UNUSUAL CRICKET RECORDS

 

 

Compiled by Charles Davis

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Most of the categories of records you see here are chosen because you won’t find them anywhere else.

If not otherwise stated, they relate to Test matches only. The categories are

 

 

Batsmen

Slowest to reach 100, in overs batted

Longest Test innings by number of overs batted

Innings where a batsman hit his first ball for six

Hitting the Winning Run

Balls faced by pre-lunch century-makers

Most Balls Faced without Scoring (individuals, where known)

Most Balls Faced Between Fours (during a single innings)

“Batting Hat Tricks”: Batsmen out three times in three balls in Tests

Most Boundaries in a Test Half-Century

Fast First-class Triple Centuries

Without Dismissal: Longest Sequences

Reaching century in lowest team scores

Fewest Balls Bowled for Openers reaching 100

Unusual Run-Scoring Strokes (7s, 8s etc)

 

 

 

Bowlers

Four Wickets in An Over

Wickets with the First Ball and Last Ball of an Innings

Longest Bowling Spells (where known)

Most Balls bowled in a day (individuals)

Five Wickets Before Lunch on the First Day

Quickest five-hauls (five wickets in the space of fewest balls)

Fewest balls to reach five wickets in an innings, after first coming on to bowl.

Fewest balls to reach six wickets in an innings, after first coming on to bowl.

 

Best Test Bowling Sequences (five or more wickets for fewest runs)

Most Runs and Balls Before First Wicket in Tests

Most No Balls in a match

Most Balls bowled Before First Wicket in an Innings

Four wickets in six balls

 

 

 

 

Individual Player v Player: Most Runs, all Tests

 

Session

Fewest Runs in a Full Two-Hour Session

Most Runs in a Two-Hour (maximum) Session – Test matches

Most Runs in a Session (Individuals)

 

Teams

Fast team 50s, Fast team 100s, Fast team 200s

Most Balls without Scoring (Runs Off the Bat – Teams)

Most No Ball Calls against a team (innings)

Longest without New Ball

Slowest Teams to 50 and 100

Fast and Slow Partnerships (first 100 runs)

Most Runs in 'x' overs in Tests (2-20 overs)

Team Hat-Tricks (3 wickets in 3 balls)

 

 

 

 

 

For more conventional records, you know where to look. If a reader would like

 to see a new category that cannot be obtained from studying Cricinfo or Cricket

 Archive, let me know and I will see what I can do.

 

 

Slowest to reach 100, in overs batted

Overs batted

Balls faced

174

Nazar Mohammad

Pak v Ind, Lucknow (University) 1952/53

520(est)

166

MC Cowdrey

Eng v WI, Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1957

535

157

DJ McGlew

Saf v Aus, Durban (Kingsmead) 1957/58

485

152

AJ Watkins

Eng v Ind, Delhi (FSK) 1951/52

480

151

Hanif Mohammad

Pak v Eng, Dhaka 1961/62

448

150(est)

JW Guy

NZ v Ind, Hyderabad (Ind - LBSS) 1955/56

448(est)

143(est)

Hanif Mohammad

Pak v Ind, Bahwalpur 1954/55

427(est)

143

PE Richardson

Eng v SAf, Johannesburg (New Wanderers) 1956/57

440

139

Mudassar Nazar

Pak v Eng, Lahore (Gaddafi) 1977/78

419

Eight-ball overs converted. Checked Feb 2020.

 

 

Longest Test innings by number of overs batted

Overs batted

Score

BF

312

Hanif Mohammad

337

Pak v WI, Bridgetown, Barbados 1958

292

L Hutton

364

858

Eng v Aus, The Oval 1938

253

RB Simpson

311

741

Aus v Eng, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1964

245

GM Turner

259

759

NZ v WI, Georgetown, Guyana 1972

225

PBH May

285*

625

Eng v WI, Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1957

222

KF Barrington

256

630

Eng v Aus, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1964

221

A Sandham

325

640

Eng v WI, Kingston, Jamaica 1930

212

SG Barnes

234

665

Aus v Eng, Sydney (SCG) 1946/47

209

G Kirsten

275

642

SAf v Eng, Durban (Kingsmead) 1999/00

208

EAB Rowan

236

620

SAf v Eng, Leeds (Headingley) 1951

200

AC Bannerman

91

620

Aus v Eng, Sydney (SCG) 1891/92

200

ML Apte

163*

Ind v WI, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 1953

196

RM Cowper

307

589

Aus v Eng, Melbourne (MCG) 1965/66

195

Nazar Mohammad

124*

Pak v Ind, Lucknow (University) 1952/53

194

ST Jayasuriya

340

578

SL v Ind, Colombo4 (RPS) 1997

191

MC Cowdrey

154

621

Eng v WI, Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1957

191

AN Cook

263

528

Eng v Pak, Abu Dhabi 2015

190

Younis Khan

313

568

Pak v SL, Karachi 2009

189

BC Lara

400*

582

WI v Eng, Antigua (St John's) 2004

189

AN Cook

294

545

Eng v Ind, Birmingham 2011

188

AD Nourse

208

603

SAf v Eng, Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 1951

Eight-ball overs converted to six-ball equivalent. Incomplete overs counted as one

Checked Feb 2020

 

 

 

Individual Batsman v Bowler: Most Runs, all Tests

 

Bat

Bowl

 

Inns

Wkts

Balls

Runs

Av

SPD Smith

SCJ Broad

 

49

11

1101

577

52.5

CA Pujara

NM Lyon

 

33

13

1296

571

43.9

KC Sangakkara

Saeed Ajmal

 

22

4

1224

531

132.8

V Kohli

NM Lyon

 

31

7

1028

529

75.6

GA Gooch

N Kapil Dev

 

33

11

960

517

47.0

H Sutcliffe

CV Grimmett

 

28

7

1748

515

73.6

AR Border

IT Botham

 

41

12

1245

506

42.2

AR Border

JE Emburey

 

36

5

1189

504

100.8

JB Hobbs

AA Mailey

 

21

9

813

501

55.7

BC Lara

SK Warne

 

28

7

774

501

71.6

L Hutton

RR Lindwall

 

38

9

1070

499

55.4

DPMD Jayawardene

Harbhajan Singh

 

21

4

755

494

123.5

DG Bradman

WR Hammond

 

29

3

876

493

164.3

DI Gower

GF Lawson

 

33

14

874

485

34.6

WR Hammond

CV Grimmett

 

25

6

1232

483

80.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note that “Inns” denotes only those innings where the batsman actually faced the bowler.

Updated Aug 2023

 

A few incidental records:

·       The most runs scored by a batsman off a bowler without ever being dismissed is 278 by Viv Richards off John Emburey.

·       John Edrich scored 271 runs off Johnny Gleeson in Ashes Tests without losing his wicket.

·       The highest known average is a similar case: 278 runs for once out by Kumar Sangakkara off Umar Gul.
(UPDATE: David Warner’s average off Yasir Shah is now 305.)

·       Bradman scored 243 runs off Vinoo Mankad in a single series without being dismissed.

·       Greg Matthews bowled Marvan Attapattu with the only two balls he ever bowled to him.

·       Steve Smith dismissed Sachin Tendulkar with the only ball he bowled to him in a cricket match.

·       Grimmett dismissed Xenophon Balaskas of South Africa five times in Tests while conceding two runs.

·       Tim May bowled 54 balls to Mark Illott without conceding a run, dismissing him three times.
(UPDATE: Ravi Ashwin has dismissed Nuwan Pradeep four times in 15 balls and conceded no runs.)

·       Ashwell Prince faced only 19 balls from Bryce McGain, but scored 48 runs.

 

Most Balls Bowled Head-to-Head

Bat

Bowl

Inns

Wkts

Balls

Runs

Av

R/100 b

H Sutcliffe

CV Grimmett

28

7

1748

515

73.6

29

AR Morris

AV Bedser

36

18

1386

466

25.9

34

CA Pujara

NM Lyon

33

13

1296

570

43.8

44

WR Hammond

WJ O'Reilly

30

10

1245

396

39.6

32

AR Border

IT Botham

41

12

1245

506

42.2

41

WR Hammond

CV Grimmett

25

6

1232

483

80.5

39

KC Sangakkara

Saeed Ajmal

22

4

1224

531

132.8

43

AR Border

JE Emburey

36

5

1189

504

100.8

42

MA Atherton

CA Walsh

41

17

1166

479

28.2

41

IM Chappell

DL Underwood

31

10

1129

404

40.4

36

SPD Smith

SCJ Broad

49

11

1101

577

52.5

52

 

Aug 2023

 

 

Four Wickets in An Over

MJC Allom

Eng v NZ, Christchurch 1929/30

0W0WWW

K Cranston

Eng v SAf, Leeds (Headingley) 1947

W0W0WW

FJ Titmus

Eng v NZ, Leeds (Headingley) 1965

W0WW0W

CM Old

Eng v Pak, Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1978

0WWnbWW1

Wasim Akram

Pak v WI, Lahore (Gaddafi) 1990/91

0WW1WW

AR Caddick

Eng v WI, Leeds (Headingley) 2000

W0WW0nbW

 

 

4 in 4 and 5 in 6 balls

GA Lohmann

SAf v Eng 1895/96 across 2 Tests

WWW/W0W

2 Tests

4 in 5 balls

MJC Allom

NZ v Eng (1), Christchurch 1929/30  

0W0WWW

same over

CM Old

Eng v Pak (1), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1978 

WWnWW

same over

Wasim Akram

Pak v WI (3), Lahore (Gaddafi) 1990/91 

WW1WW

same over

4 in 6 balls

W Bates

Aus v Eng (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1882/83

W30/WWW*

2 overs

K Cranston

Eng v SAf (4), Leeds (Headingley) 1947 

W0W0WW

same over

FJ Titmus

Eng v NZ (3), Leeds (Headingley) 1965 

W0WW0W

same over

JN Gillespie

Aus v Eng (2), Perth (WACA) 1998/99 

W0WW/1W

2 overs

Mohammad Sami

Pak v SL (1), Lahore (Gaddafi) 2001/02 

WWW/00W

2 inns

Sohag Gazi

Ban v NZ (1), Chittagong 2013/14

W0/0WWW

2 overs

TA Boult

NZ v WI (2), Wellington (Basin Reserve) 2013/14

W0W/W0W

2 overs

KAJ Roach

WI v Ban (1), Antigua (Richards) 2018 

W/0W0WW

2 overs

NM Lyon

Pak v Aus (2), Abu Dhabi 2018  

WW/0W0W

2 overs

 

 * Probable

Checked Jul 2023

 

 

Innings where a batsman hit his first ball for six (where known)

Bat

Bowler

G Ulyett

Eng v Aus, Sydney (SCG) 1881/82

TW Garrett

TW Wall

Aus v Eng, Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 1930

RK Tyldesley

EAV Williams†

WI v Eng, Bridgetown, Barbados 1948

JC Laker

HHH Johnson

WI v Eng, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1950

R Berry

RG Archer

Aus v Eng, Adelaide 1954/55 (unconfirmed)

JH Wardle

FM King‡

WI v Aus, Kingston, 1955 (probable)

RG Archer

NAT Adcock

SAf v Eng, Johannesburg (New Wanderers) 1956/57

JH Wardle

A D'Souza

Pak v Eng, Lord's 1962

LJ Coldwell

VA Holder

WI v Eng, Leeds (Headingley) 1969

BR Knight

JA Jameson

Eng v WI, Kingston, Jamaica 1974

KD Boyce

GS Chappell

Aus v Eng, Lord's 1975

DS Steele

AL Logie

WI v Ind, Kinston 1982/83

M Amarnath

IT Botham

Eng v Aus, Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1985

CJ McDermott

PA de Silva*

SL v Ind, 1985/86 Colombo SSC

Kapil Dev

ST Jayasuriya

SL v Eng, 1992/93 Colombo SSC

PCR Tuffnell

CL Cairns

NZ v WI, Wellington 1999/00

NO Perry

M Muralitharan

SL v SAf (1), Johannesburg (Wanderers) 2002/03

SM Pollock

PJ Wiseman

NZ v SL (1), Colombo1 (PSS) 2002/03

HDPK Dharmasena

BC Lara

WI v Aus (4), Antigua (St John's) 2003

B Lee

M Muralitharan

SL v Ind (2), Delhi (FSK) 2005/06

IK Pathan

MS Dhoni

Ind v WI (3), St Kitts 2006

PT Collins

GC Smith

SAf v Ind (3), Cape Town 2006/07

Z Khan

PG Fulton

NZ v Ban (1), Dunedin (Unversity) 2007/08

Mohammad Ashraful

M Muralitharan

SL v NZ (1), Galle 2009

CS Martin

Shakib Al Hasan

Ban v Ind (2), Dhaka (Mirpur) 2009/10

PP Ojha

M Morkel

SAf v NZ (3), Wellington 2011/12

DL Vettori

Z Khan

Ind v NZ (2), Bangalore 2012

TG Southee

CH Gayle*

WI v Ban (1), Dhaka (Mirpur) 2012/13

Sohag Gazi

SR Tendulkar†

Ind v Aus (1), Chennai (Chepauk) 2012/13

NM Lyon

Junaid Khan

Pak v SL (3), Sharjah 2013/14

HMRKB Herath

MD Craig**

NZ v WI (1), Kingston, Jamaica 2014

SJ Benn

BJ Haddin

Aus v Ind (4), Sydney (SCG) 2014/15

Mohammed Shami

BB McCullum

NZ v Eng (2), Leeds (Headingley) 2015

SCJ Broad

BB McCullum

NZ v SL (1), Dunedin (Unversity) 2015/16

HMRKB Herath

 

DA Warner

Aus v SL (3), Colombo2 (SSC) 2016

MDK Perera

 

BB Chari

Zim v SL (2), Harare 2016/17

HMRKB Herath

 

Mohammed Shami

Ind v Eng (2), Visakhapatnam 2016/17

AU Rashid

 

Sikandar Raza

Zim v SL (1), Colombo4 (RPS) 2017

HMRKB Herath

 

JO Holder

WI v Zim (1), Bulawayo (Queen's) 2017/18

SC Williams

 

Hasan Ali

Pak v Eng (2), Leeds (Headingley) 2018

DM Bess

 

UT Yadav

Ind v SAf (3), Ranchi (Jharkand) 2019/20

GF Linde

 

TA Boult

NZ v WI (2), Wellington (Basin Reserve) 2020/21

RL Chase

DJ Mitchell

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2022/23

NGRP Jayasuriya

Liton Das

Ban v Ire (1), Dhaka (Mirpur) 2022/23

AR McBrine

MA Wood

Eng v Aus (3), Leeds (Headingley) 2023

MA Starc

Agha Salman

Pak v SL (1), Galle 2023

NGRP Jayasuriya

 

*First ball of the innings. Gayle’s was the first ball of the match, and the first ball bowled by Sohag Gazi in Test cricket.

