We all know the record of Brian Lara 400, but just like Neil Armstrong and the moon landing, who is second?
Everything you need to know about the Test triple centurions and the highest scores in Test cricket.
Key Takeaways
There have been 31 Test triple centuries (including one quadruple century, Brian Lara 400).
Brian Lara 400*, Matthew Hayden 380, Brian Lara 375, Mahela Jayawardene 374, and Sir Garfield Sobers 365 are the Top 5 Test individual scores in Test cricket.
Don Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag, and Chris Gayle each have two Test triple centuries, the most in Test cricket. Don Bradman (299*) and Virender Sehwag (294) came close to three triple centuries.
Hanif Mohammad (970 minutes) played the longest innings, while Sanath Jayasuriya (799 minutes) and Len Hutton (797 minutes) are the other longest Test triple centurions.
The breakdown of triple centuries in Test cricket as follows: Australia (8), West Indies (6), England (5), Pakistan (4), India & Sri Lanka (3), and South Africa & New Zealand (1).
List of Test Cricket Triple Centuries: Top 31 Highest Individual Scores in Test Cricket
1. Brian Lara (West Indies): 400* vs England, 2004
Honorable Mentions: Sir Donald Bradman (299*), Martin Crowe (299), Sir Alastair Cook (294), Virender Sehwag (293), Sir Vivian Richards (291), Ramnaresh Sarwan (291), Ross Taylor (290)
Final Thoughts
These are some of the finest innings in Test cricket.
From Brian Lara’s 400 & Garfield Sobers’ 365 to Hanif Mohammad’s 337 & Brendon McCullum’s 302, each triple century holds legendary folklore.
Who will be next?
Oh and by the way, Buzz Aldrin was the second person to walk on the moon in that Apollo 11 mission.
Frequently Asked Questions – Highest Scores in Test Cricket
How many triple centuries have been scored in Test cricket?
There have been 31 triple centuries in Test cricket.
Who has the most Triple centuries in Test cricket?
Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag, & Chris Gayle each have two Test triple centuries in Test cricket.
Who played the longest Test innings?
Hanif Mohammad (970 minutes) played the longest Test cricket. Sanath Jayasuriya & Len Hutton are the other triple centurions who spent more than 13+ hours in an innings.
Who has taken the most wickets in international cricket across all formats?
Stuart Broad just hung up his boots, while Ashwin & Anderson are still going on. How far can they go? Can anyone challenge Muralitharan?
Here’s your complete stats guide to the most wickets in international cricket.
Key Takeaways
Muttiah Muralitharan (1347), Shane Warne (1001), Jimmy Anderson (976), Anil Kumble (956), and Glenn McGrath (949) have taken the most wickets across formats in international cricket.
Muttiah Muralitharan has taken the most wickets in both Test cricket (800) and ODI cricket (534), while Shakib Hasan (140) & Tim Southee (134) are leading the charge in T20Is. The second highest are Shane Warne (708) and Wasim Akram (502) in Tests & ODIs respectively.
Jimmy Anderson (976), Stuart Broad (843), Tim Southee (714), Ravichandran Ashwin (712), and Shakib Al Hasan (678) are the highest wicket-takers who are still currently playing international cricket. Stuart Broad just announced his retirement.
Waqar Younis (2.73%) and Dale Steyn (2.70%) had the highest percentage of wickets compared to the number of balls bowled in their entire career.
The breakdown of the highest wicket takers by country is as follows: India (4), South Africa & Australia (3), Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, & Pakistan (2), and Bangladesh & West Indies (1) .
Honorable Mentions: Curtly Ambrose (630), Mitchell Starc (617), Zaheer Khan (610), Allan Donald (602)
Final Thoughts on the Highest Wicket Takers
Bowling is an art, and I am glad to have watched the majority of these bowlers throughout my life.
The interesting aspect is that every bowler had their own unique style. From Murali’s skill to Anderson’s swing & from Mcgrath’s consistency to Ashwin’s inventiveness, it has been just a joy to watch.
I hope the legacies of these bowlers will continue with the next generation, but the real question is – can anyone even come close to the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan?
Frequently Asked Questions – Most Wickets in International Cricket Across Formats
Who has taken the most wickets across formats in international cricket?
Muttiah Muralitharan (1347), Shane Warne (1001), Jimmy Anderson (976), Anil Kumble (956), and Glenn McGrath (949) have taken the most wickets in international cricket across formats.
Has anyone taken 1000 wickets in cricket history?
Yes, Muralitharan (1347) and Shane Warne (1001) have taken over 1000 wickets in cricket history. Jimmy Anderson is still playing and is close behind with 976 wickets.
Who is India’s highest wicket-taker across format?
Anil Kumble is Indias highest wicket-taker across formats with 956 wickets.
How many international wickets do Jimmy Anderson & Stuart Broad have?
Jimmy Anderson has taken 976 wickets, while Stuart Broad has taken 843 wickets.
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
– Quote Attributed to Abraham Lincoln
This quote perfectly epitomizes Stuart Broad.
Stuart Broad has made each of his 6182 days in international cricket count. Ultra-competitive, yet also super fun to be around.
When Stuart Broad appealed, we saw the joy in him. When Broad took a wicket, we saw the joy in him. And when Broad talks about cricket, we still see the joy in him.
