List of New Zealand Test cricket records
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Test cricket is the oldest form of cricket played at international level.[1] A Test match is scheduled to take place over a period of five days,[a][b] and is played by teams representing full member nations of the International Cricket Council (ICC).[5]
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The following is a list of records by the New Zealand Test cricket team. It is based on the List of Test cricket records, but concentrates solely on records dealing with the New Zealand Test cricket team, and any cricketers who have played for that team.
New Zealand took part in their first recognised Test cricket match against England in the 1929/30 season, and the records listed here date from that time.
New Zealand won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, beating India in the final by 8 wickets. They are ranked number two in Tests, number one in ODIs and number four in T20Is.
Key
The top five records are listed for each category, except for the team wins, losses, draws and ties and the partnership records. Tied records for fifth place are also included. Explanations of the general symbols and cricketing terms used in the list are given below. Specific details are provided in each category where appropriate. All records include matches played for New Zealand only, and are correct as of November 2021[update].
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| † | Player or umpire is currently active in Test cricket |
| * | Player remained not out or partnership remained unbroken |
| ♠ | Test cricket record |
| d | Innings was declared (e.g. 8/758d) |
| Date | Starting date of the Test match |
| Innings | Number of innings played |
| Matches | Number of matches played |
| Opposition | The team New Zealand was playing against |
| Period | The time period when the player was active in Test cricket |
| Player | The player involved in the record |
| Venue | Test cricket ground where the match was played |
Team records
Overall record
Team wins, losses, draws and ties
As of August 2025[update], New Zealand have played 480 Test matches resulting in 121 victories, 189 defeats and 170 draws, a draw counts as 0.5 wins [6]
| Opponent | First Match | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw | Tied | % Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Australia | 1946 | 62 | 8 | 36 | 18 | 0 | 27.42 |
 Bangladesh | 2001 | 19 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 81.58 |
 England | 1930 | 118 | 15 | 56 | 47 | 0 | 32.63 |
 India | 1955 | 65 | 16 | 22 | 27 | 0 | 45.38 |
 Pakistan | 1955 | 62 | 14 | 25 | 23 | 0 | 41.13 |
 South Africa | 1932 | 49 | 7 | 26 | 16 | 0 | 30.61 |
 Sri Lanka | 1983 | 40 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 59.21 |
 West Indies | 1952 | 52 | 19 | 13 | 20 | 0 | 55.77 |
 Zimbabwe | 1992 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 82.35 |
| Total | 480 | 121 | 189 | 170 | 0 | 42.84 | |
Statistics are correct as of  New Zealand v West Indies at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, 22 December 2025.[7] | |||||||
First Test series wins
First Test match wins
| Opponent | Home | Away | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Year | Venue | Year | |
 Afghanistan | YTP | YTP | YTP | YTP |
| Australia | Christchurch | 1974 | Brisbane | 1985 |
| Bangladesh | Hamilton | 2001 | Dhaka | 2004 |
| England | Wellington | 1978 | Leeds | 1983 |
| India | Christchurch | 1968 | Nagpur | 1969 |
 Ireland | YTP | YTP | Belfast | 2026 |
| Pakistan | Auckland | 1985 | Lahore | 1969 |
| South Africa | Auckland | 2004 | Cape Town | 1961 |
| Sri Lanka | Christchurch | 1983 | Kandy | 1984 |
| West Indies | Auckland | 1956 | Bridgetown | 2002 |
| Zimbabwe | Wellington | 1998 | Harare | 1992 |
| Last updated: 16 February 2024[8] | ||||
Team scoring records
Most runs in an innings
The highest innings score by the Blackcaps is 715/6d in first Test of the 2018–19 series against Bangladesh 2019.[9][10]
| Rank | Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 715/6d | Bangladesh |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 28 February 2019 |
| 2 | 690 | Pakistan |
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, UAE | 26 November 2014 |
| 3 | 680/8d | India |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 14 February 2014 |
| 4 | 671/4 | Sri Lanka |
31 January 1991 | |
| 5 | 659/6d | Pakistan |
Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand | 5 January 2021 |
| Last updated: 5 January 2021[11] | ||||
Highest successful run chases
New Zealand's highest fourth innings total is 451 all out in an unsuccessful run chase against England at Christchurch in March 2002. England had set a target of 549. New Zealand's highest successful run chase occurred against Pakistan at Christchurch in 1994. Pakistan had set New Zealand a target of 324.[12]
| Rank | Score | Target | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 324/5 | 324 | Pakistan |
Lancaster Park, Christchurch, New Zealand | 24 February 1994 |
| 2 | 317/7 | 317 | Bangladesh |
Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Chittagong, Bangladesh | 17 October 2008 |
| 3 | 285/8 | 285 | Sri Lanka |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 9 March 2023 |
| 4 | 278/8 | 278 | Pakistan |
Carisbrook, Dunedin, New Zealand | 9 February 1985 |
| 5 | 269/3 | 267 | South Africa |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 16 February 2024 |
| Last updated: 16 February 2024[13] | |||||
Fewest runs in an innings
The lowest innings total scored in Test cricket came in the second Test of England's tour of New Zealand in March 1955. Trailing England by 46, New Zealand was bowled out in their second innings for 26 runs.[14][15][16]
| Rank | Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26♠ | England |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 25 March 1955 |
| 2 | 42 | Australia |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 29 March 1946 |
| 2 | 45 | South Africa |
Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa | 2 January 2013 |
| 4 | 47 | England |
Lord's, London, England | 19 June 1958 |
| 5 | 54 | Australia |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 29 March 1946 |
| Last updated: 23 June 2020[15] | ||||
Most runs conceded in an innings
The highest innings total scored against New Zealand is by West Indies when they scored 660/5d in the second Test of the West Indies tour of New Zealand in 1995 at Basin Reserve.[10]
| Rank | Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 660/5d | West Indies |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 10 February 1995 |
| 2 | 643 | Pakistan |
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan | 1 May 2002 |
| 3 | 621/5d | South Africa |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 27 February 1999 |
| 4 | 616/5d | Pakistan |
24 February 1989 | |
| 5 | 607/6d | Australia |
The Gabba, Brisbane, Australia | 3 December 1993 |
| Last updated: 23 August 2020[17] | ||||
Fewest runs conceded in an innings
The lowest innings total scored against New Zealand is 46 by India where New Zealand tour of India in 2024[16]
| Rank | Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46 | India |
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India | 16 October 2024 |
| 2 | 51 | Zimbabwe |
McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand | 26 January 2012 |
| 3 | 58 | England |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 23 March 2018 |
| 4 | 59 | Zimbabwe |
Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe | 7 August 2005 |
| 5 | 64 | England |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 10 February 1978 |
| Last updated: 3 December 2017[18] | ||||
Result records
A Test match is won when one side has scored more runs than the total runs scored by the opposing side during their two innings. If both sides have completed both their allocated innings and the side that fielded last has the higher aggregate of runs, it is known as a win by runs. This indicates the number of runs that they had scored more than the opposing side. If one side scores more runs in a single innings than the total runs scored by the other side in both their innings, it is known as a win by innings and runs. If the side batting last wins the match, it is known as a win by wickets, indicating the number of wickets that were still to fall.[19]
Greatest win margins (by innings)
The fifth Test of the 1938 Ashes series at The Oval saw England win by an innings and 579 runs, the largest victory by an innings in Test cricket history. The largest victory for New Zealand, which is the 3rd largest, is their win against Zimbabwe in the second Test of the 2025 tour at Bulawayo, where the tourists won by an innings and 359 runs.[20]
| Rank | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Innings and 359 runs | Zimbabwe |
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | 9 August 2025 |
| 2 | Innings and 301 runs | McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand | 12 January 2012 | |
| 3 | Innings and 294 runs | Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe | 7 August 2005 | |
| 4 | Innings and 276 runs | South Africa |
Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand | 17 February 2022 |
| 5 | Innings and 185 runs | Pakistan |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 27 March 2001 |
| Last updated: 9 August 2025[21] | ||||
Greatest win margins (by runs)
The greatest winning margin by runs in Test cricket was England's victory over Australia by 675 runs in the first Test of the 1928–29 Ashes series. The largest victory recorded by New Zealand, which is the 8th largest victory, was recorded against Sri Lanka in the second and final Test of the 2018-19 tour at the Hagley Oval, where the hosts won by 423 runs.[22]
| Rank | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 423 runs | Sri Lanka |
Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand | 30 December 2018 |
| England |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 17 December 2024 | ||
| 3 | 323 runs | West Indies |
Bay Oval, Tauranga, New Zealand | 22 December 2025 |
| 4 | 281 runs | South Africa |
Bay Oval, Tauranga, New Zealand | 7 February 2024 |
| 5 | 254 runs | Zimbabwe |
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | 6 August 2016 |
| Last updated: 24 December 2025[21] | ||||
Greatest win margins (by 10 wickets)
New Zealand have won a Test match by a margin of 10 wickets on 5 occasions.[21]
| Rank | Number of Victories | Opposition | Most Recent Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | India |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 21 February 2020 |
| 2 | 1 | Zimbabwe |
19 February 1998 | |
| West Indies |
17 March 2006 | |||
| Last updated: 3 December 2017[21] | ||||
Narrowest win margins (by runs)
New Zealand's narrowest win was by 1 run (the second such victory in Test history, after West Indies), against England in a match in February 2023. England made 435 runs in first innings. In response, New Zealand were dismissed for 209 and were asked to follow-on. In the second innings, New Zealand scored 483 runs to set a target of 257 runs to win for England, which they fell one run short of.
