Test Cricket Records
1. Best test batting average (minimum 20 innings): Sir Don Bradman – 99.94.
(International Cricket Hall of Fame)
It’s very rare for any sport to have one player who is quantifiably better than everyone else to have ever played. Cricket is, however, one such sport, and Don Bradman was the exceptional athlete in question.
Over the course of 52 test matches, the Don hit a then-record 29 centuries at an average that was agonisingly short of 100. Indeed, if he’d managed to score just four runs in his last innings, Bradman would’ve averaged exactly 100 at the top level. To put Bradman’s test cricket batting records in perspective, fellow Aussie Adam Voges is second on the all-time list, and his average is “only” 61.88.
2. Best test batting average (unqualified): Kurtis Patterson – 144.
(The Roar)
Having just raved about Sir Don Bradman’s unbeatable achievements, we now have to mention that two men actually have a higher batting average than him. However, there’s a very big asterisk next to both Australia’s Kurtis Patterson (with a batting average of 144) and former West Indies keeper Andy Ganteaume (112). You see, while both of these batsmen technically average more than 100, Ganteaume only batted in one innings, and Patterson has so far batted in two.
We’ve recently seen a prime example of why statisticians wait to see at least 20 innings before etching a batsman’s name among the great test match records. In February 2021, West Indies all-rounder Kyle Mayers made a dream test debut, scoring 40 and 210* to finish the match with a staggering average of 250. However, just six tests later, Mayers has crashed back down to Earth and now averages just 40.07.
3. Best test bowling average (minimum 2,000 balls): George Lohmann – 10.75.
(The Roar)
This is one of those test match bowling records that has stood for more than 100 years and will probably remain for centuries to come. While batsmen strive to get the highest average possible, for bowlers, the lower the better. Between 1886 and 1896, Lohmann took 112 wickets while conceding only 1,205 runs at an incredible average of 10.75.
Amazingly, at the time of writing, there’s actually a contemporary bowler with a better average than Lohmann’s: India’s Axar Patel, who has 27 test wickets at 10.59. However, he’s still well short of the 2,000-ball cut-off.
One of the most unbelievable cricket records you’ll ever hear is that legendary England batsman Alastair Cook – who scored 12,472 runs but only ever bowled 18 balls – retired with a bowling average of 7.
4. Best bowling figures in a match: Jim Laker – 19/90.
(The Guardian)
On a nightmarishly uneven pitch in Manchester in 1956, English off-spinner Jim Laker put in a performance that still causes jaws to drop today. He managed to claim 19 of Australia’s 20 wickets, shattering the world record for the best bowling figures in both a test innings (10/53) and a test match (19/90). There are some test cricket bowling records that seem destined to be broken, but this one looks like it could stand for decades to come.
5. Most career dismissals by a wicketkeeper: Mark Boucher – 555.
(Wisden)
Legendary South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher mightn’t have been a standout batsman, but after his 15-year career behind the stumps, he remains by far the most prolific wicketkeeper in test cricket history. Boucher took 532 catches and made 23 stumpings across his 147 test matches – 139 more dismissals than the next best keeper. He probably could have broken the 600-dismissal barrier if his career hadn’t been ended by a freak accident in which a bail lacerated his eye.
6. Most career runs: Sachin Tendulkar – 15,921.
(CricIndeed)
The mother of all test batting records goes to Sachin Tendulkar, India’s Little Master and arguably the most famous cricketer of all time. After making his test debut at the tender age of 16, Tendulkar went on to rewrite the record books in almost every way. Across his 200 test matches, he scored 51 centuries, both of which are records. He also leads the way for runs (18,426) and centuries (49) scored in ODI cricket, the format in which he was the first player to score a double-century.
7. Test wickets record: Muttiah Muralitharan – 800.
(CricBuzz)
There’s never been a more prolific international bowler than Muttiah Muralitharan, the wide-eyed Sri Lankan master of spin. In a career that was as controversial as it was successful, the off-spinner took 800 test wickets – nearly 100 more than his nearest rival – at an outstanding average of 22.72. But despite his undeniable talent and generally affable personality, Murali was never quite able to shake the tag of “chucker” because of his unusual action and flexible joints. However, exhaustive testing proved his action to be legal, which was for the best given that he also holds the record for most ODI wickets.
8. Highest test score by a team: Sri Lanka – 952/6.
(The Indian Express)
In 1997, fresh off a groundbreaking World Cup victory, Sri Lanka wore India down into the ground with the highest innings score in test cricket history. Led by Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama, who scored 340 and 225 respectively, Sri Lanka batted three full days on a flat pitch to draw the match and the series. Jayasuriya’s player of the match award was thoroughly deserved; on top of his triple-century, he took 3/45 with the ball.
9. Longest test innings by a batsman: Hanif Mohammad – 970 minutes.
(Chase Your Sport)
In 1958, legendary Pakistan batsman Hanif Mohammad played an innings that lasted more than 16 hours against one of the greatest ever West Indies teams. In 970 minutes, he scored 337 runs, which was the second-highest test score at the time, and remains the highest ever by a Pakistan batsman. What’s more, Mohammad achieved this feat away from home and in Pakistan’s second innings. Thanks to his herculean effort, Pakistan walked away from that seemingly hopeless situation with a draw.
