Cricket, often described as a game of glorious uncertainties, has a history spanning centuries and is replete with awe-inspiring records. While statistics like “most runs” or “highest wickets” grab headlines, it’s the quirky, unusual, and truly unique cricket records that sometimes best capture the magic and unpredictability of the sport. Let’s explore a curated collection of rare cricket achievements, each illustrating just how remarkable—and sometimes bizarre—the world of cricket can be.
1. Jim Laker’s 19 Wickets in a Single Test
In the world of bowling feats, Jim Laker’s 19-wicket haul stands unmatched. During the 1956 Old Trafford Test between England and Australia, Laker spun a web so relentless that he claimed 19 out of 20 Australian wickets across two innings. His figures of 9/37 and 10/53 remain almost mythical, making him the only player in history to take 19 wickets in a Test match—a record unlikely to be broken any time soon.
2. Sachin Tendulkar: The Only Player with 100 International Centuries
The “Little Master” is no stranger to records, but perhaps his most unassailable is scoring 100 international centuries—a combined total from Tests and ODIs. Achieving consistency at the highest level for over two decades, Tendulkar’s feat represents not just talent, but longevity, discipline, and adaptability to every kind of bowler and condition imaginable.
3. Yuvraj Singh’s Six Sixes in an Over
In the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup, Yuvraj Singh etched his name into the record books when he hit England’s Stuart Broad for six consecutive sixes in a single over. Achieving this in a high-pressure international game (not in a domestic or exhibition match) remains a rare occurrence. Only a handful of players worldwide have accomplished such dominance in a single over at the international level.
4. Wilfred Rhodes: The Longest Test Career—Over 30 Years!
Wilfred Rhodes’ Test career began in 1899 and ended in 1930. Spanning a staggering 30 years and 315 days, Rhodes’ longevity is remarkable not just for modern eras, where careers are often cut short by fitness demands and packed schedules, but also as a testament to his adaptability through generational shifts in playing style and opposition.
5. Sir Don Bradman’s Career Batting Average of 99.94
No list of unique cricket records is complete without a nod to Sir Donald Bradman, whose Test batting average of 99.94 is the Everest of cricketing statistics. To put this in perspective, no batter with a significant career has come anywhere close to this average, and Bradman’s mark is routinely cited not only as cricket’s greatest statistical achievement, but as one of the most extraordinary numbers in global sport.
6. The Only Tied Test: Australia vs. West Indies, 1960
Cricket’s Test format is usually about the distance—a five-day marathon where a draw is not uncommon. But in 1960, Brisbane hosted the first-ever tied Test, where both teams were dismissed for identical totals. The drama, tension, and rarity of such an outcome have been seen only once more in a tied Test in over 2,000 games played since.
7. The Triple Century in a Single Day: Don Bradman Again
It’s challenging enough to score 300 runs in a Test match—but doing it in one day? Don Bradman managed just that during the 1930 Leeds Test against England, racing to 309 by stumps on the first day. No batter before or since has emulated this feat in Test cricket.
8. Brian Lara’s 400 Not Out in a Test Innings
Brian Lara was already a legend when he scored 375 (then the highest individual score in Test cricket). Amazingly, he went on to reclaim his record by scoring 400 not out against England in 2004. That Lara remains the only man to cross the 400-run barrier in a Test inning is a testament to his skill, endurance, and concentration.
9. Lasith Malinga’s Four Wickets in Four Balls—Twice!
Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga is famed for his slinging action and deadly yorkers. Even more unique: he remains the only bowler to take four wickets in four consecutive balls in international cricket, accomplishing the feat in both ODIs and T20Is. Achieving a “double hat-trick” once is astonishing; twice defies belief.
10. AB de Villiers’ Fastest ODI Fifty and Hundred
AB de Villiers, known for his 360-degree stroke play, holds the record for the fastest half-century (16 balls) and century (31 balls) in ODI cricket. Achieved against the West Indies in 2015, these lightning-quick innings redefined the limits of aggressive cricket and left fans and bowlers in utter disbelief.
11. Test Hundred Before Lunch: Only Four Batsmen
Scoring a Test century is a cherished milestone, but to do it before lunch on the opening day is nearly mythical. Only four players—Victor Trumper, Charlie Macartney, Don Bradman, and Majid Khan—have managed this. The combination of pitch freshness, new-ball challenge, and brisk scoring makes this one of cricket’s most elusive records.
12. Highest 10th Wicket Partnership: 198 Runs
Usually, the last batting pair in an innings does not last long. But Ashton Agar and Phil Hughes of Australia stunned England by adding 163 runs for the 10th wicket in 2013—the highest ever for the 10th wicket in Test cricket at the time, illustrating that even tail-enders can produce moments of magic.
13. Most Runs in a Single Over in Test Cricket: 28
While T20s have seen overs go for more than 30 runs, Test cricket has traditionally been a bowler’s game. Yet, Brian Lara smashed 28 runs in a single over off South Africa’s Robin Peterson in 2003, showing that the long format can also witness explosive batting spurts.
14. Only Bowler to Take Two Hat-Tricks in a Single ODI: Wasim Akram
Pakistan’s Wasim Akram was the first—and remains the only—bowler to take two hat-tricks in ODIs, both in 1999, and both against Sri Lanka. This achievement is exceptional given the difficulty of taking three wickets in three consecutive balls.
15. Muttiah Muralitharan’s 800 Test Wickets
Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in Test history, with a staggering 800 wickets to his name. His knack for spinning webs around batters in all conditions is the stuff of legend, and no other bowler has breached the 800-wicket mark in the longest format.
Conclusion
Cricket’s intricate tapestry is woven not just with big numbers but also with these memorable feats that remind us why fans cherish the game. From nearly superhuman endurance to moments of audacious skill to records that may never be matched, the world of unique cricket records is as rich and unpredictable as the game itself.
