50+ Mind-Blowing Facts About Cricket Every Fan Should Know

If you think you know cricket inside out, think again. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just starting out, there’s always something new to learn about this sport. These facts about cricket will surprise even the most passionate followers.

Let’s be honest. Cricket isn’t just a game—it’s part of daily life for millions of people. But even if you love watching every match, there’s a good chance you’re missing some of the wildest, weirdest, and rarest facts about cricket. The problem? Most blogs repeat the same old points. You deserve better. That’s why this blog brings you the most talked-about, debated, and searched facts—backed by real stats and current info—written in a way anyone can understand.

1. Oldest Cricket Fact: The Game Is Over 400 Years Old

• Cricket was first recorded in 1598, long before most modern sports.
  
• The first official match happened in England in the 1600s.
  
• The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was formed in 1787 and is still active.

Even back then, the game involved two teams, a bat, and a ball—just like now.

2. Longest Cricket Match Ever: 12 Days

• A Test match between England and South Africa in 1939 lasted 12 days.
  
• It was called off because England had to catch their boat home.
  
• The match is now known as the “Timeless Test.”

Modern cricket uses a 5-day limit to avoid such situations.

3. Shortest Test Match in Terms of Balls Faced

• The 1932 Test between Australia and South Africa in Melbourne lasted just 656 balls.
• Australia won by an innings and 72 runs.
• It remains the shortest completed Test match in history.

4. The Only Two Tied Test Matches in History

• Australia vs. West Indies – 1960, Brisbane.
  
• India vs. Australia – 1986, Chennai.
  
• A Test is tied only when both teams finish with the exact same score and all innings are completed.

Only two ties have happened in over a century of Test cricket.

5. Rohit Sharma Holds the Record for Highest ODI Score

• Rohit scored 264 runs vs. Sri Lanka in 2014.
  
• His knock included 33 fours and 9 sixes.
  
• He is also the only batter with three double centuries in ODIs.

No other player has come close to 264 in ODI history.

6. Fastest Century in International Cricket

• AB de Villiers hit a 100 in just 31 balls in 2015.
  
• It was against West Indies in an ODI match.
  
• His strike rate crossed 300 that day.

It remains the fastest ODI century in history.

7. Most Runs in International Cricket: Sachin Tendulkar

• Sachin scored 34,357 runs in all formats.
  
• He played 664 matches for India.
  
• He made 100 centuries — 51 in Tests, 49 in ODIs.

No other player has matched his run total of centuries.

8. Only Three Players Have Taken 10 Wickets in an Innings

• Jim Laker took 10/53 for England in 1956.
  
• Anil Kumble took 10/74 for India in 1999.
• Ajaz Patel took 10/119 for New Zealand in 2021.
• This has happened only three times in Test history.
• It’s one of cricket’s rarest individual feats.

It’s one of cricket’s rarest individual feats.

9. Most Sixes in International Cricket

• Rohit Sharma currently holds the record for most international sixes across all formats, with 637 sixes in 499 matches, surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous mark of 553.
• Guinness World Records noted that as of November 19, 2023, Rohit had 582 sixes—still enough to break Gayle’s record. 

10. Shortest Player in International Cricket

• Kruger van Wyk (New Zealand) stood at just 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m), the shortest player to play international cricket.
• Before him, Tich Freeman (England) at 5 ft 2 in was the shortest Test cricketer for England.
• Both proved that height does not decide cricketing success.

Skill matters more than height in cricket.

11. MS Dhoni Never Scored an ODI Century Outside Asia

• All of Dhoni’s 10 ODI centuries came in Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
  
• He scored more than 10,000 ODI runs with an average above 50.
  
• He still finished many matches and is known as one of the best finishers ever.

Even without overseas centuries, Dhoni dominated world cricket.

12. Fastest Ball Ever Bowled in Cricket

• Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest delivery at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) in 2003.
  
• It was during a match against England in the World Cup.
  
• He was known as the Rawalpindi Express.

