It is never easy for a batsman to reach that three figure mark irrespective of the conditions, format and the opposition. Scoring centuries in ODIs is always a great feeling for batsman but scoring centuries against all Test-playing nations is one of the hardest and rarest feat to achieve.
So far in the history of One Day International Cricket only 5 batsmen have managed to score centuries against all Test playing oppositions. These cricketing greats have earned a distinct reputation by joining theelite club. Let’s have a look at these ODI greats who enjoyed batting to the fullest against all major oppositions.
1. Ricky Ponting
The most successful skipper in cricket history, Ricky Ponting is also considered as one of the greatest batsmen in world cricket. The specialist right-handed batsman is the leading run-scorer for Australia in both ODIs and Tests.Appeared in 375 ODIs and scored 13,704 runs with 82 half-centuries and 30 centuries. He completed the set of scoring ODI hundreds against all Test playing nations with a century against Bangladesh on August 6, 2003 which was his 174th innings.
2. Herschelle Gibbs
Gibbs was well known as a terrific fielder and a dreadful stroke making batsman. Emerged as a point specialist, the best fielder for the Proteas played many match winning knocks and in this process became one of the ODI greats. His knock of 175 (111) against the Aussies in a series deciding match at the Wanderers is quite unforgettable and was one of the finest knocks in ODI history.He reached the illustrious club on February 6, 2005 with a century against England, his 159th innings.
3. Sachin Tendulkar
The greatest batsman to have born in this era will obviously appear in any elite club of records. The Master-Blaster did that in his 451thinnings after scoring a century against Bangladesh on March 16, 2012. He played 463 ODI matches and scored 18,426 runs with 96 half-centuries and 49 centuries.
4. Hashim Amla
One of the most elegant openers in South African cricket, Hashim Amla emerged as the run-machine for them whose bat has been talking mostly with centuries in the ODI format since he stepped into the international arena. Hashim Amla scored 102 against Australia on November 19, 2014 to join the elite club holding this great record. This was his 98th innings, the quickest so far in the list. He has now 5985 runs in ODIs in 125 matches, the fastest scoring rate in the world.
5. Virat Kohli
The invaluable century maker, the phenomenal run-chaser, the remarkable run-machine from India, Virat Kohli completed the set of scoring ODI tons against all Test-playing nations with his century recently against South Africa in Chennai on October 22, 2015. This was his 157th innings in ODIs. With this he became the 2nd highest ODI centurion for India surpassing Saurav Ganguly. The most dependable batsman in Indian middle order has played 165 ODIs and scored 6824 runs with 34 half-centuries and 23 centuries.
| ZIM | WI | SL | SAF | PAK | NZ | IND | ENG | BAN | AUS | |
| Ponting | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | X |
| Gibbs | 2 | 5 | 1 | X | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Sachin | 5 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | X | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| Amla | 3 | 2 | 3 | X | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Virat | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | X | 2 | 3 | 3 |