Cricket Records That Will Most Likely Never Be Broken
Cricket history dates back to almost 150 years old. And throughout its long history, numbers, stats and cricket records have shaped the game so far.
Fans debate averages. Experts compare milestones. Every generation produces new heroes and fresh records. Some fall quickly. Others stay untouched for decades.
But there are certain cricket records that feel almost impossible to break. The game has changed. Calendars are tighter. Formats are shorter. Players rotate more often.
Let’s take a look at some cricket records that may stand forever.
1. Muttiah Muralidaran’s 800 Test Wickets
Muttiah Muralidaran played Test cricket for 18 years, from 1992 to 2010. He finished with 800 wickets in 133 Tests across 230 innings. The Sri Lankan legend claimed 67 five-wicket hauls and 22 ten-wicket hauls in a match. Those numbers alone look unreachable.
The second-best is Shane Warne with 708 wickets. No active cricketer is even close to those numbers. Most leading wicket-takers in Test history are retired. Only Nathan Lyon remains active among the top names.
With fewer Tests being played and more focus on T20 cricket, it is very hard to imagine a bowler lasting long enough to take 800 wickets again in Test cricket history.
2. Don Bradman’s Average of 99.94
Donald Bradman scored 6,996 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 99.94. He hit 29 centuries and 13 fifties in 80 innings. He needed just 4 runs in his final innings to finish with an average of 100.00. But he was dismissed for a duck.
Nearly eight decades later, no batter has come close to averaging 100 in Test cricket or anywhere close to Bradman’s numbers.
Modern pitches, stronger bowling attacks, focus on shorter formats and tighter schedules make that number look all the more unreal to achieve in the future.
3. 974 Runs in a Test Series – Don Bradman, 1930
Bradman scored 974 runs in a single Test series against England in 1930.
Since 1994, the highest series aggregate has been 798. That is almost 20 percent lower.
Recently, Shubman Gill scored 585 runs in two Tests and raised talk of a record chase. But he finished the series with 754 runs.
Scoring close to 1,000 runs in a five-Test series requires 200 runs per match on average. In today’s game where there are plenty of distractions like media chatter and social media, that is extremely difficult.
With fewer five-Test series being played, this record looks safe to stand the test of time.
4. Jim Laker’s 19 Wickets in One Test – Greatest Cricket Record
In 1956 at Old Trafford, Jim Laker delivered one of cricket’s greatest performances and created one of the greatest ever cricket records to stand till date.
Against Australia, he took 9/37 in the first innings. In the second innings, he took 10/53. He finished with 19 wickets in the match.
To break this record, a bowler must take all 20 wickets or 19 for fewer runs. In modern cricket, with stronger batting depth and workload management, that feels nearly impossible.
5. Chaminda Vaas’ 8/19 in ODIs
In 2001, Chaminda Vaas tore through Zimbabwe. He took 8 wickets for just 19 runs in 8 overs, including 3 maidens. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 38 in 15.4 overs. And it wasn’t in a Test match but in a one-day international.
It remains the best bowling figures in ODI history till date and will stay for years to come.
With powerplays, heavier bats and the sport leaning towards the batters slightly, an 8/19 performance looks almost untouchable.
6. Alastair Cook’s 159 Consecutive Tests
Former England skipper Alastair Cook played 159 consecutive Test matches between 2006 and 2018.
He never missed a game due to injury or form. Modern cricket runs on workload management. Injuries are common. Player rotations are frequent to try and test new combinations.
Even the thought of playing 159 straight Tests in today’s age feels unrealistic.
7. Brian Lara’s 400* in a Test Innings
Brian Lara remains the only batter to score 400 in a Test innings.
He achieved the unbeaten 400 against England in 2004. He also holds the highest first-class score of 501*.
The southpaw faced 582 balls and hit 43 fours and 4 sixes. Modern Test cricket pushes for results. Teams declare earlier. Batters attack more.
In 2025, Wiaan Mulder reached 367* against Zimbabwe but declared at lunch, finishing 33 short. He later said he did it out of respect for Lara’s legacy.
That moment showed how rare 400 truly is.
8. Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 International Centuries – Best Cricket Record
Sachin Tendulkar scored 100 international centuries during his 24-year long career, hitting 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs.
The closest active player is Virat Kohli, who has 80+ centuries.
But even Kohli may find it extremely hard to reach 100 hundreds as he has retired from Tests and is only active in ODIs. And, the modern cricket calendar has fewer ODI matches as compared to the other two formats.
With T20 cricket dominating schedules, scoring 100 international hundreds looks nearly impossible.
Why These Cricket Records Matter
Cricket continues to evolve. T20 leagues grow stronger. Test matches become shorter. Careers are managed carefully.
Yet these cricket records remain untouched.
They remind us of different eras. Of bowlers who bowled long spells. Of batters who batted for days and of their consistency across decades.
Some records will fall in the future. But these eight stand on a different level. For now, they look eternal.