Cricket’s biggest rivalry, The Ashes is all set to start from December 8 onwards at Brisbane. Australia are the current title holders of the Ashes, having drawn the 2019 edition in England. The series will be part of the ongoing 2021-23 World Test Championship. Ahead of the Ashes, Australia skipper Tim Paine stepped down from captaincy following an off-field scandal. Pat Cummins was named the captain of the Australia test team, while Steve Smith will be the vice-captain.
As the saying goes on in sports, “Records are meant to be broken.” However, over the years, we have witnessed several records being scripted by players. From the legendary Don Bradman to Jim Laker, Alastair Cook to Steve Smith, many great players hold some unbreakable records. So, here we look at some of the unbreakable records in Ashes.
1. Best bowling figures in a Ashes
Jim Laker holds the world record for best figures in a Test match. He is also the first bowler to pick up all 10 wickets in Test innings. This record came in 1956 Ashes at Manchester where he finished with the figures of 19/90. In the history of Tests, only two bowlers have managed to pick up 10 wickets in an innings. So, it’ll be fair to say that this record of Jim Laker is impossible to break.
2. Highest team total in an Ashes
England’s record of 903/7 at Oval is the highest team total in an Ashes Test. Poms batted for 335.2 overs in the fifth Test and comfortably won the game by an innings. In the history of Test matches, only two teams have managed to breach the 900-run mark in an innings – England, and Srilanka.
3. Don Bradman’s record of most centuries
Legendary batter Don Bradman holds the record of scoring most centuries in the Ashes series. In fact, Bradman’s tally of his 19 centuries against England is also the world record for most centuries against a particular Test team.
Jack Hobbs is next on the list with 12 centuries in the Ashes series. While among current batsmen, Steve Smith has 5 centuries so far. It is almost impossible for any cricketer to get past the tally of Bradman in Ashes.
4. Highest wicket-taker – Shane Warne (195)
Legendary spinner, Shane Warne holds the record for the most wickets in the history of Ashes. The leg-spinner picked up 195 wickets from just 36 matches. This is also a world record for most wickets against opposition in Tests. Glenn McGrath is second on the list with 157 wickets. Among the current bowlers, veteran pacer James Anderson is the only bowler who has 100+ Ashes wickets.
5. Highest score by an individual
Sir Leonard Hutton holds the record of the highest individual score in Ashes of 364 against the Aussies in 1938 at The Oval. The most special thing about this record is he achieved this feat in only his sixth Test appearance. Since then, nobody has come closer to this feat. Hutton ended his career with 6,971 runs at 56.67 with 19 hundreds from 79 Tests.
