Test cricket is the ultimate format of the sport. It is a five-day format, where both teams receive two opportunities to bat. The team that scores the highest number of runs in the two innings wins the match. There is also a possibility of a draw in case both teams’ two innings are not completed by the end of the fifth day’s play.
Of late, this format has become a little bit stale. Except for the top-ranked teams, the series involving lower-ranked nations does not attract viewership or interest from the sponsors. England have been trying to reinvent this format with the ‘Bazball’ strategy.
Under new coach Brendon McCullum and new captain Ben Stokes, the England team have won seven of their eight Test matches so far. In their most recent game against Pakistan, the England team created many records. One of them is presented below along with the previous instance when this thing happened.
1. Pakistan lost the Test even though 3 players scored a century
Pakistan offered a flat batting wicket at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for their historic match against the England cricket team. The visitors relentlessly destroyed the home team’s bowlers by scoring more than 650 runs in the first innings. Captain Ben Stokes then made a bold declaration, and a spirited show from the England bowlers led to the team’s win.
Three players, namely Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq scored a ton for Pakistan in the first innings. Still, they lost. This was only the second instance when a team scored three hundreds in one innings and yet lost.
2. Sri Lanka
Teams losing a Test after 3 centuries in an innings:
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) December 6, 2022
Sri Lanka🇱🇰 v AUS🇦🇺 at Colombo, 1992
Pakistan🇵🇰 v ENG🏴 at Rawalpindi, 2022#PAKvENG
Sri Lanka was the first nation to achieve this dubious feat. Back in 1992, they hosted Australia for a match in Colombo. The home team gained a lead of close to 300 runs thanks to tons from Asanka Gurusinha, Arjuna Ranatunga and Romesh Kaluwithrana.
They needed 181 runs for a win in the fourth innings, but the islanders were bundled out for 164 runs as they lost by 16 runs.
