Cricket is a gentleman’s game, played amongst most skillful players around the world. It needs both physical and mental abilities to play the game of cricket. It’s not only a game but a religion in India. However, being in India it is necessary for us to know about some of Amazing facts and incidents in the history of cricket. Here are some of the Unknown facts about the game, where most cricket lovers might not have come across.
1. Highest Run Scored in an over is not ‘36’, But ‘77’
Unbelievably, the most number of runs scored in one over is not 36; contrary to popular belief it is actually ‘77’ which was scored in RH Vance’s over in a match between Canterbury and Wellington. RH Vance bowled one over in the match, and this is how it went: 0 4 4 4 6 6 4 6 1 4 1 0 6 6 6 6 6 0 0 4 0 1.
2. Only four players have ever played on all ten batting positions
In the entire history of recorded Cricket, only four players have played on all ten batting positions for a team; names include Lance Klusener, Abdur Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, and Hashan Tillakaratne.
3. Shahid Afridi hit the fastest ODI century with Sachin Tendulkar’s bat
With Sachin’s bat Afridi hit 11 sixes and six boundaries with the bat and scored a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka which was the then fastest ODI century.
4. Ishant Sharma at the rescue
Indian pacer, Ishant Sharma can be considered responsible for the three maximum scores made ‘against’ India, by a batsman in the 21st century. How? Well, he dropped catches from all of three of them, on scores below 50.
Later on, Alistair Cook went on to make 294 Runs, Michael Clarke made 329 Runs and Brendon McCullum ended up with 302 Runs, in 2011, 2012 and 2014 respectively.
5. Sanath Jayasuriya has taken more ODI wickets than Shane Warne
Sri Lankan All-Rounder Sanath Jayasuriya has picked 323 wickets while Australia’s Legendary Spinner Shane Warne has picked 293.
6. Lala Amarnath, you beauty
The only bowler to dismiss Don Bradman hit wicket in Test cricket is Lala Amarnath it happened in Brisbane in 1948.
7. The Cricket pitch has always remained the same
Pitch is always a rectangular area of 22 yards (20.12m) The only law which has not changed in cricket history is the length of the pitch.
8. Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan before India
It was an exhibition match between the two countries in 1987 and he came in as a substitute fielder for Pakistan. Abdul Qadir and Javed Miandad had left the field at lunch time and Tendulkar was asked to field. Imran Khan deployed him at long-on.
9. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi has played for England as well
Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, Saif Ali Khan’s grandfather is the only cricketer to play Test cricket for both India and England.
10. Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla stadium and Bangabandhu stadium have hosted more ODIs than Lord’s.
Lords have hosted 57 ODI’s matches whereas Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla stadium and Bangabandhu stadium have hosted 108 and 58
11. India – the only country to win the 60-over, 50-over, and 20-over WC
India won the 60-over World Cup beating West Indies in 1983, 50-over World Cup defeating Sri Lanka in 2011 and 20-over World Cup beating Pakistan in 2007.
12. MS Dhoni has not scored a century outside Asia
Indian ex-skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has not scored a century outside Asia. Mahi has scored six Test centuries and nine ODI tons, but all of them are scored in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
13. Shocking but true: Richard Stokes witnessed Jim Laker, Anil Kumble taking 10 wickets
Richard Stokes watched only two Tests in his life. At the age of 10, he witnessed Jim Laker taking all 10 wickets against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956. Forty-three years later, he was at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground in Delhi where Anil Kumble took all the 10 wickets against Pakistan.
14. Wasim Akram’s highest score in Test cricket is more than Sachin Tendulkar’s
Legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram’s highest score in Test cricket is 257. On October 20, 1996, Akram scored unbeaten 257 against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura. It is also the highest score by a number eight batsman. On the other hand, Sachin’s highest score in the longest version of the game is unbeaten 248. The Indian maestro scored the double century against hosts Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka in December 2004.
15. Vinod Kambli’s Test match average is better than his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar
Vinod Kambli played only 17 Test matches which included two back to back double tons. Kambli’s Test average is 54.20 while his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar averages 53.78 after 200 Tests.
16. Brad Hogg and Sachin
After claiming Sachin’s wicket, Brad Hogg asked him to sign a photograph of the dismissal. Sachin signed and wrote, ‘it will never happen again’. And it never did.
17. Indian with the most number of T20 international runs
Indian with the most number of T20 international runs is Mithali Raj. She was also the first Indian to reach the 2000-run milestone.
So, these were some of the interesting facts about Cricket. If you know any facts of this kind then let us know in the comments below.
