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.
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.
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?
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Pete McAloney, The boasting bowler's name was Bill Black. The name of the unfortunate bowler at the end was Horrie Baker. This is taken from my book "Six Appeal" published in 1996.
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
There's a great little book about bush cricket which describes the incident. Apparently Bradman was taking strike and casually asked the keeper about the bowler and whether he was any good. The keeper expressed his surprise and told Bradman that the bowler (I can't recall his name sorry) had gotten Bradman out a few months earlier for a low score and had been bragging to all and sundry about it. Bradman nodded, took on a steely glint in his eye and unleashed. Personally I feel sorry for the poor guy bowling from the other end who was included in the carnage.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Thank you all Roar scholars for your additions. Like Oliver Twist, may I ask for MORE! Thanks.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Pope Paul VII, JGK and other Roar scholars,
OJP
Guest
by 1 run ! Thats awesome! cheers OJP
JGK
Roar Guru
The oldest Test record is one that will never be beaten either - oldest debutant. James Southerton in the first ever Test. He was 49.
JGK
Roar Guru
Nope - Hirwani took 16 wickets on debut for one less run in the 80s.
JGK
Roar Guru
Yep - Walcott still has that record on his own although Smith and Kohli came within in whisker of joining him last summer (in only 4 tests).
JGK
Roar Guru
I seem to recall a backstory that he was sledged by the oppositions opening bowler before the innings.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
OJP, Thanks for sharing this human angle story. I wonder how many first-class cricketers became judges. "Objection overruled." !
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
AdrianK, Here are details of Bradman's 3-over century. It was in a match at Blackheath, NSW on November 3, 1931. He was playing for Blue Mountains XI v. Lithgow Pottery Club. Bradman went in at no.3 and raced to 256 with 14 sixes and 29 fours. In midst of this onslaught he hammered 100 out of 102 in 3 eight-ball overs (22 balls) -- belting 10 sixes, 9 fours, one two and two singles. It went like this. Over 1: 6,6,4,2,4,4,6,1 (33 runs). Over 2: 6,4,4,6,6,4,6,4 (40 runs). His partner Owen Wendell Bill took a single off the first ball and fifth ball off the next over. Over 3: 1,6,6,1,1,4,4,6 (29 runs; 27 by Bradman).
Anthony Condon
Guest
http://www.bradman.com.au/greatest-cricket-innings-ever-100-runs-in-3-overs/ Blackheath XI v Lithgow XI, Bradman was a guest. I'm sure it's been replicated elsewhere at such a low level.
AdrianK
Guest
Bradman once scored a 3 over century (8 ball overs) I once read. Anyone have any details on that?
OJP
Guest
yes, good call Peter - it was on debut too... surely that is a record ?
OJP
Guest
Hi Kersi, re the missed 10 fer, I regret it more now than I did then (as a 16 year old) ... at the time, I was just happy we had wrapped up the innings and I didnt have to bowl anymore.... I'd played juniors in the morning, then straight to grade, where I bowled 37 of the 39 overs that were delivered from 'my' end. The skipper was a fine man; retired after that season and went onto become a judge here in WA. I ran into him randomly in a supermarket some 20 years later and wandered up to say hello.... I was a bit scruffy / rough looking at the time and when I tapped him on the shoulder and asked him 'excuse me, are you XX XXX' there was this moment when he looked a bit alarmed so I quickly told him who I was and happily for us both, he remembered me... we even had a laugh about his 2-0! Thinking about it afterwards, I guessed he initially pegged me as someone who had 'been before him' in his capacity as a judge and was alarmed at what I might say / do. cheers OJP
peter chrisp
Guest
Not sure but in the 70's i can almost remember his name the great Bob Massie i think he took 16 wickets in a test match
Julian King
Roar Guru
Bradman. Where do you start? I like the fact that he's scored the most runs against one country (5028 vs. England in 37 matches). That will stand for a long long time. The next best by a batsman against one country is Jack Hobbs (3636 vs. Australia in 41 matches) and Tendulkar (3630 vs. Australia in 39 matches). Hobbs and Sachin are two of the greatest of all time, but it's Don number one and daylight second.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
You are correct, OJP, Lock took the third wicket, that of opener Burke. Still Laker took 17 wickets in a row. What a shame you missed out on your 10-fer in the WACA grade match despite your captain's help.
OJP
Guest
interesting that it was an opener that Lock dismissed; did Laker then take 19 wickets in a row (ie Lock got the 1st one ?) (Edit - I realised we have google now so I looked it up; Lock's wicket was the 3rd of the innings) I concur with the comments from earlier posters to the effect that many of the test records wont be topped and the explanations given. In my own humble cricket pursuits, playing in the WACA grade comp as a young fella, I managed to take the first 8 wickets to fall in an innings; the skipper (acknowledged as the worst bowler in the club) bought himself on to bowl from the other end to maximise my chances of getting all 10 and promptly took 2-0. Ha!
bryan
Roar Rookie
It was also an opener in the first innings.