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Cricket, the gentleman's game is more than just a game. In India, It's just impossible to remain unaffected by the love-wave of this game. Even, the people who do not have any kind of interest in any sport, they would also be stuck to the television set during a match between India and Pakistan, or a World Cup match. So, all the cricket lovers around the globe should know these 15 mind-blowing facts about cricket.
#1 Player who played Tests for two countries
Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, the '8th Nawab of Pataudi', was the only cricketer, who played Test cricket for both India and England. He played six Test Matches, three for India as captain and three for England.
Pataudi played his debut Test as a member of England National Team. He played Test cricket for England in 1932 and 1934. Later, he played for India National Team in 1946. He was also the captain of Team India.
#2 Champions in all format World Cups
India is the only country to hold the record of winning all the 60-overs, 50-overs and 20-overs World Cup.
In 1983, India won the 60-overs ICC World Cup, beating West Indies in the final. In 2007, India won the 20-overs ICC World Twenty20, beating Pakistan in the final and in 2011, India won the 50-overs ICC World Cup, beating Sri Lanka in the final.
#3 Player with most consecutive Test appearance
Former English skipper, Alastair Cook is the only player, who has played the most number of consecutive Test matches. Cook has played 157 consecutive Tests and surpassed Allan Border, who previously held the record for playing most number of consecutive Test matches, 153.
#4 All the four innings of a Test on the same day
The Lord's Test between England and West Indies in 2000 holds a unique record. All the four innings of that Test were played on the same day.
Two more such instances are there. In 2002, the Test between New Zealand and India, and in 2011, the Test between South Africa and Australia.
#5 Player who got Hat-trick on his birthday
Peter Siddle, the Australian pacer, is the only player who has taken a hat-trick on his 26th birthday, in the Ashes 2010. On the very first day of the series, Siddle dismissed Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell in back to back three balls.
#6 Player who hit a six off the first ball of a Test
Chris Henry Gayle is the only man who has smashed the very first ball of a Test match for an over-boundary.
It was the first Test match between West Indies and Bangladesh, at Mirpur in 2012. Gayle swung the first ball of the match, bowled by debutant Sohag Gazi, high over the long-on boundary. 18 runs came from the first over of that Test match.
#7 Player who was out off the first ball of a Test match thrice
The 'Little Master', Sunil Gavaskar is the man, who was out off the first ball of a test three times. He was dismissed by Geoff Arnold (Edgbaston, 1974), Malcolm Marshall (Kolkata, 1984) and Imran Khan (Jaipur, 1987).
#8 Bowler who dismissed Don Bradman hit-wicket in Test Cricket
Lala Amarnath was the only bowler, who dismissed Sir Donald Bradman hit wicket in the 1948 Brisbane Test match.
#9 Miraculous similarities between two Indo-Pak matches
The matches played between India and Pakistan in 1985 and 2014, do have unnatural similarities. Just go through the stats, and you will also get shocked.
#10 Surprising facts about Team India's win at Lord's Test
In 1983, India won their first ever World Cup and three years later, in 1986, India won their first ever Test at Lord's. Again in 2011, Team India won their second World Cup trophy and surprisingly, exactly after three years, in 2014, India won their second ever Test at Lord's.
The shocking similarities between 1986 and 2014 wins at Lord's of Team India are -
Both captains were the World Cup winners.
A Sharma took 5 and more wickets, Chetan and Ishant.
A Binny scored 9 runs off 19 balls in first innings, Roger and Stuart.
A batsman of Mumbai origin scored a century, Vengsarkar and Rahane.
Both the wins occur after 3 years of World cup win.
Both the years, Fifa WC Final was between Argentina and Germany.
#11 Player who scored Test runs equal to his date of birth
Alec Stewart, an English cricketer, was born on 8th April 1963 (8-4-63) and scored 8463 Test runs during his Test career.
#12 Player who played two different sports at the same time
'Captain Cool' of Kenya, Aasif Karim has played both International cricket and Tennis (Davis Cup, 1988) for his country, Kenya.
#13 Unbelievable coincidence in World Cricket
During the first Test between South Africa and Australia at Cape Town, this coincidence took place. On 11/11/11 at 11:11, South Africa were at 125 for 1, needing further 111 runs to win.
#14 Sachin played for Pakistan before India
"Sachin for Pakistan! Are you kiddin'?"
Yeah, really! Can you just imagine, before India, Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan? Yes, the incident is true as this happened during a practice match between India and Pakistan in 1987, at the Brabourne Stadium where Sachin came on the field for Pakistan as a substitute fielder.
#15 Two Indian players who got to bat on all 5 days of a Test
ML Jaisimha and Ravi Shastri are the only Indian players, who got to bat on all the five days of a Test match. This is also a unique record.
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