‡Out next ball.  †Hit first two balls for six.

Jayasuriya’s six was the only ball he faced. Ditto for Agha Salman.

**Craig hit the first ball he faced in Test cricket for six, the first player to do so.
The only player known to hit his last ball in Test cricket for six was WW Daniel in 1984. Glenn Maxwell and Stuart Broad have, to date, done the same,

although it is possible (if unlikely) that they will play again.

Updated July 2023

 

 

Hitting the Winning Run

 

Winning run

RT Ponting

9

DL Haynes

7

L Hutton

6

Misbah-ul-Haq

6

SR Tendulkar

6

CG Greenidge

5

GC Smith

5

ML Hayden

5

MV Boucher

5

JD Campbell

5

BC Lara

4

CL Hooper

4

GP Thorpe

4

GS Chappell

4

IR Redpath

4

JB Hobbs

4

JH Kallis

4

MEK Hussey

4

ST Jayasuriya

4

D Elgar

4

JE Root

4

 

 

The winning run has been bye(s) on 13 occasions.

Updated Jul 2023.

 

 

They hit the winning run with their last ball in Test cricket

 

Winning hit

 

C Bannerman

3

Aus v Eng, Melbourne (MCG) 1878/79

D Denton

4

Eng v SAf, Cape Town 1909/10

JF Crapp

4

Eng v SAf, Port Elizabeth 1948/49

Gul Mahomed

3

Pak v Aus, Karachi (National) 1956/57

PJ Sharpe

2

Eng v NZ, The Oval 1969

BW Yuile

4

NZ v Pak, Lahore (Gaddafi) 1969/70

DL Amiss

4

Eng v Aus, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1977

GRJ Roope

2

Eng v NZ, The Oval 1978

JK Moss

1

Aus v Pak, Perth (WACA) 1978/79

SP O'Donnell

2

Aus v NZ, Sydney (SCG) 1985/86

TE Blain

4

NZ v Pak, Christchurch 1993/94

RG Samuels

4

WI v Aus, Perth (WACA) 1996/97

S Ragoonath

2

WI v Aus, Kingston, Jamaica 1999

IR Siddiqui

1

Ind v Eng, Mohali 2001/02

SC Williams

4

WI v Ind, Bridgetown, Barbados 2002

N Hussain

1

Eng v NZ, Lord's 2004

CH Gayle

1

WI v Ban, Arnos Vale 2014

Moss and Siddiqui were playing in their only Tests.

Up to 2015 only.

 

 

They Took Wickets with the First Ball and Last Ball of an Innings

 

AME Roberts

WI v Ind, Kolkata 1974/75

 

RGD Willis

Eng v Aus, Brisbane ('Gabba') 1978/79

 

ST Clarke

WI v Ind, Bangalore 1978/79

 

N Kapil Dev

Ind v SAf, Durban (Kingsmead) 1992/93

 

Wasim Akram

Pak v Zim, Rawalpindi (Cricket Stadium) 1993/94

 

DE Malcolm

Eng v WI, Leeds (Headingley) 1995

 

GD McGrath

Aus v SL, Galle 1999/00

 

PT Collins

WI v Ban, Dhaka 2002/03

 

SM Pollock

SAf v Eng, Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2003

 

PT Collins

WI v Ban, St Lucia (Beausejour) 2004

 

PT Collins

WI v Ban, Kingston, Jamaica 2004

 

B Lee

Aus v SAf, Durban (Kingsmead) 2005/06

 

DW Steyn

SAf v Eng, Johannesburg (New Wanderers) 2009/10

MA Starc

SL v Aus, Galle 2016

 

DW Steyn

SAf v NZ, Centurion (Centurion Park) 2016

 

 

R Ashwin

Ind v Eng (1), Chennai (Chepauk) 2020/21

 

B Muzarabani

Zim v Afg (1), Abu Dhabi 2020/21

 

K Rabada

SAf v Aus (1), Brisbane ('Gabba') 2022/23

 

 

 

All Out innings only

July 2023

 

 

Balls faced by pre-lunch century-makers

Runs pre-lunch

BF pre-lunch

Team runs

BA Stokes (258)

Cape Town 2015

130

74

 

196

BC Lara (216)

Multan 2006

100

77

161@

Majid Khan (112)

Karachi 1976

108

84

141

GS Chappell (176)

Christchurch 1982

100

93

143

AB de Villiers (129)

Centurion (Centurion Park) 2010

119

93

225@

IR Bell (162*)

Chester-le-Street 2005

105

102

178

VT Trumper (104)

Manchester 1902

103

105

approx

173

Inzamam-ul-Haq (112)

Harare 2002

103

106

176@

BC Lara (191)

Bulawayo 2003

114

109

167@

C Hill (142)

Johannesburg1 1902

116

115

approx

201

SJ McCabe (189*)

Johannesburg1 1935

100

122

132

HG Owen-Smith (129)

Leeds 1929

102

138

170@

KS Ranjitsinhji (154*)

Manchester  1896

113

140

est. only

196

LEG Ames (148*)

Oval 1935

123

145

est. only

221@

MA Taylor (334*)

Peshawar2 1998

103

145

161@

WR Hammond (336*)

Auckland 1933

111

149

160

CG Macartney (151)

Leeds 1926

112

151

153

DG Bradman (334)

Leeds 1930

105

153

136

CP Mead (182*)

Oval 1921

109

159

174@

JB Hobbs (211)

Lord's 1924

102

179

200@

W Bardsley (164)

Lord's 1912

118

195

est. only

208@

@ = extended session.

 

Recent

DA Warner

Aus v Pak (3), Sydney (SCG) 2016/17

100

78

Day 1

 

HH Pandya

Ind v SL (3), Pallekele 2017

107

92

Day 2

 

S Dhawan

Ind v Afg (1), Bangalore 2018

104

92

Day 1

 

 

M Labuschagne 104*

Perth 2022

101

83

Day 4

 

 

BM Duckett 182

Lord’s 2023 (v Ireland)

101

89

Day 2

 

 

Updated Jul 2023

 

 

 

Fewest Runs in a Full Two-Hour Session (where known), 30+ overs

Runs

Off bat

Day

Sess

Wkts

Deliveries

22

19

SAf v Ind (4), Delhi (FSK) 2015/16

5

1

1

210

26

25

SAf v Aus, Brisbane ('Gabba') 1931/32

5

3

3

276

26

26

Pak v Ind, Peshawar (Club) 1954/55

4

1

3

240 (est.)

26

21

NZ v SL, Colombo (SSC) 1983/84

5

2

0

193

27

23

Eng v Ind, Chennai (Nehru) 1963/64

3

2

0

240

27

26

Aus v Eng, The Oval 1956

5

3

5

229 (108’)

28

28

Aus v Eng, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1956

5

1

0

220 (115’)

29

26

Eng v Ind, Lord’s 1986

4

3

4

191(114’)

30

27

Eng v Aus, Perth (WACA) 1978/79

1

1

2

193

30

28

SAf v Aus, Adelaide Oval 1993/94

5

2

4

198

Minimum 30 overs. Does not include interrupted sessions, including those with change of innings.

Sessions that fell a few minutes short of two hours have been included, but not 60- and 90-minute sessions, which were commonplace in some countries before 1980.

At Brisbane 1958/59, England scored 19 off 168 balls in 90 minutes before lunch on the fourth day.

England scored only 27 in 39 overs before lunch on the third day at Bridgetown in 1954, but it was still only a 90 minute session(!).

Pakistan scored 21 runs in 192 balls (32 overs) after tea in a 90-minute session on the fourth day at Dhaka 1961/62, including 5 runs off 100 balls by Alim-ud-Din. Pakistan was 28 for 0 off 43 overs at stumps, having batted more than 2 hours.

At Trent Bridge 1934, England scored 26 off 232 balls in the final session of the match before being all out.

At Pallekele in  2016, Australia scored 20 off 229 balls after lunch on the 5th day before being all out before tea.

 

Updated July 2023

 

Fewest Runs in a Full Two-Hour Session (24-30 overs)

Runs

Off bat

Day

Sess

Wkts

Deliveries

25

20

NZ v SL, Morutawa 1992/93

5

1

2

171

26

25

Pak v SL, Sharjah 2011

5

3

1

168

26

24

NZ v WI, Antigua (Richards) 2012

5

1

2

157

27

?

Ind v Pak, Lahore 1984/85

3

2

4

168*

28

Pak v WI, Karachi 1986/87

5

1

2

146†

29

28

Ind v WI, Kingston, Jamaica 2006

1

1

2

175

29

28

Aus v Eng, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1981

3

1

3

169

30

25

Eng v Aus, Adelaide Oval 2006/07

5

1

4

170

*Time uncertain

†17-minute injury break

Updated Jan 2013

 

Most Runs in a Two-Hour (maximum) Session – Test matches

 

236 (43 overs) Aus v SA, Lunch-Tea Day 1, Joburg 1921 (119 off 85 balls by Jack Gregory)

235 (45 overs) Eng v NZ, Lunch-tea Day 3, Leeds 1949 (both teams batted)

233 (41 overs) Eng v Pak, Lunch-Tea Day 2, Nottingham 1954 (Denis Compton 173)

223 (43 overs) Eng v SA, Lunch-Tea Day 2, Lord’s 1924

220 (47 overs) Eng v NZ, Lunch-Tea Day 2, Auckland 1933 (Wally Hammond 150)

216 (28 overs) Pak v Ind, lunch-tea Day 2, Lahore 2006 (two teams)

209 (32 overs, 100 minutes) Aus v SA, lunch-tea Day 1, Sydney 1910/11

208  (~115 minutes) Eng v Ind, lunch-tea Day 2, Manchester 1936 (two teams) **

208 (34 eight-ball overs) lunch-tea Day 2, WI v Eng, The Oval 1939 (KH Weekes 113)

207 (29 overs) Aus v Zimbabwe Lunch-Tea Day 2, Perth 2003 (both Matt Hayden and Adam Gilchrist scored centuries in the session)

206 (44 Overs) Eng v NZ, lunch-tea Day 3, Auckland 1930

201 (38 overs) Aus v SA, before lunch Day 3, Johannesburg 1902 (1st Test), (Clem Hill 116 runs)

 

** Eng v Ind, lunch-tea day 2, Manchester 1936 (two teams): Sources vary as to the score at tea.  One source specifically states that an early tea was taken at change of innings, after 171 runs in the session (at 3:50, or 40 minutes early, which seems surprising. However, this is the most likely scenario). Another suggests India was 37/0, giving 208 in the session. Another says India was 69/0, giving 240 in the session. However, this would imply an improbably late tea time after 5:00, based on reports that India scored at about a run a minute early in the innings. India’s innings started at 4:04.

 

 

 

Most Runs in a Longer Session

 

At Christchurch in 2022-23, New Zealand scored 257 runs after tea in a very extended the final session, after the first two sessions were

rained off (230 minutes, 54 overs). This is the most runs scored in continuous play in a Test.

In the 19th Century, formal tea breaks were often not taken. The most post-lunch runs in such a match was 259 at The Oval in 1884.

There was however, a 17-minute change of innings in that session.

 

249 (33 overs, 155 minutes) SA v Zim, post-tea day 1, Cape Town 2005

244 (58 overs, 165 minutes), Eng v Aus, post-tea day 3, Oval 1921

239 (45 overs, 140 minutes), Eng v NZ, pre-lunch day 3, Lord’s 1937 (two teams)

236 (35 overs, 150 minutes) Eng v Aus, post-tea day 1, Edgbaston 2001 (two teams)

227 (150 minutes) Eng v India, pre-Lunch day 2, Manchester 1936

225 (150 minutes, 36 overs) SA v Ind, pre-lunch day 3, Centurion 2010 (AB de Villiers 119)

223 (35 overs, 150 minutes) Eng v Ban, post-tea day 1, Chester-le-Street 2005 (ME Trescothick 127)

221 (150 minutes) Eng v SA, pre-Lunch day 3, Oval 1935 (Les Ames 123) 3rd day

219 (35 overs, 150 minutes) NZ v Zimbabwe day 1, post-Tea, Harare 2005 (Daniel Vettori 127)

219 (44 overs, 150 minutes)  NZ v Aus, tea-stumps day 5, Brisbane 2001

216 (42 overs, 150+ minutes) tea-stumps, NZ v Eng day 4,  Auckland 2002

213 (34 overs, 138 minutes) tea-stumps, Aus v Ind day 4, Sydney 2015

209 (150 minutes) SAf v Eng, pre-lunch day 3, Oval 1929

208 (47 overs, 154 minutes) Aus v SA, post-tea day 3, Melbourne 1910/11 (Victor Trumper 133)

208 (150 minutes) Aus v SA, pre-Lunch day 2, Lord’s 1912 (Warren Bardsley 118)

206 (32 overs, 156 minutes) SAf v Aus, tea-stumps day 2, Perth 2012/13

206 (40 overs) Eng v Aus, tea-stumps day 5, The Oval 2013

204 (40 overs, 150+ minutes) tea-stumps day 4, SA v Pak, Cape Town 2003

203 (150 minutes) Eng v SA, pre-Lunch day 2, Oval 1935 (two teams, 2nd day)

203 (145 mins) Eng v WI, lunch-tea, Oval 1928 (2nd day)

202 (42 overs, 140 minutes) lunch-tea day 2,  Eng v WI, Lord’s 1957

202 (41 overs, 150+ minutes) tea-stumps day 1,  Aus v Eng, Leeds 2001

202 (36 overs) tea-stumps day 1,  Aus v SAf, Adelaide 2012/13

201 (40.4 overs, 175 minutes) tea-stumps day 4, WI v NZ, Kingston 2014

200 (57 overs, 150 minutes) Eng v SA, pre-Lunch day 2, Lord’s 1924

 

More Recent

201 (40.4 overs, 180 minutes), WI v NZ, tea-stumps day 4, Hamilton 2013/14

214 (33 overs, ~175 minutes) NZ v SL, tea-stumps day 1, Christchurch 2014/15

213 (34 overs, 135 minutes) Aus v Ind, tea-stumps day 4, Sydney 2014/15

218 (32 overs, 129 minutes) Eng v Pak, lunch-tea day 3, Rawalpindi 2022-23

257 (54 overs, 230 minutes) NZ v SL, post-tea day 5, Christchurch 2022-23 (see note above)

 

Note that prior to 1940, tea break timings, and lengths of afternoon sessions, were rather variable.