No one else has officially crossed 100 mph in international cricket.

13. First Double Century in Men’s ODI History

• Sachin Tendulkar scored 200 runs* against South Africa in 2010.
  
• It was the first ever double hundred in men’s ODIs.
  
• Since then, several players have reached the mark, but Sachin was the first.

It was a historic moment that changed ODI batting forever.

14. Highest Team Total in ODI Cricket

• England scored 498/4 against the Netherlands in 2022.
  
• It included centuries from Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Dawid Malan.
  
• This broke their own previous record of 481.

Modern ODI games now see scores well above 400.

15. Most Dismissals by a Wicketkeeper

• Mark Boucher (998): The all-time world record holder.
• Adam Gilchrist (905): Second all-time.
• M.S. Dhoni (829): The only player with over 800 dismissals besides Boucher and Gilchrist.
• Kumar Sangakkara (678): A legendary keeper-batsman, often ranked lower in dismissals because he played his final Test years as a pure batsman (not keeping wicket).

16. Youngest Player in International Cricket

• Hasan Raza from Pakistan debuted at just 14 years old.
  
• He played his first Test in 1996.
  
• He remains the youngest official international cricketer.

Age didn’t stop him from making history.

17. Cricket Was Once Played in the Olympics

• Cricket was part of the 1900 Paris Olympics.
  
• Only two teams took part: Great Britain and France.
  
• Great Britain won the gold medal.

Talks are ongoing to bring cricket back to the Olympics soon.

18. First Hat-Trick in Test Cricket

• Fred Spofforth took the first-ever hat-trick in 1879.
  
• He played for Australia.
  
• The term “hat-trick” later became common across other sports too.

It all started with one incredible bowling spell.

19. Most International Matches Played by One Player

• Sachin Tendulkar played a total of 664 matches:
  
  • 200 Tests
    
  • 463 ODIs
    
  • 1 T20I
    
• No player has reached that number yet.

His durability over 24 years remains unmatched.

20. Most Balls Faced in a Single Test Innings

• Hanif Mohammad faced 970 balls against West Indies in 1958.
  
• He scored 337 runs and batted for over 16 hours.
  
• His innings helped Pakistan save the match.

It’s the longest innings ever played in Test history.

21. Cricket Was Played on Ice

• In the 1800s, cricket was played on frozen lakes in England.
  
• Modern “ice cricket” matches were held in Switzerland with players like Afridi and Sehwag.
  
• The ball used is heavier to stay on the ice surface.

Though not official, it’s a fun version of the game.

22. First Cricket World Cup Was for Women

• The first World Cup happened in 1973, for women’s cricket.
  
• England won that tournament.
  
• The men’s World Cup started two years later in 1975.

Women’s cricket made history before the men’s event even began.

23. Largest Cricket Stadium in the World

• Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, holds 132,000+ people.
  
• It hosted the 2023 World Cup Final.
  
• It is the biggest cricket venue ever built.

It’s now the home of major ICC and IPL finals.

24. Longest World Cup Winning Streak

• Australia won 27 matches in a row in World Cups from 1999 to 2011.
  
• This included three World Cup titles in a row.
  
• Their streak ended in the 2011 tournament.

No other team has dominated a tournament like this.

25. Most Ducks in International Cricket

• Muttiah Muralitharan was dismissed for zero 59 times in international games.
  
• Most of these came during his Test career.
  
• He still holds the record for most wickets ever.

Even legends have weak spots—batting wasn’t his.

26. Cricket Bat Size Is Limited by Rules

• The bat cannot be wider than 4.25 inches.
  
• It cannot be longer than 38 inches.
  
• These rules were set to keep the game fair between bat and ball.

Oversized bats were once used, but not anymore.

27. Most Runs in a Test Series

• Don Bradman scored 974 runs in the 1930 Ashes series.
  
• He played just 5 matches to reach this number.
  
• His average in the series was over 139.

No one has broken this record to date.

28. Fastest Fifty in T20 Internationals

• Yuvraj Singh smashed a 50 in just 12 balls in 2007.
  
