Adelaide suburban cricket’s top century-makers including Karen Rolton, Kelvin Smith, Alex Carey

More than 6900 names have been lifted from the history books to rank every recorded century made by Adelaide’s cricketers. See how you stack up against the best.

From household names to local heroes, there has been no shortage of iconic batters in South Australian cricket through the years.

With local cricket only recently closing the door on season 2022, The Messenger has compounded every century on record in Adelaide cricket.

Junior, senior, male and female players from Adelaide’s four main metropolitan competitions – Premier Cricket (starting 2008-09), Adelaide Turf (starting 2002-03), Adelaide & Suburban (starting 1970-71) and Para Districts (starting 1967-68) – have been included.

Have you made a century in Adelaide’s metro competitions? Search your name and see where you stack up in our rankings below.

Centuries are ranked by biggest run total, and club for, against and venue of the tonne are also included. Finals are not included.

THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

After yet another strong season for West Torrens, batter Bailey Capel has become one of the star players in Adelaide’s SACA Premier Cricket competition.

The 21-year-old sits in the top echelon of SACA Premier Cricket in centuries made, per The Messenger’s rankings, with 12 total – including seven at first grade level.

Other standouts include Eagles teammates Kelvin Smith (16 total) and Daniel Drew (nine total) as well as Adelaide Uni champion Will Bosisto (nine total).

Capel also tops Australia players Travis Head and Alex Carey, who represent both Tea Tree Gully and Glenelg respectively.

West Torrens cricketer Bailey Capel at Henley Oval. He has one of the highest century counts since SACA Premier Cricket started in 2008-09, with 12 centuries. Picture: Dean Martin

“Obviously it’s an honour to be among some of the best names in district cricket,” Capel said.

“Especially at West Torrens, I’ve been at the club my whole life and it’s had so many great players like Kelvin (Smith), Daniel (Drew), Ryan (Gibson) and even Andrew Haslett, who was at the club before us, all come through.”

Capel, who is also listed with the SA Redbacks, was a key part of West Torrens’ one-day and two-day premiership runs last season, performing consistently at the top order.

He scored multiple centuries, including a 199 total against Sturt.

Bailey Capel as an under-12 at West Torrens. He has been at the club since he first picked up a bat. Picture: File

“You remember most centuries you make. They’re great knocks,” Capel said.

“My first ever hundred and also that 199 last season are both really memorable.

“I think making a big total is all about playing your natural game and settling in. The more experience you get each time at the crease the more runs you’ll put on the next time with more confidence.”

Joining Capel in The Messenger’s rankings of every Adelaide century since as far back as 1967 are names like the legendary Karen Rolton, as well as Pooraka’s Mark Hanson and St Peter’s Old Collegians’ Thomas Rankine.

More than a few cherries on the bat of SA cricketing icon Karen Rolton as she represents Port Adelaide in 2000. Picture: File

Rolton makes the cut with nine separate centuries, her highest being a spectacular 237-run display against Tea Tree Gully in 2010.

The former Australian women’s captain was a champion for the national team – recording two test centuries and eight one-day centuries.

However, the superstar South Aussie also dominated domestically for the state, and in district cricket for four years with Port Adelaide.

The Karen Rolton Oval is now named after the cricketing icon, with state and district games hosted at the venue.

A young Alex Carey at the Glenelg Cricket Club in 2009. The Australia test mainstay has five district centuries.

Mark Hanson of Pooraka has the most centuries recorded in the rankings – tallying a remarkable 30 centuries since the 2008-2009 season in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association.

Former SPOC talisman Thomas Rankine was also dominant in turf, his total of 315 in 2015-16 making second spot, while Eastern Park star Kamaldeep Singh’s 337-run effort last season in the Para Districts Cricket Association sits atop the rankings.

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