Prior to 1915, tea breaks often did not take place if there was a change of innings after lunch; tea

was incorporated into the change of innings. Sometimes this resulted in a long extension of one

session and shortening of another. Prior to 1900, tea breaks often did not take place at all. In most

series in England from 1899 to 1949, pre-lunch sessions were normally 150 minutes, except on the

first day.

 

The longest session since the institution of tea breaks was 241 minutes (46.4 overs) after tea on the 4th day

at the MCG, Aus v Eng 1998-99. The session was extended to make up for lost time, and also to

expedite completion of the match. Tea had also been taken early to incorporate a change of innings.

 

Checked July 2023

 

Most Runs in a Session (Individuals)

173       DCS Compton (278) Eng v Pak  Nottingham  1954 (lunch-tea)

150       WR Hammond (336*) Eng v NZ   Auckland 1932-33 (lunch-tea)**

140       IDS Smith (173)   NZ v Ind   Auckland 1989-90 (tea-close)

139       NJ Astle 222 NZ v Eng Christchurch 2002 (tea-close)

133       VT Trumper 159 Aus v RSA Melbourne 1910-11 (tea-close: 154min session)

127       ME Trescothick 165 Eng v Ban Chester-le-Street 2005 (tea-close) (about 140 mins)

127       SJ McCabe 232 Aus v Eng  Nottingham  1938 (lunch-tea)

127       DL Vettori 127 NZ v Zim Harare 2005 (tea-close: 150 min session)

123       LEG Ames 148* Eng v RSA The Oval 1935 (pre-lunch: 150 min session)

122       CA Roach 209 Georgetown 1929-30 (tea-close, 105 mins)

121       R Benaud 121 Aus v WI  Kingston 1954-55 (lunch-tea)

 

Recent Additions:

130       (74 balls) BA Stokes        SAf v Eng, Cape Town 2015/16 (pre-lunch Day 3)

126       (90 balls) S Dhawan       SL v Ind, Galle 2017 (lunch-tea Day 1)

 

**Close analysis of the scoresheet suggests that Hammond may have scored 151 or 152 runs in the

session. However, there are anomalies in the score.

Feb 2018

 

 

 

Fast team 50s (where known)

Balls

Inns

Ov#

Team Bat

26

1

4.2

England (416)

Eng v WI (2), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2024

27

4

4.3

England (205/2)

Eng v SAf (3), The Oval 1994

30

4

4.6

England (50/0)

Eng v SL (3), Manchester (Old Trafford) 2002

32

3

5.2

Sri Lanka (406)

Pak v SL (2), Karachi (National) 2004/05

33

4

5.3

India (387/4)

Ind v Eng (1), Chennai (Chepauk) 2008/09

33

1

5.3

India (181/2)

Ind v WI (2), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 2023

34

4

5.4

Pakistan (98/0)

Pak v SL (3), Karachi (National) 1985/86

34

4

5.4

Australia (62/1)

Aus v Pak (3), Sydney (SCG) 2004/05

34

4

5.4

England (170/2)

Eng v Pak (3), Karachi (National) 2022/23

34

4

5.4

New Zealand (61/1)

NZ v Pak (1), Karachi (National) 2022/23

35

4

5.5

India (61/4)

SL v Ind (1), Colombo2 (SSC) 1985

37

4

6.1

New Zealand (223/9)

Aus v NZ (3), Hobart (Bellerive) 1997/98

37

4

6.1

England (163/2)

Eng v Ban (1), Lord's 2010

38

2

6.2

Australia (445)

Eng v Aus (4), Leeds (Headingley) 2009

38

3

5.6

Pakistan (176/6)

WI v Pak (2), Kingston, Jamaica 2021

38-40

3

West Indies (195)

Eng v WI (3), The Oval 1933

Updated Aug 2024

Fast team 100s (where known)

Balls

Inns

Ov#

Team Bat

74

3

12.2

India (181/2)

WI v Ind (2), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 2023

80

2

13.2

Sri Lanka (555/5)

SL v Ban (1), Colombo2 (SSC) 2001/02

81

4

13.3

England (205/2)

Eng v SAf (3), The Oval 1994

82

4

13.4

England (170/2)

Eng v Pak (3), Karachi (National) 2022/23

83

Bangladesh (556)

Ban v WI (1), Dhaka (Mirpur) 2012/13

83

1

13.5

England (657)

Eng v Pak (1), Rawalpindi 2022/23

84

Australia (369)

Aus v Ind (3), Perth (WACA) 2011/12

85

3

14.1

Bangladesh (253)

Ban v Ind (2), Dhaka (Mirpur) 2007

87

2

14.3

Australia (456)

Aus v Eng (3), Perth (WACA) 2002/03

87

1

14.3

Bangladesh (419)

Ban v Eng (2), Dhaka (Mirpur) 2009/10

91

2

11.8

West Indies (585)

Aus v WI (2), Perth (WACA) 1975/76

91

West Indies (129/1)

Eng v WI (1), Leeds (Headingley) 1995

Updated Aug 2024

Fast team 200s (where known)

Balls

Inns

Ov#

Team Bat

171

3

28.1

Australia (241/2)

Aus v Pak (3), Sydney (SCG) 2016/17

181

1

30.1

England (657)

Eng v Pak (1), Rawalpindi 2022/23

183

2

29.4

New Zealand (690)

NZ v Pak (3), Sharjah 2014/15

183

3

30.3

England (264/7)

Eng v Pak (1), Rawalpindi 2022/23

187

3

31.1

South Africa (569)

Aus v SAf (3), Perth (WACA) 2012/13

192

2

23

West Indies (585)

Aus v WI (2), Perth (WACA) 1975/76

195

3

32.3

England (237/6)

WI v Eng (5), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 2009

198

2

32.6

South Africa (340/3)

SAf v Zim (1), Cape Town 2004/05

204

2

33.6

England

Eng v Ind (3), Rajkot (Khandheri) 2023/24

205

2

34.1

England

Eng v Ire (1), Lord's 2023

210

4

34.6

England (205/2)

Eng v SAf (3), The Oval 1994

210

4

34.6

New Zealand

NZ v Ban (1), Wellington (Basin Reserve) 2016/17

211

34.3

Australia (550)

Aus v SAf (2), Adelaide Oval 2012/13

213

3

England (272/4)

SAf v Ind (3), Johannesburg (Wanderers) 2017/18

213

2

35.3

England

Eng v Aus (4), Manchester (Old Trafford) 2023

217

2

36.1

Australia (296)

SAf v Aus (1), Johannesburg (Old Wanderers) 1902/03

217

3

35.5

Australia

Aus v Ind (4), Sydney (SCG) 2014/15

Updated Aug 2024

 

 

Most Balls Faced Between Fours (during a single innings)

Balls

377

B Mitchell (88)

Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1929

326

DJ McGlew (70)

Johannesburg (New Wanderers) 1957/58

302

AC Bannerman (91)

Sydney (SCG) 1891/92

300

WH Scotton (82)

Adelaide Oval 1884/85

291

WM Woodfull (102)

Melbourne (MCG) 1928/29

275*

AC Bannerman (41)

Melbourne (MCG) 1891/92

269

BA Edgar (74)

Perth (WACA) 1985/86

250

EAB Rowan (67)

Durban (Kingsmead) 1938/39

242

RG Barlow (42*)

Sydney (SCG) 1886/87

236

TE Bailey (38)

Leeds (Headingley) 1953

233

GP Thorpe (118)

Lahore (Gaddafi) 2000/01

224

SM Nurse (70)

Melbourne (MCG) 1960/61

*Approximate

 

FLH Mooney (New Zealand) hit no fours off his last 430 balls faced in Test cricket, spread over six innings.

In 1978/79, Geoff Boycott faced 569 balls between boundaries, spanning six innings (including one innings of 337 balls). There was one four, which included two overthrows.

During McGlew’s innings, The South African openers batted 338 balls before hitting the first four of the innings (Endean off Benaud).

 

 

 

“Batting Hat Tricks”: Batsmen out three times in three balls in Tests

 

Team

In

Hat trick completed

King Pair?

 

W Attewell

England

Australia

Jan-1892

Yes

 

JJ Kotze

South Africa

England

Jul-1907

 

AEE Vogler

South Africa

Australia

Dec-1910

Yes

 

RJ Crisp

South Africa

South Africa

Feb-1936

Yes

 

N Gordon

South Africa

South Africa

Mar-1939

 

C Wesley

South Africa

England

Jul-1960

Yes

 

Imtiaz Ahmed

Pakistan

Pakistan

Feb-1962

 

Asif Masood

Pakistan

England

Jul-1971

 

BS Bedi

India

England

Jul-1974

 

GB Troup

New Zealand

New Zealand

Feb-1981

Yes

 

N Kapil Dev

India

New Zealand

Feb-1981

 

PR Downton

England

England

Jul-1985

 

WKM Benjamin

West Indies

West Indies

Apr-1988

 

DC Boon

Australia

Australia

Jan-1990

 

Gopal Sharma

India

India

Nov-1990

 

IR Bishop

West Indies

Pakistan

Nov-1990

 

DC Boon

Australia

Australia

Nov-1993

 

HH Streak

Zimbabwe

Pakistan

Dec-1993

 

DJ Richardson

South Africa

South Africa

Jan-1995

Yes

 

CA Walsh

West Indies

England

Jul-1995

 

M Muralitharan

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sep-1996

 

J Srinath

India

South Africa

Dec-1996

 

AG Huckle

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Mar-1998

Yes

 

Harbhajan Singh*

India

India

Feb-1999

 

Shahid Afridi

Pakistan

Pakistan

Mar-1999

 

AB Agarkar

India

Australia

Jan-2000

Yes

 

CEL Ambrose

West Indies

England

Aug-2000

 

AC Gilchrist

Australia

India

Mar-2001

Yes

 

M Muralitharan

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Jul-2002

 

Taufeeq Umar

Pakistan

Pakistan

Oct-2002

 

AJ Hall

South Africa

England

Aug-2003

 

Mohammad Asif*

Pakistan

England

Aug-2006

 

JP Duminy

South Africa

South Africa

Jan-2010

 

JD Ryder

New Zealand

New Zealand

Jan-2011

 

V Sehwag

India

England

Aug-2011

Yes

 

MEK Hussey

Australia

Australia

Dec-2011

 

 

Z Khan

Australia

Australia

Jan-2012

 

 

TL Chatara

Zimbabwe

 

2013

 

 

KAJ Roach

West Indies

 

2013

 

 

HMRKB Herath

Sri Lanka

UAE

2014

Yes

 

KTGD Prasad

India

Sri Lanka

2015

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

 

ST Gabriel

SL v WI (1), Galle 2015/16

 

JM Anderson

Ind v Eng (2), Visakhapatnam 2016/17

 

ANPR Fernando

Pak v SL (1), Abu Dhabi 2017/18

 

Nurul Hasan

WI v Ban (2), Kingston, Jamaica 2018

 

Mohammed Shami

Aus v Ind (1), Perth Stadium 2018/19

 

L Ambuldeniya

Zim v SL (1), Harare 2019/20

 

SM Curran

Eng v Ind (2), Lord's 2021

 

TM Head

Aus v WI (4), Brisbane ('Gabba') 2023/24

 

 

Updated Oct 2024. For recent cases, the Test listed was the final Test in the sequence.

*Harbhajan and Asif were out three times while facing three balls, but included ‘diamond ducks’.

The Kotze and Gopal Sharma cases (in italics) are uncertain.

 

Gary Troup was out five times in the space of seven balls, spread over several matches. Kotze’s innings were five years apart; he may have faced as few as ten or twelve balls in his whole career,

 while being dismissed five times and scoring just two runs. But they all must tip their hats to Ajit Agarkar who was out to five consecutive balls he faced against Australia in 1999/2000.

 

Troup and Kapil Dev completed their respective batting hat tricks in the same match, at Wellington in 1981.

 

Technically, a few of these cases include run outs, in which the batsman may not actually have faced the ball he was out.

 

Asif Masood’s three balls stretched over three matches and two years.

 

Hussey scored 89 and 150* in his next two innings.

 

 

 

Longest Bowling Spells (where known)

 

354 balls (59 overs) ND Hirwani at the Oval 1990.

352 balls (44 eight-ball overs), AMB Rowan, Durban 1948/49.

328 balls (41 eight-ball overs) GS Sobers MCG 1960/61.

328 balls (41 eight-ball overs) HJ Tayfield, Cape Town 1956/57

322 balls (53.4 overs) Hugh Tayfield, Saf v Eng, The Oval 1955.

312 balls (52 overs) Tom Veivers Calcutta 1964

307 balls (51.1 overs) Tom Veivers Manchester 1964.

306 balls (51 overs) W Rhodes (age 52), Georgetown, 1930

300 balls (50 overs) George Giffen, Sydney 1894/95.

300 balls (50 overs, 413 minutes) Mohammad Nazir, Pak vs Ind, Nagpur 1983/84.

 

At Lahore 1987 v England, Abdul Qadir, across both innings, bowled his 73 overs in the space of 148 team overs, missing only one possible over

(plus one change of end).

See also Ramadhin and Valentine at the Gabba 1951, below.

Hirwani conceded 137 runs in his record spell. Most runs conceded in a spell of bowling: at Bulawayo in 2003/04, Ray Price (5 for 199) bowled a spell of 33 overs, taking 3 wickets for 157.

 

Longest spell by a pace bowler: Garry Sobers’ 41 eight-ball overs above involved some of his fast-medium bowling; the majority was spin.

 

At Headingley in 1962, Munir Malik, regarded as fast-medium, bowled unchanged for 44 overs.

JK Lever, fast-medium, bowled a spell of 31 overs at the MCG in 1980. Tom Richardson, regarded as a genuine fast bowler,

bowled more than 50 five-ball overs in one day at Old Trafford in 1896, although not, as far as I can tell, in a single spell.

Kapil Dev’s 30.3-6-83-9 against West Indies at Ahmedabad in 1983 was an unbroken spell.

FR Spofforth bowled a spell of about 48 four-ball overs, equivalent to 32 six-ball overs, in 1884.

