Who scored the fastest Test century in terms of balls faced?

Brendon McCullum scored the fastest Test century in terms of balls faced, reaching 100 from 54 deliveries.

He set the record for New Zealand against Australia at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 20 February 2016. It was McCullum’s 101st and final Test, making the performance a dramatic farewell appearance. He eventually scored 145 from 79 balls, including six sixes, after New Zealand had slipped to 32 for 3.

McCullum reached his hundred with a six followed by three consecutive fours. His innings surpassed the previous record of 56 balls, jointly held by West Indies great Viv Richards, who achieved it against England in 1986, and Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq, who matched it against Australia in 2014.

This record concerns balls faced, not the elapsed time of the innings. Test cricket permits long defensive passages as well as attacking bursts, so a century in 54 balls is exceptionally unusual. McCullum’s aggressive style later became closely associated with England’s “Bazball” approach, although he set this record while playing for New Zealand.