The all-time great has hung up his boots. Today, we look back at the highs, lows, and everything in between.
Although fast bowling was his true calling, his beginning wasn’t always that.
He started his youth cricketing career as an opening batter (which is why he still valued technique till end). Rising up the ranks, we was called up in the England U-19 & England A sides during 2005-06. A certain Jimmy Anderson had made the senior side, so there was a vacancy in the A team.
By 2007, he had made England’s ODI & T20I World Cup teams. A couple of years later, he had announced himself on the big stage at the Ashes when his 5-fer reduced Australia from 73/0 to 111/7.
8/15 (2015) – Best spell by a pacer since Glenn McGrath’s 8/24 in 2004
33454 – 5th Most balls bowled in career
Most wickets in the Ashes by an Englishmen (151)
Joint Most wickets against a single batter (20) – David Warner
Two hat-tricks
Timeline
2004 – Debuted in County Cricket at Leicestershire
2006 – T20I debut, ODI debut, Cricket Writers’ Club Young Cricketer of the Year
2007 – Test debut, Yuvraj Singh six sixes
2008 – Moved to Nottinghamshire, First Test 5–fer
2010 – T20 World Cup Winner, 169 vs Pakistan
2011 – Hat-trick against India, Kings XI Punjab IPL deal
2014 – Seelcted as captain of England’s T20 World Cup side
2015 – 8/15 spell against Australia
2016 – Hobart Hurricanes BBL deal, British honor – MBE
2023 – 600 Test wickets, Retirement
Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson: The Gift That Kept on Giving
Let’s be honest, England have not really been the most stable Test side in history.
That’s why the duo of Broad & Jimmy Anderson is so cherished by the English fans. They provided England with the stability they needed.
Amidst the 0-5 Ashes defeats, World Cup debacles, or Pietersen-Strauss drama, these two remained the only constants.
When Broad was out of form, Anderson swung it England’s way. When Anderson did not get the early breakthroughs, Broad produced one of those spells.
Although the talk of the decade was Steyn vs Anderson, Broad uncharacteristically went under the radar. But he didn’t mind. He actually flourished under Anderson’s wisdom and when his time came, he mentored the next generation of English bowlers.
A partnership that was bound to be. A partnership that kept on giving.
With his famous headband, he found a second wind. In 2022, he took 2/3 wickets in a team hat-trick (the second wicket was also due to him. His celebrappeal for LBW took de Grandhomme by surprise, after which he was run out).
He took almost 25% of his career wickets (151/602) in the Ashes, becoming the leading Ashes wicket-taker of-all time by an Englishmen. Therefore, it is no surprise that his greatest spell – 8/15 came against the Aussies as well.
4th Test at Nottingham in Ashes 2015, Australia sent into bat, and Broad did the rest. Every wicket due to pace and perfect line & length. He ended with figures of 9.3-5-15-8. Watch it here. One of the greatest modern day bowling spells.
From 2013 to 2023, if there is one batter that has been haunted by Stuart Broad, it has to be David Warner. The record across formats reads as follows:
63 innings, 556 runs scored in 934 balls, 68 fours, 3 sixes, and 20 wickets. That’s the joint 2nd of all-time only behind Ambrose-Mark Waugh (21).
When Warner had learned how to face Broad for a little while, Broad came around the wicket and became even more lethal.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—The Six Sixes.
Yuvraj Singh Six Sixes: Stuart Broad vs Yuvraj Singh
Amidst all the glory and the highs, there were some low points in his career too.
Yuvraj Singh, at his peak of his batting prowess, hit Broad out of the park the entire over. Yuvraj was angry at Flintoff, but Broad got the treatment.
The series had underlying murmurs of, “Is this Jimmy Anderson’s last Test series?” Or at least, if this will be his last Ashes.
There was no such news about Broad.
In fact, Broad was at his best. He developed an outswing to counter the threat of Smith-Labuschagne and became the leading wicket-taker for England in the process. Anderson, on the other hand, had an abysmal series with Woakes & Wood leading English revival.
I knew I wanted to leave the game loving cricketand lasting memories being a very enjoyable changing room, and I’ve got lots of friends. I’ve played a long time, and the body feels great. I could have carried on, but it’s just feels like the right time.
– Stuart Broad
His final day may well be on Jimmy Anderson’s 41st birthday. How the stars align.
Despite initially being remembered for being hit for six sixes against Yuvraj Singh, Broad constructed a career of greatness, consistency, and longevity. By the time he was done with the England T20I side, he not only was England’s highest wicket-taker, but also a T20 World Cup winner.
This is a quality of great personalities. They realize that everyday might not go as planned, but they continue to believe and march forward.
That’s exactly what Broad did. Marched forward for seventeen years. Improving till the very last series, where he developed an outswing during the offseason to help him get rid of Marnus Labuschagne & Steve Smith.
Broad’s retirement took me by surprise. I am a bit sad but realize that we will see him in the commentary box for years to come. I will always remember his smooth flying action, those spells & hat-tricks, and most importantly, the joy he got from playing cricket and winning the crucial moments. A true match-winner. So, what can we learn from Stuart Broad?
Keep learning, keep moving, mentor others, lift the group, and never back down. All that while having fun. That’s what Broad’s life and career teach me.
