From Mahela Jayawardene to Rahul Dravid, the most dynamic fielders with most catches in international cricket

Mahela Jayawardene is the record-holder for most catches in international cricket.

The former Sri Lankan cricket team captain took a whopping 440 catches as a fielder in an international career that ran from 1997 to 2015 and registered a catch per innings rate of 0.572.

Jayawardene is followed by Ricky Ponting. The former Australian skipper has 364 catches in 560 matches and is known for registering the most catches in the ICC Cricket World Cup (28 catches in 46 matches).

Ross Taylor, who will bid adieu to international cricket following the third ODI against the Netherlands in April 2022, is the third player with the most catches in international cricket.

The New Zealand great has 348 catches in 448 matches across all formats in cricket and could add to the tally in the final match of his illustrious career.

Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid complete the top five list for players with most catches in international cricket.

Kallis, one of South Africa’s greatest players in the sport, took 338 catches in 519 matches in a career that spanned from 1995 to 2014.

Rahul Dravid, arguably the greatest slip catcher the Indian cricket team has ever seen, has 334 catches in 509 matches and continues to be the player with the most catches by an outfield player in Test cricket (210).

Most catches in international cricket

Player Matches Catches
Mahela Jayawardene 652 440
Ricky Ponting 560 364
Ross Taylor 448 348
Jacques Kallis 519 338
Rahul Dravid 509 334

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / PRAKASH SINGH

From Sachin Tendulkar to Alastair Cook, know have scored the most centuries in Test cricket

Former India batter Sachin Tendulkar has recorded the most centuries in Test cricketRegarded as one of the greatest batters in cricket history, Tendulkar smashed 51 hundreds in the longest format of the game. 

Having made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1989, the right-hander amassed 15,921 runs in 200 Test matches at an impressive average of 53.78 with 68 fifties to his name. It is still the all-time highest runs scored in Test cricket.

The Maharashtra-born cricketer also holds the record for the highest run-scorer of all time in international cricket. 

The second on the list for most centuries in Test cricket features former South Africa cricketer Jacques Kallis. The former all-rounder hit 45 hundreds in his Test career. Between 1995 and 2013, Kallis aggregated 13289 runs in 166 Tests at an average of 55.37.

Former Australia cricket team captain Ricky Ponting is third on the list for most centuries in Test cricket. Ponting smashed 21 tons in the longest format. Having batted mostly at number three, the right-handed batter accumulated 13378 runs in 168 Tests at an average of 51.85. 

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and India’s Rahul Dravid complete the top five list for most centuries in Test cricket. The ex-Sri Lanka skipper registered 38 Test tons while Dravid hit 36 hundreds in his Test career.

While Sangakkara amassed 12400 runs in 134 Test matches at an average of 57.40, Dravid ended his Test career with 13288 runs in 164 games at an average of 52.31.

Steve Smith and Virat Kohli have scored the most centuries in Test cricket among active cricketers, smashing 27 hundreds each.

Most centuries in Test cricket

Player Matches Hundreds
Sachin Tendulkar (India) 200 51
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) 166 45
Ricky Ponting (Australia) 168 41
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) 134 38
Rahul Dravid (India) 164 36
Younis Khan (Pakistan) 118 34
Sunil Gavaskar (India) 125 34
Brian Lara (West Indies) 131 34
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) 149 34
Alastair Cook (England) 161 33

Featured photo: DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFP

Run machines: Know the top five players with most runs in international cricket

Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 34,357 runs across formats is the record for most runs in international cricket.

The former Indian cricket team batter, who made his international debut against Australia in 1989, played a total of 664 international matches across all three formats, hitting 100 tons and 164 half-centuries. 

During his career that spanned from 1989 to 2013, Tendulkar played 200 Test matches - the most by any player - 463 ODIs and appeared in a solitary T20I.

The Master Blaster has several other records to his name. To begin with, his return of 15,921 runs in the longest format is the most by any player in Test cricket history. 

Furthermore, he also holds the record for most runs in ODI cricket in a calendar year (1894). He did so in 1998 by hitting nine tons and seven half-centuries. Interestingly, no bowler managed to dismiss him for a duck that year.

Tendulkar’s record of 34,357 runs is significantly more than second-placed Kumar Sangakkara, who scored 28,016 international runs during his 15-year career. The Sri Lanka legend, who hit a record seven consecutive fifties in Test cricket, played 594 matches between 2000 and 2015, hitting 63 centuries and 153 half-centuries.