| Rank | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 run | England |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 28 February 2023 |
| 2 | 4 runs | Pakistan |
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE | 16 November 2018 |
| 3 | 7 runs | Australia |
Bellerive Oval, Hobart, Australia | 9 December 2011 |
| 4 | 25 runs | India |
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India | 1 November 2024 |
| 5 | 27 runs | West Indies |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 9 March 2006 |
| Last updated: 28 February 2023[23] | ||||
Narrowest win margins (by wickets)
New Zealand's narrowest win by wickets came in the first Test of the West Indies cricket team in New Zealand in 1979-80 in February 1980. Played at the Carisbrook, the hosts won the match by a margin of one wicket, one of only fourteen one-wicket victories in Test cricket.[24]
| Rank | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 wicket | West Indies |
Carisbrook, Dunedin, New Zealand | 8 February 1980 | |
| 2 | 2 wickets | Pakistan |
9 February 1985 | ||
| 3 | 3 wickets | Bangladesh |
Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Chittagong, Bangladesh | 17 October 2008 | |
| 4 | 4 wickets | India |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 26 December 1998 | |
| Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 19 December 2002 | ||||
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[25] | |||||
Greatest loss margins (by innings)
The Oval in London played host the greatest defeat by an innings in Test cricket.[20] The final Test of the 1938 Ashes saw England defeat the tourists by an innings and 579 runs, to the draw the series at one match all.[26] New Zealand's biggest defeat came during the Pakistan tour in 2002 when they lost by an innings and 324 runs at Lahore Stadium, Lahore.[27]
| Rank | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Innings and 324 runs | Pakistan |
Lahore Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan | 1 May 2002 |
| 2 | Innings and 322 runs | West Indies |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 10 February 1995 |
| 3 | Innings and 222 runs | Australia |
Bellerive Oval, Hobart, Australia | 26 November 1993 |
| 4 | Innings and 215 runs | England |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 23 February 1963 |
| 5 | Innings and 198 runs | India |
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, India | 20 November 2010 |
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[27] | ||||
Greatest loss margins (by runs)
The first Test of the 1928–29 Ashes series saw Australia defeated by England by 675 runs, the greatest losing margin by runs in Test cricket.[22] New Zealand's biggest defeat by runs was against South Africa in the first Test of the 2007 tour at New Wanderers Stadium.[27]
| Rank | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 372 runs | India |
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India | 3 December 2021 |
| 2 | 358 runs | South Africa |
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | 8 November 2007 |
| 3 | 299 runs | Pakistan |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 8 March 2001 |
| 4 | 297 runs | Australia |
22 March 1974 | |
| 5 | 272 runs | India |
7 March 1968 | |
| Last updated: 6 December 2021[27] | ||||
Greatest loss margins (by 10 wickets)
New Zealand have lost a Test match by a margin of 10 wickets on 13 occasions with most recent being during the 2nd test of the New Zealand cricket team in the West Indies in 2014.
| Rank | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | West Indies |
Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad | 16 June 2014 |
| 2 | 3 | Australia |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 19 March 2010 |
| 3 | 2 | India |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 18 March 2009 |
| Pakistan |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 7 January 2011 | ||
| 5 | 1 | Sri Lanka |
Galle International Stadium, Galle, Sri Lanka | 17 November 2012 |
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[27] | ||||
Narrowest loss margins (by runs)
The narrowest loss of New Zealand in terms of runs is by 30 runs against South Africa in the first test of the New Zealand's tour of South Africa in 1961.[28]
| Rank | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 runs |  South Africa |
Kingsmead, Durban, South Africa | 8 December 1961 |
| 2 | 33 runs | Pakistan |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 2 January 1993 |
| 3 | 38 runs | England |
Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England | 7 June 1973 |
| 4 | 60 runs | India |
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, India | 25 September 1969 |
| 5 | 62 runs | Australia |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 11 March 2000 |
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[28] | ||||
Narrowest loss margins (by wickets)
The narrowest loss of New Zealand in terms of wickets is by 3 wickets against Australia in the third test of New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2015–16.[28]
| Rank | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 wicket | Australia |
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia | 27 November 2015 |
| 2 | 4 wickets | Pakistan |
Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan | 26 October 1955 |
| Australia |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia | 22 November 1985 | ||
| England |
Lancaster Park, Christchurch, New Zealand | 14 February 1997 | ||
| Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England | 10 June 2004 | |||
| South Africa |
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | 5 May 2006 | ||
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[28] | ||||
Batting records
Most career runs
A run is the basic means of scoring in cricket. A run is scored when the batsman hits the ball with his bat and with his partner runs the length of 22 yards (20 m) of the pitch.[29] India's Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most runs in Test cricket with 15,921. Second is Joe Root of England with about 14,000 ahead of Ricky Ponting from Australia in third with 13,378.[30]
| Rank | Runs | Player | Matches | Innings | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9,515 | Kane Williamson | 110 | 195 | 2010–2026 |
| 2 | 7,683 | Ross Taylor | 112 | 196 | 2007–2022 |
| 3 | 7,172 | Stephen Fleming | 111 | 189 | 1994–2008 |
| 4 | 6,453 | Brendon McCullum | 101 | 176 | 2004–2016 |
| 5 | 6,450 | Tom Latham† | 95 | 171 | 2014–2026 |
| 6 | 5,444 | Martin Crowe | 77 | 131 | 1982–1995 |
| 7 | 5,334 | John Wright | 82 | 148 | 1978–1993 |
| 8 | 4,702 | Nathan Astle | 81 | 137 | 1996–2006 |
| 9 | 4,523 | Daniel Vettori | 112 | 172 | 1997–2014 |
| 10 | 3,790 | BJ Watling | 75 | 117 | 2009–2021 |
| Last updated: 30 June 2026[31] | |||||
Fastest runs getter
| Runs | Batsman | Match | Innings | Record Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | Devon Conway | 11 | 19 | 27 December 2022 | [32] |
| 2,000 | Andrew Jones | 24 | 44 | 1 November 1992 | [33] |
| 3,000 | Kane Williamson | 39 | 71 | 3 January 2015 | [34] |
| 4,000 | 48 | 89 | 20 February 2016 | [35] | |
| 5,000 | 61 | 110 | 25 March 2017 | [36] | |
| 6,000 | 71 | 126 | 28 February 2019 | [37] | |
| 7,000 | 83 | 144 | 3 January 2021 | [38] | |
| 8,000 | 94 | 164 | 17 March 2023 | [39] | |
| 9,000 | 103 | 182 | 30 November 2024 | [40] | |
| Last updated: 01 December 2024 | |||||
Most runs in each batting position
| Batting position | Batsman | Innings | Runs | Average | Test Career Span | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opener | Tom Latham† | 170 | 6,434 | 38.47 | 2014–2024 | [41] |
| Number 3 | Kane Williamson† | 166 | 8,658 | 57.72 | 2011–2024 | [42] |
| Number 4 | Ross Taylor | 174 | 7,087 | 47.24 | 2007–2022 | [43] |
| Number 5 | Nathan Astle | 87 | 3,181 | 37.87 | 1996–2006 | [44] |
| Number 6 | Craig McMillan | 51 | 1,899 | 41.28 | 1997–2005 | [45] |
| Number 7 | BJ Watling | 59 | 1,780 | 35.60 | 2021–2021 | [46] |
| Number 8 | Daniel Vettori | 67 | 2,227 | 39.77 | 1997–2014 | [47] |
| Number 9 | Tim Southee | 90 | 1,245 | 14.82 | 2008–2024 | [48] |