 

 

Two bowlers unchanged (six-ball overs):

 

93* overs, S Ramadhin and AL Valentine, Brisbane 1951

86 overs, S Ramadhin and AL Valentine, Lord’s 1950

79 overs, W Rhodes and WE Astill, Georgetown 1930

75 overs, DA Allen and GAR Lock, Calcutta 1961/62

73 overs, S Ramadhin and AL Valentine, Christchurch 1952.

65 overs Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed, Karachi 1979/80

 

 *Six-ball over equivalent. Ramadhin (40) and Valentine (40.7) bowled 80.7 out of the last 81.7 eight-ball

Overs (equivalent to 109 six-ball overs), with one change of ends after (close to) 11 overs.

 

 

Most Runs and Balls Before First Wicket in Tests

 

AG Kripal Singh: 651 balls. Kripal Singh was regarded as an all-rounder, but his bowling in Tests never

made the grade. He took his first wicket in 1961-62, in his 10th innings of bowling for India,

 conceding 235 runs up to that point. His first wicket was Geoff Pullar.

 

RGCE Wijesuriya: 561 balls (thanks to Shahzad Khan for the info). He bowled only 22 more balls in

Tests. He “beat” JJ Warr’s record bowling average in the 1980s, finishing on 294.00. He conceded a record 285 runs before his first wicket.

 

JJ Warr: 551 balls. Warr’s unsought fame lies in his career bowling average of 281.00. His only

wicket, Ian Johnson, came in his last Test in 1951. (265 runs).

 

IM Chappell: 536 balls. Chappell became a useful part-time spinner, but he didn’t have

much luck early. (211 runs)

 

PR Umrigar: 528 balls (thanks to Shahzad for precise info). (~160runs)

 

JC Alabaster: 513 balls (273 runs). Most highly rated bowler on this list. Took 49 Test wickets. His

subsequent strike rate was 71 balls per wicket.

 

DB Pithey conceded 252-257 runs before his first wicket. (about 490 balls).

 

Honourable mention: Kerry O’Keeffe became a respected bowler for a while in the Australian team,

but he didn’t take a wicket until he had bowled 442 balls (118 runs).

 

The longest wicket-free bowling career was JL Hopwood of England, 462 balls in 1934 (155 runs). Anwar Hossain Monir conceded 307 runs in Tests without taking a wicket (348 balls)

 

Pankaj Singh conceded 274 runs before his first wicket in 2014 (418 deliveries).

 

DR Tuffey conceded 232 runs before his first wicket (303 deliveries).

 

Khaled Ahmed of Bangladesh conceded 272 runs before his first wicket in 2021 (420 balls).

 

Unknown: Rusi Surti conceded perhaps 250-260 runs before his first wicket. Conceivably, up to 275 runs (very unlikely). Probably >400 balls.

 

Checked June 2022

 

 

Longest without New Ball

185.3 overs India v W Indies Bridgetown 1961-62*†

Ind 187 (Final)

177 overs WI v NZ Wellington 1986/87†

NZ 386/5 (Final)

173.2 overs Pak v NZ Wellington 1984/85

NZ score 488 (492 Final)

166 overs India v England, Kanpur 1984/85

Eng score 362 (417 Final)

161 overs South Africa v Zimbabwe Harare 2001/02

Zim score 352 (391 Final)

160.5 overs India v England Manchester 1990†

Eng 519 (Final)

157.4 overs Pakistan v New Zealand (428) Karachi 1984/85†

NZ 426 (Final)

156 overs Sri Lanka v Pakistan Sialkot 1991/92

Pak score 412 (423/5 Final)

156 overs Pakistan v South Africa Rawalpindi 1997/98

SA score 376 (403 Final)

154 overs England v India Bombay 1976/77†

Eng 317 (Final)

154 overs India v England The Oval 1990†

Eng 477-4 (Final)

152 overs New Zealand v West Indies Georgetown 1985

WI score 508 (511/6 Final)

151 overs Sri Lanka v England Edgbaston 2002

Eng score 497 (545 Final)

148 overs England v India Kanpur 1963/64

Ind score 205 (266 Final)

 

*In many Tests prior to 1965, the new ball was only made available after 200 runs were scored (depending where the Test was played). This applied in the 1962 Bridgetown Test

(source, The Statesman [Calcutta]), where only 187 runs were scored in those 185 overs.

† Whole innings

 

In the first two cases above, the innings ended without a new ball being taken. A new ball was taken in the third case (Wellington 1984/85).

At Edgbaston in 1957, West Indies, after taking a new ball at 96 overs, did not take another new ball for the remaining 162 overs of the innings.

One newspaper report specifically states that West Indies did not take a new ball at Kanpur in 1978/79 (India 644/7 in 189.4 overs); however, this is contradicted by other reports (new ball after 76 overs).

Note: prior to 1894/95 (and as late as 1905 in England) new balls were not scheduled, although sometimes a ball unfit for use was replaced. In one such case, at Sydney in 1891/92, a ball was replaced after 207 overs.

 

Sri Lanka took a new ball at 527 at Mumbai in 2009 (over 105). Sehwag had already made 293.

Sehwag also scored 254 in an innings of 77.2 overs at Lahore in 2006. Sehwag's are the highest known individual innings uninterrupted by a new ball.

 

Most runs before a new ball was taken

608/7

(91.3 ov)

Eng v Pak (1), Rawalpindi 2022/23

527/3

(105 ov)

Ind v SL (3), Mumbai (Brabourne) 2009/10

508/5

(153 ov)

WI v NZ (2), Georgetown, Guyana 1985

497/9

(152 ov)

Eng v SL (2), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 2002

496/2

(115.1 ov)

SL v Ire (2), Galle 2022/23

488/7

(173 ov)

NZ v Pak (1), Wellington 1984/85

471/4

(91.1 ov)

Eng v Aus (4), Manchester 2023

 

England declared at 524-4 in 82.4 overs against Ireland in 2023 with no new ball being taken.

 

England scored 528-3 declared in 112 overs against Bangladesh at Lord's in 2005, with no new ball taken.

England scored 519 off 160.5 overs with no new ball taken at Manchester in 1990.

 

Highest score at the end of the 80th (six-ball) over is 529/5 by England in the above match against Pakistan.

 

October 2023

 


Most Consecutive Balls Faced without Scoring (where known)

 

Balls without scoring

On

Minutes

~95

45

B Mitchell (58)    SA v AU   Brisbane     1931-32

90

90

9

PM Nevill (9)    AU v SL    Kandy 2016

108

85

56

B Mitchell (73)    SA v EN  Johannesburg 1938-39

60

78-82

1

TE Bailey (8)     EN v SA   Leeds        1955

79

79

0

JT Murray (3*)  EN v AU        Sydney        1962-63

74

77

0

GI Allott (0)      NZ  v  SA       Auckland     1998-99

101

76

4

SNJ O’Keefe   AU v SL    Kandy 2016

~85

~75

24

WH Scotton (34)   EN v AU    The Oval     1886

67

74

0

CG Rackemann (9) AU v EN    Sydney        1990-91

72

72-75

0

AC Bannerman (4)  AU v EN    Sydney       1886-87

60

68

9

RJ Shastri (23)   IN v SA   Johannesburg 1992-93

89

67

114

C Washbrook (114) En v WI Lord's 1950

50

66

10

DR Jardine (24)   EN v AU    Brisbane     1932-33

63

65

1

JJ Crowe (21)     NZ v WI  Bridgetown   1984-85

91

 

Notes: Geoff Allott faced 90 consecutive balls in all without scoring, spanning three innings. MC Snedden batted for 94 minutes without scoring at Wellington 1989/90, but faced only 54 balls.

In 1881, George Giffen took about 63 balls to get off the mark in his first Test innings.

 

Stuart Broad took 62 balls to get off the mark at Auckland 2013; his time of 103 minutes was the longest such time in Tests, and probably first-class cricket, although SB Joshi scored 0* in 120 minutes for Baroda v Bengal in 2005/06 .

At Galle in 2022, Naseem Shah took 100 minutes to get off the mark (39 balls).

 

Cyril Washbrook’s extraordinary run of 67 balls while on a score of 114, including 10 consecutive maidens bowled by Ramadhin, ended with his dismissal.

He was replaced by Godfrey Evans, who took 35 balls to get off the mark, bringing the total to 102 scoreless balls from that “end”.

 

 

Most Balls Faced without Scoring including multiple innings (where known)

Balls Faced without score

Batsman

Tests

115

GAR Lock

3 Tests

1954

108

SNJ O’Keefe

2 Tests

2016

95 (est.)

B Mitchell

single inns

Brisbane 1931/32

92

AC Bannerman

2 inns

Sydney 1886/87

92

PM Nevill

2 Tests

2016

90

GI Allott

3 Tests

1999

85

B Mitchell

single inns

Joburg 1938/39

81

TE Bailey

single inns

Leeds 1955

80

JT Murray

2 inns

1962/63

79

GW Flower

2 inns

Harare 2000

76

B Sutcliffe

2 Tests

Manchester 1958

75 (est.)

WH Scotton

single inns

The Oval 1886

74

CG Rackemann

single inns

SCG 1990/91

74

C Washbrook

2 Tests

1950

74

WL Murdoch

2 Tests

1883

74

DK Morrison

4 Tests

1993

72

JSE Price

6 Tests (!)

1964+

71

TG Evans

2 Tests

1947

70 (approx.)

WL Murdoch

2 Tests

1883

Updated July 2023

 

 

Most Balls without Scoring (Runs Off the Bat – Teams)

 

154 balls        PM Nevill and SNJ O’Keefe, Kandy 2016

           A unique combination of circumstances.  Neither player was a specialist batsmen so there was no attempt to farm the strike. O’Keefe was injured, and runners were not allowed,

            and so no running was attempted. No sundries.

 

92 balls          England v West Indies, Lord's 1950 - 2nd Inns

During the final stage of a famous West Indies victory, England tailenders Wardle and Jenkins

faced 15 consecutive maiden overs from four bowlers.

88-92             Australia v England, Melbourne (MCG) 1883 - 1st Inns

Alec Bannerman and Bill Murdoch faced 22 maiden (4-ball) overs from Barnes, Barlow and Bates.

81-88             Australia v West Indies, Adelaide 1961 – 2nd Inns

The last 10+ (eight-ball) overs of the match-saving Ken Mackay/Lindsay Kline partnership. Uncertain, since one source mentions a shot for 2 runs, others suggest byes. Includes a no ball.

81                  New Zealand v England, Leeds (Headingley) 1958 - 2nd Inns

Faced mostly by John Reid and Bert Sutcliffe (0 from 51 balls) off Lock and Laker

79                  England v India, Madras 1964 - 1st Inns

Bolus and Barrington around lunch on the 3rd day, during Bapu Nadkarni’s record 21 consecutive maidens. Borde and Kripal Singh also bowled.

78                  Australia v India, Calcutta 1964 - 1st Inns

Redpath batted throughout; two wickets fell. Durani, Chadrasekhar and Surti were the bowlers.

77                  England v West Indies, Lord's 1950 - 1st Inns

The same team and match as the #1 spot. Ramadhin and Valentine bowled. Bill Edrich scored one run off his first 84 balls faced in this innings.

74                  Pakistan v England, Lord's 1954 - 1st Inns

Hanif Mohammad scored 20 off 223 balls in this innings, the slowest innings of its size known. Laker and Wardle were the bowlers.

74                  Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg (New Wanderers) 1957 - 2nd Inns

‘Slasher’ Mackay and Peter Burge off Tayfield, VI Smith and Goddard.

72(+?)            Eng v Aus, Manchester 1886

18 consecutive maidens (4-ball)

71                  West Indies v England, Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1957 - 2nd Inns

The Three ‘W’s, believe it or not (Worrell, Walcott, Weekes). This was in the aftermath of the record partnership of Cowdrey and May.

  70                    Eng v Aus, SCG 2021-22, 1st inns          

Three wickets fell. No sundries.

 

70                  SAf v Eng Cape Town 2019-20

           Final innings. Two wickets fell, 4 bowlers. No sundries.

70                  England v Australia, Leeds (Headingley) 1961 - 1st Inns

Dexter, Barrington and Murray off Benaud and Davidson. The first eleven overs of the second day were maidens.

68                  England v West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados 1953 - 1st Inns

Hutton and Graveney off five different bowlers.

68                  New Zealand v England, Leeds (Headingley) 2013 - 2nd Inns

Final overs of the series. One wide also bowled. 

67                  Australia v England, Sydney (SCG) 1884 - 1st Inns

Bannerman and Jones. Quite uncertain about this one.

67                  New Zealand v England, Auckland 1962 - 1st Inns

Three batsmen off four bowlers.

 

Most of the above instances contained sundries. Prior to Kandy 2016, the highest rank on the list that definitely

contained no sundries was the 79 balls at Madras 1964.

 

At Kanpur in 1960/61, Pakistan reportedly remained scoreless for 45 minutes off the bowling of Umrigar and Nadkarni. At the prevailing over rate,

this would be equivalent to 90 balls or more without score. However, the reports only mention 11 consecutive maiden overs.

 

At Port-of-Spain 1977, the West Indies score remained on 192/7 for 45 minutes (>70 balls?).

 

Updated Jan 2022

 

Most no balls in a match (including those with runs off the bat)

34

RGD Willis

England

Eng v Aus, Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1981

33

BP Patterson

West Indies

WI v Aus, Perth (WACA) 1988/89

32

Wasim Akram

Pakistan

Pak v Eng, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1992

31

PIC Thompson

West Indies

WI v NZ, Bridgetown, Barbados 1996

30

RGD Willis

England

Eng v Aus, Lord's 1981

30

CPH Ramanayake

Sri Lanka

SL v Aus, Colombo2 (SSC) 1992

30

WPUJC Vaas

Sri Lanka

SL v Pak, Lahore (Gaddafi) 2001/02

 

No ball counts have declined substantially. No one since Vaas in 2002 has recorded more than 24, and no one has recorded as many as 20 since 2007.

Sep 2021.