• This was during the T20 World Cup against England.
  
• He also hit 6 sixes in an over during the same innings.

It’s still the fastest T20I fifty ever.

29. First Pink-Ball Test Match

• The first day-night Test was played in 2015 between Australia and New Zealand.
  
• It was held at Adelaide Oval under floodlights.
  
• A pink ball was used for better visibility.

Day-night Tests are now part of regular ICC schedules.

30. Most Centuries in World Cup History

• Rohit Sharma holds the record with 7 centuries in ICC World Cups.
  
• He scored 5 of them in the 2019 edition alone.
  
• He broke Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 6.

He’s been unstoppable in the World Cup format.

31. Most Matches as Captain in International Cricket

• MS Dhoni captained 332 matches for India.
  
  • 60 Tests
    
  • 200 ODIs
    
  • 72 T20Is
    
• He led India to three ICC trophies: T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and Champions Trophy.

No other captain has led in more matches for one team.

32. First Cricketer to Play 500 International Matches

• Sachin Tendulkar was the first player to cross 500 matches.
  
• He ended his career with 664 international appearances.
  
• This record still stands unbeaten.

His fitness and skill kept him going for 24 years.

33. Highest Run Chase in Test Cricket

• West Indies chased down 418 runs against Australia in 2003.
  
• The match was played in Antigua.
  
• Batters like Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan led the chase.

It’s still the biggest 4th innings chase in Test history.

34. Fastest Bowler in Women’s Cricket

• Cathryn Fitzpatrick from Australia bowled at 125+ km/h.
  
• She played in the 1990s and early 2000s.
  
• Her speed dominated women’s cricket during her time.

She inspired a new generation of fast bowlers.

35. Only Indian With Two Triple Centuries in Tests

• Virender Sehwag scored 309 and 319 in Test matches.
  
• The 309 came against Pakistan, and 319 against South Africa.
  
• No other Indian has more than one triple hundred.

He scored quickly, even in long formats.

36. Most Test Wickets by a Bowler

• Muttiah Muralitharan took 800 Test wickets in 133 matches.
  
• He played for Sri Lanka from 1992 to 2010.
  
• He also bowled over 44,000 deliveries in Test cricket.

He is the most successful bowler in Test history.

37. Most ODI Wickets in History

• Muralitharan also tops ODI charts with 534 wickets.
  
• He played in 350 ODIs.
  
• His economy rate was below 4 runs per over.

He was equally deadly in both formats.

38. First Super Over in International Cricket

• The first-ever Super Over was in 2008 between New Zealand and West Indies.
  
• It happened during a T20 International.
  
• West Indies won the game.

Super Overs are now common in tied T20s and World Cups.

39. Most Wickets in a Test Match

• Jim Laker took 19 wickets in a single Test in 1956.
  
• He took 9 in the first innings and all 10 in the second.
  
• This was against Australia at Old Trafford.

No one has taken more wickets in one match.

40. First Player to Hit 6 Sixes in an Over in ODIs

• Herschelle Gibbs hit 6 sixes in an over during the 2007 World Cup.
  
• It was against Netherlands, bowled by Daan van Bunge.
  
• He was the first player to do this in ODIs.

He made history with that unforgettable over.

41. Most Man of the Match Awards in ODIs

• Sachin Tendulkar won 62 Man of the Match awards in ODIs.
  
• That’s more than any other player in the format.
  
• His performances often changed the result of matches.

He was known for stepping up in big games.

42. Longest Six Ever Hit (Unofficial)

• Shahid Afridi hit a six reportedly measured at 158 meters.
  
• It was against South Africa in 2013.
  
• The distance is debated but widely mentioned.

It’s considered the longest six in cricket history (unverified).

43. Most T20 International Wickets

• Rashid Khan has taken 130+ wickets in T20Is.
  
• He reached the mark faster than anyone else.
  
• He plays for Afghanistan and bowls leg-spin.

His economy and strike rate are among the best in the format.