| Number 10 | Neil Wagner | 50 | 594 | 18.56 | 2013–2024 | [49] |
| Number 11 | Trent Boult | 81 | 644 | 16.10 | 2012–2022 | [50] |
| Last updated: 26 October 2024. | ||||||
Most runs against each team
| Opposition | Runs | Player | Matches | Innings | Period | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan |
YTP | |||||
| Australia |
1,277 | John Wright | 19 | 36 | 1980–1993 | [51] |
| Bangladesh |
822 | Kane Williamson† | 8 | 12 | 2013–2023 | [52] |
| England |
1,518 | John Wright | 23 | 43 | 1978–1992 | [53] |
| India |
1,224 | Brendon McCullum | 10 | 19 | 2009–2014 | [54] |
| Ireland |
186 | Tom Blundell† | 1 | 1 | 2026–2026 | [55] |
| Pakistan |
1,519 | Kane Williamson† | 14 | 25 | 2011–2023 | [56] |
| South Africa |
1,072 | Stephen Fleming | 15 | 27 | 1994–2007 | [57] |
| Sri Lanka |
1,467 | Kane Williamson† | 14 | 25 | 2012–2024 | [58] |
| West Indies |
1,155 | Kane Williamson† | 13 | 23 | 2012–2025 | [59] |
| Zimbabwe |
813 | Nathan Astle | 11 | 17 | 1996–2005 | [60] |
| Last updated: 8 June 2026. | ||||||
Highest individual score
The second test of the Indian cricket team in New Zealand in 2013–14 saw Brendon McCullum score his first and New Zealand's only triple century and record New Zealand's highest Individual score.[61]
| Rank | Runs | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 302 | Brendon McCullum | India |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 14 February 2014 |
| 2 | 299 | Martin Crowe | Sri Lanka |
31 January 1991 | |
| 3 | 290 | Ross Taylor | Australia |
WACA Ground, Perth, Australia | 13 November 2015 |
| 4 | 274* | Stephen Fleming | Sri Lanka |
P Sara Oval, Colombo, Sri Lanka | 25 April 2003 |
| 5 | 267* | Bryan Young | Carisbrook, Dunedin, New Zealand | 7 March 1997 | |
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[61] | |||||
Highest individual score – progression of record
| Runs | Player | Opponent | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45* | Roger Blunt | England | Lancaster Park, Christchurch, New Zealand | 1929–30 |
| 136 | Stewie Dempster | Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | ||
| 206 | Martin Donnelly | Lord's, London, England | 1949 | |
| 230 | Bert Sutcliffe | India | Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi, India | 1955–56 |
| 239 | Graham Dowling | Lancaster Park, Christchurch, New Zealand | 1967−68 | |
| 259 | Glenn Turner | West Indies | Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana | 1972 |
| 299 | Martin Crowe | Sri Lanka | Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 1990−91 |
| 302 | Brendon McCullum | India | 2013–14 | |
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[61] | ||||
Highest individual score against each team
| Opposition | Runs | Player | Venue | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan |
YTP | ||||
| Australia |
290 | Ross Taylor | WACA Ground, Perth, Australia | 15 November 2015 | [62] |
| Bangladesh |
252 | Tom Latham | Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand | 9 January 2022 | [63] |
| England |
222 | Nathan Astle | Lancaster Park, Christchurch, New Zealand | 13 March 2002 | [64] |
| India |
302 | Brendon McCullum | Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 14 February 2014 | [65] |
| Ireland |
186 | Tom Blundell (cricketer) | Stormont Cricket Ground, Belfast, United Kingdom | 28 May 2026 | [66] |
| Pakistan |
238 | Kane Williamson | Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand | 3 January 2021 | [67] |
| South Africa |
262 | Stephen Fleming | Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa | 27 April 2006 | [68] |
| Sri Lanka |
299 | Martin Crowe | Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 31 January 1991 | [69] |
| West Indies |
259 | Glenn Turner | Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana | 6 April 1972 | [70] |
| Zimbabwe |
173* | Ross Taylor | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | 28 July 2016 | [71] |
| Last updated: 11 January 2022. | |||||
Highest career average
A batsman's batting average is the total number of runs they have scored divided by the number of times they have been dismissed.[72]
| Rank | Average | Player | Innings | Runs | Not out | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54.88 | Kane Williamson† | 186 | 9,276 | 17 | 2010–2024 |
| 2 | 46.28 | John F. Reid | 31 | 1,296 | 3 | 1979–1986 |
| 3 | 45.36 | Martin Crowe | 131 | 5,444 | 11 | 1982–1995 |
| 4 | 44.77 | Mark Richardson | 65 | 2,776 | 3 | 2000–2004 |
| Qualification: 20 innings. Last updated: 26 October 2024[73] | ||||||
Highest average in each batting position
| Batting position | Batsman | Innings | Runs | Average | Career Span | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opener | Glenn Turner | 67 | 2,828 | 45.61 | 1969–1983 | [74] |
| Number 3 | Kane Williamson† | 166 | 8,658 | 57.72 | 2010–2024 | [75] |
| Number 4 | Martin Crowe | 106 | 4,841 | 49.40 | 1982–1995 | [76] |
| Number 5 | Brendon McCullum | 44 | 1,887 | 43.88 | 2007–2016 | [77] |
| Number 6 | Jeremy Coney | 48 | 1,772 | 45.43 | 1974–1987 | [78] |
| Number 7 | Chris Cairns | 41 | 1,766 | 43.07 | 1989–2004 | [79] |
| Number 8 | Daniel Vettori | 67 | 2,227 | 39.77 | 1997–2014 | [80] |
| Number 9 | Ian Smith | 36 | 797 | 28.46 | 1980–1992 | [81] |
| Number 10 | Neil Wagner | 50 | 594 | 18.56 | 2013–2024 | [82] |
| Number 11 | Trent Boult | 75 | 589 | 15.91 | 2011–2022 | [83] |
| Last updated: 30 September 2024. Qualification: Min 20 innings batted at position | ||||||
Most half-centuries
A half-century is a score of between 50 and 99 runs. Statistically, once a batsman's score reaches 100, it is no longer considered a half-century but a century.
Sachin Tendulkar of India has scored the most half-centuries in Test cricket with 68. He is followed by the West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul on 66, India's Rahul Dravid and Allan Border of Australia on 63 and in fifth with 62 fifties to his name, Australia's Ricky Ponting.[84]
| Rank | Half centuries | Player | Innings | Runs | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46 | Stephen Fleming | 189 | 7,172 | 1994–2008 |
| 2 | 38 | Kane Williamson† | 187 | 9,328 | 2010–2025 |
| 3 | 35 | Ross Taylor | 196 | 7,683 | 2007–2022 |
| 4= | 31 | Brendon McCullum | 176 | 6,453 | 2004–2016 |
| 4= | 31 | Tom Latham† | 159 | 5,858 | 2014–2025 |
| Last updated: 02 December 2025[85] | |||||
Most centuries
A century is a score of 100 or more runs in a single innings.
Tendulkar has also scored the most centuries in Test cricket with 51. South Africa's Jacques Kallis is next on 45 and Ricky Ponting with 41 hundreds is in third.[86]
| Rank | Centuries | Player | Innings | Runs | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Kane Williamson | 195 | 9,515 | 2010–2026 |
| 2 | 19 | Ross Taylor | 196 | 7,683 | 2007–2022 |
| 3= | 17 | Martin Crowe | 131 | 5,444 | 1982–1995 |
| 3= | 17 | Tom Latham† | 171 | 6,450 | 2014–2026 |
| 5 | 12 | John Wright | 148 | 5,334 | 1978–1993 |
| Brendon McCullum | 176 | 6,453 | 2004–2016 | ||
| Last updated: 30 June 2026[87] | |||||
Most double centuries
A double century is a score of 200 or more runs in a single innings.
Bradman holds the Test record for the most double centuries scored with twelve, one ahead of Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara who finished his career with eleven. In third is Brian Lara of the West Indies with nine. England's Wally Hammond, Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka and Virat Kohli of India scored seven double centuries.[88]
| Rank | Double centuries | Player | Innings | Runs | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Kane Williamson† | 191 | 9,421 | 2010–2025 |
| 2 | 4 | Brendon McCullum | 176 | 6,453 | 2004–2016 |
| 3 | 3 | Stephen Fleming | 189 | 7,172 | 1994–2008 |
| Ross Taylor | 196 | 7,683 | 2007–2022 | ||
| 5 | 2 | Glenn Turner | 73 | 2,991 | 1969–1983 |
| Mathew Sinclair | 56 | 1,635 | 1999–2010 | ||
| Tom Latham† | 163 | 6,160 | 2014–2025 | ||
| Devon Conway† | 59 | 2,433 | 2021–2025 | ||
| Last updated: 19 December 2025[89] | |||||
Most triple centuries
A triple century is a score of 300 or more runs in a single innings.
