India’s tour to Sri Lanka in 1997 for a Test series and in the first match played at Colombo, Sri Lanka got out all their guns and blazed it on the Men in Blue. Scoring 952 with six wickets down, Sri Lanka single handedly stunned the Indian team. Till date, this score is unbeaten, making it the highest innings total by a team in Test history.
All thanks to Lanka’s opener and star performer, Sanath Jayasuriya who hit a massive triple ton of 340 and was named as the player of the match. Not just the bat, but even with the ball, Jayasuriya picked up three wickets by giving away just 45 runs.
Centuries from India’s Sachin Tendulkar and former skipper Mohammed Azharuddin also couldn’t save the team. India tried its best but failed in every department, be it bat, ball or fielding. Sri Lanka was unstoppable in the first Test match and has written its name forever in the world of history with this stellar performance.
#OnThisDay in 1997, Sri Lanka put up 952/6d against India – the highest innings total by a team in Test history 🤯 pic.twitter.com/frVufBwjMh
— ICC (@ICC) August 6, 2020
Another unbeaten record is the highest individual score on debut in Men’s ODIs and the record is still held by Desmond Haynes of West Indies. In 1978, he stepped into the international cricket circuit and played his first match against Australia in Antigua. In his debut game, Haynes hit 148 and till date, he is also the batsman who holds the record for the fastest century scored by an ODI debutant.
#DidYouKnow in 1978 Desmond Haynes of West Indies scored 148 against Australia in Antigua.
This still is the highest individual score on debut in Men's ODIs 🙌 pic.twitter.com/2oWCTT3LFM
— ICC (@ICC) August 6, 2020
