When it comes to teams that have made the fastest progress in modern cricket, most people would mention Afghanistan. The Afghan team has already set several team records, and now they’ve added another one.
Afghanistan is now at the top of the list for the fastest team to score 600 runs in a Test innings. They achieved this feat in their 10th Test match, while Bangladesh took 76 matches to reach their first 600. The most matches it took was 206, for New Zealand.
The Boxing Day Test in Bulawayo ended in a draw, a match that is now known for several records. Both the host Zimbabwe and visiting Afghanistan set new team-high records in the same match.
In the first innings, Zimbabwe scored 586 runs. Afghanistan, thanks to double centuries from captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah at number three, along with a century from middle-order batsman Afsar Jajai, finished their first innings at 699 runs. Zimbabwe then scored 142/4 in their second innings before both teams agreed to a draw. This was Afghanistan’s 10th Test and their first on Zimbabwean soil.
By scoring 600 runs in their 10th Test, Afghanistan has broken Pakistan’s 66-year-old record. Pakistan’s first 600-run inning came after 19 matches. Their milestone came in 1958 against the West Indies in Barbados, following Hanif Mohammad’s legendary 337-run knock.
Bangladesh has only exceeded 600 runs once, in 2013, against Sri Lanka at Galle. That match remains unforgettable for Bangladesh’s cricket fans, as Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladeshi to score a Test double century. Bangladesh scored 638 runs thanks to Mushfiq’s 200, Mohammad Ashraful’s 190, and Nasir Hossain’s 100. This was Bangladesh’s 76th Test match.
New Zealand, who won the first World Test Championship cycle, took the longest time to reach 600 runs in a Test. However, in terms of time, it was South Africa who took the longest. South Africa, who reached the Test Championship final this year, took 77 years to score 600 runs for the first time.
Another Test-playing nation, Zimbabwe, has yet to reach 600 runs, with their highest team total being 492 runs.