India's Virender Sehwag, Australia's Don Bradman and West Indies's Chris Gayle and Brian Lara have each scored two triple centuries.[90] Brendon McCullum is the only New Zealand Player who has scored a single Test triple century as of September 2020[update].
| Rank | Triple centuries | Player | Innings | Runs | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Brendon McCullum | 176 | 6,453 | 2004–2016 |
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[91] | |||||
Most Sixes
| Rank | Sixes | Player | Innings | Runs | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 107 | Brendon McCullum | 176 | 6,453 | 2004–2016 |
| 2 | 98 | Tim Southee | 148 | 2,245 | 2008–2024 |
| 3 | 87 | Chris Cairns | 104 | 3,320 | 1989–2004 |
| 4 | 55 | Ross Taylor | 196 | 7,683 | 2007–2022 |
| 5 | 54 | Craig McMillan | 91 | 3,116 | 1997–2005 |
| Last updated: 17 December 2024[92] | |||||
Most Fours
| Rank | Fours | Player | Innings | Runs | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 982 | Kane Williamson† | 180 | 8,881 | 2010–2024 |
| 2 | 932 | Ross Taylor | 196 | 7,683 | 2007–2022 |
| 3 | 917 | Stephen Fleming | 189 | 7,172 | 1994–2008 |
| 4 | 776 | Brendon McCullum | 176 | 6,453 | 2004–2016 |
| 5 | 659 | Martin Crowe | 131 | 5,444 | 1982–1995 |
| Last updated: 30 September 2024[93] | |||||
Most runs in a series
The 1930 Ashes series in England saw Don Bradman set the record for the most runs scored in a single series, falling just 26 short of 1,000 runs. He is followed by Wally Hammond with 905 runs scored in the 1928–29 Ashes series. Glenn Turner with 672 in the 1972 tour of West Indies is the highest New Zealander on the list.[94]
| Rank | Runs | Player | Matches | Innings | Opposition | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 672 | Glenn Turner | 5 | 8 | West Indies |
New Zealand cricket team in the West Indies in 1971–72 |
| 2 | 611 | Bert Sutcliffe | 9 | India |
New Zealand cricket team in India in 1955–56 | |
| 3 | 546 | John R. Reid | 10 | South Africa |
New Zealand cricket team in South Africa in 1961–62 | |
| 4 | 538 | Daryl Mitchell | 3 | 6 | England |
New Zealand cricket team in England in 2022 |
| 5 | 535 | Brendon McCullum | 2 | 4 | India |
Indian cricket team in New Zealand in 2013–14 |
| Last updated: 30 June 2022[95] | ||||||
Most ducks
A duck refers to a batsman being dismissed without scoring a run.[96] Chris Martin has scored the second-highest number of ducks in Test cricket behind Courtney Walsh.[97]
| Rank | Ducks | Player | Matches | Innings | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 | Chris Martin | 71 | 104 | 2000–2013 |
| 2 | 24 | Danny Morrison | 48 | 71 | 1987–1997 |
| 3 | 21 | Tim Southee | 107 | 156 | 2008–2024 |
| 4 | 19 | Daniel Vettori | 112 | 172 | 1997–2014 |
| 5 | 17 | Neil Wagner | 64 | 84 | 2012–2024 |
| Last updated: 17 December 2024[98] | |||||
Highest partnerships by wicket
In cricket, two batsmen are always present at the crease batting together in a partnership. This partnership will continue until one of them is dismissed, retires or the innings comes to a close.
A wicket partnership describes the number of runs scored before each wicket falls. The first wicket partnership is between the opening batsmen and continues until the first wicket falls. The second wicket partnership then commences between the not out batsman and the number three batsman. This partnership continues until the second wicket falls. The third wicket partnership then commences between the not out batsman and the new batsman. This continues down to the tenth wicket partnership. When the tenth wicket has fallen, there is no batsman left to partner so the innings is closed.
Highest partnerships by runs
The highest Test partnership by runs for any wicket is held by the Sri Lankan pairing of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who put together a third wicket partnership of 624 runs during the first Test against South Africa in July 2006. This broke the record of 576 runs set by their compatriots Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama against India in 1997. New Zealand's Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe hold the third highest Test partnership with 467 made in 1991 against Sri Lanka.[100]
| Wicket | Runs | First batsman | Second batsman | Opposition | Venue | Date | Scorecard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd wicket | 467 | Andrew Jones | Martin Crowe | Sri Lanka |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 31 January 1991 | Scorecard |
| 1st wicket | 413 | Glenn Turner | Terry Jarvis | West Indies |
Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana | 6 April 1972 | Scorecard |
| 4th wicket | 369 | Kane Williamson | Henry Nicholls | Pakistan |
Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand | 3 January 2021 | Scorecard |
| 6th wicket | 365* | BJ Watling | Sri Lanka |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 3 January 2015 | Scorecard | |
| 3rd wicket | 363 | Henry Nicholls | 17 March 2023 | ||||
| Last updated: 17 March 2023[101] | |||||||
Highest overall partnership runs by a pair
| Rank | Runs | Innings | Players | Highest | Average | 100/50 | Career span | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,882 | 76 | Ross Taylor & Kane Williamson | 265 | 58.81 | 10/19 | 2011-2021 | |
| 2 | 3,473 | 79 | Tom Latham & Kane Williamson † | 165 | 43.96 | 10/16 | 2014–2025 | |
| 3 | 2,223 | 50 | Tom Latham & Devon Conway | 323 | 45.16 | 6/8 | 2021-2025 | |
| 4 | 1,951 | 58 | Nathan Astle & Stephen Fleming | 106 | 33.63 | 2/15 | 1996-2006 | |
| 5 | 1,803 | 28 | Martin Crowe & Andrew Jones | 467 | 64.39 | 4/6 | 1987-1993 | |
| An asterisk (*) signifies an unbroken partnership (i.e. neither of the batsmen was dismissed before either the end of the allotted overs or the required score being reached). Last updated: 18 December 2025[102] | ||||||||
Bowling records
Most career wickets
A bowler takes the wicket of a batsman when the form of dismissal is bowled, caught, leg before wicket, stumped or hit wicket. If the batsman is dismissed by run out, obstructing the field, handling the ball, hitting the ball twice or timed out the bowler does not receive credit.
Shane Warne held the record for the most Test wickets with 708 until December 2007 when Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Muralitharan passed Warne's milestone.[103] Muralitharan, who continued to play until 2010, finished with 800 wickets to his name. James Anderson of England is third on the list with 704 wickets, which is the record for most wickets by a fast bowler in Test cricket.[104][105] New Zealand's Richard Hadlee is the highest ranked New Zealand bowler taking 431 wickets.