10. First cricketer to play 100 test matches: Colin Cowdrey.
(Cricket Country)
In the case of Colin Cowdrey, slow and steady really does win the race. Over a remarkable international career that spanned from 1954 to 1975, Cowdrey played 114 tests, averaging just over 44 for his career haul of 7,624 runs, which was an England record at the time. Known for his elegant batting style and charming personality, Cowdrey played test cricket until the age of 42. By the time he hung up the boots, one-day cricket had become a thing, although Cowdrey only managed one run in his solitary ODI match.
11. Oldest test cricketer: Wilfred Rhodes – 52 years and 165 days.
(Cricket Country)
While Colin Cowdrey was the first to cross the 100-test barrier, he wasn’t even close to being the oldest person ever to play test cricket. That honour goes to Wilfred Rhodes, the indefatigable England all-rounder who played his last test at the remarkable age of 52 in an international career that began in 1899 and ended in 1930. Longevity wasn’t just a cricketing trait for Rhodes; he lived to the ripe old age of 95. To put that in perspective, he was born before the first-ever test match was played and was still alive to witness the arrival of one-day cricket.
12. Longest cricket match: South Africa vs. England, 1939 – 12 days.
(SportsAdda)
Those who don’t understand cricket complain that it lasts for too long, and while we’d normally disagree, this particular test in 1939 is pretty good evidence for that. In the era of timeless tests, this one lasted a staggering 12 days; cricket was played on nine of those, with two being rest days and one being rained out. Amazingly, the match still finished in a draw, as the England team had to call it quits so as not to miss the ship back home!
13. Longest test match with a result: Australia defeated England, 1929: eight days.
(CricInfo)
It took 4,244 balls and eight days, but finally, Australia managed to seal the deal against the old rival in a series that England won 4-1. This series is memorable because it marked the intersection of arguably the two greatest batsmen in history: Sir Don Bradman and Sir Jack Hobbs. For perspective, Bradman was 20 and Hobbs was 46 at the time, and yet both scored centuries during this match, which took place at the MCG.
14. Shortest test match: West Indies vs. England, 2009 – 10 balls.
(CricInfo)
Imagine the frustration of preparing for an epic five-day tussle only to have the pin pulled after less than 10 minutes. That’s what happened when England visited the West Indies in Antigua in 2009. The outfield at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was in such poor condition that the players couldn’t safely run across it. So after 1.4 overs, both teams got together and agreed to call the match off before somebody got injured. It reminded fans of the Sabina Park disaster in 1998 when a dangerously uneven pitch led to the game being called off after 61 balls.
15. Most wickets in a test series: Sydney Barnes – 49.
(CricInfo)
Of all the test wicket records, this is one of the most impressive, given that it was achieved in only four matches and that it took place away from home. Barnes was impossible to face in this series against South Africa when his 49 wickets came at just 10.53 runs apiece. Indeed, he was so successful that he picked up five-wicket hauls in seven of the eight innings in which he bowled on the tour. The fact that he still holds the record despite refusing to play the fifth match of the series is even more astounding.
16. Most test matches as captain: Graeme Smith – 109.
(HowSTAT)
Of all the cricket test records to hold, this might be the one to be most proud of. So apparent were Graeme Smith’s leadership qualities – and so scarce were South Africa’s other options – that Smith was given the test captaincy at age 22. He went on to lead his country in 109 of his 117 test matches, during which time he was credited with reinventing the team culture and ushering in one of South Africa’s most successful eras. Perhaps the most iconic representation of his leadership was when he batted with a broken hand against Australia’s lightning-fast bowlers in 2009 in an attempt to save the match.
First-Class Cricket Records
17. Most first-class centuries: Sir Jack Hobbs – 199.
(Cricket365)
After a glorious career spanning decades, Sir Jack Hobbs fell one short of 200 centuries. To truly understand how impressive this is, you have to remember that throughout Hobbs’s playing career, English first-class cricket was the truest measure of a cricketer, mainly because the difficulty of international travel made organising test cricket a nightmare. The fact that Hobbs averaged over 50 in an era when pitches gave plenty of assistance to bowlers is a measure of his greatness.
18. Most first-class wickets: Wilfred Rhodes – 4,204.
(Cricket Country)
This is yet another record that could only belong to the great Wilfred Rhodes. His career haul of 4,204 first-class wickets – at an average of 16.72, mind you – is frankly obscene, especially when you consider that it’s more than five times the record for the most test wickets. However, when you consider that he played 1,110 first-class matches and bowled 185,742 balls, you can see that the man was simply a cricket machine. Oh, and he also scored nearly 40,000 first-class runs with the bat. Handy!