Sangakkara is followed by Australia’s World Cup-winning captain, Ricky Ponting. Between 1995-2012, Ponting appeared in 560 international matches across formats, scoring 27,483 runs at an average of 45.95. During this time, he managed 71 tons coupled with 146 fifties.

While the top five list for most runs in international cricket is completed by Mahela Jayawardene (25,957) and Jacques Kallis (25,534), Virat Kohli is the only active player to score more than 20,000 runs in international cricket. The former Indian cricket team captain has so far accumulated 23,569 runs in 456 matches. He sits seventh on the list for most runs in international cricket. 

Kohli is followed by Joe Root (16602), Rohit Sharma (15643), David Warner (15593) and Tamim Iqbal (14243) for most runs in international cricket by active players.

Most runs in international cricket

Player Team Span Matches Runs 100s 50s
Sachin Tendulkar India 1989-2013 664 34,357 100 164
Kumar Sangakkara Sri Lanka 2000-2015 594 28,016  63 153
Ricky Ponting Australia 1995-2012 560 27,483  71 146
Mahela Jayawardene Sri Lanka 1997-2015 652 25,957  54 136
Jacques Kallis South Africa 1995-2014 519 25,534  62 149

Featured photo: AFP / Munir uz Zaman

From Brian Lara to Chris Gayle, know the highest individual Test scores

West Indies great Brian Lara’s unbeaten knock of 400 against England in 2004 is the highest individual Test score. The top-order player batted for nearly 13 hours as he became the first cricketer ever to score 400-plus runs in an international Test.

With Windies electing to bat first against a Michael Vaughan-led England, Lara came into bat at number three  after Daren Ganga was dismissed for 10 runs. And the rest is history.

Brian Lara smashed 43 boundaries and four sixes in his historic knock as West Indies registered a first innings score of 751/5d in their 2004 Test. The team total ended up being one of Windies’ highest Test scores.

However, this wasn’t the first time Lara scored the highest individual Test score. In 1994, the Windies legend hit 375 runs against England at Antigua and broke a 36-year record set by Garfield Sobers in 1958.

The second player on this list is Matthew Hayden. The Australian opener broke Brian Lara’s nine-year record for the highest individual Test score with his knock of 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003. Put to bat first, hosts Australia rode on Hayden’s first and only triple hundred to pile on a match-winning total of 735/6d.

Fourth on the list, Mahela Jayawardene registered the highest individual Test score by a Sri Lankan cricketer when he hammered 374 runs against South Africa in a 2006 Colombo Test. By doing so, Jayawardene became just the second player after Sanath Jayasuriya (340 vs India, Colombo, 1997) to score a triple century.

Sir Garry Sobers - fifth on our list - previously held the record for highest individual Test score from 1958 to 1994. Sobers, the first player to hit six sixes in an over, remained unbeaten on 365 against Pakistan in the 1958 Kingston Test. Garry Sobers scored his maiden Test century in the match before going forward to add another 265 runs to his impressive innings.

Among Indian cricketers, Virender Sehwag has the highest individual Test score. The legendary India opener scored 319 runs in the 2008 Chennai Test, which the hosts eventually drew against South Africa. What sets this knock apart from Sehwag’s Test centuries is that the opener reached his triple century in 278 balls - the fastest Test triple century by number of balls faced.

Highest individual Test score

Player Opponent Runs Year
Brian Lara England 400* 2004
Matthew Hayden Zimbabwe 380 2003
Brian Lara England 375 1994
Mahela Jayawardene South Africa 374 2006
Garfield Sobers Pakistan 365* 1958
Leonard Hutton Australia 364 1938
Sanath Jayasuriya India 340 1997
Hanif Mohammad West Indies 337 1958
Wally Hammond New Zealand 336* 1933
David Warner Pakistan 335* 2019
Mark Taylor Pakistan 334* 1998
Don Bradman England 334 1930
Graham Gooch India 333 1990
Chris Gayle Sri Lanka 333 2010
Michael Clarke India 329* 2012
Inzamam-ul-Haq New Zealand 329 2002
Andy Sandham West Indies 325 1930
Virender Sehwag South Africa 319 2008
Kumar Sangakkara Bangladesh 319 2014
Chris Gayle South Africa 317 2005

Author: William Paul

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Slip fielders dominate list of most catches in Test history

Former India cricket team captain Rahul Dravid holds the record for the most catches in Test historyDravid grabbed 210 catches in 164 Test matches.

However, despite the stellar record, the Karnataka-born cricketer has taken a maximum of three catches in an innings of a Test match. A regular slip fielder for India during his playing days, Dravid played a pivotal role in helping Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh claim several of their Test wickets.