| Rank | Wickets | Player | Matches | Innings | Average | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 431 | Richard Hadlee | 86 | 150 | 22.29 | 1973–1990 |
| 2 | 391 | Tim Southee | 107 | 203 | 30.26 | 2008–2024 |
| 3 | 361 | Daniel Vettori | 112 | 185 | 34.15 | 1997–2014 |
| 4 | 317 | Trent Boult | 78 | 149 | 27.49 | 2011–2022 |
| 5 | 260 | Neil Wagner | 64 | 122 | 27.57 | 2012–2024 |
| 6 | 233 | Chris Martin | 71 | 126 | 33.81 | 2000–2013 |
| 7 | 218 | Chris Cairns | 62 | 104 | 29.40 | 1989–2004 |
| 8 | 160 | Danny Morrison | 48 | 76 | 34.68 | 1987–1997 |
| 9 | 136 | Matt Henry† | 32 | 63 | 27.40 | 2015–2025 |
| 10 | 130 | Lance Cairns | 43 | 72 | 32.92 | 1974–1985 |
| Last updated: 9 August 2025[106] | ||||||
Most career wickets against each team
| Opposition | Wickets | Player | Matches | Innings | Average | Period | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan |
YTP | ||||||
| Australia |
130 | Richard Hadlee | 23 | 41 | 20.56 | 1973–1990 | [107] |
| Bangladesh |
51 | Daniel Vettori | 9 | 17 | 16.05 | 2001–2010 | [108] |
| England |
97 | Richard Hadlee | 21 | 35 | 24.73 | 1973–1990 | [109] |
| India |
65 | 14 | 24 | 22.96 | 1976–1990 | [110] | |
| Ireland |
YTP | ||||||
| Pakistan |
51 | Richard Hadlee | 12 | 20 | 28.39 | 1973–1989 | [111] |
| South Africa |
55 | Chris Martin | 14 | 24 | 26.72 | 2000–2013 | [112] |
| Sri Lanka |
66 | Tim Southee | 14 | 26 | 19.83 | 2012–2024 | [113] |
| West Indies |
51 | Richard Hadlee | 10 | 19 | 22.03 | 1980–1987 | [114] |
| Zimbabwe |
39 | Chris Cairns | 8 | 16 | 24.20 | 1996–2000 | [115] |
| Last updated: 27 September 2024 | |||||||
Fastest wicket taker
| Wickets | Bowler | Match | Record Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Kyle Jamieson | 9 | 26 November 2021 | [116] |
| 100 | Richard Hadlee | 25 | 16 February 1979 | [117] |
| 150 | 34 | 6 March 1981 | [118] | |
| 200 | 44 | 25 August 1983 | [119] | |
| 250 | 53 | 9 February 1985 | [120] | |
| 300 | 61 | 21 February 1986 | [121] | |
| 350 | 69 | 12 March 1987 | [122] | |
| 400 | 80 | 2 February 1990 | [123] | |
| Last updated: 20 June 2020 | ||||
Best figures in an innings
Bowling figures refers to the number of the wickets a bowler has taken and the number of runs conceded.[124] There have been three occasions in Test cricket where a bowler has taken all ten wickets in a single innings – Jim Laker of England took 10/53 against Australia in 1956, India's Anil Kumble in 1999 returned figures of 10/74 against Pakistan and New Zealand's Ajaz Patel in 2021, returning figures of 10/119 against India. Richard Hadlee is one of 15 bowlers who have taken nine wickets in a Test match innings.[125]
| Rank | Figures | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10/119 | Ajaz Patel† | India |
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India | 3 December 2021 |
| 2 | 9/52 | Richard Hadlee | Australia |
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane, Australia | 8 November 1985 |
| 3 | 7/23 | India |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 13 February 1976 | |
| Matt Henry | South Africa |
Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand | 17 February 2022 | ||
| 5 | 7/27 | Chris Cairns | West Indies |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 16 December 1999 |
| Last updated: 23 July 2025[126] | |||||
Best figures in an innings against each team
| Opposition | Figures | Player | Venue | Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan |
YTP | ||||
| Australia |
9/52 | Richard Hadlee | Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane, Australia | 8 November 1985 | [127] |
| Bangladesh |
7/53 | Chris Cairns | Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 18 December 2001 | [128] |
| England |
7/74 | Lance Cairns | Headingley, Leeds, England | 28 July 1983 | [129] |
| India |
10/119 | Ajaz Patel | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India | 3 December 2021 | [130] |
| Ireland |
YTP | ||||
| Pakistan |
7/52 | Chris Pringle | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, Pakistan | 26 October 1990 | [131] |
| South Africa |
7/23 | Matt Henry | Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand | 17 February 2022 | [132] |
| Sri Lanka |
7/130 | Daniel Vettori | Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 15 December 2006 | [133] |
| West Indies |
7/27 | Chris Cairns | Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 16 December 1999 | [134] |
| Zimbabwe |
6/26 | Chris Martin | McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand | 26 January 2012 | [135] |
| Last updated: 19 January 2022 | |||||
Best figures in a match
A bowler's bowling figures in a match is the sum of the wickets taken and the runs conceded over both innings.
No bowler in the history of Test cricket has taken all 20 wickets in a match. The closest to do so was English spin bowler Jim Laker. During the fourth Test of the 1956 Ashes series, Laker took 9/37 in the first innings and 10/53 in the second to finish with match figures of 19/90. Richard Hadlee's figures of 15/123 taken during the first match of the New Zealand tour of Australia in 1985, is the 10th best in Test cricket history.[136]
| Rank | Figures | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15/123 | Richard Hadlee | Australia |
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane, Australia | 8 November 1985 |
| 2 | 14/225 | Ajaz Patel | India |
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India | 3 December 2021 |
| 3 | 13/157 | Mitchell Santner | India |
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India | 26 October 2024 |
| 4 | 12/149 | Daniel Vettori | Australia |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 11 March 2000 |
| 5 | 12/170 | Bangladesh |
M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong, Bangladesh | 26 October 2004 | |
| Last updated: 26 October 2024[137] | |||||
Best career average
A bowler's bowling average is the total number of runs they have conceded divided by the number of wickets they have taken. Nineteenth century English medium pacer George Lohmann holds the record for the best career average in Test cricket with 10.75. J. J. Ferris, one of fifteen cricketers to have played Test cricket for more than one team,[138] is second behind Lohmann with an overall career average of 12.70 runs per wicket.[139]
| Rank | Average | Player | Wickets | Runs | Balls | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.73 | Kyle Jamieson† | 80 | 1,579 | 3,558 | 2020–2024 |
| 2 | 21.53 | Jack Cowie | 45 | 969 | 2,028 | 1937–1949 |
| 3 | 22.09 | Shane Bond | 87 | 1,922 | 3,372 | 2001–2009 |
| 4 | 22.29 | Richard Hadlee | 431 | 9,611 | 21,918 | 1973–1990 |
| 5 | 26.60 | Bruce Taylor | 111 | 2,953 | 6,334 | 1965-1973 |
| Qualification: 2,000 balls. Last updated: 4 February 2024[140] | ||||||
Best career economy rate
A bowler's economy rate is the total number of runs they have conceded divided by the number of overs they have bowled.[96] English bowler William Attewell, who played 10 matches for England between 1884 and 1892, holds the Test record for the best career economy rate with 1.31. New Zealand's Jeremy Coney, with a rate of 2.04 runs per over conceded over his 52-match Test career, is 43rd on the list.[141]
| Rank | Economy rate | Player | Wickets | Runs | Balls | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.04 | Jeremy Coney | 27 | 966 | 2,835 | 1974–1987 |
| 2 | 2.15 | Hedley Howarth | 86 | 3,178 | 8,833 | 1969–1977 |
| 3 | 2.16 | Harry Cave | 34 | 1,467 | 4,074 | 1949–1958 |
| 4 | 2.20 | John Reid | 85 | 2,835 | 7,725 | 1949–1965 |
| 5 | 2.26 | Nathan Astle | 51 | 2,143 | 7,725 | 1996–2006 |
| Qualification: 2,000 balls. Last updated: 20 June 2020[142] | ||||||
Best career strike rate
A bowler's strike rate is the total number of balls they have bowled divided by the number of wickets they have taken.[96] As with the career average above, the top bowler with the best Test career strike rate is George Lohmann with strike rate of 34.1 balls per wicket. New Zealand's Shane Bond is at third position in this list.[143]
| Rank | Strike rate | Player | Wickets | Runs | Balls | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38.8 | Shane Bond | 87 | 1,922 | 3,372 | 2001–2009 |
| 2 | 44.5 | Kyle Jamieson† | 80 | 1,579 | 3,558 | 2020–2024 |
| 3 | 45.1 | Jack Cowie | 45 | 969 | 2,028 | 1937–1949 |
| 4 | 50.9 | Richard Hadlee | 431 | 9,611 | 21,918 | 1973–1990 |
| 5 | 52.8 | Neil Wagner | 260 | 7,169 | 13,725 | 2012–2024 |
| Qualification: 2,000 balls. Last updated: 23 July 2025[144] | ||||||
Most five-wicket hauls in an innings