The Legacy
Nasser Hussain & Mike Atherton summed it up perfectly.
“An undeniably great cricketer….He’s the complete article. The fitness, the hunger, the competitiveness, the skill, and being very clever and bright.”
Broad was an expert at wearing various hats. The commentator & analyst. The viral tweeter. The all-rounder & swashbuckling batter. The celebrappeal. The great entertainer.
For over a decade, Stuart Broad was England cricket and England cricket was Stuart Broad. With Jimmy Anderson, he gave us memories to last a lifetime.
It has been real, Stuart Broad.
What an incredible journey. Brilliant, wonderful career. What a player. What a man.
Peace out and have a wonderful second innings.
Facts About Broad
Stuart Broad Height
6 ft 5 in
Stuart Broad Age
37 years
Stuart Broad Net Worth ($1 million)
$790,000 (Red ball Contract)
$17,600 (Test match fees)
In 2023, he played 8 Tests& in 2020, he played 9 Tests. With the contract and match-fees, he earned $900000+. With brand endorsements & sponsorship deals, his net worth is welll over millions of dollars.
Personal Life
Chris Broad (father)
Mollie King (Partner)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wickets has Stuart Broad taken?
Broad has taken 845 international wickets, 602 in Test cricket.
How tall is Stuart Broad?
Broad is 6 ft, 5 inches tall.
Who hit Broad for six sixes?
Yuvraj Singh hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Who is Stuart Broad’s father?
Chris Broad is Stuart Broad’s fagther.
What is Broad’s highest Test score?
169 is Broad’s highest test scores against Pakistan in 2010.
Who has the most man of the match awards in international cricket? Which countries have consistently produced the most match-winners?
Here is everything you need to know about the player of the match awards in cricket history.
Key Takeaways
Sachin Tendulkar (76), Virat Kohli (63), Sanath Jayasuriya (58), Jacques Kallis (57), and Kumar Sangakkara (50) have the most man of the match awards in international cricket across formats.
Jacques Kallis (23), Muttiah Muralitharan (19), Wasim Akram & Shane Warne (17), Ricky Ponting & Kumar Sangakkara (16) have the most man of the match awards in Test cricket. Tendulkar (62), Jayasuriya (48), Kohli (38), and Kallis, Ponting, Afridi (32) have the most MOM awards in ODI cricket. Finally, Virat Kohli (15), Rohit Sharma (12), and Shahid Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, David Warner (11) have the most MOM awards in T20I cricket.
India & Sri Lanka top this list with 6 match-winners each, while Pakistan (5), Australia & West Indies, (4), South Africa (3), Bangladesh & New Zealand (1) complete it. Surprisingly, England have zero players in this list.
21 batters, eight all-rounders, and only one pure bowler (Muralitharan) make up the list of the top 30 most man of the match awards in international cricket. Three wicketkeeper-batters (Sangakkara, AB De Villiers, and Adam Gilchrist) also feature in the list.
Viv Richards (13.3%) and Virat Kohli (12.6%) have the highest percentage of player of the match awards per game.
When we talk about cricket and the greatest match winner in international cricket, there’s one name that stands out – Sachin Tendulkar. He is a legend, and he’s received the awards to prove it. He holds the record for the most Man of the Match awards in international cricket. Talk about being a match-winner!
But let’s not forget about other greats like Virat Kohli, Jacques Kallis, and Sanath Jayasuriya. These guys have also shown time and time again that they can step up and deliver when it matters most. They’ve racked up their fair share of Man of the Match awards. There are several others that do not make the list but are great match-winners in their own right – MS Dhoni, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Steve Smith, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rashid Khan, Shane Watson, Dale Steyn, Jimmy Anderson, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Kane Williamson, etc.
So, there you have it.
These cricketers have left a long-lasting mark on the game, and fans will never forget their contributions. They truly embody what cricket is all about – talent, spirit, and the will to win. And that’s why we love this game, right?
Frequently Asked Questions – Most Man of the Match Awards in International Cricket
Who has won the most man of the match awards in international cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar (76), Virat Kohli (63), Sanath Jayasuriya (58), Jacques Kallis (57), and Kumar Sangakkara (50) have the most man of the match awards in international cricket across formats.
Who has won the most player of the match awards in Test cricket?
Jacques Kallis (23), Muttiah Muralitharan (19), Wasim Akram & Shane Warne (17), Ricky Ponting & Kumar Sangakkara (16) have the most player of the match awards in Test cricket.
Who has won the most player of the match awards in ODI cricket?
Tendulkar (62), Jayasuriya (48), Kohli (38), and Kallis, Ponting, Afridi (32) have won the most player of the match awards in ODI cricket.
Who has won the most player of the match awards in T20I cricket?
Virat Kohli (15), Rohit Sharma (12), and Shahid Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, David Warner (11) have the most player of the match awards in T20I cricket.
How many Test centuries has Virat Kohli scored? Who is Kohli’s favorite opponent?
How many Tests did India win while Kohli hits three figures?
All of these answers and much more. Here is your complete guide on Virat Kohli Test centuries.
Key Takeaways
Virat Kohli currently has 29 Test centuries. He is tied with Sir Donald Bradman and is #16 in the all-time Test centuries list.