44. Only Cricketer to Bat at All 11 Positions in ODIs

• Hashan Tillakaratne of Sri Lanka batted at every position from 1 to 11.
  
• It happened across his career from 1986 to 2003.
  
• He is the only player with this unique record.

Shows rare batting flexibility and team trust.

45. Only Two Players Have Batted on All Five Days of a Test

• ML Jaisimha (India) and Ravi Shastri (India) did this.
  
• It means they batted on each of the five days of a Test match.
  
• It requires skill, patience, and match timing.

This rare feat depends on rain delays and batting position.

46. Most Catches in International Cricket (Non-Wicketkeeper)

• Mahela Jayawardene took 440 catches in international matches.
  
• He was known for sharp reflexes in the slips.
  
• No non-wicketkeeper has taken more.

He was as important in the field as with the bat.

47. Fastest Stumping in International Cricket

• MS Dhoni once stumped Keemo Paul in just 0.08 seconds.
  
• It was during an ODI against West Indies.
  
• He is widely known as the quickest behind the stumps.

His reflexes are legendary among keepers.

48. Only Player to Hit a Century and Take 10 Wickets in the Same Test

• Ian Botham achieved this in 1980 against India.
  
• He scored 114 runs and took 13 wickets in the match.
  
• No other player has matched this exact feat.

A true all-round performance that defined dominance.

49. First Player to Score a T20I Century

• Chris Gayle scored the first T20I hundred in 2007.
  
• It was against South Africa in the inaugural T20 World Cup.
  
• He made 117 runs with powerful hitting.
  

That innings set the tone for modern T20 cricket.

50. The Game With the Most Runs in Cricket History

• South Africa vs. Australia, 2006: total 872 runs scored in an ODI.
  
• Australia made 434, South Africa chased with 438/9.
  
• It was the highest scoring match in ODI history.

That match changed how teams approach big chases.

51. Only Double Super Over in International Cricket

• New Zealand and India played the first ever double super over in T20I history in Hamilton, 2020.
• After the scores were tied in the match and the first Super Over, a second Super Over was played.
• India won the match, sealing victory in the second Super Over.
• It remains the only double super over in international cricket to date.

Final Thoughts 

Cricket is more than just a sport—it’s filled with stories, history, and mind-blowing stats. From the oldest matches to the fastest balls, from the biggest chases to the shortest players—there’s always something new to learn.

These 51 facts about cricket were handpicked to give fans a complete view of the game’s past and present. Whether you’re a die-hard supporter or a casual watcher, we hope these facts added something fresh to what you know.

If you enjoyed this post, bookmark it, share it with your cricket friends, and leave a comment with your favorite cricket fact—or one we missed!

FAQ 

1. Who scored the highest individual score in ODI cricket?

Rohit Sharma scored 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2014, which is still the highest in ODI history.

2. What was the longest cricket match ever played?

A Test match between England and South Africa in 1939 lasted 12 days before being called off.

3. Who bowled the fastest delivery in cricket history?

Shoaib Akhtar delivered the fastest ball at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) during the 2003 World Cup.

4. Who has scored the most centuries in World Cup matches?

Rohit Sharma holds the record with 7 centuries in ICC World Cups.

5. Has anyone ever taken 10 wickets in a single Test innings?

Yes, Jim Laker and Anil Kumble both took all 10 wickets in an innings, in 1956 and 1999 respectively.

6. What is the highest run chase in Test cricket history?

West Indies successfully chased 418 runs against Australia in 2003.

7. Who hit the fastest fifty in T20 internationals?

Yuvraj Singh hit a 50 in 12 balls against England during the 2007 T20 World Cup.

8. What is the biggest stadium in world cricket?

The Narendra Modi Stadium in India seats over 132,000 and is the largest in cricket.

9. Who holds the record for most international runs?

Sachin Tendulkar with 34,357 runs across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

10. Who has the most dismissals as a wicketkeeper?

Kumar Sangakkara holds the record with 729 international dismissals.