The second on the list of most catches in Test history is Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene. The ex-Sri Lanka skipper completed 205 catches in 149 Test matches before calling time on his playing career. Jayawardene was amongst the best slip fielders of his era and formed great coordination with former off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan, helping him bag 72 off his 800 Test dismissals. 

Dravid and Jayawardene are followed by former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis, ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting and former Australia cricketer Mark Waugh.

Jacques Kallis took 200 catches in 166 Tests while Ricky Ponting grabbed 196 catches in 168 matches. Meanwhile, Mark Waugh, considered to have one of the safest pairs of hands during his playing career, took 181 catches in 128 Tests.

Amongst active cricketers, New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor has taken the most catches in Test cricket. Taylor has grabbed 161 catches in 110 Test matches. 

Most catches in Test cricket

Player Span Matches Innings Catches
Rahul Dravid 1996-2012 164 301 210
Mahela Jayawardene 1997-2014 149 270 205
Jacques Kallis 1995-2013 166 315 200
Ricky Ponting  1995-2012 168 328 196
Mark Waugh 1991-2002 128 245 181
Alastair Cook 2006-2018 161 300 175
Stephen Fleming 1994-2008 111 199 171
Graeme Smith 2002-2014 117 225 169
Brian Lara 1990-2006 131 241 164
Ross Taylor 2007-2021 110 208 161

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Featured photo: PRAKASH SINGH / AFP

Top five batting partnerships in Test cricket

The importance of partnerships in Test cricket cannot be overstated. A good partnership helps a team set up a solid foundation to build from and affords the rest of those who follow the freedom to express themselves against the bowlers. Lengthy partnerships are also fundamental when it comes to teams looking to save a Test match while the opposition goes in for the kill.

With that in mind, we have a look at the top five partnerships in the history of Test cricket.

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene – 624

After bundling out South Africa for 169 in the first innings of the first Test of the Proteas’ 2006 tour, Sri Lanka found themselves on the backfoot momentarily following the dismissal of Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga early on. However, what followed was the coming together of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene at the crease to put on a record 624-run stand – the highest in the history of Test cricket.

South Africa’s bowlers were made to toil for days by Sangakkara, who scored 287, and Man of the Match Jayawardene, who made 374. The Sri Lankans eventually declared after putting 756 runs on the scoreboard and went on to win the Test comfortably by an innings and 153 runs.  

Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama – 576

A pure run-fest if there ever was one, the first Test during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 1997 won’t be remembered fondly by the bowlers of either side. One reason why this match is still spoken of in cricketing quarters is Sanath Jayasuriya’s 576-run stand with Roshan Mahanama. After Navjot Sidhu, Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar had all scored centuries to help India declare with 537 runs on the board, it was Sri Lanka’s batsmen’s turn to pile the misery on India’s bowlers. And that’s exactly what Jayasuriya and Mahanama did as the hosts went on to post a record 952 runs in their first innings.

Man of the Match Jayasuriya scored 340 at the top of the order and Mahanama was dismissed after making 225. Needless to say, the match ended in a draw.

Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe – 467

The first Test during Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand in 1991 is one that most Kiwis will remember fondly. After a below-par effort in the first innings by the hosts saw them just manage to score 174, Sri Lanka looked like they were in the driver’s seat after they replied with 497 runs in their first innings. With the pressure now firmly on the Kiwis, Andrew Jones and the legendary Martin Crowe rose to the occasions to help dig their team out of a hole. While Crowe used his peerless stroke-making ability to keep the scoreboard ticking, Jones’ gritty technique complemented his partner at the other end perfectly. Together they put on 467 runs, which was a new record partnership in Tests at the time. Jones scored 186 and Crowe made 299 as he fell agonizingly short of a triple ton but helped New Zealand draw the match.

Bill Ponsford and Sir Donald Bradman – 451

The fifth and final Test of a five-match series between age-old rivals Australia and England in 1934, both teams had it all to play for with the series tied at 1-1 heading into the decider. Australia won the toss, deciding to bat first and there was no looking back after that. An early wicket brought Sir Donald Bradman to the middle to join opener Bill Ponsford and the duo soon took control by putting on a 451-run stand, which is still the highest partnership by two Australian batsmen.

Ponsford scored 266 before being dismissed, while Bradman scored 244 as Australia put 701 runs on the scoreboard in the first innings. Bradman scored 77 in the second innings as well to emphatically announce his return to form following a lull compared to his lofty standards. Australia eventually won the match by 562 runs.

Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad – 451

The fourth of a six-match series between arch-rivals in 1983, the tourists India had to beat hosts Pakistan to stay alive. However, Pakistan’s Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad had other ideas as the duo put India’s bowlers to the sword with exquisite stroke-play. They dominated the Indian bowlers, with Nazar scoring 231 and Miandad remaining unbeaten on 280. They put on 451 runs together for the team in each other’s company. Pakistan finally declared after making 581 and bowled out India for 189 in the first innings and 273 in the second to win the Test by 119 runs and seal the series. Unsurprisingly, Miandad picked up the Man of the Match award for his superb knock.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sanka Vidanagama

Former SL stars respond to sports minister who claimed 2011 WC was ‘sold’

Sri Lanka "sold" the 2011 World Cup final to India, the country's former sports minister said  Thursday, reviving one of cricket's most explosive match-fixing controversies.

Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who was sports minister at the time, is the second senior figure to allege the final was fixed, after 1996 World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga.

"I tell you today that we sold the 2011 World Cup finals," Aluthgamage told Sirasa TV. "Even when I was sports minister I believed this."

Aluthgamage, sports minister from 2010 to 2015 and now state minister for renewable energy and power, said he "did not want to disclose" the plot at the time.

"In 2011, we were to win, but we sold the match. I feel I can talk about it now. I am not connecting players, but some sections were involved," he said.

Sri Lanka lost the match at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium by six wickets. Indian players have strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Ranatunga, who was at the stadium as a commentator, has previously called for an investigation into the defeat.

"When we lost, I was distressed and I had a doubt," he said in July 2017. "We must investigate what happened to Sri Lanka at the 2011 World Cup final."

"I cannot reveal everything now, but one day I will. There must be an inquiry," added Ranatunga, who said players could not hide the "dirt".

Sri Lanka batted first and scored 274-6 off 50 overs. They appeared in a commanding position when Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar was out for 18. 

But India turned the game dramatically, thanks partly to poor fielding and bowling by Sri Lanka, who were led by Kumar Sangakkara.

Sangakkara called on Aluthgamage to share his allegations with the International Cricket Council, the global governing body. 

"He (the minister) needs to take his 'evidence' to the ICC and the Anti-corruption and Security Unit so the claims can be investigated thoroughly," Sangakkara tweeted on Thursday.

Sri Lankan cricket has regularly been involved in corruption controversies, including claims of match-fixing ahead of a 2018 Test against England.

Earlier this month, the Sri Lankan cricket board said the International Cricket Council was investigating three unnamed former players over alleged corruption.

Sri Lanka introduced tough penalties for match-fixing and tightened sports betting restrictions in November in a bid to stamp out graft.

Another former sports minister, Harin Fernando, has said Sri Lankan cricket was riddled with graft "from top to bottom", and that the ICC considered Sri Lanka one of the world's most corrupt nations.

Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilhara Lokuhettige was suspended in 2018 for corruption relating to a limited-overs league.

He was the third Sri Lankan charged under the ICC anti-corruption code, following former captain and ex-chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya, and former paceman Nuwan Zoysa.

Jayasuriya was found guilty of failing to cooperate with a match-fixing probe and banned for two years. Zoysa was suspended for match-fixing.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Indranil Mukherjee

Who are the most unsuccessful captains in Indian T20 League?

There have been as many as 50 captains in the history of the Indian T20 League and some really successful ones, including MS Dhoni of Chennai and Rohit Sharma of Mumbai I. But who are the most unsuccessful captains in the league? We filter out the captains who have led teams for at least 20 games to come up with the least successful ones.

Kumar Sangakkara

The veteran Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman skippered three Indian T20 League franchises - Team Deccan, Punjab and Hyderabad. In 47 matches as skipper across three seasons, Sangakkara could muster only 15 wins while his team went on to lose double the number of games. His win percentage of 34.04% is the lowest for any skipper who has led in at least 20 matches in the Indian T20 League.

Read | Three batsmen to take an Indian T20 League hat-trick

Mahela Jayawardene

Following closely on Sangakkara's heels is Sri Lanka’s 2011 World Cup final centurion, Mahela Jayawardene. The former Lankan skipper had a pathetic record as skipper in the Indian T20 League, winning just 10 of his 30 matches as skipper. Jayawardene led teams like Delhi, Kerala and Punjab during a three-year stint as captain.

