5 great all-time cricket records that can be broken in the foreseeable future

So many records are being broken and milestones achieved every week that it is certainly cumbersome to keep a track of who’s and what’s. But then there remain a few pristine landmarks that are so towering that one would be inclined to believe they’d stand the test of time.Once in many years though, a special talent comes who threatens those landmarks and flatters imagination, but it is only when he is too close that one believes in the improbable. Not all great records are expected to tumble yet but some do, and it is those in mind that the author handpicks the most possible five.

#5 Most Test runs in a career

Alastair Cook might surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s Test career-run total

Now we are talking about the Holy Grail for every Test batsman and surprise, surprise! Alastair Cook makes the list once again.

It’s quite a debate whether the Gloucester-born batsman can surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s aggregate of 15921 runs before he hangs up his boots, since at 30, Cook is certainly not getting any younger.

However, the technically well-equipped opener has rekindled his never out of form kind of reputation by scoring 450 runs in his last 3 Tests including a double-ton at Abu Dhabi. He barely has another six years at hand which roughly translates into 75 matches considering England goes at 13 Tests per year on an average.

The classy left-hander is still 6141 runs shy of the milestone but at his current average of 47.47, the task looks reasonably realistic. Injuries must not be a worry, nor should be form; and although the onus remains on time to declare the outcome, Cook is undeniably on the road towards ultimate greatness.

#4 Most ODI hundreds against one team

AB de Villiers’ love for India is only matched by Quinton de Kock’s love for India

This is a tricky territory not because the statistics are overwhelming – which definitely aren’t as a matter of fact – but because maintaining dominance against a single team year after year is a tough ask today with intelligent cricket being the norm.

Sachin Tendulkar played 70 innings and scored in excess of 3000 runs including 15 fifties before he amassed 9 hundreds against Australia – a record that stands to this date. The only active cricketer in the top 10 list following him is AB de Villiers, who is ranked at 5 with 6 centuries against India.

At almost 32, the South African maverick doesn’t have time on his hand and it seems less likely that he will surpass Tendulkar despite being the superhuman that he is.

The only viable competitor is his countryman, Quinton de Kock who loves the Indian bowling attack so much that he has converted all his 50+ scores to hundreds in the 9 matches he has played against India. 5 tons at 74.11 against MS Dhoni’s men puts him as a prospective candidate for breaking the record, although one wonders if it would be too optimistic to hope from someone who is yet to find his footing in Test cricket.

#3 Most consecutive Test matches for a team

Alastair Cook has been breaking all of England’s batting records one by one

Allan Border had quite a number of records to his name at his retirement. He had featured in more Tests, more consecutive Tests, more Tests as captain and also taken more catches than any other player. Add to that his incredible batting average of 50.56.

Meanwhile, a tall and handsome Englishman by the name of Alastair Cook debuted against India at Nagpur in March, 2006 and played two Tests before sitting out. He rejoined the playing XI on May 11 that year and has never again missed a Test since.

Cook has already played 120 consecutive Tests and needs only 34 more to surpass Border – that’s barely 3 more years given the number of matches England plays every year – which should not be a problem for the 30-year-old, considering his excellent athleticism. With 9780 runs at 47.47, he might also be looking forward to better Border’s 11174 on the way.

#2 Most Test wickets by a fast bowler

Glenn Mcgrath’s record is facing heat from Dale Steyn

During his 14 years of dominance at the highest level of the game, Australian pace spearhead Glenn McGrath did set a few records, the dearest among them being probably the one with most Test wickets by a pacer. With 563 scalps from 124 matches, he sits at fourth among the highest wicket-takers in Tests behind Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble.

His feat though doesn’t look too safe, for South African sensation Dale Steyn has been rising up the rankings steadily in the last few years. He is still 161 wickets shy but at his strike-rate of 41.7, the big day may not be too far. That is, of course, if he manages to dominate for another 3-4 years and remains injury-free throughout.

#1 Most ODI centuries in a career

Virat Kohli is capable of breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most centuries in ODIs

The only Sachin Tendulkar record with the word ‘most’ in it that seems achievable within the next decade is this. 49 ODI centuries from 463 matches is no mean feat and with the longevity and form Tendulkar had had throughout his 23-year-long career in limited overs cricket, the possibility of anyone challenging that seems distinctly remote.

Anyone but Virat Kohli. At 27, the right-hander from Delhi is piling up some serious numbers with 23 hundreds already to his name. Averaging over 50, Kohli is scoring a century in just over 7 matches, which is 2 less than what Tendulkar took.

Considering the fact that more ODIs are being played as opposed to Tests these days, Kohli seems well-set to topple the record by the time he hangs up his boots even after taking into account the imminent run drought in future.