For the record: Eight cricket feats that standout
Those who said not all records are made to be broken forgot that there is a game named cricket and that talent in cricket is as abundant as if it grows on trees.
The cricketing world was struck with the demise of Philip Huges who was hit by a bouncer by Sean Abbot and ICC’s crackdown against throwing which resulted in banning of various players, yet the cricketing year saw many highs and elating moments.
Like every year, teams and players were able to surpass previously set records and perform outstandingly, achieving various feats.
Let’s take a look at those who managed to stand out.
Corey can
Boom Boom Afridi’s long held record of fastest ODI hundred from 37 was smashed by Corey Anderson of New Zealand. Hitting 12 sixes and four fours to score the fastest century, Anderson gave a perfect start to the cricketing year. He went on to score 137 not out of 47 balls, helping his team post a total of 283 against West Indies, who got out for just 124. Corey also holds the record of most sixes in ODIs in 2014 with 27 from 11 innings.
Rohit Sharma: One man army
Who thought Rohit Sharma alone would be enough to take on the whole Sri Lankan team. Sharma scored 264 runs from 173 balls, which is the all time record of most runs by an individual in an ODI. His feat helped India reach a total of 404, which is the most runs by a team in ODIs in 2014. The Sri Lankan team batting second managed to reach a total of 251 all out, falling 13 runs short of Sharma’s individual score. Sharma stayed for 225 minutes on the field, hitting nine sixes and 33 fours to achieve this feat.
Legend Sangakara lets his bat do the talking
Words cannot describe the greatness of Kumar Sangakara. Having overall 37 centuries in Tests and 20 in ODIs, Sanga has scored the most runs in Tests and ODIs in 2014. He played 20 innings to score 1,486 in the year, while 1,258 in ODIs came from 28 matches.
His 319 against Bangladesh is the highest score by an individual in Tests in 2014.
Herath Hunt downs 9
Howzaat! Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka sent nine Pakistani players back to the pavilion to achieve the feat of best bowling figures in a single innings of a Test match. Herath went on to dismiss another five players in the second innings to help his team win by 105 runs. Herath bowled 55 overs in the match.
He also achieved the feat of most wickets in Tests in 2014 by casting the magic of his bowling 60 times in 20 innings.
Sri Lanka’s mammoth total
The first month of 2014 saw the heroics of one of the most talented batsmen alive, Mahela Jayawardene, who scored 203 not out to help his team post a massive grand total of 730/6 (declared) in the first innings against Bangladesh. No other team could pass this feat in 2014. B’desh lost the match as they fell short by 248 runs even after playing both innings.
What the duck
While we talk of double centuries and most sixes, there are players who hardly managed to score a run. Rahat Ali has achieved a unique feat by getting out on duck four times in seven test matches in 2014. Sri Lankan player Kulasekara tops the most ducks list in ODIs with six ducks in 12 innings.
Good with hands
England Skipper Alastair Cook’s safe hands sent 15 players back to the pavilion. His feat of taking most catches in 2014 came from just eight matches. Sangakara dismissed players 39 times in 28 innings while being behind the stumps, achieving the feat of most number of dismissals by a wicket keeper in 2014. Out of 39 instances, six were stump outs.