 

 

 

Most No Ball Calls against a team (innings)

No Balls

No ball calls

Bowling Team

38

53

West Indies

Georgetown 1988

Pakistan 435

35

50

West Indies

Perth (WACA) 1988

Australia 395/8

 

40

50

West Indies

Adelaide Oval 1989

Australia 515

 

40

49

West Indies

St John's, Antigua 1986

England 310

35

47

England

Bridgetown, Barbados 1974

W. Indies 596

34

46

Sri Lanka

Colombo2 (SSC) 1992

Australia 471

35

44

Sri Lanka

Wellington 1991

New Zealand 671/4

36

44

Sri Lanka

Harare 1994

Zimbabwe 319/8

35

43

Pakistan

Manchester (Old Trafford) 1992

England 390

36

42

West Indies

Bridgetown, Barbados 1994

England 394/7

30

42

West Indies

Bridgetown, Barbados 1997

India 319

36

41

Pakistan

Johannesburg (New Wanderers) 1994

South Africa 460

35

40

West Indies

The Oval 1991

England 419

34

40

West Indies

Manchester (Old Trafford) 1995

England 437

32

40

England

Lord's 1981

Australia 345

 

 

 

Most Boundaries in a Test Half-Century

Runs

4s

6s

Actual Score

50

2

7

TG Southee (77)

New Zealand v England

Napier 2008

53

48

12

0

APE Knott (116)

England v Pakistan

Birmingham 1971

52

48

12

0

GJ Gilmour (101)

Australia v New Zealand

Christchurch 1977

52

48

12

0

RL Dias (97)

Sri Lanka v India

Madras1 1982

51

48

12

0

AL Logie (81)

West indies v England

Lord’s 1988

53

48

12

0

RS Kaluwitharana (51)

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

Colombo 1998

51

48

12

0

HH Dippenaar (100)

South Africa v New Zealand

Johannesburg3 2000

53

48

12

0

HH Gibbs (147)

South Africa v Zimbabwe

Harare 2001

50

48

12

0

Younis Khan (58)

Pakistan v Australia

Colombo 2002

51

48

12

0

Inzamam-ul-Haq (112)

Pakistan v Zimbabwe

Harare 2002

52

48

12

0

DS Smith (62)

West Indies v Australia

Georgetown 2003

52

48

12

0

Asim Kamal (60)

Pakistan v India

Rawalpindi2 2004

52

48

12

0

A Flintoff (54)

England v New Zealand

Nottingham 2004

51

48

12

0

S Dhawan (187)

India v Australia

Mohali 2012

53

48

12

0

Mahmudullah

Bang v NZ

Wellington 2018-19

53

48

9

2

B Yardley (78)

Australia v West Indies

Bridgetown 1978

55

48

9

2

DL Haynes

West Indies v New Zealand

Christchurch 1980

?

48

6

4

Wasim Akram

India v Pakistan

Chennai 1986/87

?

48

9

2

GF Labrooy (70)†

Sri Lanka v New Zealand

Auckland 1990/91

53

48

9

2

HH Gibbs (114)

South Africa v Bangladesh

Potchefstroom 2002

54

48

9

2

Mohammad Ashraful (67)

Bangladesh v India

Mirpur 2007

51

48

9

2

Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh v NZ

Hamilton 2009/10

52

48

6

4

DW Steyn (58)

South Africa v West Indies

Port Elizabeth 2014

52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46

10

1

RH Spooner (79)

England v Australia

Oval 1905

52

46

10

1

V Subramanya (61)

India v West Indies

Chennai 1967

51

46

10

1

IVA Richards (114)

West Indies v England

St John’s 1981

51

46

10

1

Madan Lal**

India v Pakistan

Karachi 1982/83

52

46

10

1

IT Botham (60)

England v Australia

Leeds 1985

54

46

10

1

S Ganguly (101)

India v New Zealand

Hamilton 1999

51

46

10

1

HH Gibbs (74)

South Africa v Zimbabwe

Bulawayo 2001

52

46

10

1

RT Ponting (59)

Australia v Bangladesh

Cairns 2003

55

46

10

1

CH Gayle (116)

West Indies v South Africa

Cape Town 2004

52

46

10

1

CH Gayle (82)

West Indies v England

Birmingham 2004

53

46

10

1

CJ Anderson (67)

New Zealand v England

Lord’s 2015

51

46

10

1

DA Warner (97)

Australia v South Africa

Perth 2016

53

46

7

3

ST Jayasuriya (89)

Sri Lanka v Bangladesh

Colombo4 2001

53

46

7

3

MS Dhoni (148)

India v Pakistan

Faisalabad 2006

51

46

7

3

KA Edwards (55)

West Indies v New Zealand

Port of Spain 2014

55

46

4

5

WJ Cronje (82*)

South Africa v Sri Lanka

Centurion 1998

51

46

7

3

J Blackwood (62)

West Indies v India

Kingston 2016

54

46

7

3

DA Warner (55)

Australia v Pakistan

Sydney 2017

50

46

10

1

S Dhawan (107)

India v Afghanistan

Bangalore 2018

51

46

10

1

PWH de Silva

Sri Lanka v South Africa

Centurion 2020

51

 

And a very unusual one

 

10x4

1x7

KF Barrington (163)

England v New Zealand

Leeds 1965

53

 

**Cricket Archive gives Madan Lal 11 fours and a six in his 52* against Pakistan in Karachi in 1982, which would

surpass Southee’s mark. However, the official scoresheet confirms 10 fours and a six.

 

†Labrooy needed only 13 scoring strokes to reach 53: 4664324444444

Steyn 2014 reached 52 in 13 scoring strokes.

Dhawan was playing his first Test innings.

Spooner’s ‘six’ scored only five runs under the Laws of the time.

‡The most consecutive runs scored entirely in boundaries, where known, is 52 by Shakib AL Hasan (100) against New Zealand at Hamilton I 2009/10. He went from 4 to 56 with two sixes and ten fours.

 

Updated July 2022

 

 

Fast First-class Triple Centuries

 

Macartney 1921

Woolley 1912

Rutherford 1986

Richards 1985

GC Smith 2005

Trumper 1914

Compton 1948

Lara 1994

Bradman 1930

345(343) off 274 balls

305* off 235 balls

317 off 245 balls

322 off 258 balls

311 off 255 balls

293(294) off 252 balls

300 off 262 balls

501* off 427 balls

452* off 465 balls

50 runs

55

28

64

63

55

80

55

100 runs

98

93

98

105

88

110

94

138

122

150 runs

123

134

152

140

158

193

170

200 runs

156

160

193

181

173

184

201

220

209

250 runs

186

191

215

213

226

245

264

300 runs

221

230

234

244

249

261

278

311

350 runs

311

359

400 runs

367

407

450 runs

398

465

500 runs

427

 

Note : Bradman’s 369 v Tasmania in 1935/36 (300 in 213 minutes) would figure on this list, but balls faced are unknown.

 

M Marais for Border v Eastern Province, East London 2017-18

50 inn 35 balls, 52 minutes with 7 fours and 1 six

100 in 68 balls, 87 minutes with 16 fours and 2 sixes

150 in 98 balls, 131 minutes with 20 fours and 5 sixes

200 in 139 balls, 200 minutes with 26 fours and 7 sixes

250 in 165 balls, 237 minutes with 30 fours and 10 sixes

300 in 191 balls, 268 minutes with 35 fours and 13 sixes

 

Hyderabad v Arunachal Pradesh

 

-> TD Agarwal (1) 50 in 49 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes

--> TD Agarwal (1) 100 in 80 balls with 13 fours and 3 sixes

--> TD Agarwal (1) passed his previous highest score of 137 in Ranji Trophy matches

--> TD Agarwal (1) passed his previous highest score of 137 in First-Class matches

--> TD Agarwal (1) 150 in 103 balls with 20 fours and 5 sixes

--> TD Agarwal (1) 200 in 119 balls with 25 fours and 9 sixes

--> TD Agarwal (1) 250 in 135 balls with 28 fours and 14 sixes

--> TD Agarwal (1) 300 in 147 balls, 183 minutes with 31 fours and 20 sixes

 

 

 

 

 

Five Wickets Before Lunch on the First Day

 

5/37

FR Spofforth

Aus v Eng (1), Melbourne (MCG) 1878/79

6/39

T Richardson

Eng v Aus (1), Lord's 1896

5/32

C Blythe

Eng v SAf (4), Cape Town 1905/06

5/25

SF Barnes

Eng v SAf (2), Johannesburg (Old Wanderers) 1913/14

5/34

AL Valentine**

WI v Eng (1), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1950

6/34

GD McKenzie

Aus v Ind (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1967/68

5/? (33 balls)

Maninder Singh

Ind v Pak (5), Bangalore 1986/87

5/26

CS Martin

NZ v SL (2), Wellington 2004/05

5/11

SE Bond

NZ v Zim (2), Bulawayo (Queen's) 2005

5/23

DW Steyn

SAf v Ind (2), Ahmedabad (Gujarat) 2007/08

5/7

VD Philander

SAf v Pak (2), Cape Town 2012/13

8/15

SCJ Broad

Eng v Aus (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2015

6/32

TA Boult

NZ v Eng (1), Auckland 2017/18

5/8

KAJ Roach

WI v Ban (1), Antigua (Richards) 2018

5/13

TJ Murtagh

Ire v Eng (1), Lord's 2019

5/70

Abrar Ahmed**

Pak v Eng (2), Multan 2022/23

6/15

M Siraj

Ind v SAf (2), Cape Town 2023/24

 

** on Test debut

SF Barnes took 5/6 in the first 80 minutes play at the MCG in 1911/12. A rain interruption meant his 5th wicket came just after lunch.

Barnes also took 5/25, and FR Foster 5/16, between lunch and tea at Lord’s in 1912, after there was no play before lunch.

 

Updated Jan 2023

 

 

Quickest five-hauls (five wickets in the space of fewest balls)

 

Balls

Runs

12

6

MA Noble 7/17, Aus v Eng Melbourne 1901/02

13

3

JC Laker 9/37,   Eng v Aus Manchester  1956

15

5

including 1 nb, AR Caddick 5/14 Eng v WI Leeds 2000

15

6

TA Boult 6/40, NZ v WI, Wellington 2013

15

7

D Bishoo, 8/49, WI v Pak, Dubai 2016/17

 

16

3

RJ Hadlee 7/23 NZ v Ind Wellington 1975/76

16

5

RJ Hadlee 6/51 NZ v Pak Dunedin 1984/85

16

8

Maninder Singh 7/51 Ind v Pak Bangalore 1986/87

16

2

DW Steyn, SAf v WI, Port of Spain 2010

16

0

SCJ Broad, Eng v Ind, Nottingham 2011

17

3

H Ironmonger 5/6 Aus v SA Melbourne 1931/32

17

3

including 2 nb, Sarfraz Nawaz  9/86 Pak v Aus Melbourne  1978/79

17

1

GR Hazlitt 7/25 Aus v Eng The Oval  1912

17

4

FS Trueman 7/44 Eng v WI Birmingham 1963

17

6

SCJ Broad 8/15 Eng v Aus Nottingham 2015

 

17

5

SM Boland 6/7 Aus v Eng MCG 2021/22

18

0

BKV Prasad  6/33 Ind v Pak Chennai  1998/99

18

5

IR Bishop 5/32 WI v Eng Leeds 1995

approx

18

2

GA Lohmann 8/7  Eng v SA Johannesburg 1895/96

18*

7

H Trumble 7/28  Aus v Eng Melbourne 1903/04

18

2

PCR Tufnell, Eng v WI The Oval 1991

18

12

MG Johnson, Aus v Eng Adelaide 2013/14

19

7

AA Mailey 9/121 Aus v Eng Melbourne 1920/21

19

2

ERH Toshack  5/2 Aus v Ind Brisbane  1947/48

19

8

Imran Khan 6/35 Pak v Ind Hyderabad 1982/83

*6 wickets in 20 balls

 

Update

5 in 11 balls (4 runs)

TA Boult

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2018/19

5 in 12 balls (4 runs)

KAJ Roach

WI v Ban (1), Antigua (Richards) 2018

5 in 15 balls (7 runs)

D Bishoo

WI v Pak (1), Dubai 2016/17

5 in 18 balls (13 runs)

K Rabada

SAf v Aus (2), Port Elizabeth 2017/18

5 in 19 balls (3 runs)

SNJ O'Keefe

Aus v Ind (1), Pune (Subrata) 2016/17

5 in 19 balls (6 runs)

N Wagner

NZ v WI (1), Wellington (Basin Reserve) 2017/18

5 in 15 balls (7 runs)

D Bishoo

WI v Pak (1), Dubai 2016/17

 

5 in 17 balls (5 runs)

SM Boland*

Aus v Eng (3), MCG 2021/22

 

*Boland on Test debut (2nd innings)

 

Single innings only. Updated Dec 2021.

 

Note also the following cases in early Tests against Bangladesh

Balls

Runs

 

12

8

JH Kallis 5/21 SAf v Ban Potchefstroom 2002-03

13

0

Waqar Younis 6/55 Pak v Ban 2001/02

14

0

JJC Lawson 6/3 WI v Bangladesh Dhaka 2001/02

17

5

including 2 nb, Shoaib Akhtar 6/50 Pak v Ban Peshawar 2003/04

 

Dennis Lillee took five wickets for no runs off nine balls, and six for none off 15 balls, in the Australia v “Rest of the World XI” match at the WACA in 1971/72.

 

 

 

Fewest balls to reach five wickets in an innings, after first coming on to bowl.

 

19

ERH Toshack

Aus v Ind (1), Brisbane ('Gabba') 1947/48

19

SCJ Broad

Eng v Aus (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2015

19

SM Boland

Aus v Eng (3), MCG 2021/22 on debut

21

SR Watson

Aus v SAf (1), Cape Town 2011/12

23

H Trumble

Aus v Eng (5), Melbourne (MCG) 1903/04

25

VI Philander

NZ v SAf (1), Cape Town 2012/13

25

JR Hazlewood

Aus v Ind (1), Adelaide Oval 2020/21

27

JH Kallis

Ban v SAf (2), Potchefstroom 2002/03

27

Harbhajan Singh

Ind v WI (4), Kingston, Jamaica 2006

**

LA King

WI v Ind (5), Kingston, Jamaica 1962

28

MKPAD Perera

SL v Ban (2), Dhaka (Mirpur) 2017/18

29

FH Edwards

WI v Ban (2), Dhaka (Mirpur) 2011/12

29

KAJ Roach

WI v Ban (1), Antigua (Richards) 2018

30

HH Pandya

Ind v Eng (3), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2018

32

J Briggs

Eng v SAf (2), Cape Town 1888/89

32

BJT Bosanquet

Eng v Aus (4), Sydney (SCG) 1903/04

33

HJ Tayfield

SAf v Aus (3), Durban (Kingsmead) 1949/50

33

Maninder Singh

Ind v Pak (5), Bangalore 1986/87

34

GD McKenzie

Aus v Ind (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1967/68

34

MJ Clarke

Aus v Ind (4), Mumbai (Wankhede) 2004/05

34

SCJ Broad

Eng v Aus (2), Lord's 2013

34

VI Philander

Aus v SAf (1), Cape Town 2011/12

34

JL Pattinson

Aus v WI (1), Hobart (Bellerive) 2015/16

35

M Muralitharan

SL v Ban (1), Colombo4 (RPS) 2005/06

35

JJ Bumrah

Ind v WI (2), Kingston, Jamaica 2019

36

SP Gupte

Ind v Pak (1), Dhaka 1954/55

37

GA Lohmann

Eng v SAf (1), Port Elizabeth 1895/96

38

A Rose-Innes

SAf v Eng (1), Port Elizabeth 1888/89

38

JE Root

Eng v Ind (3), Ahmedabad (Patel) 2020/21

39

JJC Lawson

WI v Ban (1), Dhaka 2002/03

39

SE Bond

NZ v Zim (2), Bulawayo (Queen's) 2005

39

JL Pattinson

Aus v NZ (1), Brisbane ('Gabba') 2011/12

39

DW Steyn

SAf v WI (1), Centurion (Centurion Park) 2014/15

40

MA Noble

Aus v Eng (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1901/02

40

AER Gilligan

Eng v SAf (1), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1924

40

EA Martindale

WI v Eng (1), Bridgetown, Barbados 1935

40

GOB Allen

Eng v Aus (1), Brisbane ('Gabba') 1936/37

40

Shoaib Akhtar

Pak v Aus (1), Colombo1 (PSS) 2002/03

 

Recent in bold

 

**LA King took 5 wickets in his first 4.2-4.6 overs on Test debut against India at Kingston 1962.

 

The fastest known in ODIs is 16 balls by Chaminda Vaas against Bangladesh in the 2002-03 World Cup.