His most successful year was 2018: 5 hundreds (5 fifties), 2017 – 5 (1), 2016 – 4 (2), and 2014 – 4 (2). On the other hand, Kohli had his worst Test century drought between 2020-2022 & 2011.
Kohli has scored 14 centuries in India, 6 in Australia, two each in South Africa, Sri Lanka, and West Indies, and one in New Zealand.
Kohli’s favorite Test opponent is Australia (8), England & Sri Lanka (5), and New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies (3), and Bangladesh (2).
He had a golden run during his captaincy. Virat Kohli scored 20 hundreds as a captain and only nine centuries as a non-captain.
Kohli has scored 15 hundreds in the second innings, 9 100s in the 1st innings, 3 100s in the 3rd innings, and only two hundreds in the 4th innings.
India won 13 Tests when Kohli scored a century, 9 in a drawn match, and 7 in a losing cause.
Vrat Kohli has won 8 player of the match awards in the 29 Tests he scored a century.
How many ODI centuries has Virat Kohli scored? Where did he score them? How many player of the match awards did Kohli win while scoring centuries?
Here is everything you need to know about Virat Kohli ODI centuries right here.
Key Takeaways
Virat Kohli currently has 47 ODI centuries, only second to Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries.
Kohli’s most successful year with ODI centuries was 2017: 6 hundreds (7 fifties), 2018 – 6 (3), 2018 – 5 (7), and 2012 – 5 (3). 2008, 2021, and 2020 were his least favorite years with zero centuries.
Kohli has scored 21 centuries in India, 6 in Bangladesh, 5 each in Australia & Sri Lanka, 4 in West Indies, 3 in South Africa, and one each in England, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe.
His favorite opponent is Sri Lanka (10), West Indies (9), and Australia (8).
Kohli won the player of the match awards in 29 out of the 47 ODIs he scored centuries in.
Virat Kohli has scored 21 hundreds at home, 21 away, and 5 neutral. Most importantly, Virat Kohli has scored 21 centuries while batting first and 26 centuries while chasing.
Kohli scored 21 centuries as captain and 26 centuries not as captain. In addition, India won 38 times Kohli scored a century, lost 7 times, and tied in one match.
Frequently Asked Questions – Virat Kohli ODI Centuries
How many centuries has Virat Kohli scored in ODI cricket?
Virat Kohli has scored 47 centuries in ODI cricket.
How many ODI hundreds has Virat Kohli scored against Pakistan?
Kohli has scored three hundreds against Pakistan – 183 vs Pakistan in 2012, 107 vs Pakistan in the 2015 ODI World Cup, and 122* vs Pakistan in the 2023 Asia Cup.
How many centuries has Virat Kohli scored in World Cups?
Kohli has scored two centuries (and six fities) in ODI cricket World Cups.
What is Virat Kohli’s highest score in ODI cricket?
Virat Kohli’s highest score in ODI cricket is 183* vs Pakistan in Mirpur (2012).
How many 150 scores does Kohli have in ODI cricket?
Kohli has scored 5 scores of 150+ in ODI cricket (183, 166*, 160*, 157*, and 154*)
2023 seems to be a watershed moment for franchise cricket leagues—SA 20, IL T20, MLC 2023, Zim Afro T10, and the revival of Global T20 Canada.
Feel like you can’t keep track anymore? Well don’t worry, we are here to help you.
Key Takeaways
There are 15 professional leagues in cricket, from which 13 are franchise leagues and two are domestic T20 competitions that attract a variety of overseas stars (Vitality Blast, Super Smash). From the 13 franchise leagues, two are T10, one is in the ‘hundred’ format, while the other 10 are twenty20 competitions.
In 2023, October is the only without any major cricket league competition since October 5 – November 19 is reserved for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
From November 23, 2022 to September 24, 2023, there were only 20 days where franchise cricket was not scheduled (December 5-12, March 19-30).
If we count all the date ranges for the 15 major T20 tournaments, there were 509 days of cricket (greater than 365 because several leagues are now overlapping with each other. Also domestic tournaments like the Vitality blast tend to be spread out longer with breaks. Actual cricket might not be played every day).
Cricket Leagues Calendar – By Season
November-February: Abu Dhabi T10, Big Bash League (BBL), Super Smash, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), South Africa T20 (SA T20), International League T20 (ILT20)
February-May: Pakistan Super League (PSL), Indian Premier League (IPL)
May-July: The Vitality Blast (also good time for a World Cup window), TNPL
July-September: Major League Cricket, Global T20 Canada, The Hundred, Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Shpageeza Cricket League*, Road Safety World Series, Maharaja T20 Trophy
October: Window for world tournament (or…Champions League), Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
List of Cricket Leagues: Top 15 Franchise, T10, & T20 Competitions
*Note: The date ranges are either from last year or the upcoming 2023 season if it has not happened yet. We first start with the Abu Dhabi T10 league from November 2022.
18. Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL): June 12 – July 12
Country: India
Number of Seasons Played: 7 (2016-)
Number of Teams: 8
Days Played: 31
*regional T20 league
19. Karnataka Premier League (Maharaja Trophy T20): August 14 – August 30
Country: India
Number of Seasons Played: 8 (2009-)
Number of Teams: 6
Days Played: 17
*regional T20 league
20. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: October 16 – November 6
Country: India
Number of Seasons Played: 15 (2006-)
Number of Teams: 38
Days Played: 22
*domestic T20 league, but gaining prominence over the years
List of Defunct Cricket Leagues
Euro T20 Slam, Mzansi Super League (South Africa), KFC Twenty20 Big Bash (Australia), Inter-Provincial Twenty20 (Sri Lanka), Stanford 20/20 (West Indies)
Final Thoughts
Leagues are propping everywhere, World Cups are now sandwiched between the leagues, and bilateral cricket is going nowhere.
The ODI Super League is now extinct (although Netherlands’ brilliance might force a rethink), the World Test Championship shows promise, but could be improved. The haphazard year-around schedule impacts logistics, mental health, injury management, and causes early retirements.
Until a stable international cricket calendar is formed, we will have to form the cricket calendar according to the franchise leagues, with the Indian Premier League in the center as the marquee event.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many T20 leagues are there in cricket?
There are 15 T20 leagues in cricket – 10 T20 franchise leagues, 2 T10 leagues, 1 ‘hundred’ ball tournament, and 2 domestic T20 competitions.
How many franchise leagues are there in cricket?
There are 13 franchise leagues in cricket (10 T20, 2 T10, and The Hundred).
How much money does it really take to host a Test match?
We have heard the claims that cricketing countries like New Zealand & South Africa ‘lose money’ while hosting a Test match. Well, how much money are they losing? Why are they losing so much money?
Don’t worry, I got you. Here is a research article on how much money it costs to host a Test match.
A 2-Test series can cost about $679,500-$2.3 million, while a 5-Test series Ashes may incur expenses ranging from $ 3.043 million to a whopping $7.3 million.
Hence, on average, it takes around $350,000-$1.4 million to host a Test match. The vast range is due to the choices made by the national board – whether to have 4-cameras or 16, whether to purchase the complete version of the DRS or just the Hawkeye, number of support staff, choices for hotels and flights, etc.
Factors that impact the cost of hosting a Test match include (but are not limited to) technology, the review system, player match fees, umpires’ fees, post-match awards, broadcasting & commentating team, security personnel, support staff, hotels, food, flights, busses, incidentals, and facilities.
*Note: Apart from the host cricket board, some of these expenses may be shared between sponsors, broadcasters, ICC, and state/ national governments.
Other articles in Cricket & Finances: Money, Money, Money!
How Much Money Does it take to Host a Test Match – The Top 9 Factors
It takes a village to host a Test match. This includes the players themselves, the commentators, ground staff, umpires, ball boys & girls, bus drivers, security personnel, administrators, ticket sellers, the media, and most importantly, the fans.
We take all these dimensions and come up with estimates for a 2-Test series and a 5-Test series.
We consider an Australia-England Test series for our 5-match estimates and teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan for our 2-match estimates.
Note: All numbers are in $ USD. Also, some costs might be one-off cost to the host country (for example, ground covers, initial camera equipment, speed gun, stumps, cost of buying land & building the stadium, etc.). Some of these costs may be offset by themaintenance costs of the one-off items, and hence, should not impact the overall estimate range much.
*If you use any of our derivations and data, please link this article to avoid copyright issues.
1. Technology: $120,000-$2.6 Million
What Does it Include?
DRS (Hawkeye, Hotspot, Snicko, etc.), Cameras (4-16, SpiderCam), Stumps (Stump Mic, LED Stumps, Zing Bails), Bushnell Range Finder, and Speed Gun
Note: To cut costs, some boards may choose to only purchase Hawkeye with minimal cameras, while other nations might purchase a full set of DRS/camera setup.
2. Broadcasting & Commentators: $20,000-$1 million
What Does it Include?
This includes the salary of commentators, behind-the-scenes broadcasters.
According to various reports online, commentators can earn $1000-$5000 in match fees and around $50,000 per series. Some commentators even take home paychecks of up to a million dollars per year.
How Much will a 2-match Test series cost?
Minimum Cost: $20,000 ($1,000 match fee per Test for set of 10 commentators)
Maximum Cost: $750,000 ($50,000 series fee for set of 15 commentators)
How Much will a 5-match Test series cost?
Minimum Cost: $375,000 ($5,000 match fee per Test for set of 15 commentators)
Maximum Cost: $1 million ($50,000 series fee for set of 20 commentators)
Sky Sports signed 19 commentators for the 2023 Ashes season.
Note: The cost for technology, broadcasting, and commentators may be shared between the cricket board and broadcasting companies. This may also be negotiated in the various TV/streaming multi-year broadcasting deals.
3. Player Match Fees & Match Awards: $130,000-1 Million
What Does it Include?
This will only include the match fees for the players in the playing XI. We do not include yearly contracted salary for this calculation since that is a separate transaction between a player & its cricket board.
How Much will a 2-match Test series cost?
Minimum Cost: 126,500
Maximum Cost: $145,000
Calculation Method: Test Match Fees * 2 (number of Test) * 11 (number of players in the playing XI). With player of the match/series awards (plus many more nowadays), this cost will increase to $130,000-$160,000.
How Much will a 5-match Test series cost?
Minimum Cost: $687,500
Maximum Cost: $1 million
Calculation Method: Test Match Fees * 5 (number of Test) * 11 (number of players in the playing XI). If we add the award costs, this cost will increase to $700,000-$1,025,000.