A five-wicket haul refers to a bowler taking five wickets in a single innings.[145] Richard Hadlee is third on the list of most five-wicket hauls behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan and Australia's Shane Warne in Test cricket.[146]
| Rank | Five-wicket hauls | Player | Innings | Balls | Wickets | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 | Richard Hadlee | 150 | 21,918 | 431 | 1973–1990 |
| 2 | 20 | Daniel Vettori | 185 | 28,652 | 361 | 1997–2014 |
| 3 | 15 | Tim Southee | 195 | 23,034 | 384 | 2008–2024 |
| 4 | 13 | Chris Cairns | 104 | 11,698 | 218 | 1989–2004 |
| 5 | 10 | Danny Morrison | 76 | 10,064 | 160 | 1987–1997 |
| Last updated: 19 October 2024[147] | ||||||
Most ten-wicket hauls in a match
A ten-wicket haul refers to a bowler taking ten or more wickets in a match over two innings. Richard Hadlee is third on the all-time list of the most ten-wicket hauls in Test cricket, having taken the most of any fast bowler with 9 ten-wicket hauls. Only spin bowlers Muralitharan and Warne have taken more with 22 and 10 respectively.[148]
| Rank | Ten-wicket hauls | Player | Matches | Balls | Wickets | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Richard Hadlee | 86 | 21,918 | 431 | 1973–1990 |
| 2 | 3 | Daniel Vettori | 112 | 28,652 | 361 | 1997–2014 |
| 3 | 2 | Ajaz Patel† | 21 | 4,582 | 85 | 2018-2024 |
| 4 | 1 | Jack Cowie | 9 | 2,028 | 45 | 1937–1949 |
| Ewen Chatfield | 43 | 10,360 | 123 | 1975–1989 | ||
| Gary Troup | 15 | 3,183 | 39 | 1976–1986 | ||
| Lance Cairns | 43 | 10,628 | 130 | 1974–1985 | ||
| John Bracewell | 41 | 8,403 | 102 | 1980–1990 | ||
| Chris Pringle | 14 | 2,985 | 30 | 1990–1995 | ||
| Chris Cairns | 62 | 11,698 | 218 | 1989–2004 | ||
| Dion Nash | 32 | 6,196 | 93 | 1992–2001 | ||
| Chris Martin | 71 | 14,026 | 233 | 2000–2013 | ||
| Shane Bond | 18 | 3,372 | 87 | 2001–2009 | ||
| Tim Southee | 107 | 23,490 | 391 | 2008–2024 | ||
| Trent Boult | 78 | 17,417 | 317 | 2011–2022 | ||
| Mark Craig | 15 | 3,669 | 50 | 2014–2016 | ||
| Kyle Jamieson† | 19 | 3,558 | 80 | 2020–2024 | ||
| Mitchell Santner† | 32 | 5,551 | 78 | 2015–2025 | ||
| Last updated: 3 November 2024[149] | ||||||
Worst figures in an innings
The worst figures in a single innings in Test cricket came in the third Test between the West Indies at home to Pakistan in 1958. Pakistan's Khan Mohammad returned figures of 0/259 from his 54 overs in the second innings of the match.[150][151] The worst figures by a New Zealander is 0/181 that came off the bowling of Matthew Hart in the second test of the West Indies tour of New Zealand in 1995.[152]
| Rank | Figures | Player | Overs | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0/181 | Matthew Hart | 46 | West Indies |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 10 February 1995 |
| 2 | 0/179 | Murphy Su'a | 44 | |||
| 3 | 0/159 | Alex Moir | 35 | South Africa |
6 March 1953 | |
| 4 | 0/156 | Mark Craig | 31 | Australia |
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane, Australia | 5 November 2015 |
| 5 | 0/154 | Tim Southee | 32 | England |
Trent Bridge, Nottingham, United Kingdom | 10 June 2022 |
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[153] | ||||||
Worst figures in a match
The worst figures in a match in Test cricket were taken by South Africa's Imran Tahir in the second Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in November 2012. He returned figures of 0/180 from his 23 overs in the first innings and 0/80 off 14 in the third innings for a total of 0/260 from 37 overs.[154] He claimed the record in his final over when two runs came from it – enough for him to pass the previous record of 0/259, set 54 years prior.[155]
The worst figures by a New Zealander is by Matthew Hart in the second test of the West Indies tour of New Zealand in 1995.[152]
| Rank | Figures | Player | Overs | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0/181 | Matthew Hart | 46 | West Indies |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 10 February 1995 |
| 2 | 0/179 | Murphy Su'a | 44 | |||
| 3 | 0/170 | Doug Bracewell | 38 | Australia |
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane, Australia | 5 November 2015 |
| 4 | 0/159 | Alex Moir | 35 | South Africa |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 6 March 1953 |
| Stephen Boock | 61 | West Indies |
Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana | 6 April 1985 | ||
| Last updated:20 June 2020[156] | ||||||
Most wickets in a series
England's seventh Test tour of South Africa in 1913–14 saw the record set for the most wickets taken by a bowler in a Test series. English paceman Sydney Barnes played in four of the five matches and achieved a total of 49 wickets to his name.
| Rank | Wickets | Player | Matches | Opposition | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Richard Hadlee | 3 | Australia |
New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 1985–86 |
| 2 | 27 | Bruce Taylor | 4 | West Indies |
New Zealand cricket team in West Indies in 1971–72 |
| 3 | 23 | Richard Hadlee | 3 | Sri Lanka |
New Zealand cricket team in Sri Lanka in 1983–84 |
| 4 | 22 | Tony MacGibbon | 5 | South Africa |
New Zealand cricket team in South Africa in 1953–54 |
| Jack Alabaster | New Zealand cricket team in South Africa in 1961–62 | ||||
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[157] | |||||
Hat-trick
In cricket, a hat-trick occurs when a bowler takes three wickets with consecutive deliveries. The deliveries may be interrupted by an over bowled by another bowler from the other end of the pitch or the other team's innings, but must be three consecutive deliveries by the individual bowler in the same match. Only wickets attributed to the bowler count towards a hat-trick; run outs do not count. In Test cricket history there have been just 44 hat-tricks, the first achieved by Fred Spofforth for Australia against England in 1879. In 1912, Australian Jimmy Matthews achieved the feat twice in one game against South Africa. The only other players to achieve two hat-tricks are Australia's Hugh Trumble, against England in 1902 and 1904, Pakistan's Wasim Akram, in separate games against Sri Lanka in 1999, and England's Stuart Broad.
| No. | Bowler | For | Against | Inn. | Test | Dismissals | Venue | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peter Petherick | New Zealand | Pakistan |
1 | 1/3 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 9 October 1976 | [158] | |
| 2 | James Franklin | New Zealand | Bangladesh |
1 | 1/2 | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka | 20 October 2004 | [159] |
Wicket-keeping records
The wicket-keeper is a specialist fielder who stands behind the stumps being guarded by the batsman on strike and is the only member of the fielding side allowed to wear gloves and leg pads.[160]
Most career dismissals
A wicket-keeper can be credited with the dismissal of a batsman in two ways, caught or stumped. A fair catch is taken when the ball is caught fully within the field of play without it bouncing after the ball has touched the striker's bat or glove holding the bat,[161][162] while a stumping occurs when the wicket-keeper puts down the wicket while the batsman is out of his ground and not attempting a run.[163] New Zealand's BJ Watling is the highest New Zealander in taking most dismissals in Test cricket as a designated wicket-keeper.[164]
| Rank | Dismissals | Player | Matches | Innings | Catches | Stumping | Dis/Inn | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 265 | BJ Watling | 75 | 127 | 257 | 8 | 2.086 | 2009–2021 |
| 2 | 201 | Adam Parore | 78 | 121 | 194 | 7 | 1.661 | 1990–2002 |
| 3 | 179 | Brendon McCullum | 101 | 95 | 168 | 11 | 1.884 | 2004–2016 |
| 4 | 176 | Ian Smith | 63 | 109 | 168 | 8 | 1.614 | 1980–1992 |
| 5 | 122 | Tom Blundell† | 42 | 69 | 106 | 16 | 1.768 | 2017–2025 |
| Last updated: 9 August 2025[165] | ||||||||
Most career catches
Watling is seventh in taking most catches in Test cricket as a designated wicket-keeper.[166]
| Rank | Catches | Player | Matches | Innings | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 257 | BJ Watling | 75 | 127 | 2009–2021 |
| 2 | 194 | Adam Parore | 78 | 121 | 1990–2002 |
| 3 | 168 | Brendon McCullum | 101 | 95 | 2004–2016 |
| Ian Smith | 63 | 109 | 1980–1992 | ||
| 5 | 106 | Tom Blundell† | 42 | 69 | 2017–2025 |
| Last updated: 9 August 2025[167] | |||||
Most career stumpings
Bert Oldfield, Australia's fifth-most capped wicket-keeper, holds the record for the most stumpings in Test cricket with 52. New Zealand wicket-keeper Tom Blundell is equal 26th on 16.[168]