19. Highest first-class score: Brian Lara – 501*.
(Hindustan Times)
If you flick through the Wisden cricket records, you’ll come across this remarkable achievement by Brian Lara. The great West Indian batsman was always known for going large, but the unbeaten 501 he hit for Warwickshire against Durham really took things to the next level. It’s not just his score that’s worth noting, but the way he managed to compile all those runs. Lara struck 501* in just 427 balls at a strike rate of 117.3, which was astounding considering this took place in 1994, well before the advent of T20 cricket.
20. Most wickets in an over of first-class cricket: Neil Wagner – five.
(Guinness World Records)
Nuggety New Zealand left-armer Neil Wagner is known for his workmanlike attitude and ability to push through the pain barrier when playing test cricket for his country. But few fans know that Wagner has achieved a feat nobody else in first-class cricket history has managed: five wickets in an over. Wagner bowled this exceptional over – which included a hat-trick – against Wellington in 2011. The first four balls were wickets, followed by a dot ball and a fifth wicket. Two other professional cricketers have taken five wickets in an over, but neither have done so in a first-class match.
One-Day Cricket Records
21. Fastest ODI century: AB de Villiers – 31 balls.
(Wisden)
AB de Villiers is affectionately known as “Mr 360” for his ability to hit any ball in any direction, and never was that on display more clearly than in this innings against the West Indies in 2015. He reached his century a full five balls faster than Corey Anderson had just a year earlier, going on to finish on 149 off just 44 balls. Unsurprisingly, his rampage included 16 sixes and nine fours. Cricket records show that not even in T20Is – which are renowned for being much faster-paced than ODIs – has anybody come close to scoring a century as quickly as AB did.
22. Best ODI bowling figures: Chaminda Vaas – 8/19.
(Cricket World)
Sri Lanka’s left-arm swing machine had a day out against Zimbabwe in 2001. Not only did Chaminda Vaas pick up a wicket with the first ball of the match, but he went on to claim Zimbabwe’s first eight wickets for just 19 runs. One can only wonder whether these cricket statistics would have been even more remarkable if Muttiah Muralitharan hadn’t spoiled the party by taking the final two wickets.
23. Highest career batting strike rate: Andre Russell – 130.22.
(CricInfo)
When we think of fast scoring in ODI cricket, we think of legendary power hitters like Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, and Alex Hales. But none of those big names come close to West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell and his strike rate of 130.22. Now, under the tutelage of head coach Phil Simmons, Russell might even take his game to the next level.
24. Highest match aggregate score: South Africa vs. Australia, 2006 – 872 runs.
(Wisden)
There were so many ODI cricket records broken in this amazing match at the Wanderers Stadium that it’s almost impossible to keep track of them all. For starters, Australia smashed the existing world record by scoring 434 in the first innings, a feat that looked impossible to beat. But led by an amazing Herschelle Gibbs knock of 175, South Africa surpassed that mark and recorded 438 with one ball to go. Even after 15 years, this remains comfortably the highest successful chase in ODI history.
Unfortunately for Australian bowler Mick Lewis, he finished this match with a set of cricket statistics he’d much rather forget. Despite being bashed around the ground from pillar to post, Lewis bowled all 10 of his allotted overs, finishing with the worst bowling figures in ODI history: 0/113.
25. Highest individual score: Rohit Sharma – 264.
(Scroll)
There have been eight double-centuries in the history of men’s ODI cricket – Rohit Sharma has hit three of them. Without doubt, the jewel on the Hitman’s crown was his 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014, which remains one of the all-time greatest cricket records for batting. Perhaps the most remarkable thing was how well he timed his innings; after scoring his first 100 at roughly a run a ball, he then exploded, scoring the next 164 runs in just 73 balls.
26. Highest team score: England – 481/6.
(CricInfo)
On the back of rapid-fire centuries from Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales, England posted a crazy total of 481 for the loss of six wickets in 2018. To put that in context, the top two team scores in ODIs are both England cricket records, but the previous best was 444, set two years earlier in 2016.
27. Most runs in one over: Herschelle Gibbs – 36.
(Hindustan Times)
Every batsman dreams of the perfect over: six sixes for 36 runs. But in 50 years of ODI cricket, only one has managed it: Herschelle Gibbs, famous for his hungover heroics in the Wanderers match mentioned earlier in this article. In the 2007 World Cup, Gibbs took hapless Netherlands spinner Daan van Bunge to the cleaners. Amazingly, more than 10% of the runs van Bunge conceded in his entire ODI career came from that one fateful over.
28. Best career batting average (minimum 100 innings): Virat Kohli – 59.07.
(CricInfo)
Cricket world records don’t come much more impressive than this. As is the case with Don Bradman in tests, there are currently two batsmen who technically have a higher ODI batting average than Virat Kohli. However, if you look at things over a large sample size, King Kohli is undoubtedly the best modern-day ODI batsman. At the time of writing this article, Kohli has hit 43 ODI centuries, second only to the almighty Sachin Tendulkar. There’s little doubt that at his current trajectory, Kohli will overtake Tendulkar in both total runs and centuries soon enough.
