When you talk about cricket records, a few legendary names immediately pop into your head, right. You're thinking of the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, the stylish Brian Lara, or the modern-day run machine, Virat Kohli. These guys aren't just players; they're walking, talking record books who have dominated the sport for decades. But what if I told you there's a record so unique, so monumental, that none of these giants ever even came close to it.
Key Highlights
- ✓ A unique cricket record set in 2018 remains unbroken by legends like Sachin, Lara, or Kohli.
- ✓ New Zealand's Amelia Kerr is the only cricketer in history to score a double century and take a five-wicket haul in the same match.
- ✓ She achieved this feat against Ireland, scoring an unbeaten 232 runs and taking 5 wickets for just 17 runs.
- ✓ In a separate, experimental match in 2002, Sachin Tendulkar scored a mind-boggling 24 runs off 3 legal balls.
- ✓ This was possible due to a special "Max Zone" rule in an experimental format called Cricket Max International.
It's a feat that belongs to a female cricketer who achieved it seven years ago, and what's even more astonishing is that she was only 17 years old at the time. Let's dive into one of the most incredible, and perhaps untouchable, records in the history of the game.
The Unbreakable Feat of Amelia Kerr
The holder of this extraordinary record is New Zealand's very own Amelia Kerr. Back in 2018, she etched her name into the history books in a way that no one—male or female—has ever done before or since. In a match against Ireland, she put on a performance that was nothing short of breathtaking. It wasn't just about scoring runs or taking wickets; it was about achieving absolute perfection in both disciplines in a single game.
Here's what happened: Kerr played a stunning innings, scoring a massive, unbeaten 232 runs off just 145 balls. A double century in One Day cricket is a huge deal on its own. But she wasn't done. Not by a long shot. After dominating with the bat, she took the ball and dismantled the Irish batting lineup, finishing with a five-wicket haul while conceding only 17 runs.
Let that sink in for a moment. A double century and a five-for in the same match. She is the only cricketer on the planet to have ever achieved this. Legends like Tendulkar, known for his 100 international centuries, and Lara, the "run machine," have countless records, but even they never managed to obtain close to this all-around pinnacle of performance. What's particularly interesting is It’s a testament to her incredible talent and what makes her one of the key players for New Zealand.
Kerr's Consistent Brilliance
This historic day wasn't a one-off fluke. Amelia Kerr has proven to be a vital asset for her team across formats. Looking at her career stats, her consistency is clear. She has scored 2200 runs in 78 ODIs and 1453 runs in 88 T20Is for New Zealand. On top of that, she’s a serious threat with the ball, having taken 101 wickets in ODIs and 95 in T20s. She is a true all-rounder, and her unique world record is the crowning jewel of an already impressive career.
When Sachin Tendulkar Defied Logic
Speaking of records that sound almost impossible, let's turn our attention to the "God of Cricket" himself, Sachin Tendulkar. While he may not have Kerr's unique double, he has a rare record of his own that sounds like something out of a video game. It’s a story not many fans know about, from an experimental match that bent the very rules of scoring.
Picture this: scoring 24 runs off just 3 balls. Without any no-balls or wides. Normally, the maximum you can obtain is 18 runs from three sixes. So, how on earth did Sachin manage this. It's worth noting that It all went down on December 4, 2002, in Christchurch during India's tour of New Zealand. Sachin himself considers his innings in this match to be one of the most destructive and best of his entire career.
The "Cricket Max International" Experiment
This wasn't your standard ODI. The match was part of an ICC experiment called "Cricket Max International. " The rules were. different. Instead of a single 50-over innings, each team played two innings of 10 overs. Teams even had 12 players instead of the usual 11. But the biggest twist was the introduction of a designated "Max Zone. "
This zone was an area marked out in front of the sight screen behind the bowler. If a batsman hit the ball into this zone, their runs were doubled. A boundary four became eight runs, and a six turned into a whopping 12 runs. This is where Sachin unleashed absolute mayhem.
During his blistering innings of 72 runs from just 27 balls, Sachin hit three consecutive legal deliveries into the Max Zone. The sequence was a four, a six, and a two-run shot. Thanks to the "Max Zone" rule, those shots translated to 8 runs, 12 runs, and 4 runs respectively. Add them up, and you obtain 24 runs off three balls. He became the first cricketer in the world to achieve this impossible-sounding feat.
Interestingly, despite Sachin's heroic and explosive innings, Team India ended up losing the match by 21 runs. In their first 10-over innings, India scored 133/5 in response to New Zealand's 123/5. But in the second innings, chasing 109, India fell short, managing only 87/6. It was a strange match with a surprising outcome, but it gave us one of cricket's most unbelievable records. What's particularly interesting is
Conclusion
So there you have it. In a sport defined by numbers and records, some achievements stand so far apart they seem almost mythical. While we rightfully celebrate the consistent greatness of legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, and Virat Kohli, it's incredible to know that some of the most unique milestones belong to others. Amelia Kerr's all-around masterpiece of a double century and a five-for remains a lonely peak no one else has scaled.
And then you have Sachin's bizarre, rule-bending feat of scoring 24 runs from 3 legal balls, a product of a wild experimental format. Both records, in their own way, highlight the amazing and unpredictable nature of cricket, reminding us that there's always room for something new and utterly astonishing in this beautiful game.


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