Top 5 ODI records that were broken in 2018

Cricket is not the game it once was. It has always undergone constant change. Especially the 20th century saw the game evolve by leaps and bounds. As a consequence of the smaller boundaries, heavier bats and fitter players in the modern-day cricket, the world records are being shattered with ease in the recent times. With batsmen possessing exceptional fitness levels and bowlers adapting to all kinds playing conditions, the achievements of the past seem rather tame.

We are just halfway through 2018 but numerous records have been broken already this year. Let us take a look at top five of such ODI records that have been broken in 2018.

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#5 Highest score in a bilateral ODI series - Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

The India vs South Africa ODI series at the beginning of the year was a dream series for the India captain, Virat Kohli, who amassed 558 runs at an average of 186 in six innings with the help of three centuries. He became the first-ever batsman to breach the 500 runs barrier in a bilateral ODI series, surpassing his teammate Rohit Sharma’s 491 against Australia in 2014.

The fact that Kohli didn’t have an ODI hundred in South Africa before this tour makes his achievement even more special, as the 29-year-old ended his drought with three tons.

#4 Highest runs conceded by a bowler in an ODI - Cara Murray

Cara Murray

Not every time, records justify the greatness of the player or a team but more often than not, they reflect how miserable a day a team or a player has had, and this is one of such records that any cricket player or team would be ashamed to own.

In the very match where New Zealand women's team posted the highest ever ODI total, the Ireland women bowler, Cara Murray, conceded 119 runs in her quote of 10 overs, which were the most by any bowler in ODIs. Incidentally, it was Murray's first ODI. Murray's spell went past New Zealand's Mick Lewis' 113 runs against South Africa at Wanderers in 2006.

#3 Highest team total in women's ODI - New Zealand

New Zealand women's cricket team

New Zealand women's cricket team created history on 8th June, as they posted a gigantic total of 490/4 in an ODI against Ireland. This is the biggest ODI innings total in the history of cricket.

The White Ferns first surpassed the highest score in the men's game of 444/3 by England, and then they outdid their own 21-year-old record of 455 runs. New Zealand's skipper Suzie Bates was the star of the innings with a remarkable knock of 151 runs off 94 balls while Maddy Green scored 121 runs off 77 balls.

#2 Highest opening partnership in ODIs - Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq

The Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman has been making headlines in the limited overs format since his debut in June 2017. The dashing opener joined Imam-ul-Haq, and broke the world record of the highest opening partnership on 20th July 2018, where they added 304 runs for the first wicket, the first-ever 300+ partnership for the opening wicket.

This effort broke yet another long-standing record of 286 runs, held by Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya for 12 years, after their exploits against England in Leeds in 2006.

#1 Highest total in ODIs - England

England cricket team

Eoin Morgan's England team has come a long way after that underwhelming performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, where they crashed out in the group stage.

On 19th June 2018 at Trent Bridge, England became the first team to eclipse the 450 run-mark in ODIs. In 2016, at that very ground, they put a record-score of 444 against Pakistan. England outdid themselves, and this year Australia were their victims.

Jason Roy and Johnny Bairstow banked on the hapless Aussie bowling and shredded them to all corners. Bairstow and Alex Hales compiled their hundreds (139 off 92 balls and 147 off 92 balls) while Roy and the captain Morgan stepped up with half-centuries to take England to a jaw-dropping total of 481/6.