Cricket has given us some truly extraordinary feats—records so colossal that they might very well stand for decades, if not forever. Here’s a deep dive into five iconic records that many analysts and fans believe are virtually impossible to break.
1. Sir Donald Bradman’s Test Batting Average: 99.94
One of the most legendary numbers in all of sport: Bradman finished his Test career with an average of 99.94. thebridge.in+2CricTracker+2
Why it’s nearly unbreakable
- Modern cricketers rarely average even 60 over a long Test career.
- The changes in the game—more formats (ODIs, T20s), heavier workload, more specialists—mean fewer players remain in Tests long enough to sustain such a number.
- The margin is tiny. To beat 99.94, a player would almost need to average 100—which is practically unrealistic.
2. Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 International Centuries
Tendulkar is the only player in history to score 100 centuries across all international formats. Cricket Addictor+2ABP Live+2
Why it’s nearly unbreakable
- Players today are less likely to play all three formats for long stretches—T20 leagues and workload management shorten careers.
- Even for top batsmen, hitting dozens of centuries across formats is extremely challenging.
- The modern schedule makes it unlikely someone will get enough matches to replicate the longevity and consistency required.
3. Muttiah Muralitharan’s All-Format Wicket Haul: 1,347 International Wickets
Muralitharan holds the record for total international wickets across formats—an astonishing figure. oncricket.com+2thebridge.in+2
Why it’s nearly unbreakable
- Modern bowlers, especially spinners, rarely get the volume of matches and wickets across formats to approach that number.
- Usage of bowlers is more managed (rotation, fatigue, injury), reducing opportunities.
- The number is so high that even a long, stellar career might not suffice unless everything aligns perfectly.
4. Brian Lara’s 400* in a Test Innings
In 2004, Lara scored an unbeaten 400 in a Test match—the highest individual score in Test cricket history. SportsAdda
Why it’s nearly unbreakable
- Test match time pressures, declarations, and strategic factors make scoring 400 unrealistic in modern cricket.
- The emphasis on quicker results and the shortening of multi-day matches reduce the chance of such massive individual innings.
- It requires a blend of endurance, form, time at the crease, and favourable conditions—all rarely aligning.
5. Jim Laker’s 19 Wickets in a Single Test Match
Laker took 19 wickets in a Test (9 in the first innings + 10 in the second) back in 1956—a record no one has come close to since. SportsAdda+1
Why it’s nearly unbreakable
- For a bowler to take 19 wickets, their team must bowl twice and he must dominate almost every innings—a rarity.
- Modern workload management, pitch standards, batting improvements, and match strategies make such dominance less probable.
- The conditions and era in which Laker played offer advantages that are less common now (e.g., spinner-friendly pitches, longer innings).
Bonus: Some Other “Forever” Records
- Teams chaining massive win-streaks or innings totals that seem out of reach today. SportsAdda+1
- Specific bowling spells like 21 consecutive maiden overs by Bapu Nadkarni (India) in 1964. Sky247 English
What Makes a Record Unbreakable?
- Past‐prime era: Many records were set in eras with more matches, fewer formats, and less scheduling strain.
- Structural change: Cricket today has many formats (ODI, T20, Assign Tests), franchise leagues, rotation—reducing the chance of raw volume.
- Statistical margin: The gap between the record and the next best is huge.
- Evolving game‐conditions: Faster scoring, shorter matches, more aggressive styles; while great for excitement, they reduce ultra-endurance feats.
- Luck + longevity + peak form: Many of these records combine all three—players are rarely blessed with all three together nowadays.
