Lucknow joins a special list

Lucknow becomes the fourth city to host Tests at three or more grounds, Rahkeem Cornwall becomes the eighth visiting bowler to takes a seven-wicket haul on Indian soil, and more.

The Ekana stadium became the 121st ground in Test cricket and only the second stadium in India to host a Test match without the participation of the host country when Afghanistan and the West Indies played each other in cricket’s longest format for the first time.

4

The number of cities that have the distinction of hosting Test cricket at three or more grounds. The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow recently become the latest entrant to this elite city list, joining Johannesburg, Mumbai and Colombo. The Ekana stadium became the 121st ground in Test cricket and only the second stadium in India to host a Test match without the participation of the host country when Afghanistan and the West Indies played each other in cricket’s longest format for the first time. In March, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Dehradun had hosted the Afghanistan-Ireland Test match.

Cities hosting Test matches at three or more grounds/stadiums

+ Now not used for first-class cricket.

 

8

The number of visiting spin bowlers to claim a seven-wicket haul in an innings on Indian soil, West Indian Rahkeem Cornwall, against Afghanistan at Lucknow, becoming the latest. Aussie Nathan Lyon is the only one to appear on the list twice.

Seven-plus wicket hauls in an innings by visiting spin bowlers in India

Note: Cornwall’s figures came against Afghanistan. The rest were against India.

 

149

The number of innings David Warner needed to reach his maiden triple century in Test cricket, at Adelaide against Pakistan. This is now the third most innings required by batsmen to reach their maiden triple century in Test cricket.

Most innings to reach maiden Test triple century

Note: India’s Karun Nair needed the fewest innings to reach his maiden triple century – just three innings, against England at Chennai in December 2016.

 

126

The number of innings that Steve Smith needed to reach 7,000 runs in Test cricket, against Pakistan at Adelaide, is now the quickest. England’s Walter Hammond held the previous record of 131 innings, since 1946, i.e. for 73 years. Incidentally, Smith became the 50th batsman in Test cricket to go past the aggregate of 7,000 runs.

Fewest innings to reach 7,000 Test runs

Note: Don Bradman scored 6,996 runs in just 80 innings from 52 Tests!