In this article, we will look at the top 10 players of South Africa who have scored the most number of centuries in test cricket. The player’s list consists of both former cricketers and cricketers who are currently playing in the tests. Read this whole article to know more about the cricketers who have scored the most number of centuries for South Africa. You can also find your favorite players here and many players who have played in the Indian Premier League(IPL) and play a crucial role in their teams. They are also one of the most famous names in the international test arena and have remained in the Top 10 batter rankings in tests in their years. So, let's start the list.
1. Francois du Plessis(Faf du Plessis)
The 39-year-old right-handed batter comes in 10th position with ten centuries and 21 half-centuries in 69 matches and 118 innings. His highest score in test cricket is 199. He was also the former captain of the South African test cricket team and led the country in 36 matches with 18 wins and three draws.
2. Ashwell Prince
The 46-year-old left-handed batter comes at 9 in the list having 11 centuries and the same number of half-centuries in 66 matches and 104 innings. His highest score is 162 not out in test cricket. He was named the first non-white captain of South Africa in the absence of the injured Graeme Smith in July 2006.
3. Dean Elgar
The 36-year-old left-handed opening batter is the next batter on the list with 13 test centuries and 23 half-centuries in 84 matches and 149 innings. His highest score is 199 runs. Elgar was appointed South Africa’s test captain in March 2021 and he led the country in 13 matches with nine wins.
4. Herschelle Gibbs
The 49-year-old right-handed batter comes in 7th position with 14 test centuries and 26 half-centuries in 90 matches and 154 innings. His highest score is 228 runs in test cricket. He has an average of 41.95 in test matches.
5. Daryll Cullinan
The 56-year-old right-handed batter comes in the 6th position, with 14 test centuries and 20 half-centuries in 70 matches and 115 innings. However, we have ranked Cullinan upper in the order because he has done it in fewer games than Gibbs. His highest score is 275 not out. He also has two wickets in test cricket.
6. Gary Kirsten
The 55-year-old left-handed batter is the next batter on the list with a total of 21 test centuries and 34 half-centuries in 101 matches and 176 innings. His highest score is 275 runs. Gary Kirsten was also the coach of the Indian cricket team when India won the cricket World Cup in 2011.
7. Abraham Benjamin de Villiers(AB de Villiers)
The 39-year-old right-handed wicketkeeper batter holds the 4th position in the list with 22 test centuries and 46 half-centuries in 114 matches and 191 innings. His highest score is 278 not out, and he is one of the few batters who average more than 50. He is popularly known as Mr. 360 for his ability to play shots on every corner of the ground. He has also captained the South African test cricket team in 3 matches with two wins.
8. Graeme Smith
The 42-year-old left-handed opening batter holds the 3rd position in the list with 27 centuries and 38 half-centuries in 116 matches and 203 innings. His highest score is 277. Smith was handed the captaincy when he was 22 years old, making him the youngest South African Captain. He captained the country in 108 tests with 53 wins and 27 draws.
9. Hashim Amla
The 40-year-old right-handed batter is 2nd on the list with 28 centuries and 41 half-centuries in 124 matches and 215 innings. His highest score is 311 not out, and he is the only South African batter to score a triple century in test cricket. He also captained the test team in 14 matches with four wins and six draws.
10. Jacques Kallis
The 47-year-old right-handed all-rounder is the first player on the list with 45 centuries and 58 half-centuries in 165 matches and 278 innings. He is also the highest run scorer for South Africa in tests, and the only South African player to score more than 10,000 runs in test cricket. His highest score is 224 and he has a mighty average of 55.25. He has also captained the team in 2 tests with one win. With these, we come to the end of this list, where Jacques Kallis has the most number of centuries, followed by Hashim Amla in second position and Graeme Smith in third position.
