The caravan of the India-England Test series has arrived at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, after passing over the sloping terrain of Hyderabad, Vizag, Rajkot, and Ranchi.
The fight of Baz-Ball vs (Insert the first three letters of any Indian cricketer’s name)-Ball is about to climax, despite the fact that the series has already been settled. The spotlight would be mostly on Ravichandran Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow’s 100th Tests, as it should be.
However, there are several other, relatively lesser records at stake, which we will look at below.
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal aims for India’s records in Test cricket
India’s new Test opener has excelled in this series. Yashasvi Jaiswal has 655 runs from four Tests, including two double hundreds and two half-tons, and has carried the batting several times, contributing significantly to the 3-1 advantage.
It would remind people of Virat Kohli’s incredible performance against the same opponent in 2016. Jaiswal now has an opportunity to overcome that as well.
Virat Kohli scored 655 runs in the 2016 series in five Tests, including a 200, a 100, and two 50s. It remains the most number of runs scored by an Indian in a Test series against England. Jaiswal just needs one more run to beat it.
The left-hander would also like to break Sunil Gavaskar’s overall Indian record of 774 runs from the legendary four-Test series against the West Indies in 1970/71, which is the greatest score for the country in any Test match.
2. James Anderson eyes a rare fast-bowling record in Test cricket
James Anderson is over 40 and continues to do what he has always done: smash records. With eight wickets in three Tests this series, the veteran bowler now has 698 Test wickets from 186 games at an average of 26.52.
He’d pick two more in Dharamshala where conditions are cooler and slightly more helpful for swing. If he does that, he’ll be the first fast-bowler to pass 700 wickets and only the third overall behind Muthiah Muralidaran and Shane Warne.
This week, the standard for fast bowlers may be set.
3. Ravichandran Ashwin could make his 100th Test more special with a record fifer
If playing the 100th Test on the most beautiful of grounds wasn’t enough to finish off a thrilling journey of hard work and perseverance, Ashwin will also have the opportunity to place himself high in the country’s record books.
If he takes five wickets in either innings, it will be his 36th, surpassing Anil Kumble’s tally of 35 fifers from 236 innings, which is presently joint-highest among Indians. Overall, 36 will bring Ashwin up to the level of New Zealand icon Richard Hadlee, while 37 will put him on par with the great Shane Warne.
The highest, however, is Muralidaran’s 67, which would undoubtedly be too much for any bowler, not just Ashwin.
