For any batsman, scoring a century in a cricket match is a significant accomplishment. While several well-known batsmen have achieved a century in ODI cricket multiple times, a select few players have played many ODI matches but have never achieved a century. These players enjoyed tremendous popularity during their active careers and produced several fantastic hits. Let us look at cricketers with no international centuries.
1. Ian Botham
Ian Botham, a former footballer for England, is at the top of this list. Despite participating in 116 ODI matches throughout his career, the England all-rounder was unable to score a century in ODI cricket. In 161 innings of play throughout his successful Test career, the right-handed batsman amassed 5200 runs. In Tests, he also scored 14 hundred, but in ODIs, he never once managed to pass the 100-run threshold. His greatest ODI knock was 79 runs, and he hit nine ODI fifties. In 106 ODI innings, Botham scored 2113 runs at an average of 23.21 and a strike rate of 79.10.
2. Michael Vaughan
The second player on this list is Michael Vaughan, a former captain of England. Despite playing in 86 ODIs, the right-handed batsman was unable to score a century in ODI cricket. During his stellar Test career, he scored 5719 runs in 147 innings at an average of 41.44. Vaughan smashed 18 hundred in Test matches but failed to reach even 100. With the greatest knock of an unbroken 90 runs, he did score 16 fifties. He scored 1982 runs in 83 ODI innings at an average of 27.15 and a strike rate of 68.39.
3. Graham Thrope
The third cricketer on this list is former English cricketer Graham Thorpe. Thorpe participated in 82 ODIs for England but was unable to score even one century in ODI cricket. 6744 runs were scored by the left-handed batsman in 179 innings at an average of 44.66 throughout his stellar Test career. In Tests, he scored 16 hundred, but not a single one in ODIs. In ODIs, Thorpe scored 21 half-centuries, with 89 runs being his greatest total. He scored 2380 runs in 77 ODI innings for an average of 37.18 and a strike rate of 71.17.
4. Misbah-Ul-Haq
Misbah-ul-Haq, a former cricketer for Pakistan, is another player who failed to score a century in an ODI. Despite scoring more than 5000 runs in ODIs, the right-handed batter never passed the 100-run mark. He scored 5122 runs in 149 ODI innings for an average of 43.40 and a strike rate of 73.75. In ODIs, Misbah scored 42 half-centuries, including an undefeated 96-run best score. Misbah was able to score 10 hundred in Test matches while amassing 5222 runs in 132 innings at an average of 46.62.
5. Dinesh Kartik
Another well-known cricketer who has never scored a century in an ODI is Dinesh Karthik. Since 2004, the wicketkeeper-batsman has competed in 94 one-day internationals for India, although he has never been able to surpass 100 runs in a game. In ODIs, the right-handed batsman scored nine half-centuries, with his highest score being 79. He scored 1752 runs in 79 ODI innings for an average of 30.20 and a strike rate of 73.24. Tests have produced Karthik's lone century in international cricket.
6. Dwayne Smith
He participated in more than 100 ODIs, however, he failed to score a single century. He only has eight fifty-plus scores to his credit, and the closest he came to a century was a 97 against India in Delhi in 2014. Considering that he has five centuries and 43 fifties in T20s, these numbers practically defy belief. The 2015 World Cup marked the end of an 11-year ODI career that saw him score only 1,560 runs at an average of 18.57 in 105 ODIs.
7. Dwayne Smith
He participated in more than 100 ODIs, however, he failed to score a single century. He only has eight fifty-plus scores to his credit, and the closest he came to a century was a 97 against India in Delhi in 2014. Considering that he has five centuries and 43 fifties in T20s, these numbers practically defy belief. The 2015 World Cup marked the end of an 11-year ODI career that saw him score only 1,560 runs at an average of 18.57 in 105 ODIs.
8. Chamara Kapugedera
Despite without recording a single century, Chamara Kapugedera played more than 100 ODIs. The right-hander played against Australia in Perth in Sri Lanka's 2006 ODI debut. Since then, despite being a front-line middle-order batsman with no hundreds and an average of just 21, he has managed to stay relevant and play ODIs for over a decade. His 102 ODI appearances have yielded just eight fifty-plus scores, and his top score of 95 came against the West Indies in 2008.
9. Jimmy Adams
Jimmy Adams played 127 one-day internationals for the West Indies without recording a century. This is mostly due to the lack of definition in his role (he batted anywhere from No. 2 to No. 9, but never for longer than 25 innings in any position) Adams, who mostly batted in the middle of the order and amassed over 2,000 runs at an average of almost 30, had six test centuries to his credit, including an unbroken double tonne, but he was never quite able to reach the three-figure barrier in ODIs.
10. Jacques Rudolph
Jacques Rudolph, a cool-headed left-handed batsman with a picture-perfect cover drive and deft footwork, overcame political challenges twice to create an international career that started strong but waned in the face of county success. He is yet to score a century in an ODI.