11 Test Cricket Records That Might Never Get Broken

Test cricket arguably remains the purest form of the game and has remained so since its advent in 1877. Despite the extravagant nature of the limited-overs cricket, Test cricket has its own place in the purists’ hearts and is not likely to vanish anytime soon. Hence, most upcoming cricketers would like to play the longest format and accumulate as many records as possible.

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As such, there have been a plethora of players who have come and gone and conquered Test cricket by accomplishing innumerable records. And while few numbers might seem breachable, others might hardly be. Hence, the best most cricketers end up doing is to get closer to it as it would be a monumental task to break it since a lot of factors have to come together for it to happen.

We take a look at 11 Test cricket records that might remain unbroken:

Sri Lanka’s highest total of 952:

Sri Lanka holds the record for the highest team total in Test cricket when they amassed 952 against India back in 1997 in Colombo. In reply to India’s 537 after centuries from Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin and Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sri Lanka, led by Sanath Jayasuriya’s 340 and Roshan Mahanama’s 225, the hosts piled up 952, lasting a mammoth 271 overs. 

There was also a hundred from Arvinda de Silva and half-centuries from Arjuna Ranatunga and Mahela Jayawardene. The Test understandably ended in a draw, with only one inning possible from either side. The next best is England’s 903, which they racked up back in 1938, while in most recent times, New Zealand‘s 715 remains the highest.

Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of 800 Test wickets:

Muttiah Muralitharan is arguably the greatest off-spinner to play international cricket. Throughout his 19-year career, not many batsmen have managed to get the better of him and even in alien conditions, Muttiah Muralitharan was the captain’s go-to bowler. While his 534 ODI wickets remain the highest in the format, it’s his record of 800 Test scalps which is a daunting prospect.

The 49-year old reached the elusive landmark in his final and 132nd Test and averaged an impressive 22.72, with 67 fifers and 22 ten-wicket hauls. While Shane Warne’s 708 comes next to Muralitharan’s, there is no bowler from the current crop closer to the Sri Lankan. England’s James Anderson, at 616, remains a bridge too far and is already at this twilight years.

Graeme Smith’s most matches as captain:

Former South African opener and skipper Graeme Smith became the youngest Proteas skipper back in 2003, taking over from Shaun Pollock after the 2003 World Cup. He turned out to be one of the most successful and inspirational skippers, turning South Africa into a successful team. While Smith has the most victories as Test captain, there is one more record that goes unnoticed.

The current Cricket South Africa director also holds the record for captaining in most Test matches, doing so in 109 fixtures from 2003 to 2014. The 40-year old led South Africa to 53 wins and suffered only 29 losses. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli comes second amongst the current crop, captaining India in 60 Tests so far and will need a massive 50 more to surpass Smith.

Jim Laker’s 19 wickets in a Test:

Former England spinner Jim Laker famously tormented the Australian batting line-up when the two teams met at the Old Trafford in Manchester in 1956. After England made 459 in their first innings, Jim Laker took nine wickets to bundle Australia out for an embarrassing 84 in their first innings. The visitors fared slightly better in their second innnings, but Laker once again starred.

The off-spinner went one step ahead and picked up all ten wickets to bowl Australia out for 205, delivering for England a win by an innings and 170 runs. The Yorkshire spinner’s figures of 68-27-90-19 are the best for any bowler in a Test. Pakistan’s Yasir Shah, who once took 14 scalps in a Test against New Zealand in 2018, has come the closest in recent times. Hence, this seems like an unbreakable record too.

Alastair Cook – 159 consecutive matches:

Former England captain Alastair Cook was one of the greatest openers in Test cricket. Alastair Cook, England’s highest run-getter in the whites, amassed 12472 runs in 161 Tests at 45.35 with 33 centuries. As a batsman, whose technique was tailormade for Test cricket, he played only the longest format and holds a unique record.

From the 11th of May 2006 till his final Test in September 2018, he never missed a single Test for England and played 159 matches consecutively for the country. In June 2018, the southpaw broke former Australian skipper Allan Border’s record of playing 153 consecutive Tests. Currently, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has played 78 successive Tests and has a long way to go.