Note, each board will pay each of their players separately, so we will not double count this value (i.e. we will only count the expense for the host team).
This includes umpires, video umpire, reserve umpire, and referee. Some online websites estimate umpires may earn around $5,000 match fees for Test cricket.
A team like West Indies may be responsible for arranging flights from island to island or countries like Australia or India, where distances between cities is more convenient by air.
For domestic travel, we assume host boards will pay for players from both teams involved.
This will total to about 45-80 members total (squad: 15 players, 5 net bowlers per team, 3-5 coaches, umpires & referees: 5-8, commentators: 10-20, miscellaneous/administrators: 1-10)
How Much will a 2-match Test series cost?
The current India-West Indies series takes place in Roseau & Port of Spain. For a 2-Test series, we consider one flight.
Note: These estimates may vary depending if the national boards consider business or economy class and how soon they book their tickets.
How Much will a 5-match Test series cost?
We will consider the 2021 Ashes for this scenario. We check current one-way prices for Brisbane-Adelaide (around $300), Adelaide-Melbourne ($100), Melbourne-Sydney ($100), and Sydney-Hobart ($125). This totals to about $625 per member of the flight.
Minimum Cost: $28,125: 45*625
Maximum Cost: 50,000: 80*625
Surprised by these numbers? Note, that even though West Indies might not be the richest cricket board, Caribbean is still a pretty exotic place for travel.
6. Buses: $42,000-$105,000
What Does it Include?
Buses includes hiring a couple of drivers, tips for the drivers, and the cost to rent a charter bus. Each team will have a separate bus and there will also be a bus for support staff. According to Gogo Charters, it costs about £ 456-613 ($588-790) per day per charter bus, plus a 10% tip. We will estimate this around $700 per bus for a total of $2100 for three buses.
7. Hotels, Food, & Incidentals: $200,000-$2 million
What Does it Include?
According to the U.S. Department of State Foreign Per Diem Rates, “The maximum lodging amount is intended to substantially cover the cost of lodging at adequate, suitable and moderately-priced facilities. The M&IE portion is intended to “substantially cover the cost of meals and incidental travel expenses such as laundry and dry cleaning.”
Cannot forget the dry cleaning and the laundry. Nobody wants stinky, smelly, and rainy tours.
For a reference, Adelaide’s Maximum Per Diem rate based on (1) Maximum Lodging Rate, (2) Meals & Incidentals is $324. Here is the estimate list for other Australian cities.
How Much will a 2-match Test series cost?
A two-Test series has a maximum of 10 days. However, we can consider one tour match, a couple days between each game, and a couple of days before/after the series for a total of 20 days.
The current Sri Lanka-Pakistan series is an 18-day affair for example. We will consider Galle’s per diem rate of $216 as an average (although it varies from city to city).
Minimum Cost: $194,400 (45 *$216*20)
Maximum Cost: $777,600 (80*216*20)
How Much will a 5-match Test series cost?
The 2023 Ashes takes place between June 16th and July 13th, totalilng 45 days (without any tour matches). To keep it simple, we will take 50 days and the $598 per diem estimate for London.
This may include security guards, pitch curators, groundsperson, cleaners, stadium food organizers, support staff, pavilion steward’s, etc.
According to Glassdoor, a security guard in London earns annually £ 24,070 ($31,028 USD), a security officer earns about £ 26,383 ($34,000), and an assistant groundsperson earns about £ 22,000 ($ 28,000). The director of security and people in higher positions may earn £ 50,000-100,000 ($65,000-100,000).
We estimate around 50-100 support staff & security personnel are needed to make a Test match happen. We will take £ 20,000 ($26,000) as an average. We will estimate 1-month salary (1/12) for the 2-Test series & 2-month salary (1/6) for 5-Test series.
Case Studies & Quotes: Cost of Hosting a Test Match
Our estimates match with the interviews and situations that we have already seen. Here is the result of rising cost of hosting a Test match and the uneven monopoly of the Big 3 in world cricket today.
Situation 1: The COVID Comeback Season
The pandemic caused England to go to great measures to restart cricket.
For the West Indies and Pakistan series, they paid these countries £ 500,000 ($644,628) for charter flights. In addition, the per day cost was £ 238,000 ($306,842), while the season cost was 10 million pounds. One quote caught my eye.
“The good thing is they are England, and they expected to receive 120 Million pounds in ‘broadcast revenue.'”
Situation 2: Cricket Ireland Cancels Test Series
Ireland cancelled their plan of playing a Test match against Bangladesh and played a T20I instead.
“With the expected cost of hosting a Test estimated at 1 million pounds ($US 1.14 million), Cricket Ireland has chosen to prioritise white ball cricket ahead of the T20 World Cups.”
“The Yorkshire chairman and chief executive, Colin Graves, had said the county would not bid to host an Ashes Test in 2013 or 2015 because, at a cost of £ 1-2 million, ‘it would represent too great a financial risk.’ ‘
– The Guardian
Situation 4: South Africa’s Problems Continue
South Africa will not be playing many Tests in the next FTP. They have, however, hosted a successful SA T20, which gives them hope fo a financial revival.
