How a single over can redefine the limits of professional cricket

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In a pre-season T10 match, Will Jacks achieved something nearly unheard of: a century in just 25 balls. His explosive performance included hitting six sixes in a single over, showcasing the raw, high-velocity power that has made him a global sensation in T20 leagues.

English cricketer Will Jacks, born on 21 November 1998, has rapidly ascended from a captain of the England Under-19 squad in 2018 to a versatile all-rounder on the world stage. A right-handed batter and off-spin bowler, Jacks has built a reputation for extreme scoring speed. His career highlights include scoring English cricket's third-fastest Twenty20 fifty off just 15 balls for Surrey against Middlesex in June 2021. His professional journey began with a List A debut for Surrey against Somerset in May 2018. That same year, he also made his first-class and T20 Blast debuts for the same county.

His impact extends to major global leagues, most notably the Indian Premier League (IPL). After being purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore for ₹3.2 crore, Jacks delivered a landmark performance on 28 April, scoring an unbeaten century in 41 balls against the Gujarat Titans. This innings, featuring ten sixes and five fours, ranked as the fifth-fastest century in IPL history. This explosive form was not limited to the IPL, as he also secured a championship title with the Oval Invincibles during the 2023 season of The Hundred.

Beyond the IPL, Jacks has been a cornerstone of championship-winning sides. He was part of the Surrey teams that secured the County Championship in both 2018 and 2022. In the short-format competition The Hundred, he set the highest individual score in the tournament's history, scoring 108 runs from 48 balls for the Oval Invincibles in August 2022. His ability to dominate matches has also seen him earn multiple Player of the Match awards in international tournaments, including a notable run of performances against nations such as Nepal, Italy, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. In the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, he joined a rare group of players, becoming only the second person after Shane Watson to earn four Player of the Match awards in one tournament.

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