Records are said to be broken but there are few records which are at least 25-30 years old and still unbroken. I am knowingly mentioning these records because the records set in ‘last 3 decades’ are more or less known to millennial including me:
1. Most runs in a test match
Graham Gooch scoring 333 in 1st innings and 123 in second innings of the test match against India in 1990 at mecca of Cricket- Lord’s. Thus he scored 456 runs in the match.
Lara (400), Mark Taylor(426) and Sangakarra (424) came closer but could not break this record.
2. Most runs in a Test series
Sir Don Bradman pipped Wally Hammond from the top seat in 1930 when he scored 974 runs in the Ashes. Recently, Steven Smith played 1 test less and scored 774 runs. But even if he had played that test match scoring another 200 runs was an unbelievable deal.
3. Most runs made by batsman in a day
Ashes, 1930 must be a memorabilia for Sir Don Bradman who scored 309 in a day’s play. In my memory, only Virender Sehwag who scored 284, 257, 228 in a day could have done the undoable.
4. Most runs in an series by a captain
Sir Don Bradman must have been the undisputed king of records. Here, in Ashes 1936 he scored 810 runs in as many as 5 test matches. In the last 20 years, only Graeme Smith (714), Steven Smith (687) and Virat Kohli (655) could be called competing for this record but they are remotely closer to Don.
5. Most runs in a series by a wicket-keeper
Who could have been holding this record? Sangakkara? Gilchrist? Boucher? Dhoni? No!
This record was set by, South African wicket-keeper, Denis Lindsay in 1966 in a series against Australia when he scored 606 runs in a 5-test matches series. Alas! his career lasted for just 19 tests.
Andy Flower made 540 runs in a 2 test match series against India. He could have surely overthrown Lindsay’s number but ICC’s test match planning as usual has been contentious.
6. Highest Test Career Batting Average
This record does rounds in Social Media when a Adam Voges or Steven Smith crosses batting average of 60. But this remain a wishful thinking that anyone who crosses 60 will also cross 99.94 set by Sir Don Bradman.
Had he been not dismissed for a duck his average would be in three figures. But you know cricket is a funny game :)
7. Most runs in debut match
You go to field for the first time and score a double hundred and a ton again in the same fixture. You must be Lawrence George Rowe from the Caribbean island. Rowe scored 314 runs (214–1st Innings & 100*- 2nd innings) on his debut in 1972
8. Most double hundreds in a career
This answer perhaps is dedicated to Don Bradman. He has scored 12 double hundred(s) in his career. Kumar Sangakkara came very close with 11. Right now, Virat Kohli, the Indian run machine is looking conditioned to be in this race with 7 doubles to his tally.
9. Youngest Player to score a double hundred
The dynamic Javed Miandad scored his first double hundred when he was 19 years 140 days old. Too young for a double, I reckon. He scored 163 in his debut match and the double hundred came in third match against New Zealand at Karachi. He must have been a sensation in Pakistan back then.
10. Best bowling figures in a match
They tell you that Anil Kumble emulated Jim Laker’s 10 wicket haul in an inning. But did they tell that Laker also took 9 wickets in the first innings of the match against Australia in 1956. He is accountable of a total of 19 wickets in a test match. His match stats were:
68.0- 27- 90- 19. Phenomenal!