 

Updated Aug 2021

 

 

Fewest balls to reach six wickets in an innings, after first coming on to bowl.

Balls

21

SM Boland

Aus v Eng (3), MCG 2021/22

24

H Trumble

Aus v Eng (5), Melbourne (MCG) 1903/04

37

JJ Bumrah

Ind v WI (2), Kingston, Jamaica 2019

38

AER Gilligan

Eng v SAf (1), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1924

38

MJ Clarke

Aus v Ind (4), Mumbai (Wankhede) 2004/05

40

SCJ Broad

Eng v Aus (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2015

41

JJC Lawson

WI v Ban (1), Dhaka 2002/03

 

 

 

 

 

Six wickets in (the space of) fewest balls

 

 

15

TA Boult

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2018/19

15

JJC Lawson

WI v Ban (1), Dhaka 2002/03

18

JC Laker

Eng v Aus (4), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1956

19

SM Boland

Aus v Eng (3), MCG 2021/22

20

MA Noble

Aus v Eng (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1901/02

20

H Trumble

Aus v Eng (5), Melbourne (MCG) 1903/04

20

BKV Prasad

Pak v Ind (1), Chennai (Chepauk) 1998/99

16

KAJ Roach

across 2 Tests 2018

~17

GA Lohmann

across 2 Tests 1895-96

 

Checked Aug 2023

 

 

Best Test Bowling Sequences (single innings)

 

These sequences are not, for the most part, whole spells. Unless otherwise stated, all sequences took place as part of one bowling spell.

 

10/37 (110 balls) A Kumble 10/74

Ind v Pak (2), Delhi (FSK) 1998/99

10/49 (292 balls) JC Laker 10/53

Eng v Aus (4), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1956

 

9/16 (46 balls) JC Laker 9/37

Eng v Aus (4), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1956

9/28 (72 balls) GA Lohmann 9/28

Eng v SAf (2), Johannesburg (Old Wanderers) 1895/96

 

8/4 (~44 balls) GA Lohmann 8/7

Eng v SAf (2), Johannesburg (Old Wanderers) 1895/96

8/6 (~95 balls) LR Gibbs 8/38

WI v Ind (3), Bridgetown, Barbados 1962

8/10 (~52 balls) J Briggs 8/11

Eng v SAf (2), Cape Town 1888/89

8/15 (55 balls) SCJ Broad 8/15

Eng v Aus (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2015

8/19 (including 4 overthrows, 78 balls) GD McGrath 8/24

Aus v Pak (1), Perth (WACA) 2004/05

 

7/1 (32 balls) CEL Ambrose 7/25

WI v Aus (5), Perth (WACA) 1992/93

7/2 (~28 balls) GA Lohmann 8/7

Eng v SAf (2), Johannesburg (Old Wanderers) 1895/96

7/4 (7/1, plus 3 nb) (33 deliveries) Sarfraz Nawaz 9/86

Pak v Aus (1), Melbourne (MCG) 1978/79

7/5 (~90 balls) LR Gibbs 8/38

WI v Ind (3), Bridgetown, Barbados 1962

7/8 (22 balls) JC Laker 9/37

Eng v Aus (4), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1956

7/8 (113 balls) DL Underwood 7/32

Eng v NZ (1), Lord's 1969

7/8 (54 balls) SJ Harmison 7/12

Eng v WI (1), Kingston, Jamaica 2004

7/9 (~44 balls) J Briggs 8/11

Eng v SAf (2), Cape Town 1888/89

7/9 (~25 balls) MA Noble 7/17

Aus v Eng (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1901/02

7/9 (51 balls) SCJ Broad 8/15

Eng v Aus (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2015

6/0 (15 balls) JJC Lawson 6/3

WI v Ban (1), Dhaka 2002/03

6/2 (52 balls) DL Underwood 8/51

Eng v Pak (2), Lord's 1974

6/3 (32 balls) VD Philander 6/21

SAf v Aus (4), Johannesburg (Wanderers) 2017/18

 

6/4 (24 balls) FS Trueman 7/44

Eng v WI (3), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1963

6/4 (71 balls) DL Underwood 7/32

Eng v NZ (1), Lord's 1969

6/4 (33 balls) PCR Tufnell 6/25

Eng v WI (5), The Oval 1991

6/4 (15 balls) TA Boult 6/30

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2018/19

6/4 (51 Balls) SCJ Broad 6/17

Eng v SAf (3), Johannesburg (Wanderers) 2015/16

6/5 (~20 balls) MA Noble 7/17

Aus v Eng (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1901/02

6/5 (47 balls) FS Trueman 6/30

Eng v Aus (3), Leeds (Headingley) 1961

6/5  (37 balls) SCJ Broad 8/15

Eng v Aus (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2015

6/5 (24 balls) SNJ O'Keefe 6/35

Aus v Ind (1), Pune (Subrata) 2016/17

6/5 (19 balls) SM Boland

Aus v Eng (3), MCG 2021/22

6/6 (45 balls) S Haigh 6/11

Eng v SAf (2), Cape Town 1898/99

6/6 (37 balls) W Rhodes 7/17

Eng v Aus (1), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1902

6/6 (39 balls DW Steyn 6/9

SAf v Pak (1), Johannesburg (Wanderers) 2012/13

6/7 (29 balls) Waqar Younis 6/55

Ban v Pak (1), Dhaka 2001/02

6/7 (29 balls) MJ Clarke 6/9

Aus v Ind (4), Mumbai (Wankhede) 2004/05

6/7 (37 balls) R Ashwin 6/55

Ind v Eng (4), Mumbai (Wankhede) 2016/17

 

6/8 (~36 balls) J Briggs 8/11

Eng v SAf (2), Cape Town 1888/89

6/8 (7 overs) R Peel 6/23

Eng v Aus (3), The Oval 1896

6/8 (20 balls) H Trumble 7/28

Aus v Eng (5), Melbourne (MCG) 1903/04

6/8 (41 balls) GA Faulkner 6/17

SAf v Eng (2), Leeds (Headingley) 1907

6/8 (28 balls) SJ Pegler 7/65

SAf v Eng (1), Lord's 1912

6/8 (36 balls) H Ironmonger 6/18

Aus v SAf (5), Melbourne (MCG) 1931/32

6/8 (68 balls) GD McGrath 6/17

Aus v WI (1), Brisbane ('Gabba') 2000/01

6/9 (6/7, plus 2 nb)(40 deliveries) AER Gilligan 6/7

Eng v SAf (1), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1924

6/9 (56 balls) CV Grimmett 7/83

Aus v SAf (4), Adelaide Oval 1931/32

6/9 (43 balls) S Ramadhin 7/49

WI v Eng (1), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1957

6/9 (66 balls) DL Underwood 6/12

Eng v NZ (1), Christchurch 1970/71

6/10 (28 balls) RO Schwarz 6/47

SAf v Aus (5), Sydney (SCG) 1910/11

6/10 (43 balls) H Verity 8/43

Eng v Aus (2), Lord's 1934

6/10 (92 balls) HJ Tayfield 6/13

SAf v NZ (4), Johannesburg (Ellis) 1953/54

5/0 (32 balls) HJ Tayfield 6/13

SAf v NZ (4), Johannesburg (Ellis) 1953/54

5/0 (24 balls) FS Trueman 6/30

Eng v Aus (3), Leeds (Headingley) 1961

5/0 (~36 balls) LR Gibbs 8/38

WI v Ind (3), Bridgetown, Barbados 1962

5/0 (35 balls) DL Underwood 8/51

Eng v Pak (2), Lord's 1974

5/0 (18 balls)  BKV Prasad 6/33

Pak v Ind (1), Chennai (Chepauk) 1998/99

5/0 (13 balls) Waqar Younis 6/55

Ban v Pak (1), Dhaka 2001/02

5/0 (16 balls) SCJ Broad 6/46

Eng v Ind (2), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2011

5/0 (12 balls) TA Boult 6/30

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2018/19

 

5/1 (17 balls) GR Hazlitt* 7/25

Aus v Eng (3), The Oval 1912

5/1 (28 balls) IT Botham 5/11

Eng v Aus (4), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1981

5/1 (31 balls) SCJ Broad 6/17

Eng v SAf (3), Johannesburg (Wanderers) 2015/16

5/2 (~25 balls) WJ O'Reilly 5/14

Aus v NZ (1), Wellington 1945/46

5/2 (19 balls) ERH Toshack 5/2

Aus v Ind (1), Brisbane ('Gabba') 1947/48

5/2 (56 balls) DL Underwood 7/32

Eng v NZ (1), Lord's 1969

5/2 (39 balls) SLV Raju 6/12

Ind v SL (1), Chandigarh 1990/91

5/2 (18 balls) PCR Tufnell 6/25**

Eng v WI (5), The Oval 1991

5/2 (28 balls) GD McGrath 6/17

Aus v WI (1), Brisbane ('Gabba') 2000/01

5/2 (31 balls) GD McGrath 5/53

Aus v Eng (1), Lord's 2005

5/2 (21 balls) MG Johnson 8/61

SAf v Aus (1), Perth (WACA) 2008/09

5/2 (16 balls) DW Steyn 5/29

SAf v WI (1), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 2010

 

5/3 (17 balls) H Ironmonger 5/6

Aus v SAf (5), Melbourne (MCG) 1931/32

5/3 (~21 balls) H Ironmonger 6/18

Aus v SAf (5), Melbourne (MCG) 1931/32

5/3 (49 balls) CV Grimmett 6/73

Aus v SAf (5), Durban (Kingsmead) 1935/36

5/3 (14 balls) JC Laker 9/37

Eng v Aus (4), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1956

5/3 (29 balls) MHN Walker 6/15

Aus v Pak (3), Sydney (SCG) 1972/73

5/3 (16 balls) RJ Hadlee 7/23

NZ v Ind, (3), Wellington 1975/76

5/3 (5/1, plus 2 nb) (17 deliveries) Sarfraz Nawaz 9/86

Pak v Aus (1), Melbourne (MCG) 1978/79

5/3 (25 balls) Imran Khan 8/60

Ind v Pak (2), Karachi (National) 1982/83

5/3 (22 balls) DW Steyn 7/51

SAf v Ind (1), Nagpur 2009/10

5/3 (19 balls) SNJ O'Keefe 6/35

Aus v Ind (1), Pune (Subrata) 2016/17

5/4 (~28 balls) J Briggs 8/11

Eng v SAf (2), Cape Town 1888/89

5/4 (32 balls) W Rhodes 7/17

Eng v Aus (1), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1902

5/4 (21 balls) Kapil Dev 8/106

Ind v Aus (1), Adelaide Oval 1985/86

5/4 (20 balls) VD Philander 5/13

SAf v NZ (1), Cape Town 2012/13

5/4 (37 balls) DW Steyn 6/9

SAf v Pak (1), Johannesburg (Wanderers) 2012/13

5/4 (17 balls) SCJ Broad 8/15

Eng v Aus (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2015

5/4 (12 balls) KAJ Roach 5/8

WI v Ban (1), Antigua (Richards) 2018

 

5/5 (7 overs) H Trumble 6/53

Aus v Eng (4), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1902

5/5 (43 balls) WW Armstrong 6/35

Aus v Eng (2), Lord's 1909

5/5 (21 balls) RO Schwarz 6/47

SAf v Aus (5), Sydney (SCG) 1910/11

5/5 (66 balls) WJ O'Reilly 5/20

Aus v SAf (4), Johannesburg (Old Wanderers) 1935/36

5/5 (31 balls) EAS Prasanna 5/70

Ind v WI (4), Chennai (Chepauk) 1974/75

5/5 (34 balls) JE Emburey 6/33

Eng v SL (1), Colombo1 (PSS) 1981/82

5/5 (16 balls) RJ Hadlee 6/51

NZ v Pak (3), Dunedin 1984/85

5/5 (32 balls) TBA May 5/9

Aus v WI (4), Adelaide Oval 1992/93

5/5 (22 balls) SK Warne 7/56

Aus v SAf (2), Sydney (SCG) 1993/94

5/5 (18 balls) IR Bishop 5/32

WI v Eng (1), Leeds (Headingley) 1995

5/5 (including 1 no-ball, 15 deliveries) AR Caddick 5/14

Eng v WI (4), Leeds (Headingley) 2000

5/5 (15 balls) Shoaib Akhtar 5/21

Pak v Aus (1), Colombo1 (PSS) 2002/03

5/5 (including 2 nb, 17 deliveries) Shoaib Akhtar 6/50

Pak v Ban (2), Peshawar (Niaz) 2003

5/5 (26 deliveries) B Lee 5/59

Aus v WI (2), Antigua (Richards) 2008

5/5 (22 balls) KJ Abbott 7/40

SAf v Pak (3), Centurion (Centurion Park) 2012/13

 

5/7 (including 4 overthrows, 31 balls) GD McGrath 8/24

Aus v Pak (1), Perth (WACA) 2004/05

 

 

Updated Jan 2019

 

 

*Hazlitt’s 5/1 came from the last 17 balls he bowled in Test cricket.

