwell scored quick 60 runs, all-rounder Shane Watson scored 49 and wicket keeper batsman Brad Haddin contributed with 40 runs but this couldn’t result a win for the team Australia. Australia lost the match by 57 runs and also the series by 3-2. James Faulkner registered his name at top of  list century scorers from the Australia.

James Faulkner After Hitting the Century

Rohit Sharma was awarded Man of the Match award for his match winning knock of 209 runs and also the Star Sports Man of the Series for his highest runs in the series. Rohit Sharma scored 491 runs and played very crucial role in the win of India in the India-Australia bilateral cricket series 2013. Rohit Sharma also broke the world record of most sixes in an inning of Shane Watson by hitting 16 sixes in the match.

Australian bowlers struggled to control the flow of runs in the last 10 overs and they gave away more than 150 runs. Man of the Match Rohit Sharma scored most of these runs as he scored his last 100 runs in just forty two balls. Indian bowlers did good job upfront but they couldn’t finish the task in the same fashion. They gave away just too many loose deliveries on the flat deck. Australia struggling at 205/8 finished the inning at the score of 326 runs.

For ODI Cricket Records :

• Indian pacer Vinay Kumar gave away 102 runs for 1 wicket in his 9 overs.
• Rohit Sharma completed 1000 runs in the calendar year. 
• Record 38 sixes were hit in this match in total out of which 16 sixes were struck only by Rohit Sharma.
• James Faulkner became fastest century scorer for Australia in ODI by hitting the century in just 57 balls hitting 11 fours and 6 sixes.

 

India Favorite in India-Australia Cricket Series 2013

Indian cricket team currently ranked no.1 will be facing world no.2 Australian team in bilateral series. Australian cricket team is touring the subcontinent to play 1T20 and 7 ODI matches against India. Last time Australia came here to play four match test series where they lost 4-0. Indian team has been in a good form especially in ODIs winning the Champions Trophy 2013, Celkon Trination Series in West Indies and Series in Zimbabwe while the later side has struggled. The positive for Australian team is that they won the Natwest Series against England after losing the Ashes Test Series 3-0.

India-Australia Cricket Series 2013

India tour is going to be an acid test for the Australian team before they go into the Ashes Cricket Series. Indian star batsman Yuvraj Singh is making his comeback into ODI squad making the ODI team stronger in middle order. On the other side, Australian team is touring the sub-continent without their regular skipper Michael Clarke who is struggling with injury. George bailey has been declared as the captain for India tour.

CRICKET-SCHEDULE

Date	Format	Timing	Venue
10-10-2013	T20	Day-Night	Rajkot
13-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Pune
16-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Jaipur
19-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Chandigarh
23-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Ranchi
26-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Cuttack
30-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Nagpur
02-11-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Bangalore

 

AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA-INDIA CRICKET SERIES 2013

Australia is eying on their third successive limited over series victory over India in India. They believe that the IPL 2013 experience and Champions League Twenty20 experience will help them to perform well in Indian conditions. They have players like Mitchell Johnson, Glen Maxwell, Shane Watson, James Faulkner and Nathan Coulter-Nile who played in recently concluded Champions League T20 in India.  The absence of the regular skipper from the squad is going to hurt them very badly.

George Bailey- Australian ODI Cricket Team Captain

Team Members  :  George Bailey (Captain), David Warner, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, Callum Ferguson, Glen Maxwell, James Faulkner, Clint Mckay, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Coulter-Nile,   Xavier Doherty, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Adam Voges, Nick Maddinson, Phil Hughes and Moises Henriques. 

INDIA SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA INDIA CRICKET SERIES 2013

India has been in good form in this cricket calendar year. India will be playing in their courtyard so they will start as the favorites to win the ODI series against Australia. MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were in very good form in the Champions league so it will boost them to perform well. Star all-rounder looked in excellent form against the West Indies A and in NKP Salve Challenger series so his presence will be a big plus for team India.   

Mahendera Singh Dhoni- Indian Cricket Team Captain

Team Members :  MS Dhoni (Captain), Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindera Jadeja, Ambati Raydu, Shami Ahmad, Bhuwneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Ravichandran Ashwin, R Vinay Kumar and Jaydev Unadkat.

In my view India is favorite to win the ODI series, but you can’t take mighty Australian so lightly. Australian team is known for their fighting spirit so we are going to see the same for sure in T20 and Odi series against India starting from 10^th October in Rajkot. Whoever wins this ODI series will also have top ODI ranking, means if India wins the series they will remain world number 1 otherwise Australia will be new No. 1. This series is going to be the series of ODI Supremacy.

Who is your favorite to win this T20 and ODI Series? Can George Bailey fill up the void of Michael Clarke ? Drop your response and views in the comment box.