| Rank | Stumpings | Player | Matches | Innings | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Tom Blundell† | 42 | 69 | 2017–2025 |
| 2 | 11 | Brendon McCullum | 101 | 95 | 2004–2016 |
| 3 | 8 | Frank Mooney | 14 | 23 | 1949–1954 |
| Ian Smith | 63 | 109 | 1980–1992 | ||
| BJ Watling | 75 | 127 | 2009–2021 | ||
| Last updated: 1 August 2025[169] | |||||
Most dismissals in an innings
Four wicket-keepers have taken seven dismissals in a single innings in a Test match—Wasim Bari of Pakistan in 1979, Englishman Bob Taylor in 1980, New Zealand's Ian Smith in 1991 and most recently West Indian gloveman Ridley Jacobs against Australia in 2000.[170]
The feat of taking 6 dismissals in an innings has been achieved by 24 wicket-keepers on 32 occasions with Watling being the only New Zealander.[171]
| Rank | Dismissals | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Ian Smith | Sri Lanka |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 22 February 1991 |
| 2 | 6 | BJ Watling | India |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 6 February 2014 |
| Sri Lanka |
University Oval, Dunedin, New Zealand | 10 December 2015 | |||
| 4 | 5 | Roy Harford | India |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 29 February 1968 |
| Ken Wadsworth | Pakistan |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 16 February 1973 | ||
| Warren Lees | Sri Lanka |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 11 March 1983 | ||
| Ian Smith | England |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 10 February 1984 | ||
| Sri Lanka |
1 March 1991 | ||||
| Adam Parore | England |
30 January 1992 | |||
| Sri Lanka |
Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka | 6 December 1992 | |||
| Zimbabwe |
Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe | 19 September 2000 | |||
| Pakistan |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 8 March 2001 | |||
| Brendon McCullum | England |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 5 March 2008 | ||
| West Indies |
McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand | 19 December 2008 | |||
| Pakistan |
11 December 2009 | ||||
| England |
Headingley, Leeds, England | 24 May 2013 | |||
| BJ Watling | West Indies |
Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 19 December 2013 | ||
| India |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 14 February 2014 | |||
| West Indies |
Sabina Park, Kingston, West Indies | 8 June 2014 | |||
| Sri Lanka |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 3 January 2015 | |||
| 15 December 2018 | |||||
| P. Sara Oval, Colombo, Sri Lanka | 22 August 2019 | ||||
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[172] | |||||
Most dismissals in a match
Three wicket-keepers have made 11 dismissals in a Test match, Englishman Jack Russell in 1995, South African AB de Villiers in 2013 and most recently India's Rishabh Pant against Australia in 2018.[173]
The feat of making 10 dismissals in a match has been achieved by 4 wicket-keepers on 4 occasions.[174] The most dismissals made by New Zealand wicket-keeper is nine, once by Brendon McCullum in 2009 and twice by BJ Watling in 2014 and 2015.
| Rank | Dismissals | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Brendon McCullum | Pakistan | McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand | 11 December 2009 |
| BJ Watling | India | Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 6 February 2014 | ||
| Sri Lanka | University Oval, Dunedin, New Zealand | 10 December 2015 | |||
| 4 | 8 | Warren Lees | Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 11 March 1983 | |
| Ian Smith | Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand | 22 February 1991 | |||
| BJ Watling | West Indies | 19 December 2013 | |||
| Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica | 8 June 2014 | ||||
| Pakistan | Bay Oval, Tauranga, New Zealand | 26 December 2020 | |||
| Tom Blundell | England | Edgbaston, Birmingham, England | 10 June 2021 | ||
| Last updated: 13 June 2021[175] | |||||
Most dismissals in a series
Brad Haddin holds the Test cricket record for the most dismissals taken by a wicket-keeper in a series. He took 29 catches during the 2013 Ashes series. New Zealand's record is held by Artie Dick when he made 23 dismissals during the New Zealand cricket team in South Africa in 1961–62.[176]
| Rank | Dismissals | Player | Matches | Innings | Opposition | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | Artie Dick | 5 | 9 | South Africa |
New Zealand cricket team in South Africa in 1961–62 |
| 2 | 16 | Ian Smith | 3 | 5 | Sri Lanka |
Sri Lankan cricket team in New Zealand in 1990-91 |
| Adam Parore | Pakistan |
Pakistani cricket team in New Zealand in 2000–01 | ||||
| Brendon McCullum | 6 | Pakistan |
Pakistan cricket team in New Zealand in 2009–10 | |||
| 5 | 15 | BJ Watling | 2 | 4 | India |
Indian cricket team in New Zealand in 2013-14 |
| Sri Lanka |
Sri Lankan cricket team in New Zealand in 2015-16 | |||||
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[177] | ||||||
Fielding records
Most career catches
Caught is one of the nine methods a batsman can be dismissed in cricket.[c] The majority of catches are caught in the slips, located behind the batsman, next to the wicket-keeper, on the off side of the field. Most slip fielders are top order batsmen.[179][180]
India's Rahul Dravid holds the record for the most catches in Test cricket by a non-wicket-keeper with 210, followed by Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka on 205 and South African Jacques Kallis with 200. Stephen Fleming is the highest ranked New Zealander in seventh, securing 171 catches in his Test career.[181]
| Rank | Catches | Player | Matches | Innings | Ct/Inn | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 171 | Stephen Fleming | 111 | 199 | 0.859 | 1994–2008 |
| 2 | 163 | Ross Taylor | 112 | 212 | 0.768 | 2007–2022 |
| 3 | 93 | Tom Latham† | 88 | 171 | 0.543 | 2014–2024 |
| 4 | 90 | Kane Williamson† | 105 | 200 | 0.450 | 2010–2024 |
| 5 | 86 | Tim Southee | 107 | 206 | 0.417 | 2008–2024 |
| Last updated: 17 December 2024[182] | ||||||
Most catches in a series
The 1920–21 Ashes series, in which Australia whitewashed England 5–0 for the first time,[183] saw the record set for the most catches taken by a non-wicket-keeper in a Test series. Australian all-rounder Jack Gregory took 15 catches in the series as well as 23 wickets.[184] Greg Chappell, a fellow Australian all-rounder, and India's K. L. Rahul are equal second behind Gregory with 14 catches taken during the 1974–75 Ashes series and during the 2018 Indian tour of England respectively. Four players have taken 13 catches in a series on six occasions with both Bob Simpson and Brian Lara having done so twice and Rahul Dravid and Alastair Cook once. Stephen Fleming is the highest ranked New Zealander in this list.[185]
| Rank | Catches | Player | Matches | Innings | Opposition | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Stephen Fleming | 2 | 4 | Zimbabwe |
New Zealand cricket team in Zimbabwe in 1997-98 |
| 4 | 8 | England |
New Zealand cricket team in England in 1999 | |||
| 3 | 9 | Bryan Young | 3 | 5 | Pakistan |
Pakistani cricket team in New Zealand in 1993-94 |
| Stephen Fleming | Australia |
New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 1997–98 | ||||
| West Indies |
West Indies cricket team in New Zealand in 2005–06 | |||||
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[186] | ||||||
All-round records
1000 runs and 100 wickets
A total of 71 players have achieved the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in their Test career.[187]
| Rank | Player | Average Difference | Period | Matches | Runs | Bat Avg | Wickets | Bowl Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard Hadlee | 4.86 | 1973-1990 | 86 | 3124 | 27.16 | 431 | 22.29 |
| 2 | Chris Cairns | 4.13 | 1989-2004 | 62 | 3320 | 33.53 | 218 | 29.40 |
| 3 | Daniel Vettori | -4.00 | 1997-2014 | 112 | 4523 | 30.15 | 361 | 34.15 |
| 4 | Tim Southee | -11.62 | 2008-2022 | 84 | 1747 | 16.32 | 335 | 27.95 |
| 5 | John Bracewell | -15.38 | 1980-1990 | 41 | 1001 | 20.42 | 102 | 35.81 |
| Last updated: 19 February 2022[188] | ||||||||
250 runs and 20 wickets in a series
A total of 18 players on 24 occasions have achieved the double of 250 runs and 20 wickets in a series.[189]
| Player | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Opposition | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Hadlee | 4 | 301 | 21 | England | New Zealand in England in 1983 |
