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Test cricket records which have remained unbroken for over six decades

No one has come close to Sir Don Bradman, and no one ever will. (AP Photo, File).
Expert
4th April, 2016
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1282 Reads

So the 2016 World T20 has come to a rousing finish but has left us with some moments to cherish.

The dual crown to the dancing West Indians, 6, 6, 6, 6 to climax the men’s final, WWW to end a thriller between India and Bangladesh, player of the series Virat Kohli getting nearly run out three times in two balls when on ten before ending up with 89 not out against the Windies in the semi-final.

Now it’s time to come back to Test cricket which was inaugurated in 1877. Records are meant to be broken but the following Test records have remained intact for over six decades.

Batting records
In the first ever Test between Australia and England in Melbourne in March 1877, opening batsman Charles Bannerman scored 165 retired hurt out of Australia’s total of 245. This works out at 67.34 per cent of his team’s total. Even after 139 years, this record remains unbroken.

Another Australian opener, Michael Slater, came close. He scored 123 out of Australia’s 184 (66.84%) against England in the January 1999 Sydney Test.

Exactly a year later in the January 2000 Sydney Test, India’s stylish batsman VVS Laxman stroked 167 out of a total of 261 (63.98%) against Australia.

Last December in the Hobart Test against Australia, West Indian Kraigg Brathwaite (no relation to six-hitting Carlos) made 94 out of West Indies total of 148 (63.51%).

But they could not surpass Bannerman’s record of 67.34 per cent which remains unbroken for 14 decades, spanning three centuries.

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England’s RE ‘Tip’ Foster scored 287 runs in his Test debut (v Australia, Sydney 1903), a record unbroken for 113 years.

Don Bradman retired in 1948 with a Test batting average of 99.94 in 52 Tests from 1928-48. The next best is another Australian, Adam Voges. In 15 Tests so far (2015-16) the 36-year-old is averaging 95.50.

The West Indian Andy Ganteaume played only one Test (against England in 1948) and scored 112 to average 112.00. But for proper statistical analysis, a cricketer must play at least ten Tests.

Bradman also holds two more records which have been untouched in 86 years. Against England in England in 1930 he amassed 974 runs in five Tests. This included 309 runs in a day in the Leeds Test.

Bowling records
The legendary England off-spinner Jim Laker holds the record of most wickets in a Test, 19 for 90, against Australia in the July 1956 Manchester Test.

Another Englishman, fast-medium George Lohmann (1886-96) retains the best bowling average in Test history. In 18 Tests he averaged 10.75, a record unbroken in 120 years.

Australia’s leg spinner T Jimmy Matthews remains the only bowler to take two hat-tricks in one Test, against South Africa in Manchester. He performed a hat-trick in each innings of that Test – both on the same day, 28 May 1912.

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Wicket-keeping record
Australia’s Bert Oldfield (1920-37) remains the only wicket-keeper to make over 50 stumpings.

In 54 Tests, he stumped 52.

Only records remaining unbroken in the last 60 or more years have been listed.

One can understand the long-lasting records held by bowlers because the pitches were uncovered in the past, boundary lines were longer and the bats not so wide and powerful.

So our hats off to batsmen Bannerman, Foster and Bradman to retain their records for so long.

Roarers, can you add to my list of Test records unbroken in 60 or more years?

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