Greatness often transcends statistics. But in cricket, numbers and records can never be ignored. And as someone said, "Records are meant to be broken." Gaurav Gupta looks at the records that might fall soon, and the people who might break it and achieve cricketing immortality…
Most Test runs: The quality of the current highest run-getter, with 11,953 runs, Brian Lara, can be gauged from the fact that he went past Allan Border’s tally of 11,174 in 35 fewer Tests. Lara also set a fresh benchmark in batsmanship with a record score of 400 not out. Sachin Tendulkar is just 664 runs behind.
Prediction: Sachin crossing Lara in the second Test against SA in March.
Most Test wickets: Shane Warne, with 708 wickets, was perhaps the greatest leg-spinner ever. He won matches, revived a dying art and bowled magical deliveries. And he did all this while living life to the fullest. Muttiah Muralitharan, on the other hand, is the most devastating off-spinner in history. Yet he is the most controversial, because of his unusual action.
Prediction: Could happen even as you are reading this. Watch the news, quick.
Most Test catches: Mark Waugh was as pleasing in the slips as he was with the bat. Nothing escaped his athletic frame. The Aussie holds the Test record for the highest number of catches: 181. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is closing in with 161.
Prediction: Fleming should cross Mark Waugh in November next year in Australia.
Most ODI wickets: Wasim Akram was arguably the greatest left-arm seamer, and boasts 502 scalps.But Muralitharan is just 47 wickets away.
Prediction: Murali can be expected to become the top ODI wicket-taker too, when Lanka tour the Windies to play five ODIs in March next year.
Most catches in ODIs: The agile Mohammad Azharuddin took a record 156 catches in ODIs. Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene, with 132 catches, should eventually surpass him.
Prediction: Jayawardene might achieve the record when India play five ODIs in Sri Lanka in July next year.
The record in running
Most ODI matches: Sachin has played 407 ODIs. If he keeps going, Tendulkar could be the first to play 500 ODIs. Jayasuriya, at 38, has played just four games less.
Prediction: Should go neck and neck
Most wicket-keeping dismissals in Tests: Mark Boucher has pouched a record 403 scalps. The South African has pocketed 384 catches and effected 19 stumpings. Adam Gilchrist is next in line with 391 dismissals to his name: 354 catches and 37 stumpings.
Prediction: Boucher is 30 and Gilchrist 36, and that effectively means Boucher can sleep peacefully.
Most Test centuries: Tendulkar has a record 37 Test hundreds. Catching up is Ricky Ponting, with 33 tons under his belt. The Australian captain smashed eight hundreds in the period when Sachin went from his 35 to 36.
Prediction: At 32, Ponting has plenty of gas left in him to go past Tendulkar. Should have the record to himself in a year’s time.
Source: http://cricket.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2588319.cms