 

**Following his 5/2 off 18 balls, Tufnell (in the same match) conceded 99 runs in 25 overs before his next wicket, finishing with 1/150 in the second innings.

 

Dennis Lillee took five wickets for no runs off nine balls, and six for none off 15 balls, in the Australia v “Rest of the World XI” match at the WACA in 1971/72.

 

 

I have not included subsets of listed sequences unless they involved fewer runs than the

whole sequence. For example, Ambrose naturally recorded 5/1 and 6/1 as part of his record

 spell, but these are not listed separately.

 

********

 

 

Most balls bowled before first wicket in a Test innings

Balls

Ov

Runs conceded

441

H Verity

55.1*

Eng v SAf, Durban (Kingsmead) 1938/39

91

413

Zulfiqar Babar

68.5

Pak v Eng, Abu Dhabi 2015/16

176

405

LR Gibbs

67.3

WI v Aus, Bridgetown, Barbados 1965

158

398

N Gordon

49.6*

SAf v Eng, Durban (Kingsmead) 1938/39

151

391

MW Tate

65.1

Eng v Aus, The Oval 1930

153

385

WJ O'Reilly

64.1

Aus v Eng, Sydney (SCG) 1932/33

117

359

DVP Wright

44.7*

Eng v Aus, Sydney (SCG) 1946/47

151

358

LO'B Fleetwood-Smith

59.4

Aus v Eng, The Oval 1938

202

350

MW Tate

58.2

Eng v Aus, Lord's 1930

117

348

R Tattersall

58

Eng v SAf, Leeds (Headingley) 1951

82

338

AV Bedser

42.2*

Eng v Aus, Sydney (SCG) 1946/47

138

337

JE Emburey

56.1

Eng v Ind, Mumbai (Wankhede) 1992/93

131

334

Danish Kaneria

55.4

Pak v Ind, Rawalpindi (Cricket Stadium) 2003/04

158

333

Mushtaq Ahmed

55.3

Pak v SAf, Rawalpindi (Cricket Stadium) 1997/98

140

332

FJ Titmus

41.4*

Eng v Aus, Melbourne (MCG) 1965/66

86

330

M Muralitharan

55

SL v NZ, Colombo1 (PSS) 2002/03

126

329

MG Waite

54.5

Aus v Eng, The Oval 1938

102

328

S Ramadhin

54.4

WI v Eng, Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 1950

99

325

HJ Tayfield

40.5*

SAf v Aus, Cape Town 1957/58

84

324

A Kumble

54

Ind v SL, Colombo 1997/98

161

323

A Mishra

53.5

Ind v SL, Ahmedabad (Gujarat) 2009/10

193

 

 

 

 

 

*8-ball overs. Italics indicate timeless Tests.

 

Verity took two wickets in his last over of that innings in 1939, having previously gone wicketless for the equivalent of 73 overs.

 

Figures that are undetermined include:

 

>350? DR Doshi Auckland 1981.

? AB Howard Georgetown 1972

>350? SA Durani Kingston 1962

~350 AV Mankad Peshawar 1955

 

There may be others, although I doubt if there are any undetermined figures that would rank in the top 6.

 

Checked Aug 2023

 

 

********

 

Most balls bowled in a day (individual bowlers)

Bowler

Day

360

AMB Rowan

3

Saf v Eng, Port Elizabeth 1948/49

328

NBF Mann

3

Saf v Eng, Port Elizabeth 1948/49

328

HJ Tayfield

1

Saf v Eng, Cape Town 1956/57

312

AL Valentine

4

Eng v WI, Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 1950

312

HJ Tayfield

3

Eng v Saf, The Oval 1955

307

TR Veivers

5

Eng v Aus, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1964

306

R Tattersall*

2

Eng v Saf, Lord's 1951

306

MH Mankad

3

Ind v Pak, Mumbai 1952/53

302

NBF Mann

4

Saf v Aus, Durban (Kingsmead) 1949/50

304

LR Gibbs

5

Aus v WI, Melbourne (MCG) 1960/61

300

NBF Mann

1

Eng v Saf, The Oval 1947

300

AL Valentine

1

Eng v WI, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1950

300

JC Alabaster

4

Saf v NZ, Port Elizabeth 1961/62

294

S Ramadhin

4

Eng v WI, Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 1950

Not including no balls or wides

*2 innings (follow-on)

 

Most by a modern bowler: 282 by Murali v Zimbabwe at Galle 2001/02 (day 3).

Most known by a pace bowler: 288 by CF Root, Old Trafford 1926.

 

Tayfield’s 328 was in an unbroken spell, as was Veivers’ 307.

 

********

 

 

Slowest teams to 50

 

These lists are not comprehensive, but there has been extensive checking

Balls bowled

353

Pak (216) v Eng

Dhaka 1961/62

344

Pak (87) v Eng

Lord's 1954

319

SAf (143) v Ind

Delhi 2015/16

294

NZ (255) v WI

Auckland 1955/56

289

SAf (72) v Eng

Cape Town 1956/57

289

NZ (94) v Eng

Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1958

288

SAf (205) v Eng

Cape Town 1956/57

287

Aus (63) v Eng

The Oval 1882

285

Aus (120) v Eng

Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 1956

285

NZ (129) v Eng

Leeds (Headingley) 1958

 

Note the following estimates

370-380

NZ (69) v Pak

Dhaka 1955/56

280-290

Pak (331) v Ind

Lucknow (University) 1952/53

Slowest teams to 100

Balls bowled

653

Saf (143) v Ind

Delhi 2015/16

566

Eng (181) v WI

Bridgetown, Barbados 1954

558

Ind (187) v WI

Bridgetown, Barbados 1962

553

SAf (198) v Aus

Johannesburg (Wanderers) 1957/58

500

NZ (255) v WI

Auckland 1955/56

500

SAf (144) v Aus

Port Elizabeth 1957/58

497

Ind (266) v Eng

Kanpur 1963/64

487

NZ (149) v SAf

Durban (Kingsmead) 1953/54

482

Eng (198) v Aus

Brisbane ('Gabba') 1958/59

479

NZ (129) v Eng

Leeds (Headingley) 1958

475

Eng (268) v SAf

Johannesburg (Wanderers) 1956/57

~630*

Pak (331) v Ind

Lucknow (University) 1952/53

*Rough estimate. Pakistan was 90 off 95 overs, and 118 off about 110 overs.

 

 

Without Dismissal: Longest Sequences

RUNS

614

AC Voges

269*, 106*, 239

2015/16

497

SR Tendulkar

241*, 60*, 194*, 2

2003/04

490

GStA Sobers

365*, 125

1958

489

MJ Clarke

259*, 230

2012/13

479

KC Sangakkara

200*, 222*, 57

2007/08

473

RS Dravid

41*, 200*, 70*, 162

2000/01

456

JH Kallis

157*, 42*, 189*, 68

2001/02

453

BC Lara

400*, 53

2004

427

DJ Cullinan

275*, 152

1998/99

426

MA Taylor

334*, 92

1998/99

Balls Faced

1051

S Chanderpaul

67*, 101*, 136*, 58

2002

975

WR Hammond

119*, 177

1928/29

930 (est)

Hanif Mohammad

337

1958

911

JH Kallis

157*, 42*, 189*, 68

2001/02

879

SR Tendulkar

241*, 60*, 194*, 2

2003/04

853

L Hutton

364

1938

815

AC Voges

269*, 106*, 239

2015/16

800

GStA Sobers

365*, 125

1958

791

RS Dravid

41*, 200*, 70*, 162

2000/01

790

CA Pujara

206*, 41*, 135

2012/13

785 (est)

BE Congdon

166*, 82

1972

Minutes Batted

1523

S Chanderpaul

67*, 101*, 136*, 58

2002

1241

JH Kallis

157*, 42*, 189*, 68

2001/02

1224

SR Tendulkar

241*, 60*, 194*, 2

2003/04

1145

RS Dravid

41*, 200*, 70*, 162

2000/01

1115

S Chanderpaul

107*, 77*, 79*, 50

2008

1106

AC Voges

269*, 106*, 239

2015/16

1074

S Chanderpaul

116*, 136*, 70

2007

1058

AN Cook

235*, 148

2010/11

1031

S Chanderpaul

101*, 128*, 97*, 45

2004

1023

N Hussain

70*, 146*, 15

1999/00

1015

CA Pujara

206*, 41*, 135

2012/13

1007

Shoaib Mohammad

203*, 105

1990/91

 

Checked Feb 2020

 

 

 

Fastest Test Century partnerships (1st 100 runs, minutes)

Wkt

Partn.

1st 100 (mins)

PGH Fender/GE Tyldesley

5

102*

38

Eng v Aus (4), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1921

AW Nourse/EA Halliwell

8

124

40

SAf v Aus (1), Johannesburg 1902/03

NJ Astle/CL Cairns

10

118

44

NZ v Eng (1), Christchurch 2001/02

DRA Gehrs/C Hill

3

144

46

Aus v SAf (1), Sydney (SCG) 1910/11

C Hill/W Bardsley

2

101

47

Aus v SAf (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1910/11

Misbah-ul-Haq/Azhar Ali

4

141*

47

Pak v Aus (2), Abu Dhabi 2014/15

M Morkel/AB de Villiers

10

107*

48

SAf v Pak (2), Abu Dhabi 2010/11

BB McCullum/CJ Anderson

5

179

48

NZ v Aus (2), Christchurch(Hagley) 2015/16

H Graham/AE Trott

8

112

49

Aus v Eng (4), Sydney (SCG) 1894/95

J Hardstaff jnr/CJ Barnett

3

104

49

Eng v NZ (1), Lord's 1937

EH Hendren/FE Woolley

3

121*

50

Eng v SAf (2), Lord's 1924

FR Brown/W Voce

7

108

50

Eng v NZ (1), Christchurch 1932/33

C de Grandhomme/HM Nicholls

5

124*

50

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2018/19

 

 

Slowest Test Century partnerships (1st 100 runs, minutes)

Partn.

1st 100 (mins)

Javed Omar/Nafees Iqbal

1

133

264

Ban v Zim (2), Dhaka 2004/05

JB Bolus/KF Barrington

4

119

237

Eng v Ind (1), Chennai (Nehru) 1963/64

AR Border/MJ Slater

4

104

234

Aus v SAf (2), Sydney (SCG) 1993/94

MS Atapattu/KC Sangakkara

2

109

231

SL v WI (1), Galle 2001/02

TR Gripper/A Flower

4

117

228

Zim v WI (1), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 2000

Hanif Mohammad/Javed Burki

3

156

222

Pak v Eng (2), Dhaka 1961/62

JG Wright/KR Rutherford

2

100

222

NZ v Aus (3), Auckland 1985/86

MA Butcher/N Hussain

3

120

219

Eng v WI (2), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 2004

Azhar Ali/Sami Aslam

1

131

219

Pak v NZ (2), Hamilton 2016/17

S Chanderpaul/DJ Bravo

5

100

218

WI v SAf (2), St Kitts 2010

BR Hartland/JG Wright

1

110

216

NZ v SL (1), Moratuwa 1992/93

 

 

Fastest Test Century partnerships (1st 100 runs, balls)

Partn.

1st 100 (balls)

NJ Astle/CL Cairns

10

118

55

NZ v Eng (1), Christchurch 2001/02

BB McCullum/CJ Anderson

5

179

58

NZ v Aus (2), Christchurch(Hagley) 2015/16

Misbah-ul-Haq/Azhar Ali

4

141*

64

Pak v Aus (2), Abu Dhabi 2014/15

C de Grandhomme/HM Nicholls

5

124*

66

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2018/19

AJ Stewart/AR Caddick

10

103

73

Eng v Aus (1), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 2001

M Morkel/AB de Villiers

10

107*

74

SAf v Pak (2), Abu Dhabi 2010/11

AW Nourse/EA Halliwell

8

124

76

SAf v Aus (1), Johannesburg 1902/03

SCJ Broad/GP Swann

8

108

77

Eng v Aus (4), Leeds (Headingley) 2009

BB McCullum/JDS Neesham

5

153

77

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2014/15

ML Hayden/A Symonds

5

124

80

Aus v SAf (2), Melbourne (MCG) 2005/06

GC Smith/HM Amla

2

178

80

SAf v Aus (3), Perth (WACA) 2012/13

F du Plessis/AB de Villiers

6

102

80

SAf v Aus (3), Perth (WACA) 2012/13

 

 

Slowest Test Century partnerships (1st 100 runs, balls)

Partn.

1st 100 (balls)

RH Catterall/B Mitchell

1

119

465

SAf v Eng (1), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1929

Alim-ud-Din/Hanif Mohammad

1

122

457

Pak v Eng (2), Dhaka 1961/62

JB Bolus/KF Barrington

4

119

455

Eng v Ind (1), Chennai (Nehru) 1963/64

Hanif Mohammad/Javed Burki

3

156

449

Pak v Eng (2), Dhaka 1961/62

KWR Fletcher/G Boycott

3

101

402

Eng v WI (5), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 1974

Waqar Hassan/Hanif Mohammad

2

165

400

Pak v Ind (3), Mumbai (Brabourne) 1952/53

B Mitchell/IJ Siedle

1

127

392

SAf v Eng (5), Durban (Kingsmead) 1930/31

DCS Compton/L Hutton

3

150

391

Eng v WI (3), Georgetown, Guyana 1954

 

None of the partnerships in the final category would rival the partnership of 98 by Sardesai and Manjrekar at Bridgetown in 1962,
 which occupied close to 590 balls and 248 minutes.

 

In some cases, conversions had to be made between minutes and ball bowled, using over rates for the relevant innings.

This creates a little uncertainty in the exact rankings in the following tables,

particularly in the first table where changes of only a couple of minutes could affect results.

 

 

Batsmen in Tests who dominated the scoring.
Highest % runs by players reaching 100:

81.97% 100 out of 122: DA Warner, Aus v Pak, SCG 2016-17

80.2% 101 out of 126: GA Gooch, Eng v Ind, Chennai (Chepauk) 1981/82

80.0% 100 out of 125: CH Gayle, WI v SAf, Cape Town 2003/04

79.8% 103 out of 129: WG Grace, Eng v Aus, The Oval 1886

79.1% 102 out of 129: DG Bradman, Leeds 1930

78.1% 100 out of 128: V Sehwag, Ind v Aus, Adelaide Oval 2007/08

78.1% 100 out of 128: Mominul Haque, Ban v NZ Chittagong 2013

 

Mominul batted at #4 and came to the wicket with the score on 8.

