One-Day Internationals (ODIs) are filled with a variety of records, but scoring a century in this format holds a special place. Unlike Test cricket, where batsmen have ample time to reach a hundred, and T20s where the focus is on quick scoring, ODIs require a balance of patience and aggressive strokeplay. While players like AB de Villiers, Shahid Afridi, Virender Sehwag, and Virat Kohli have set records for the fastest ODI centuries, there are also batters who've taken their time to reach the milestone, creating a unique contrast in the game.
While hitting a century in the fewest number of balls in an ODI is often celebrated and widely discussed, achieving a century in a slower manner can be seen as a negative, especially if the team loses. The batsman is often blamed for the slow innings.
Here, we present a list of five batsmen who recorded the slowest ODI centuries.
1) David Boon – 166 Balls
During Australia's tour of India in 1991, David Boon achieved an infamous record. Chasing a target of 175, Boon and his opening partner, Allan Border, put on a 129-run stand. While the Australian team successfully chased down the target, Boon's innings was notably slow. Despite India's best efforts to restrict him, Boon seemed intent on a different pace. He eventually reached his century off 166 balls. He ended up scoring 102 off 168 balls.
2) Ramiz Raja - 157 Balls
During the 1992 World Cup, Pakistan faced the West Indies on the slow and challenging pitch of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Ramiz Raja played a crucial innings of 102* off 157 balls. In top form, Ramiz anchored Pakistan's innings, guiding them to a total of 220. However, the West Indies chased down the target with 19 balls to spare, despite Ramiz's impressive century.
3) Geoff Marsh - 156 Balls
In an ODI match in 1989, England, batting first, set Australia a target of 279 runs. Geoff Marsh, father of Shaun and Mitchell Marsh, achieved a century in this match. However, his innings was remarkably slow. Opening the batting, Marsh scored an unbeaten 111 off 162 balls at a strike rate of 68.51. Although Australia won the match, Marsh's century was achieved at an unusually slow pace, taking him 156 balls to reach the three-figure mark.
4) Scott Styris – 152 Balls
In the 2007 Cricket World Cup Super Eight stage, New Zealand faced a formidable Sri Lankan side led by Sanath Jayasuriya. Batting first, Sri Lanka's bowlers produced a devastating performance, dismantling the Kiwi batting order. However, Scott Styris stood firm at one end, scoring 111 runs off 152 balls. Despite Styris's efforts, Sri Lanka was restricted to 219. New Zealand eventually chased down the target, but Styris's century, which came off 152 deliveries, was a notable highlight of the match.
5) Ramiz Raja – 152 Balls
Ramiz Raja once again recorded one of the slowest ODI centuries in 1990, scoring an unbeaten 107 off 152 balls against Sri Lanka. Despite his incredibly slow innings, Pakistan managed to set a challenging target of 315 runs. Raja has never been known for his aggressive batting, which explains why he has twice achieved the dubious distinction of scoring one of the slowest ODI hundreds.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
RP Singh's son scripts history after stepping onto field for England in first Test against Sri Lanka
'That was the best coaching I received...': IPL 2024 winner credits Gautam Gambhir for KKR's success
