Cricket History & Records
The history of cricket can be traced back to 16th century England, although the game is believed to have originated much earlier, with references to it being played in the 13th century. The game was first documented as a children’s game played by boys in the southeast of England. It gradually grew in popularity, and by the late 17th century, it had become a professional sport.
The Rise of One-Day and T20 Cricket
- One-Day Internationals (ODIs): In 1971, the first One-Day International (ODI) match was played between England and Australia. ODIs rapidly gained popularity and were eventually included in world championships, leading to the first Cricket World Cup in 1975.
- T20 Cricket: The introduction of Twenty20 (T20) cricket in the early 2000s added a new dimension to the game. With its fast-paced, action-packed nature, T20 cricket became a global sensation, culminating in events like the ICC T20 World Cup and Indian Premier League (IPL).
Cricket Records: Legendary Feats
Most Runs in International Cricket
- Sachin Tendulkar (India) holds the record for the most runs in international cricket, with a total of 34,357 runs (Test, ODI, and T20I matches combined). Tendulkar is often referred to as the “God of Cricket” for his unmatched records and achievements.
Most Runs in a Test Match
- Brian Lara (West Indies) holds the record for the highest individual score in a Test match with 400 not out against England in 2004. This remains an unbroken record for over two decades.
Most Runs in an ODI Match
- Ricky Ponting (Australia) and Virat Kohli (India) are among the top scorers in ODIs, but Sachin Tendulkar still holds the record for the most runs in ODIs, with 18,426 runs across 463 matches.
Most Centuries in International Cricket
- Sachin Tendulkar again leads the chart with a remarkable 100 centuries (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs). His consistency across formats is unparalleled.
Highest Individual Score in an ODI
- Rohit Sharma (India) holds the record for the highest individual score in an ODI match, having scored 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2014.
Highest Individual Score in a T20I
- Glenn Maxwell (Australia) set the record for the highest individual score in a T20I match with 145 runs against Sri Lanka in 2016.
Most Wickets in International Cricket
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) is the highest wicket-taker in international cricket, with a staggering 1,347 wickets across all formats (Test, ODI, and T20I).
Most Wickets in a Test Match
- Muttiah Muralitharan also holds the record for the most wickets in Test matches with 800 wickets, a record that may never be broken.
Most Wickets in an ODI Match
- Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) holds the record for the most wickets in ODIs with 395 wickets.
Fastest Century in ODI
- AB de Villiers (South Africa) holds the record for the fastest century in ODIs, scoring it in just 31 balls against the West Indies in 2015.
Fastest Delivery Bowled
- Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) bowled the fastest delivery ever recorded in cricket, clocking at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) against England in 2003.
Most Sixes in a Single ODI Match
- Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) holds the record for the most sixes in a single ODI match, hitting 11 sixes in a match against Sri Lanka in 2013.
Highest Team Score in an ODI Match
- South Africa holds the record for the highest team score in an ODI match, scoring 439/2 against West Indies in 2015.
Highest Team Score in T20I Cricket
- Afghanistan holds the record for the highest team score in a T20I match, with 278/3 against Ireland in 2019.
Most Catches in Test Cricket
- Jacques Kallis (South Africa) holds the record for the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in Test cricket with 200 catches.
Fastest Fifty in T20I Cricket
- Yuvraj Singh (India) holds the record for the fastest fifty in T20Is, scoring it in just 12 balls against England in 2007.
Cricket’s Evolution and Impact
- Global Reach: Today, cricket is played across the globe, with the largest fan base in countries like India, Pakistan, Australia, England, and South Africa. The game’s appeal has only increased with the popularity of domestic T20 leagues, especially the Indian Premier League (IPL).
- Women’s Cricket: Women’s cricket has also risen in prominence, with countries like Australia, England, and India leading the charge in competitive women’s cricket. Mithali Raj (India) and Ellyse Perry (Australia) are considered two of the finest cricketers in the women’s game.