| Last updated: 22 August 2020[190] | |||||
Other records
Most career matches
India's Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most Test matches played with 200, with former captains Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh being joint second with each having represented Australia on 168 occasions. Daniel Vettori and Ross Taylor are the highest ranked New Zealanders in this list.[191]
| Rank | Matches | Player | Runs | Wkts | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 112 | Ross Taylor | 7,683 | 3 | 2007–2022 |
| Daniel Vettori | 4,523 | 361 | 1997–2014 | ||
| 3 | 111 | Stephen Fleming | 7,172 | - | 1994–2008 |
| 4 | 107 | Tim Southee | 2,245 | 391 | 2008–2024 |
| 5 | 105 | Kane Williamson† | 9,276 | 30 | 2010–2024 |
| Last updated: 27 October 2024[192] | |||||
Most consecutive career matches
Former English captain Alastair Cook holds the record for the most consecutive Test matches played with 159. He broke Allan Border's long standing record of 153 matches in June 2018.[193] The recently retired New Zealand wicket-keeper-batsman Brendon McCullum, who is fifth on the list with 101 matches, is the highest ranked cricketer who never missed a Test match during his playing career.[194]
| Rank | Matches | Player | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 101 | Brendon McCullum | 2004–2016 |
| 2 | 88 | Tom Latham† | 2014–2024 |
| 3 | 72 | Stephen Fleming | 1999–2008 |
| 4 | 58 | John R. Reid | 1949–1965 |
| 5 | 51 | Adam Parore | 1996–2002 |
| Last updated: 14 December 2024[194] | |||
Most matches as captain
Graeme Smith, who led the South African cricket team from 2003 to 2014, holds the record for the most matches played as captain in Test cricket with 109.Stephen Fleming who led the side for nine years from 1997 to 2006 is third on the list with 80 matches.[195]
| Rank | Matches | Player | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | %W | %L | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80 | Stephen Fleming | 28 | 27 | 0 | 25 | 35 | 33.75 | 1997–2006 |
| 2 | 40 | Kane Williamson | 22 | 10 | 8 | 55 | 25 | 2016-2022 | |
| 3 | 34 | John R. Reid | 3 | 18 | 13 | 8.82 | 52.94 | 1956–1965 | |
| 4 | 32 | Daniel Vettori | 6 | 16 | 10 | 18.75 | 50 | 2007–2011 | |
| 5 | 31 | Brendon McCullum | 11 | 11 | 9 | 35.48 | 35.48 | 2013-2016 | |
| Last updated: 28 December 2022[196] | |||||||||
Most matches won as a captain
| Rank | Won | Player | Matches | Lost | Tied | Draw | %W | %L | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | Stephen Fleming | 80 | 27 | 0 | 25 | 35 | 33.75 | 1997–2006 |
| 2 | 22 | Kane Williamson | 40 | 10 | 8 | 55 | 25 | 2016-2022 | |
| 3 | 11 | Geoff Howarth | 30 | 7 | 12 | 36.66 | 23.33 | 1980–1985 | |
| Brendon McCullum | 31 | 11 | 9 | 35.48 | 35.48 | 2013-2016 | |||
| 5 | 6 | Daniel Vettori | 32 | 16 | 10 | 18.75 | 50 | 2007–2011 | |
| Last updated: 28 December 2022[197] | |||||||||
Most man of the match awards
| Rank | M.O.M. Awards | Player | Matches | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Kane Williamson† | 94 | 2010–2023 |
| Daniel Vettori | 112 | 1997–2014 | ||
| 3 | 9 | Richard Hadlee | 86 | 1973–1990 |
| 4 | 8 | Ross Taylor | 112 | 2007–2022 |
| 5 | 7 | John Wright | 82 | 1978–1993 |
| Stephen Fleming | 111 | 1994–2008 | ||
| Last updated: 13 March 2023[198] | ||||
Most man of the series awards
| Rank | M.O.S. Awards | Player | Matches | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Richard Hadlee | 86 | 1973–1990 |
| 2 | 4 | Kane Willaimson† | 102 | 2010–2024 |
| 3 | 3 | Daniel Vettori | 112 | 1997–2014 |
| 4 | 2 | Shane Bond | 18 | 2001–2009 |
| Devon Conway† | 24 | 2021–2024 | ||
| Matt Henry† | 26 | 2015–2024 | ||
| Neil Wagner | 64 | 2012–2024 | ||
| Trent Boult† | 78 | 2011–2022 | ||
| Tim Southee | 104 | 2008–2024 | ||
| Last updated: 27 October 2024[199] | ||||
Youngest players on debut
The youngest player to play in a Test match is claimed to be Hasan Raza at the age of 14 years and 227 days. Making his debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe on 24 October 1996, there is some doubt as to the validity of Raza's age at the time.[200] The youngest New Zealander to play Test cricket was Daniel Vettori who at the age of 18 years and 10 days debuted in the second Test of the series against England in February 1997.[201]
| Rank | Age | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 years and 10 days | Daniel Vettori | England |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 6 February 1997 | |
| 2 | 18 years and 197 days | Doug Freeman | Lancaster Park, Christchurch, New Zealand | 24 March 1933 | ||
| 3 | 18 years and 267 days | Giff Vivian | The Oval, London, England | 29 July 1931 | ||
| 4 | 18 years and 295 days | Richard Collinge | Pakistan |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 22 January 1965 | |
| 5 | 18 years and 316 days | Brendon Bracewell | England |
The Oval, London, England | 27 July 1978 | |
| Last updated: 3 December 2017[201][202] | ||||||
Oldest players on debut
England left-arm slow bowler James Southerton is the oldest player to appear in a Test match. Playing in the very first inaugural test against Australia in 1876 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Melbourne, Australia, he was aged 49 years and 119 days. Herb McGirr is the oldest New Zealand Test debutant when he made his debut during the 1930 England series at the Eden Park.[203]
| Rank | Age | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38 years and 101 days | Herb McGirr | England |
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 14 February 1930 | |
| 2 | 36 years and 317 days | Ray Emery | West Indies |
Lancaster Park, Christchurch, New Zealand | 8 February 1952 | |
| 3 | 36 years and 120 days | Tom Puna | England |
25 February 1966 | ||
| 4 | 36 years and 89 days | Allen Lissette | West Indies |
Carisbrook, Dunedin, New Zealand | 3 February 1956 | |
| 5 | 34 years and 295 days | Graham Gedye | South Africa |
Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand | 21 February 1964 | |
| Last updated: 20 June 2020[203][204] | ||||||
Oldest players
England all-rounder Wilfred Rhodes is the oldest player to appear in a Test match. Playing in the fourth Test against the West Indies in 1930 at Sabina Park, in Kingston, Jamaica, he was aged 52 years and 165 days on the final day's play. The oldest New Zealand Test player is Jack Alabaster who was aged 41 years and 242 days when he represented New Zealand for the final time in the 1972 tour of West Indies at the Queen's Park Oval.[205]
| Rank | Age | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 41 years and 242 days | Jack Alabaster | West Indies |
Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad | 9 March 1972 | |
| 2 | 41 years and 191 days | Bert Sutcliffe | England |
Edgbaston, Birmingham, England | 27 May 1965 | |
| 3 | 40 years and 194 days | Bevan Congdon | Lord's, London, England | 24 August 1978 | ||
| 4 | 39 years and 240 days | Alex Moir | Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 14 March 1959 | ||
| 5 | 39 years and 2 days | Richard Hadlee | Edgbaston, Birmingham, England | 5 July 1990 | ||
| Last updated: 28 January 2021[205][206] | ||||||
Umpiring records
Most matches umpired
An umpire in cricket is a person who officiates the match according to the Laws of Cricket. Two umpires adjudicate the match on the field, whilst a third umpire has access to video replays, and a fourth umpire looks after the match balls and other duties. The records below are only for on-field umpires.
Aleem Dar of Pakistan holds the record for the most Test matches umpired with 130. The current active Dar set the record in December 2019 overtaking Steve Bucknor from the West Indies mark of 128 matches.[207] They are followed by South Africa's Rudi Koertzen who officiated in 108.
| Rank | Matches | Umpire | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 84 | Billy Bowden | 2000-2015 |
| 2 | 40 | Tony Hill | 2001–2013 |
| Chris Gaffaney† | 2014–2022 | ||
| 4 | 39 | Steve Dunne | 1989–2002 |
| 5 | 26 | Brian Aldridge | 1986–1995 |
| Last updated: 19 February 2022[208] | |||
See also
Notes
- For the first 50 years of Test cricket matches were played over three or four days[2] and until the 1930s some timeless Tests were played.[3]
- In October 2017, the ICC Board approved a trial of four-day Test cricket to run through until the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[4]
- In 2017, The Laws of Cricket were amended, reducing the methods of dismissals from ten to nine, with handled the ball now covered as part of obstructing the field.[178]