Cricket is all about numbers, facts and figures. Being a cricket lover, my favourite in Test matches is the Ashes, as it’s the battle between two old rivals of cricket history, much like India and Pakistan.
Every sport in this world has records, and cricket has them in plenitude. Reaching a milestone is not an easy task, and breaking the milestone is another level of difficulty. There are some records in international Test cricket that can never be broken.
Muttiah Muralitharan’s 800 Test wickets
A great record for this Sri Lankan spin wizard, one of the greatest legends in the history of cricket. He played his debut Test match against Australia on 28 August 1992 and his last Test ended on 22 July 2010, which was played against India.
One particularly memorable day was 22 July 2008, when the maestro took his 800th Test wicket on the final ball of his Test career. His 800 Test wickets came out in just 133 matches, which is why he is one of the most fascinating players of all time.
Australia’s Shane Warne is close to this record, but he retired years ago, so this record will always be unbreakable.
James Charles Laker’s ten wickets in an innings
It’s rare to achieve such a record in Test cricket and it’s not easy for any bowler to do it. There are a few instances in Test cricket where you might have seen a couple of bowlers reach nine wickets in an innings, but this man, James Charles Laker, took ten wickets in one innings against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956. Actually he achieved his milestone in the second innings of that match, as he missed in his first innings, falling short by one wicket.
In the same match he took 19 wickets in total and conceded just 90 runs. This is another record for the highest wickets taken in any Test match. So far this record is unbreakable by any bowler. England won that Test match by an innings and 170 runs.
Alf Valentine with 75 maidens in a Test match
These days we see a lot of aggressive batting. Every batsman wants to smash it to the covers for a six or a four or for a quick single to keep the strike rotating. But this West Indian holds the record of bowling 75 maiden overs in a Test match against England in 1950. He also holds a record of bowling 49 maidens in an innings, which is exceptional and highest by any international bowler in a Test match. If you calculate all the maidens conceded by all the bowlers in one match, 75 maidens is still an unbeatable record.
George Lohmann 9-28 is the best bowling figures in the Test history
George Lohmann, the right-arm medium pacer, picked up nine wickets in just 14.2 overs, conceding 28 runs, against South Africa in 1986. This is the best figure so far. In all the three innings he played against South Africa he took a total of 24 wickets in that match.
Sonny Ramadhin bowled 774 balls in a Test match
Indian-originating West Indies cricketer Sonny Ramadhin holds the record of bowling 774 balls in a Test match against England in 1957. This is the highest number of balls bowled in a Test match so far by any bowler. He also holds another record of bowling 588 balls in the second innings of the same match.
JGK
Roar Guru
I guess my point is that that is wrong. 10 is more than 9 and 7 is less than 28. Lohmann also took a 8/7 in one match. Is that better than 9/28? I'm not trying to be a smartarse - I just can't see how the 9/28 is in any way an record, let alone an unbreakable one.
Krishna Prasad
Roar Rookie
Yes, for me. Maybe no for you. The point is, he took 9 wickets conceding least runs in an innings. That's what my write-up explains.
JGK
Roar Guru
So is 9/28 better than Jasprit's 5/7 the other day?
Krishna Prasad
Roar Rookie
Thank you so much. Haha! George has conceded less number of runs and took 9-28 whereas James conceded 53 runs for his 10 wickets. And against - its in an innings.
Krishna Prasad
Roar Rookie
Haha!
Krishna Prasad
Roar Rookie
The number of runs conceded
Chris Meister
Roar Guru
Murali was a pitcher not a bowler
JGK
Roar Guru
The paragraph on Lohmann is weird. Ignoring the typos (1986, 24 wickets in a match etc) how is 9/28 better than 10/53?
matth
Roar Guru
Its the 19 for the match as well that won’t be matched.
matth
Roar Guru
To break it you need a player who doesn’t get injured, gets into a side young, has a weak team around him so he doesn’t share the wickets, and then there is the fact that only three teams play enough tests these days to allow that many wickets in a career. So extremely unlikely at this point.
matth
Roar Guru
If I was being annoying I’d say that all current records remain unbroken :stoked: But seriously, you are correct, I don’t see these being broken, with the exception maybe of George Lohmann’s 9-28. Batting can be poor these days and if a bowler gets on a real roll in helpful conditions I could maybe see it. Murali was a freak and his record is likely to stand for all time. Maybe now Malinga as the only bowler to take 4 wickets in 4 balls twice could be an new candidate. Nice article.
Krishna Prasad
Roar Rookie
Hey Zen, even I'm suspecting the same actually. Wish Finch returns back to this format or atleast Maxwell. Paine is like pain for Australia.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Hi Kris, The captaincy must return to Smith. He is the most important team member. Anyone else would be in his shadow. I suspect Paine's place is guaranteed until March 2020.
Krishna Prasad
Roar Rookie
It's so disheartening about Smith. And Paine became an accidental captain. But even there are a lot of critic comments going all over the media about Paine's captaincy too. Whom do you think will be the next test captain if Paine is devoured from the captainship? Unfortunately, Finch too decided to step down for this Ashes. Otherwise, by now he would be leading the side. And yes, Muralitharan is a maestro of cricket.
Krishna Prasad
Roar Rookie
Yes, I know that. But it was James Laker who took it first. So I wrote those records who claimed on the first go. Like you know, the first-come-first-serve basis.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Well spotted Hari, Kumble was another personal favourite...this performance needs amplified celebration
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Krishna, A fascinating article. Murali was indeed a magnificent bowler. I was embarrassed and appalled by the treatment of Australian crowds towards him. I hope it was a manifestation of their recognition of his greatness but unfortunately it was more likely boorish behaviour similar to the current boorish behaviour of the English crowds towards Smith.
Krishna Prasad
Roar Rookie
Thanks a lot, Paul. I'm glad that you liked my piece. As we are talking about cricket hall of fame players and legends like Murali and Shane. So yes, it won't be broken in this era for sure.
Hari
Guest
Didnt kumble take ten wickets in an innings? https://www.quora.com/Did-Anil-Kumble-take-10-wickets-in-an-innings-How-can-one-take-all-the-wickets-in-an-innings
Paul
Roar Guru
A really nice piece Krishna, thanks for submitting your first piece. You made the comment that Murali's 800 wickets will be unbreakable, but I'd suggest it won't be broken for some time. Obviously if a bowler got close, they'd have to have played a lot of Tests and be exceptional. There are plenty of bowlers in world cricket who are very good, but probably not that next level needed to challenge this record.