Mind Blowing Facts About Cricket

1. Shahid Afridi used Sachin Tendulkar's bat to hit the fastest ODI century:

Back in 1996, a young Shahid Afridi scored a blazing maiden century off 37 balls against Sri Lanka to create a new ODI world record. Now in his no-holds-barred autobiography, "Game Changer", the former Pakistan blunderbuss reveals that the century was scored using Sachin Tendulkar's bat.
Sachin had given his favorite bat to Waqar Younis to take to Sialkot, Pakistan's world-famous sports goods manufacturing capital, and get a custom-made one replicated there. "But guess what Waqar did before he took it to Sialkot? He gave it to me before I went in to bat. So effectively, that first century in Nairobi by Shahid Afridi was made with Sachin Tendulkar's best bat. A stunning 102 off 40 balls, Afridi's knock was studded with 11 sixes and 6 boundaries and came at a T20-type scoring rate of 255. He was playing his second ODI game and batting for the first time.

2. Lala Amarnath is the only bowler to dismiss Don Bradman hit wicket in test cricket:

Lala Amarnath is the only cricketer in the world to dismiss Sir Donald Bradman hit wicket. Amarnath was also the first Indian cricketer to score a century in Test cricket. He was India's first cricket captain and captained India in the first Test series win against Pakistan in 1952.

Lala Amarnath played 24 matches for India in which he scored a total of 878 runs at an average of 24.38 and amassed 10,426 runs in 184 first-class cricket at an average of 41.37. He also had 463 wickets in first-class cricket and 45 international wickets.

3. India is the only country to win the 60-over, 50-over, and 20-over world cup:

India is the only country to have won the 60, 50, and the 20-over Cricket World Cups. After winning the last 60-over World Cup under Kapil Dev's leadership in 1983, India won the 20-over and 50-over World Cups under MS Dhoni's captaincy in 2007 and 2011 respectively. Interestingly, only the West Indies have a chance of equalling the feat.

4. Alec Stewart was born on 8-4-63 and he scored 8463 runs:

Alec Stewart is one of the few cricketers who outshone his father, Mickey Stewart. Stewart senior played eight Tests and scored 385 runs at an average of 35.00.

Alec Stewart, however, played 133 Tests and averaged almost 40 per innings. He scored 8463 runs — the second-highest run-getter for England in Tests after Graham Gooch.

But there is something more memorable and strange to the quantum of runs Alec Stewart scored. He was born on 8-4-63 — the exact tally of runs he ended his Test career with!

5. Asif Karim of Kenya has played international cricket and Davis cup (tennis) for his country:

Born December 15, 1963, Asif Karim followed his father’s shoes to pursue an exceptional career in tennis. He even represented Kenya in Davis Cup. However, as it often happens with multi-talented people, he had to discard a career in tennis and take up cricket. He played for Kenya in three World Cups, leading them in one, was extremely successful in 1996, and pulled off one of the greatest spells in World Cup cricket in 2003. The Karims is the premier sports dynasty in Kenya. Yusuf Karim was a tennis legend, while his brother Pyarali Karim was no mean player either. Yusuf’s elder son Aarif was also a competent tennis player, and the younger son Aasif went on to play both Davis Cup and World Cup Cricket for Kenya.

6. On the morning of 11/11/11, South Africa needed 111 runs to win at 11:11:

It was Day 3 of the first Test between South Africa and Australia. After some drama that saw South Africa fold for 96 in reply to Australia's 284, the Aussies were sent packing for 47. South Africa needed 236 to win and on the 3rd day were 125/1 when an interesting stat came up. At 11: 11 am, South Africa needed just 111 runs to win. Even more importantly, the date 11.11.11. How much of a coincidence is that? It was not lost on the scorers as they displayed it on the big screen. Truly a rare moment in the game. This one won't be happening until 2111 if at all. All the fans in the crowd stood on one leg for that minute to commemorate "the Nelson of all Nelsons" with umpire Ian Gould also getting into the spirit.

7. Peter Siddle is the only bowler to take a hat-trick on his birthday:

The man they call Sid Vicious made England's middle order look like punks. Peter Siddle produced one of the all-time great Ashes bowling spells to claim a hat-trick within six scalps as Australia flexed muscle on day one at The Gabba.
With the third ball of his 12th over, Siddle removed opener Alastair Cook, who had scored a defiant 67 runs in nearly five hours at the crease. Cook's edge flew to Shane Watson in the cordon, and Siddle had broken the ominous 72-run stand between the opener and Ian Bell.

Matt Prior strolled in next but played around a searing straight delivery that sent the bails towards the heavens, and Siddle was on the brink of the first Test hat-trick by an Australian bowler in Brisbane. Enter Stuart Broad, who could do little as Siddle's 142km/h yorker struck his toes. The delirious celebration was stopped momentarily as Broad desperately called for the referral of umpire Aleem Dar's lbw decision. The replay confirmed the wicket and Siddle's place in history.

8. Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan before India:

Can you imagine Sachin Tendulkar playing for Pakistan before India? He was just a 13-year-old boy when he made his international debut as a fielder. This happened during a practice match between India and Pakistan at the Brabourne Stadium in 1987 where Tendulkar came on the field as a substitute fielder for Pakistan. The date was January 20, 1987. It was an exhibition match between Indians and Pakistanis to mark the golden jubilee of the Cricket Club of India. The venue was Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. It was a 40 overs-a-side match and played before the five-Test series, which was Sunil Gavaskar’s last. Tendulkar, still a little over three months away from his 14th birthday, was excited when the opportunity to the field came.