Mahela Jayawardene-Kumar Sangakkara 624-run partnership:

Apart from the highest team total in Test cricket, Sri Lanka boasts of amassing the highest partnership in the format when two of their most iconic players joined hands. Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara gathered all their strength and determination to ground down the South African bowling attack in 2006 in Colombo. The hosts bowled out South Africa for 169 in the first innings and lost their two wickets inside 20 runs.

But the third wicket fell at 638 as Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara threaded a mammoth 624 runs between them. Sangakkara was the first to depart, perishing for 287, while Jayawardene was the fifth wicket to fall, going for his best score of 374. Sri Lanka declared at 756 and Muttiah Muralitharan took six wickets in the second innings to follow his four in the first to seal a massive innings and 153-run win. In recent times, the highest partnership has been of 345 between Dimuth Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva, achieved in April 2021.

Mark Boucher 555 dismissals as a keeper:

Former South African keeper-batsman Mark Boucher was part of the Proteas team that ruled world cricket for a considerable number of years. Though an ICC trophy eluded South Africa several times, they were the best Test side. And Mark Boucher, the keeper, was phenomenal, while his added resistance as a batsman was a big plus.

The 44-year old retired from international cricket as the most successful Test keeper, affecting 555 dismissals in 147 Tests. Boucher took 532 catches and performed 23 stumpings in his career. The next best is Adam Gilchrist, the Australian retired gloveman with 416 dismissals. Amongst the current crop, New Zealand’s BJ Watling has the highest with 260; however, he will play only two more Tests before retiring.

Rahul Dravid – 210 catches as a fielder:

Former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid was not only a vastly accomplished Test batsman, but he was also an excellent fieldsman. Rahul Dravid featured in 164 Tests and scored over 13000 runs, playing at number three for the most part. Apart from that, the Karnataka-born fielder was one of the safest houses and fielded at slips.

In 164 Tests and 301 innings, Dravid collected 210 catches and took some of the most tricky catches at that position. The veteran’s job was especially challenging at the sub-continent when Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh used to bowl. Amongst the current crop, New Zealand’s Ross Taylor is at 156 and as a player in his twilight years, has a long way to go in matching the Indian great.

Ricky Ponting – 108 Test wins as a player:

Overall, the Tasmanian has achieved 108 Test wins as a player and no other cricketer has accomplished over 100 so far. Shane Warne’s 92 is the next best, while England’s James Anderson has the highest amongst the current crop with 72.

Sachin Tendulkar – 200 Test matches:

Sachin Tendulkar is arguably a giant of the sport and amongst the most celebrated cricketing icon of all time. Sachin Tendulkar has seen India’s greatest ups and downs, having debuted in 1989 and retiring in 2013. He is not only the top run-getter in Test and ODI cricket, but also the most-capped player in the two formats. Across three formats, Tendulkar has 34357 runs, including 15921 in Tests and 18426 in ODIs.

While Tendulkar’s 463 ODI games is arguably a massive mountain to climb, the 48-year old’s 200 Test matches is also an arduous task. England’s James Anderson is the highest-capped Test player currently with 161 fixtures under his belt. As a 38-year old and a fast bowler, the seamer has to keep his body exceptionally fit to play 40 more to surpass Tendulkar.

Don Bradman’s Test batting average of 99.94:

Former Australian batting legend Sir Donald Bradman remains one of the greatest cricketing icons and known for his insatiable appetite for runs. Though Sir Donald Bradman featured in only 52 Tests from 1928-1948, he has a jaw-dropping batting average of 99.94, compiling 6996 runs with 29 centuries and 13 fifties.

The right-handed batsman also achieved a career-high rating of 961 points in Test cricket, while his first-class batting average stood at 95.14. He could have reached 100 had he scored four runs; however, he departed for a duck. Amongst the current crop, Bradman’s fellow countryman Steve Smith has the highest average of 61.80. But even for Smith, reaching that high a level is improbable.

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