#ThisDayThatYear: First official Test match was played 141 years ago
What's the story
141 years ago, the first ever Test match was played on March 15 in 1877 between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia won the encounter by 45 runs. As Test cricket turns a year older, we take a look at some of the Test records that are unlikely to be broken in the near future.
Jim Laker
Most wickets in a single Test match
Anil Kumble once took all 10 wickets in a Test against Pakistan in New Delhi, but there is someone who has a better record. England bowler Jim Laker was on fire during the 1956 Test against Australia at Old Trafford. The spinner bagged 19 wickets for 90 in the Test, 9 for 37 in the first innings and 10 for 53 in the second.
Jason Gillespie
Top score by a nightwatchman
Would you believe it if we told you that former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie has a double hundred in Test cricket? Jason Gillespie might not be known for his batting prowess, but his 201* against Bangladesh in Chittagong will most likely remain the highest score by a nightwatchman for a long time. Australia won the match by an innings and 80 runs
Jayasuriya factor
Highest team total in Test Cricket
Sanath Jayasuriya was one of the most destructive batsmen. He was the leading run-scorer in the match, where Sri Lanka posted the highest ever Test score. He scored 340 and helped Sri Lanka reach 952/6d against India. Notably, Jayasuriya's X factor was also visible when Sri Lanka posted their highest scores in ODIs (443/9) and T20Is (260/6). He scored 157 and 88 respectively.
Brian Lara
Most runs in an innings
Brian Lara was one of the best Test batsman, cricket has seen. Getting his priced wicket was a task as he used to play long innings. Lara holds the record for most runs scored in an innings, when he scored 400* against England in 2004. Lara also holds the record for the top score in first-class cricket, scoring 501* in 1994.
Sachin Tendulkar
Most hundreds in Test Cricket
Sachin Tendulkar is the only man in history to score 100 centuries in international cricket. In his 23-year long career, Sachin managed to score 51 Test tons and 49 ODI hundreds. Sachin would have managed more. But, unfortunately, in 2007 he was dismissed thrice on 99 in ODIs. He also has the most runs in international cricket with 34,357 runs to his name.
Muttiah Muralitharan
Most wickets in Test cricket
Just like Tendulkar's 51 hundreds in Test cricket, Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan's record of 800 Test wickets is likely to remain unbroken. Murali is the most successful off-spinner of all time. He has 534 ODI wickets and 13 in T20Is, taking his tally to 1,347 wickets in international cricket.