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane's credentials as a T20 batsman is quite questionable and so is his record as skipper. The Indian Test vice-captain has just nine wins in 25 games as the skipper of Rajasthan and as a back-up captain to Steven Smith for Pune. With a win percentage of just 36% Rahane fares among the worst captains in the league's history. It is no surprise that Rajasthan were eager to bring back Smith as skipper given Rahane's suspect record at the helm. 

Read | Who has the most sixes in an innings in Indian T20 League?

Reduce the cut-off to just 10 matches and we have a slew of other names popping up in the list. This includes Kevin Pietersen, who led Delhi and Bangalore for just three wins in 17 matches (won percentage of 17.64%) as skipper. Aaron Finch with a win percentage of 20% in 10 matches as skipper comes close behind.

Virat Kohli - A player born to break records

Virat Kohli might have missed out at Visakhapatnam but at Pune, where India struggled to put together a century in either innings against Australia two years back, the Indian cricket team captain slammed a seventh Test double ton to grind South Africa down on Day two of the second Test of the ongoing series.

Here are few stats and facts from his record-breaking innings:

Seventh Double ton

Kohli slammed his seventh double century in Test cricket, making him the Indian with most double hundreds in the format. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, two other batsmen who had a fetish for daddy hundreds, have six apiece. He is also the joint fourth highest in the world after Don Bradman, Kumar Sangakkara and Brian Lara. While Bradman has 12, Sangakkara has 11 and Lara 9. Wally Hammond and Mahela Jayawardene have seven each like Kohli.

Fourth quickest to 7000 runs 

Virat Kohli took 138 innings to reach the landmark of 7000 Test runs making him the joint fourth fastest in the world and third fastest Indian to the landmark. Wally Hammond, who did it in 131 innings, is the quickest while Virender Sehwag (134 innings) and Sachin Tendulkar (136 innings) also did it quicker than Kohli. He equalled Kumar Sangakkara and Garry Sobers' record by reaching 7000 runs in 138 innings.

Highest score

This is Virat Kohli's highest Test score. He had earlier made 243 against Sri Lanka in Delhi in 2017-18 in a drawn Test match. That was his highest Test score until he made 254* at Pune against South Africa on Day two of the second Test. His other double hundreds are 235 (vs England), 213 (vs Sri Lanka), 211 (vs New Zealand), 204 (vs Bangladesh) and 200 (vs West Indies). Only one of those - against West Indies - has come outside India.

Read: 68 international centuries, 11 years, 1 Virat Kohli

Highest among Indian captains

Kohli's 254* is the highest score by an Indian Test captain. He surpassed his own record set in Delhi when he made 243. It's also the highest by an Indian captain against South Africa with the previous best being Sachin Tendulkar's 169 in 1996-97. There has only ever been one higher score by an Indian against South Africa in Tests - Virender Sehwag's 319 in 304 balls at Chennai.

Double tons against nations

Kohli has double centuries against six Test nations now. Only Kumar Sangakkara and Younis Khan have double tons against six nations. Interestingly, Kohli has double centuries against all nations he has played Tests against except Australia.

A first 250 plus score

While the 254* is Kohli's highest score, he also joined a select group of Indian players who have 250-plus scores. Virender Sehwag, Karun Nair, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid are the other Indians to have made 250-plus scores in Tests.

Read: The rare blips in Virat Kohli’s impressive Test career

Featured image courtesy: AFP / Punit Paranjpe

Fernando can be Sri Lanka's 'spark', says Jayawardene

Former captain Mahela Jayawardene says Avishka Fernando can be the "spark" to reignite Sri Lanka after the 21-year-old hit his maiden one-day international ton against the West Indies.

Fernando's century on Monday helped secure Sri Lanka's third win of the tournament but it was too little too late for the Asian side, who cannot qualify for the semi-finals.

"It has been a tough couple of years for Sri Lanka but we have learned our lessons," Jayawardene wrote in a column for the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"It is important that we plan around a group of players who will be there for the next four years and I think Avishka has shown he has to be a big part of that."

"He will take a lot of confidence from this and he has now proven to himself that he can go on and do it on the international stage," added Jayawardene.

"I thought he might start the tournament but the selectors understandably went with experience. But as this tournament has progressed, it’s been clear we have needed a spark. And there it is."

Fernando was only drafted into the side for Sri Lanka's sixth match.

He impressed in making 49 in a shock win over England and was Sri Lanka's joint top scorer with 30 in a disappointing nine-wicket thrashing by South Africa.

Fernando will have another chance to shine when Sri Lanka round off their World Cup campaign against India on Saturday.