“CSA earns a tenth of the money on a Test that it will earn for a white ball match.”
– Firdose Moonda
Situation 5: Afghanistan vs West Indies match ends within 3 Days, Costs Money Nevertheless
“Take the Afghanistan v West Indies game in Lucknow. It finished in two and a half days, but all the people working on it have been booked for the five days. The grounds, the staff, the food, everything…it’s probably cost them US $200,000 to $300,000. Perhaps more. And if your yearly grant is to the tune of $ 4 million, that means you have spent close to 10% of your [yearly] budget on playing one Test match.”
According to ESPN Cricinfo, it cost the Zimbabwe cricket board $1 million to host a two-Test series against the West Indies.
“We do lost a lot of money – about $300,000-$400,000, to host a Test series. It’s money we don’t have.”
– Tavenga Mukuhlani, ZC Chairman
Situation 8: Playing Against India & the Big 3 the Only Hope (which is not sustainable)
“Unless it is against the Big 3, Cricket New Zealand loses about $700,000.”
– The Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald
So, why do New Zealand, South Africa, & other countries lose money while hosting a Test series?
Expenses are only one part of the puzzle. Revenue is the other.
While the Big 3 has broadcasting profits on their sides, countries like Zimbabwe get as little as $1 million per season from sponsorship. A 2-Test series wipes out 20% of the annual reserves, and hence, they cannot afford to host Test matches.
The income, ticket sales, & sponsorship are not large income to balance the expenses of hosting a Test match.
Although New Zealand are a joy to watch in Test cricket and were also the winner of the inaugural WTC Final, they suffer from a similar economic fate.
What does the Future of Test Cricket Hold?
Revenue in cricket comes from (1) ticket sales, (2) broadcasting deals, (3) sponsorship deals, (4) ICC money, and (5) federal/state funding (depending on the country). While India is always on the net positive side due to their sheer volume of cricket fans, other countries unfortunately do not have similar infrastructure or fan following. Subsidizing Test cricket a part of a larger ICC Test fund has been suggested in the past, but is it enough?
Can Test cricket survive the rising costs? More importantly, will the ‘Middle 5’ – West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka continue their investment in Test cricket?
Test cricket is actually thriving these days (See, Bazball), but the business model of Test cricket is dying.
Something needs to change quickly.
Otherwise, Test cricket started with the Ashes. It may also end in ashes.
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Where to Watch Major League Cricket 2023? MLC 2023 will be broadcasted on Willow TV (USA & Canada), Sports18 & JioCinema (India), Fox Cricket (Australia), A Sports & ARY Zap (Pakistan), SuperSport (South Africa), SportsMax (West Indies), SKY NZ (New Zealand), and BT Sport (UK).
In total 10 broadcasters from 9 countries have partnered with the Major League Cricket franchise tournament as their official partners.
For those who want to watch the MLC live in the USA, there are several options available. Willow TV is the official broadcaster for the tournament in the USA and will provide live coverage of all the matches. Cricket fans can also watch the MLC on Sling TV, which offers Willow TV as part of its sports package.
11 Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023 Official Broadcasters
Cricket enthusiasts in the United States are eagerly waiting for the first-ever Major League Cricket (MLC) tournament, which will take place from July 13 to July 30, 2023. The MLC will feature six teams and some of the biggest names in cricket, including international stars. Fans across the globe are excited to watch the MLC live and support their favorite teams.
If you are interested in Major League Cricket or content about cricket in America, do not miss out on these articles below:
Willow TV is the largest broadcaster of cricket in the United States and Canada, offering 24/7 HD coverage of overseas cricket events, including live and recorded matches, on all major television platforms and digital devices.
2. CBS Sports Network (USA)
MLC has pierced the barriers into USA broadcasting with some matches being broadcasted on CBS Sports Network. Note, you will still need a subscription to a cable or streaming provider to watch these matches (Also, CBS has exclusive rights on those matches, and these specific games will not be broadcasted on Willow TV).
How to Watch Major League Cricket in America?
You can watch MLC 2023 on Willow TV in the USA.
How to Watch Major League Cricket in Canada?
Similarly to the USA, MLC 2023 will be broadcoasted in Canada?
How Much does Willow TV Cost?
Current Offer: $55/Year (On Website), $60/Year or $10/month (Sling)
Can also sign up with TV provider (Optimum, Spectrum, Dish, Fios, Optimum.tv, xfinity)
As the anticipation for Major League Cricket 2023 continues to build, it’s clear that cricket fans around the globe will have plenty of options to tune in and catch all the action.
Whether you’re in the USA or Canada with WillowTV, India with Sports 18 & Jio Cinema, or with any of the other channels mentioned above, the thrill and excitement of this major cricket event will be at your fingertips. No matter where you are, rest assured that you won’t miss a single over.
Here’s to a thrilling season of cricket ahead in the USA!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Watch Major League Cricket in the USA?
Major League Cricket has team up with WillowTV as the official broadcaster of this tournament. Folks in Canada can also watch MLC 2023 on WillowTV.
Where Can I Watch Major League Cricket in India?
Jio Cinema and Sports 18 are the official broadcasters of MLC 2023 in India.
Who has the most centuries in international cricket across formats?
Sachin Tendulkar (100), Virat Kohli (75), and Ricky Ponting (71) have the most centuries in international cricket across formats.
