Scoring a hundred in a cricket match is the dream of every batter. However, not everyone can achieve the goal because it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, passion, commitment and skill. Many great players of the game do not have an international hundred to their name.
On the other side, there are also such cricketers for whom scoring centuries is like a habit. These players regularly touch the three-figure mark, and the best position for a player to score a hundred is while opening the innings. The reason behind is that he gets to face the entire number of overs available in an innings, more than any other batter in the lineup.
Several legends of the game like Virender Sehwag, Andrew Strauss, Sourav Ganguly, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Rohit Sharma, TM Dilshan and others have scored multiple centuries while opening the innings. However, there have been only four such players who scored more than 40 hundreds while opening the innings in international cricket. Here is a list of the four names.
(Stats Credit: Shebas)
4. Sanath Jayasuriya – 41 hundreds in international cricket
Former Sri Lankan cricket team all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya holds the fourth position on the all-time list of players with the most international centuries as an opener. Jayasuriya was famous for providing explosive starts to his team at the top. He ended his career with 41 tons as an opener.
3. Chris Gayle – 42 hundreds in international cricket
Former West Indies cricket team captain Chris Gayle bags the third position on the list with 42 centuries. Gayle is the only player in world cricket to score a T20I hundred, a ODI double century and a Test triple hundred.
2. Sachin Tendulkar – 45 hundreds
Former Indian cricket team captain Sachin Tendulkar scored 100 hundreds in his international career. 45 of them came while opening the innings.
1. David Warner – 45 hundreds
Current Australian cricket team batter David Warner leveled Sachin earlier today. He now has 45 hundreds as an opener.
