Top 10 Longest Test Innings That Didn’t Reach a Century

In Test cricket, centuries are celebrated milestones, often considered the hallmark of a batter’s dominance and patience. Yet, buried within the rich fabric of the game are stories of tireless warriors who spent countless hours at the crease without ever raising their bat to acknowledge a hundred. These unsung heroes played some of the longest Test innings in history, defiant, gritty, and courageous, but fell just short of that coveted three-figure mark.

What makes these innings remarkable isn’t the absence of a century, but the unwavering concentration, the emotional rollercoaster, and the unyielding fight against world-class bowling attacks. The longest Test innings without a century are not failures; they are tales of mental fortitude, selflessness, and, often, match-saving genius.

In this article, we take a closer look at the top 10 longest Test innings that didn’t reach a century, with detailed stories behind each monumental effort. Prepare to be captivated by marathons of resilience that prove greatness doesn’t always come in triple digits.

10. Faf du Plessis – 97 (A captain’s stand, 2020)

Faf du Plessis nearly guided South Africa out of a difficult situation against Pakistan with an excellent 97 from 243 balls. It was an innings of pure grit, where every run was earned. He batted for nearly 390 minutes and just missed the milestone, but his effort earned admiration for its durability. This knock solidly secures its place among the longest Test innings that failed to cross the hundred mark.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Faf du Plessis	243	97	390	Pakistan	Rawalpindi	2020

9. Hashim Amla – 96 (Elegant but unlucky, 2016)

South Africa’s Hashim Amla is no stranger to long hauls. His 96 against England at Centurion in 2016 was a typically composed innings, filled with crisp drives and flawless technique. He was eventually dismissed four short of a century after batting for over 340 minutes, making it one of the longest Test innings in recent times that didn’t reach three figures.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Hashim Amla	244	96	345	England	Centurion	2016

8. Hanif Mohammad – 96 (Legendary resistance, 1962)

Hanif Mohammad, one of Pakistan’s most revered batters, was no stranger to playing marathon knocks. His 96 against England in 1962 spanned over 380 minutes, as he single-handedly attempted to drag Pakistan out of trouble. He missed out on a ton, but his innings exemplify why Hanif is known as “The Little Master.” It’s one of the earliest examples of the longest Test innings that ended just short of a century.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Hanif Mohammad	280	96	380	England	Leeds	1962

7. Peter Nevill – 66 (Stonewall survival, 2016)

Peter Nevill was involved in one of the most unusual Test innings ever. Scoring 66* off 210 balls, he partnered with Steve O’Keefe in a painstaking partnership where survival was the only goal. It was not flashy, but it remains among the longest Test innings in recent memory by a wicketkeeper-batter. The innings played a role in salvaging a draw and is remembered for its sheer dull brilliance.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Peter Nevill	210	66*	312	South Africa	Adelaide	2016

6. Cheteshwar Pujara – 92 (Classic Pujara Blockathon, 2020)

When India needed a warrior to blunt Australia’s fierce pace trio at the Gabba, Cheteshwar Pujara delivered a memorable 92 from 211 balls. Though not his highest score, it ranks high among the longest Test innings in terms of value and application. He took body blows, battled exhaustion, and frustrated bowlers with his stoic defence. The innings was a central part of India’s historic series win in Australia.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Cheteshwar Pujara	211	92	352	Australia	Brisbane	2020

5. Damien Martyn – 96 (Classic restraint, 2001)

In a series-deciding Ashes Test in 2001, Australia’s Damien Martyn scored 96 from 260 balls, showcasing immense composure. His strokeplay was elegant, but his ability to leave deliveries and defend with soft hands made the innings even more special. Martyn was inches away from a deserved century, but his contribution was crucial in establishing a dominant Australian position. Among the longest Test innings, Martyn’s 96 remains one of the finest exhibitions of controlled aggression.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Damien Martyn	260	96	380	England	Leeds	2001

4. Jimmy Adams – 94 (Immovable wall vs India, 1997)

Jimmy Adams was the epitome of calm during his unbeaten 94 against India in 1997. Batting for over seven hours and facing 280 balls, Adams stonewalled everything the Indian spinners threw at him. The innings was not just about survival; it was about discipline. Though he missed out on a century, his contribution was a match-saving knock and firmly among the longest Test innings to fall short of three figures.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Jimmy Adams	280	94*	425	India	Georgetown	1997

3. Mike Atherton – 99 (Heartbreaking near-century, 1995)

Mike Atherton’s 99 against New Zealand in Wellington was a masterclass in concentration and grit. The former England captain occupied the crease for over six hours, laying the foundation for a solid total. His dismissal just short of a century was heart-wrenching, but the innings ranks among the longest Test innings that ended in disappointment. Nevertheless, it was a crucial knock that stabilised England’s innings and remains a pillar of Atherton’s legacy.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Mike Atherton	251	99	377	New Zealand	Wellington	1995

2. Pat Symcox – 83 (Patience Personified, 1998)

Facing India in Kolkata, South African tailender Pat Symcox played a marathon knock of 83 from 285 balls, batting for over six hours. In terms of sheer resilience and volume of deliveries faced, this innings is among the longest Test innings without reaching the magical century mark. Symcox, known more for his off-spin than batting, stood tall against the Indian bowlers. His innings was a testament to application, as he frustrated the opposition and ensured South Africa built a formidable first-innings total.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Pat Symcox	285	83	372	India	Kolkata	1996

1. Geoff Allott – 77 Balls, 0 Runs (New Zealand vs South Africa, 1999)

In what remains arguably the most stubborn duck in Test cricket history, New Zealand’s Geoff Allott played out 77 deliveries without scoring a single run. Facing a fierce South African pace attack, Allott’s only goal was survival, and he executed it with incredible determination. New Zealand was in dire straits, and Allott’s resistance helped consume valuable time. Although his name won’t appear in the runs column, his innings was a vital cog in delaying a defeat and remains one of the longest Test innings to end without a run or a hundred.

Innings Stats:

Player	Balls Faced	Runs Scored	Minutes Batted	Opponent	Venue	Year
Geoff Allott	77	0	101	South Africa	Auckland	1999

READ MORE:

• Top 10 ODIs Where the No. 8 or Lower Scored the Winning Runs
• Top 10 Most Runs Scored in the Final Session of a Test Match
• Top 10 Players with Hat-tricks in Test Cricket History