 

April 2022

 

Team Hat-Tricks

Three wickets in three balls, by two different bowlers

 

Eng v WI, Leeds (Headingley) 1957

Wicket on last ball of over (Trueman) followed by hat-trick by Loader - four wickets in four balls.

SAf v NZ, Johannesburg (Wanderers) 1961/62

On a score of 150, two wickets by Godfrey Lawrence (Ov 45.5 & 45.6), followed by a wicket to HR Lance (46.1)

SAf v NZ, Port Elizabeth 1961/62

Last three wickets: two to Godfrey Lawrence (82.5 & 82.6) and one to Peter Pollock (83.1)

NZ v Pak, Wellington 1964/65

Last 3 wickets on a score of 266, one wicket to Asif Iqbal (113.6) and two to Arif Butt (114.1 & 114.2). Asif also took a wicket at 113.4: four wickets in five balls.

Pak v WI, Faisalabad 1990/91

Wickets on 146, at 35.5 and 35.6 (run out) bowled by Marshall. Then a wicket to Ambrose at 36.1.

SAf v Ind, Durban (Kingsmead) 1996/97

On 74, a wicket to McMillan (29.6), then two to Allan Donald (30.1 & 30.2).

SAf v Pak, Cape Town 2012/13

On 152, a wicket to Peterson (64.6), then two to Vernon Philander (65.1 & 65.2)

Ind v Ban (1), Indore (Holkar) 2019/20

On 140, two wickets to Mohammed Shami (53.5, 53.6), one to Ishant Sharma (54.1)

 

 

 

Three wickets in three balls, same over, including run out           

 

Eng v Aus, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1888

One bowler (Lohmann): run out, W ,W (8th Over)

Eng v WI, Manchester (Old Trafford) 1980

One bowler (Garner): run out, W ,W , on a score of 142.

Ind v SL, Mumbai (Wankhede) 1997/98 (uncertain)

One bowler (Dharmasena): W, run out, W, on a score of 181.

Eng v NZ, Lord’s 2022

One bowler (Broad): W, run out, W.

 

June 2022

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Most Runs in 'x' overs in Tests (Tests with ball-by-ball records only)

 

The data is strictly from ball-by-ball records so is probably not complete. A few cases involve 8-ball overs. If instances from the same innings overlap, only the highest is listed.

# overs

Runs

2

43

NJ Astle/CL Cairns

NZ v Eng (1), Christchurch 2001/02

2

38

JDS Neesham/BB McCullum

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2014/15

2

37

IT Botham/JE Emburey

Eng v NZ (3), The Oval 1986

2

37

SR Tendulkar/SC Ganguly

Ind v Eng (3), Leeds (Headingley) 2002

2

37

KA Maharaj/D Paterson

SAf v Eng (3), Port Elizabeth 2019/20

2

35

JH Sinclair/CMH Hathorn

SAf v Aus (3), Cape Town 1902/03

2

35

SM Patil/S Madan Lal

Ind v Eng (2), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1982

2

35

CL Cairns/AC Parore

NZ v Zim (2), Auckland 1995/96

2

35

JA Rudolph/JH Kallis

SAf v Zim (1), Cape Town 2004/05

2

35

Kamran Akmal/Shahid Afridi

Pak v Ind (1), Lahore (Gaddafi) 2005/06

2

35

TG Southee/CS Martin

NZ v Eng (3), Napier 2007/08

2

35

TA Boult/N Wagner

NZ v Eng (2), Leeds (Headingley) 2013

2

35

HH Pandya/UT YADAV

Ind v SL (3), Pallekele 2017

2

35

Nauman Ali/Abid Ali

Pak v Zim (2), Harare 2020/21

3

52

MJ Clarke/AC Gilchrist

Aus v Eng (3), Perth (WACA) 2006/07

3

49

JA Rudolph/JH Kallis

SAf v Zim (1), Cape Town 2004/05

3

48

NJ Astle/CL Cairns

NZ v Eng (1), Christchurch 2001/02

3

48

SC Ganguly/SR Tendulkar

Ind v Eng (3), Leeds (Headingley) 2002

3

48

GP Swann/SCJ Broad

Eng v Aus (4), Leeds (Headingley) 2009

3

48

BB McCullum/JDS Neesham

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2014/15

3

47

JM Gregory/HL Collins

Aus v SAf (2), Johannesburg (Wanderers) 1921/22

3

47

Misbah-ul-Haq/Azhar Ali

Pak v Aus (2), Abu Dhabi 2014/15

3

47

Nauman Ali/Abid Ali

Pak v Zim (2), Harare 2020/21

5

77

CL Cairns/NJ Astle

NZ v Eng (1), Christchurch 2001/02

5

74

AC Gilchrist/MJ Clarke

Aus v Eng (3), Perth (WACA) 2006/07

5

73

JH Kallis/JA Rudolph

SAf v Zim (1), Cape Town 2004/05

5

71

JM Bairstow/MM Ali

Eng v SAf (2), Cape Town 2015/16

5

70

TG Southee/CS Martin

NZ v Eng (3), Napier 2007/08

5

69

SC Ganguly/SR Tendulkar

Ind v Eng (3), Leeds (Headingley) 2002

5

68

JM Bairstow/BA Stokes

Eng v NZ (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2022

10

124

CL Cairns/NJ Astle

NZ v Eng (1), Christchurch 2001/02

10

112

CJ Anderson/BB McCullum

NZ v Aus (2), Christchurch(Hagley) 2015/16

10

112

BA Stokes/JM Bairstow

Eng v NZ (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2022

10

110

BA Stokes/JM Bairstow

Eng v NZ (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2022

10

108

JDS Neesham/BB McCullum

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2014/15

10

107

AC Gilchrist/MJ Clarke

Aus v Eng (3), Perth (WACA) 2006/07

10

105

Kamran Akmal/Shahid Afridi

Pak v Ind (1), Lahore (Gaddafi) 2005/06

15

158

BB McCullum/CJ Anderson

NZ v Aus (2), Christchurch(Hagley) 2015/16

15

150

NJ Astle/CL Cairns

NZ v Eng (1), Christchurch 2001/02

15

150

JA Rudolph/JH Kallis

SAf v Zim (1), Cape Town 2004/05

15

150

BT Foakes/BA Stokes

Eng v NZ (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2022

15

144

RC Fredericks/AI Kallicharran

WI v Aus (2), Perth (WACA) 1975/76

15

143

Kamran Akmal/Naved-ul-Hasan

Pak v Ind (1), Lahore (Gaddafi) 2005/06

20

189

CJ Anderson/BB McCullum

NZ v Aus (2), Christchurch(Hagley) 2015/16

20

184

TF Johnson/LN Constantine

WI v Eng (3), The Oval 1939

20

183

BA Stokes/BT Foakes

Eng v NZ (4), Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 2022

20

182

JH Kallis/JA Rudolph

SAf v Zim (1), Cape Town 2004/05

20

176

RC Fredericks/AI Kallicharran

WI v Aus (2), Perth (WACA) 1975/76

20

176

JDS Neesham/BB McCullum

NZ v SL (1), Christchurch (Hagley) 2014/15

 

There are reports that Richie Benaud personally scored 48 runs in 3 overs in 1955. However, the reports are ambiguous - it may have been 3 overs off one bowler rather than 3 consecutive overs.

 

June 2022

 

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Fewest Balls Bowled when an Opener Reached 100

Balls Bowled

118

DA Warner (180)

Aus v Ind (3), Perth (WACA) 2011/12

137

CH Gayle (116)

SAf v WI (3), Cape Town 2003/04

138

Majid Khan (112)

Pak v NZ (3), Karachi (National) 1976/77

142

CH Gayle (102)

Aus v WI (3), Perth (WACA) 2009/10

144

RC Fredericks (169)

Aus v WI (2), Perth (WACA) 1975/76

150

BB McCullum (202)

Pak v NZ (3), Sharjah 2014/15

153

V Sehwag (180)

WI v Ind (2), St Lucia (Beausejour) 2006

155

S Dhawan (107)

Ind v Afg (1), Bangalore 2018

155

BM Duckett (153)

Ind v Eng (3), Rajkot (Khandheri) 2023/24

158

DA Warner (184)

Aus v Pak (3), Sydney (SCG) 2016/17

160

S Dhawan (107)

Ind v Afg (1), Bangalore 2018

 

This lists the earliest in an innings that a batsman reached 100, not the balls faced by the batsman. Warner at Perth reached his century off the fourth ball of the 20th over.

 

February 2024

 

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UNUSUAL RUN-SCORING STROKES (IN TESTS, WHERE RECORDED)

Runs Add

Off bat

Note

Bowler

Batsman

Eight runs off one delivery

8

8

4+4 overthrows

PM Hornibrook

EH Hendren

Aus v Eng (5), Melbourne (MCG) 1928/29

8

8

4+4 overthrows

JB Statham

VS Hazare

Ind v Eng (2), Mumbai (Brabourne) 1951/52

8

8

4+4 overthrows

LS Pascoe

JG Wright

Aus v NZ (3), Melbourne (MCG) 1980/81

8

3

3 for shot then helmet penalty

N Boje

BC Lara

WI v SAf (2), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 2005

8

8

4+4 overthrows

IE O'Brien

A Symonds

Aus v NZ (1), Brisbane ('Gabba') 2008/09

Seven runs all-run

7

7

all-run 4+3 overthrows

DK Lillee

Majid Khan

Aus v Pak (3), Melbourne (MCG) 1981/82

Seven runs, including overthrows or penalties

(no balls hit for six not included)

7

7

3+4 overthrows

FR Martin

A Sandham

WI v Eng (4), Kingston, Jamaica 1930

7

7

3+4 overthrows

RC Motz

KF Barrington

Eng v NZ (3), Leeds (Headingley) 1965

7

7

WV Rodriguez

KF Barrington

WI v Eng (4), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad 1968

7

7

1+2+4 (double overthrow)

VA Holder

APE Knott

Eng v WI (4), Leeds (Headingley) 1976

7

7

UNCONFIRMED

WPUJC Vaas

SL v Zim (1), Colombo4 (RPS) 1996/97

7

7

2 overthrows then helmet pen

SM Pollock

HK Olonga

SAf v Zim (1), Bloemfontein 1999/00

7

7

3+4 overthrows

A Flintoff

MJ Clarke

Aus v Eng (2), Adelaide Oval 2006/07

7

7

3+4 overthrows

JM Anderson

CJL Rogers

Aus v Eng (5), Sydney (SCG) 2013/14

7

7

3+4 overthrows

VD Philander

KC Brathwaite

SAf v WI (3), Cape Town 2014/15

7

7

4 overthrows; umpire signal anomaly

Ebadat Hossain

WA Young

NZ v Ban (2), Christchurch (Hagley) 2021/22

7

2

2 runs + 5 helmet penalties

Taijul Islam

R Ashwin

Ban v Ind (1), Chittagong 2022/23

Seven leg byes

7

0

3+4 overthrows

EW Clark

CA Roach

Eng v WI (3), The Oval 1933

7

0

3+4 overthrows

GR Dilley

TV Hohns

Eng v Aus (3), Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1989

Six all-run, including overthrows

6

6

3 + 3 overthrows all-run

A Shaw

HH Massie

Aus v Eng (4), Melbourne (MCG) 1881/82

6

all-run 4 + 2 overthrows

CTB Turner

W Gunn

Eng v Aus (3), Manchester (Old Trafford) 1893

6

6

all-run 4 + 2 overthrows

H Ironmonger

KG Viljoen

Aus v SAf (3), Melbourne (MCG) 1931/32

6

6

3 + 3 overthrows all-run

Aaqib Javed

MA Atherton

Eng v Pak (4), Leeds (Headingley) 1992

(Six all-run without overthrows has not been recorded)

Five all-run without overthrows

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

E Evans

W Bates

Aus v Eng (1), Melbourne (MCG) 1881/82

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

J Briggs

W Bruce

Aus v Eng (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1884/85

5

5

all-run - no overthrows?

AE Stoddart

Aus v Eng (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1894/95

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

H Trumble

GL Jessop

Eng v Aus (5), The Oval 1902

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

A Cotter

TW Hayward

Eng v Aus (5), The Oval 1905

5

all-run - no overthrows?

CE McLeod

RT Spooner

Eng v Aus (5), The Oval 1905

5

all-run - no overthrows

NA Knox

SJ Snooke

Eng v SAf (3), The Oval 1907

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

J Sharp

VT Trumper

Eng v Aus (5), The Oval 1909

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

FE Woolley

AW Nourse

Eng v SAf (3), The Oval 1912

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

CH Parkin

CE Pellew

Aus v Eng (2), Melbourne (MCG) 1920/21

5

all-run - no overthrows

DG Bradman

Aus v WI (4), Melbourne (MCG) 1930/31

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

DG Phadkar

KR Miller

Aus v Ind (4), Adelaide Oval 1947/48

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

L Amarnath

RN Harvey

Aus v Ind (5), Melbourne (MCG) 1947/48

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

GF Cresswell

TG Evans

Eng v NZ (4), The Oval 1949

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

GB Hole

Aus v WI (3), Adelaide Oval 1951/52

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

AK Davidson

TG Evans

Aus v Eng (4), Adelaide Oval 1954/55

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

GAR Lock

JW Burke

Aus v Eng (4), Adelaide Oval 1958/59

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

DL Underwood

Majid Khan

Eng v Pak (3), The Oval 1974

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

DL Underwood

IM Chappell

Eng v Aus (4), The Oval 1975

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

KJ O'Keeffe

DW Randall

Eng v Aus (1), Lord's 1977

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

IT Botham

J Dyson

Aus v Eng (3), Adelaide Oval 1982/83

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

CJ McDermott

J Srinath

Aus v Ind (4), Adelaide Oval 1991/92

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

DK Morrison

SR Waugh

Aus v NZ (1), Perth (WACA) 1993/94

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

PAJ DeFreitas

SR Waugh

Aus v Eng (5), Perth (WACA) 1994/95

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

GP Wickramasinghe

CJ McDermott

Aus v SL (3), Adelaide Oval 1995/96

5

5

all-run - no overthrows

AR McBrine

R Ngarava

Ire v Zim (1), Belfast 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Five all-run without overthrows was not recorded from 1996 to 2024.)

Five runs, fielding penalty

5

5

Hutton kicked ball over boundary - penalty runs

WE Bowes

WA Brown

Eng v Aus (4), The Oval 1938

Aug 2024

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