Shai Hope First to Score Century vs All Test Nations
In a quiet but historic moment during a rain-affected ODI against New Zealand, Shai Hope didn’t just score a century—he rewrote cricket’s record books. His unbeaten 109 may not have secured a win for the West Indies, but it earned him a place no one else has ever held: the first batter in history to score an ODI century against all 10 current Test-playing nations .
Not Sachin Tendulkar. Not Virat Kohli. Not Ricky Ponting or Kumar Sangakkara. None of them managed this elusive milestone. But Shai Hope—often underrated outside the Caribbean—has now done what the greats couldn’t. This isn’t just a personal triumph; it’s a landmark achievement in the annals of international cricket.
Table of Contents
- The Historic Innings: Hope’s 109 vs New Zealand
- What Makes the Shai Hope Century Feat So Rare?
- Why Even Tendulkar and Kohli Couldn’t Achieve This
- Hope’s Centuries Against Each Test Nation: A Breakdown
- Surpassing 6,000 ODI Runs & Matching Brian Lara
- The Significance for West Indies Cricket
- Fan and Expert Reactions to the Milestone
- Conclusion
- Sources
What Makes the Shai Hope Century Feat So Rare?
On the surface, scoring ODI centuries seems common among elite batters. But scoring one against **every** Test-playing nation is a different beast entirely. It requires:
- Longevity: Playing consistently for over a decade across different conditions.
- Versatility: Adapting to spin in Asia, pace in Australia, swing in England, and bounce in South Africa.
- Opportunity: Facing all 10 teams frequently enough to get a chance—a challenge for players from smaller boards like the West Indies.
- Consistency under pressure: Delivering match-defining knocks even when the stakes are high.
Hope’s feat is even more impressive because he achieved it while representing a team that has struggled for consistency in white-ball cricket in recent years.
Why Even Tendulkar and Kohli Couldn’t Achieve This
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a knock on the legends. It’s a testament to how hard this milestone is.
- Sachin Tendulkar (49 ODI tons) never scored a century against South Africa in ODIs (his highest was 96*).
- Virat Kohli (50 ODI tons) has never made a century against Pakistan in ODIs (best: 94 in 2023 World Cup).
- Rahul Dravid never hit a ton vs New Zealand or West Indies.
- Even Ricky Ponting missed out against Bangladesh.
Hope, by contrast, now has at least one ODI hundred against: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan .
Hope’s Centuries Against Each Test Nation: A Breakdown
His journey to this milestone spanned nearly eight years:
- **First**: 101 vs Ireland (2015) — though Ireland wasn’t a Test nation then.
- **Key milestones**: 101 vs England (2017), 170 vs Ireland (2019 WC), 109* vs New Zealand (2025).
- **Final piece**: The 109* in Hamilton completed the set, with his first ODI ton against the Kiwis .
Each century came in different conditions, showcasing his adaptability—from seaming tracks in England to spin-friendly pitches in Asia.
Surpassing 6,000 ODI Runs & Matching Brian Lara
Hope’s latest knock also pushed him past **6,000 ODI runs**, placing him among the West Indies’ all-time greats. More symbolically, it gave him his **19th ODI century**, tying him with the legendary Brian Lara for the most by a West Indian batter .
For a player who debuted in 2014 and has often carried the West Indies’ batting lineup alone, this parity with Lara is deeply meaningful.
The Significance for West Indies Cricket
In an era where West Indies cricket has grappled with administrative chaos and player availability issues, Hope has been a constant. His achievement shines a light on the resilience of Caribbean talent.
[INTERNAL_LINK:west-indies-odi-revival-hope-leadership] explores how Hope’s leadership is helping rebuild the team’s identity.
Fan and Expert Reactions to the Milestone
The cricket world took notice:
- Former WI captain Carl Hooper: “Shai is writing his own legacy—quietly, powerfully.”
- ESPNcricinfo called it “one of the most underrated records in modern cricket.”
- Fans flooded social media with #HopeHistory, celebrating the milestone.
Conclusion
The Shai Hope century feat is more than a stat—it’s a story of persistence, adaptability, and excellence against the odds. While his century didn’t win the match, it secured his place in history. In a sport often dominated by Indian, Australian, or English narratives, Hope’s achievement reminds us that greatness can emerge from anywhere. And sometimes, the quietest players make the loudest statements.