In cricket, the scoring a century is the landmark achievement that separates the good from the greats. In this brief overview, we’ll look into the top 10 cricketers with the most centuries across formats.
But here’s the real kicker: Can Virat Kohli break Sachin Tendulkar’s hundreds record? Let’s dive in and explore.
India – 3 (Tendulkar, Kohli, Dhoni), South Africa – 3 (Kallis, Amla, AB De Villers), and Sri Lanka – 2 (Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene) feature the most in this list.
Virat Kohli scores a century quicker than anyone else in the list (a century every 7.42 innings) followed by Sachin Tendulkar (7.82) and Hashim Amla (7.95).
Sachin Tendulkar (34357), Kumar Sangakkara (28016), and Ricky Ponting (27483) have scored the most runs along with their centuries while Hashim Amla (18672) and AB De Villiers (20014) have the least number of runs in this list.
Sachin Tendulkar (264), Ricky Ponting (217), and Kumar Sangakkara (216) have scored the most 50+ scores across formats.
Among the Fab Four Virat Kohli (75) leads the charge with Joe Root (46), Steve Smith (44), and Kane Williamson (41) bunched close together to each other. David Warner (45) and Rohit Sharma (43) are the other active players in the Top 21 list of most centuries list.
Cricket Batting Records (Test + ODI + T20I): Top 10 List of Most Century Makers Across Formats
The 100s/Innings is calculated by the number of innings played across formats divided by the number of international centuries. Be careful though, this number might be slightly skewed. For example, Sachin Tendulkar’s ratio is 7.82 innings per hundred, while Kohli’s ratio is 7.42 innings per century.
Sounds pretty close, right? However, if we dissect this further, Virat Kohli has 74 centuries in 450 Tests/ODIs at an absurd average of 6.08 innings per hundred. Since he has played more T20Is (107 innings) than others, his overall ratio is closer to Tendulkar.
Note: * denotes players that are still active in international cricket.
1. Sachin Tendulkar (100 – 51 Tests/49 ODIs), India
Matches/Innings: 664/782
100s/Innings:7.82 (One Hundred scored every 7-9 innings across format)
Here are the honorable mentions. These players all have scored 40 or more centuries in international cricket.
Rank
Country
Player (Hundreds)
Matches/Innings
100s/Innings
Runs
50+ Scores
11
England
Joe Root* (46)
322/419
9.11
18296
145 (46 – 100s, 99 – 50s)
12
Australia
David Warner* (45)
347/432
9.6
17262
131 (45 -100s, 86 – 50s)
13
Australia
Steve Smith* (44)
304/352
8
15060
114 (44 – 100s, 70 – 50s)
14
India
Rohit Sharma* (43)
441/461
10.72
17115
134 (43 – 100s, 91 – 50s)
15
West Indies
Chris Gayle (42)
483/551
13.12
19593
147 (42 – 100s, 105 – 50s)
16
Sri Lanka
Sanath Jayasuriya (42)
586/651
15.5
21032
145 (42 – 100s, 103 – 50s)
17
New Zealand
Kane Williamson* (41)
342/402
9.80
17142
133 (41 – 100s, 92 – 50s)
18
Pakistan
Younis Khan (41)
408/491
11.96
17790
124 (41 – 100s, 83 – 50s)
19
West Indies
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (41)
454/553
13.49
20988
166 (41 – 100s, 125 – 50s)
20
Australia
Matthew Hayden (40)
273/348
8.49
15066
109 (40 -100s, 69 – 50s)
21
New Zealand
Ross Taylor (40)
450/510
12.75
18199
133 (40 -100s, 93 – 50s)
Can Virat Kohli Break Sachin Tendulkar’s Record of Hundreds?
Yes, Virat Kohli can break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most hundreds in cricket, given that he continues playing for a couple more years.
Currently, Virat Kohli is 25 short of Sachin Tendulkar’s world record, but he has also played 225 less innings. At Virat Kohli’s rate of one century every 7.43 innings, Virat Kohli can break Tendulkar’s hundred 100s record if he plays about 186 more innings.
Stas are just there to support the overarching idea, but Kohli looks refreshed since Asia Cup 2022 after three-year drought. He is back at his best with centuries in each format (as well as the IPL). One thing to consider though is overkill in cricket. On the other hand, Virat Kohli might go the AB De Villiers route and retire early due to way too much cricket.
Final Thoughts
These top 10 cricketers have left a significant impact on the sport with their exceptional performances and numerous centuries. Their contributions to the game command respect and admiration.
Now, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli.
We eagerly watch as his journey comes to an end in the next few years, with a question on everyone’s mind: Will he surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s monumental record, what do you say?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most centuries in international cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar has the most centuries in international cricket (100). He has scored 51 centuries in Test cricket as well as 49 centuries in ODI cricket.
Which Indian cricketer has the most centuries in international cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar (100), Virat Kohli (75), and Rahul Dravid (48) have the most centuries in international cricket for India across formats.
Which team has the most centuries in international cricket?
India – 3 (Tendulkar, Kohli, Dhoni), South Africa – 3 (Kallis, Amla, AB De Villers), and Sri Lanka – 2 (Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene) are in the top of the list for the most centuries in international cricket.
