The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The first Ashes test has been organized by Cricket Australia in 1882-83.

The series traditionally consists of five Tests, hosted in turn by England and Australia at least once every two years. The Ashes are regarded as being held by the team that most recently won the series. If the series is drawn, the team that currently holds the Ashes retains the trophy.

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There have been 71 Ashes series: Australia have won 33, England 32 and six series have been drawn.

Travis Head became the third joint-fastest to score an Ashes century. He is tied with Joe Darling. Adam Gilchrist and Gilbert Jessop take the top two positions. Now, let's take a look at the top 3 players with the quickest test century in the Ashes' history.

#1. Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 57 balls

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist scored the second-fastest century in Test history, hitting 100 from 57 balls, including three sixes in a single over against English bowler Monty Panesar. However, usually batting at number seven in the Test side, Gilchrist scored centuries against all nine other Test nations.

Gilchrist smashed 102* runs in 59 balls including 12 fours & 4 sixes during his inning in Perth during the 2006-7 season.

Adam Gilchrist | Quickest test century in Ashes history | SportzPoint.com — Image - ESPN

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#2. Gilbert Jessop | England | 76 balls

England batsman Gilbert Jessop has the record for the second-fastest Ashes century in 76 balls in 1902. In the fifth test match of the 1902 Ashes series, Gilbert who was till then a fast bowler, scored the then-fastest Ashes century. That match is still named as "Jessop's match" for his remarkable hitting. Jessop scored his first 50 runs in 43 minutes and reached his century in 75 minutes after England were 48 for 5 needing 263 on the last day of the match. A newspaper managed to keep a detailed record of this one of the fastest test centuries in test cricket.

Gilbert Jessop | Quickest test century in Ashes history | Sportzpoint.com — Image - Crocket Country

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#3. Travis Head | Australia | 85 balls

Travis Head has posted the third-fastest century in men's Ashes history with a remarkable counter-attacking effort late on day two of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

Playing his first Test almost a year after missing against India last summer. On 96, he looked to sweep and the ball lobbed up off the forearm, falling safely not far from wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. An over later he drove Chris Woakes beautifully down the ground to reach his hundred from just 85 balls.

Travis Head | Quickest test century in Ashes history | SportzPoint.com — Image - NDTV Sports

Travis Head's hundred is also the fastest Test century at this ground. The previous fastest was off 102 balls by fellow countryman Joe Burns against New Zealand in 2015. Moreover, all of Travis Head's 112 runs came in the final session. He also became the first to score a Test century in a session at this ground.

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Fastest Ashes Hundreds

Balls	Name	Country	Ground	Season
57	Adam Gilchrist	Australia	Perth	2006-07
76	Gilbert Jessop	England	Oval	1902
85	Travis Head	Australia	Brisbane	2021-22
85	Joe Darling	Australia	Sydney	1897-98
87	Ian Botham	England	Leeds	1981

N.B: The stats are accurate as of 10/12/2021.

Tag: Gilbert Jessop

Fastest Century for England in Test Matches

Quickest test century in Ashes history