R Ashwin, the Indian cricketer, recently made headlines for his exceptional performance in the first Test against Bangladesh, where he scored his sixth Test century. This achievement is remarkable as it places him among the elite group of cricketers who have managed to score centuries from the No. 8 position or lower in the batting order. However, it is worth noting that out of his six centuries, only four of them were scored from the No. 8 position. Ashwin also scored two centuries while batting at No. 6 during India’s series in the West Indies in 2016.
This feat by Ashwin raises the question of whether he holds a record for the most Test centuries scored from the lower-order positions. While Ashwin’s achievement is impressive, he shares the record for most centuries from No. 8 with Daniel Vettori of New Zealand, who also has four centuries from that position. Additionally, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal is just one century behind, having scored three centuries from the lower-order positions.
Moving on to other cricketing milestones, Travis Head’s remarkable innings of 154 not out in the first one-day international against England at Trent Bridge stands out as the highest ODI score by an Australian against England in England. This innings surpassed Shane Watson’s previous record of 143 in Southampton in 2013. Furthermore, Marnus Labuschagne’s outstanding all-round performance in the same ODI, where he contributed with a half-century, three wickets, and four catches, was a rare achievement. Only two other players, Greg Matthews of Australia and Jacques Kallis of South Africa, have managed to achieve a half-century along with three wickets and three catches in the same ODI.
In a different cricketing scenario, the recent Caribbean Premier League match witnessed an unusual occurrence when Roshon Primus bowled an over that lasted 13 balls. While this may seem like a record-breaking feat, the ESPNcricinfo database reveals that there have been instances of overs lasting 14 deliveries in T20 matches. Players like Bhutan’s Thinley Jamtsho and Mongolia’s captain Luwsanzundui Erdenebulgan have encountered such situations in the past, with overs containing multiple wides and no-balls.
Lastly, the emergence of cricketers from lesser-known regions like Sint Maarten is a testament to the global reach of the sport. Keacy Carty, born in Sint Maarten in 1997, made his Test debut against South Africa, becoming the first Test cricketer from the Caribbean island. This development highlights the diverse talent pool that cricket continues to attract from various corners of the world.
Overall, these unique cricketing achievements and milestones reflect the rich history and global appeal of the sport, showcasing the talent and dedication of players from different backgrounds and regions.