How England's world record was broken on pitch 'unfit for Test cricket'

How England’s world record was broken on pitch ‘unfit for Test cricket’

Posted by Admin October 10, 2024 Cricket

ENGLAND’S world record was broken on a pitch “unfit for Test cricket”, according to a legend of the sport.

England have long been a bastion of great batting on the cricket field.

Sri Lanka broke England’s record for cricket’s top score against India in 1997Credit: EPA

Sanath Jayasuriya recorded the fourth-highest score in a Test matchCredit: AP:Associated Press

And they first set an incredible record for most runs in a game with 849 against the West Indies in their 1929/30 clash.

But just eight years later England smashed their own record.

They achieve a score of 903-7 in 1938’s clash against Australia.

And that record lasted 59 years before it came crashing down, with Sri Lanka now holding the current winning record.

They hit a score of 952-6 against India in 1997.

The record has lasted to this day, even though England could have threatened it before they declared on 823-7 in their ongoing match with Pakistan.

Harry Brook notched up a superb 317 and Joe Root hit 262 as both batsmen made their highest test scores on the flat wicket at the Multan Cricket Stadium

But captain Ollie Pope declared, because England are keen to win the opening test.

However back in 1007 Sri Lanka had no other aim than to smash England’s previous record from 1938.

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They accepted that their match against India, who had made 537 for 8, would be a draw on a dead pitch.

And in the rout, Sanath Jayasuriya even recorded the fourth-highest score in a Test match with 340 runs from 578 balls — just shy of Brian Lara’s record of 375.

Joe Root speculates on beating Alastair Cook’s record to become England’s highest ever Test run scorer

Joe Root is hoping to make some history in England's current game against Pakistan — Joe Root is hoping to make some history in England’s current game against PakistanCredit: AFP

He said at the time: “I was happy to go all that way. I wasn’t going after the record.

“At least not until the end of the fourth day, when someone told me I was only 50 short.

“I felt a great pressure when I came out to bat and obviously I am disappointed now — but at least my country has made a great achievement.”

The record Sri Lanka score did not go down well with India cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar though, with the two-Test series ending in a 0-0 stalemate.

He reckons the pitch for the match was “unfit for Test cricket”, and also reckoned India could have hit the record if they had battered second.

Tendulkar, who remains the leading Test run scorer with 15,921, added: “If we lost the toss and batted second, we could also have played a massive innings.

“We only lost wickets because we took chances and looked for runs.”