Birthday Centuries: A Century by Cricketers on their Special Day

A century by cricketers is a huge achievement, and celebrating your birthday is a great occasion. When these two occurrences occur at the same time, it provides a one-of-a-kind and amazing experience. There’s something absolutely fantastic about a cricketer coming onto the field on their birthday and scoring a spectacular century in an international match against all odds.

Only a few batsmen in the history of international cricket have scored a century on their birthday. Only two of them have scored a century in an ODI World Cup on their birthdays.

Century by Cricketers on their Birthday

Vinod Kambli

Vinod Kambli, a gifted Indian cricketer, made an unforgettable imprint on the world of cricket on his 21st birthday. Kambli’s bat did all the talking in a match against England in Jaipur in 1993, as he delivered a magnificent century. He hit an undefeated century, making 100 runs off 149 balls, including nine boundaries and one six. Despite his heroics, India lost by four wickets versus England.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar, one of cricket’s all-time greats, celebrated his 25th birthday in spectacular style. He demonstrated his exceptional talent in a match against Australia in Sharjah in 1998. Tendulkar produced a superb inning, hitting 134 runs off 131 balls, including 12 boundaries and three sixes. India secured a dramatic victory, winning by a score of six wickets.

Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka showed his enduring talent in a memorable encounter against Bangladesh in Karachi in 2008 on his 39th birthday. With 16 fours and six sixes, Jayasuriya batted well, scoring 130 runs off 88 deliveries. Sri Lanka won the game by 158 runs.

Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor of New Zealand had a spectacular performance against Pakistan at Pallekele in 2011 on his 27th birthday. Taylor’s incredible innings highlighted the celebration of his special day as he struck an undefeated 131 runs off 124 balls, demonstrating his abilities with eight fours and seven sixes. In that encounter, New Zealand won convincingly, winning by a large margin of 110 runs. On the course, Ross Taylor became the first batsman in ODI World Cup history to score a century on his birthday.

Jason Gillespie

Jason Gillespie joins this list of some of the world’s best batters. And it’s not just a century, but a double. The double’s excitement was enhanced by the fact that he arrived at the monument on his birthday. Gillespie got an incredible double hundred on his birthday after walking into the crease as a nightwatchman in the Test against Bangladesh. Bangladesh batted first in the Test match and were bowled out for 197 runs. The Australian openers put up a terrific display in the second inning until Hayden was out, leaving Gillespie to handle the remaining overs for the day. He had a good partnership with Michael Hussey, putting Australia in a strong position before the Aussies declared war. Australia easily defeated the Tigers by an inning and 80 runs.

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Tom Latham

In a stunning encounter against the Netherlands in Hamilton in 2022, New Zealand’s Tom Latham carved his name into cricketing history on his 30th birthday. Latham’s birthday couldn’t have been more appropriately commemorated, as he performed a great performance. He hit an undefeated 140 runs off 123 balls, a magnificent performance that contained 10 fours and 5 sixes. With a dominating 118-run lead against the Netherlands, New Zealand achieved a thumping victory.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

The third Test of India’s four-match Test series against the West Indies After winning the toss, the West Indies opted to bat first. Sarwan celebrated his birthday with a free-flowing century, assisting the West Indies in scoring 581 runs. After the game was tied, India won the series in the fourth Test by a score of 1-0. Sarwan’s 116 runs on his birthday included 17 fours and a single six.

Chris Lewis

Chris Lewis fought a lone struggle to rescue the Test match in a contest dominated by Indian batters, only to run out of partners and finish up on the losing side. India scored 560 runs in their first inning, including hundreds from Sachin Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu. The West Indies were rolled over for 286 and then proceeded. The birthday kid played a gutsy knock in the second inning, attempting to pull off a tie. Lewis salvaged the day with a 117-run effort, but it was too late as the West Indies lost the inning.

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Graeme Pollock

In response to Australia’s first-inning total of 173, Graeme Pollock struck a magnificent 105. In the second inning, he too stayed undefeated on 33 runs while successfully pursuing a target of 176. Pollock celebrated his birthday with a Test match victory, capping off his century.

Alec Stewart

Alec Stewart started the inning with his skipper, Michael Atherton, after being invited to bat first. The opening pair combined for a 171-run first-inning stand, with the former scoring a century on his birthday. Stewart set a new record by scoring a century in each inning of a Test match. In the first inning, he hit 18 fours and scored 118 runs. In the second inning, he smashed 19 home runs. England won the Test match by a score of 208 runs.

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Imran Khan

On his birthday, the inspiring World Cup-winning skipper made a striking a century in the first innings of the first Test match against the West Indies in Lahore. The game was hampered by weather and ended in a dull draw. Imran Khan, batting at number 7, was named Man of the Match for his magnificent 123-run effort.

Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh, an Australian all-rounder, delivered a fantastic performance against Pakistan in Bengaluru during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on his 32nd birthday. Marsh celebrated his birthday in style, pitching an outstanding inning. He scored 121 runs off 108 balls, displaying his brilliance with 10 fours and nine sixes. He became the second batsman in ODI World Cup history to get a century on his birthday.

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