Scoring a century in Test cricket is a remarkable achievement for any batter, especially for the youngest players in the game. Over the years, a select group of prodigiously talented teenagers have etched their names into cricket history by scoring 100 in a Test innings at a remarkably young age. Here some youngest batter to score a century in Ashes (since 2000):
- Alastair Cook: Alastair Cook is the youngest batter to score a century in the Ashes since 2000. He did this at age 21 years and 354 days, with an unbeaten 104 in Perth during the 2005-06 Ashes series. Cook batted almost the whole day. He scored 119 runs off 239 balls while England chased 577 in their second innings for a draw (or unlikely win). Facing 292 balls over more than six hours, he secured the innings until Glenn McGrath got him caught behind near stumps. England finished at 280/5, securing a draw.
- Jacob Bethell: Jacob Bethell hit his first Test century in the last Ashes Test at Sydney Cricket Ground during the 2025-26 series. He was just 22 years and 78 days old. Bethell reached 100 runs off 162 balls, with an 81-run partnership with Ben Duckett and a 100-run stand with Harry Brook. He batted at No. 3 because Ollie Pope was in poor form.
- Ben Stokes: Ben Stokes is the third-youngest batter to score a Test century in the Ashes since 2000. He achieved this in 2013 at age 22 years and 192 days during his debut Ashes series in Australia. Stokes made his first Test hundred on debut against Australia in Perth and totaled 279 runs in the 2013/14 Ashes, which England lost 5-0.
- Joe Root: Joe Root hit a big milestone as one of the youngest batsmen to score a Test century in the Ashes since 2000. It happened in 2013 at Lord’s in the second Test, when he was just 22 years and 200 days old. He made 180 runs, staying calm under pressure and helping England in a key game.
- Steve Smith: His first Ashes century came in 2013 at The Oval during the 2013 Ashes series, when he was 24 years and 113 days old, making him the 5th youngest player to achieve the feat overall. His breakout 2013 performance included 111 runs.
Also Read: Top 5 Highest Run Scorers In The Ashes
This underscores the rarity of young batters succeeding in the high-pressure series.
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