The 27-year-old Pakistan cricketer Saud Shakeel created a new world record in Test cricket history after becoming the first batter to manage at least one 50+ score in each of his first seven Test matches.
Pakistan team is currently busy in Sri Lanka for the two-match Test series. While Pakistan won the series opener at Galle, Shakeel won the Player of the Match award for scoring his first Test double-century, where he also became the first Pakistani cricketer to score a Test double-century in Sri Lanka.
In the ongoing second Test match in the Sri Lanka tour, while the opener Abdullah Shafique’s double-century has helped the visitors to earn a giant first innings lead, Shakeel once again raised his bat with a half-century. During their first innings of the Colombo (SSC) Test, the left-handed batter Shakeel scored 57 runs in 110 balls with the help of six fours.
With that 57-run knock, Shakeel created history in Test cricket, where he has scored at least one 50+ score in every match of his first seven Tests.
Bert Sutcliffe, Basil Butcher, Sunil Gavaskar, and Saeed Anwar were the previous record holders
Previously, four cricketers recorded at least one 50+ score in each match of their first six Tests. New Zealand cricketer Bert Sutcliffe, West Indies cricketer Basil Butcher, Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, and Pakistan cricketer Saeed Anwar were those four batters to score at least one 50+ in their first six Test matches.
While Test cricket is now 146 years old, Shakeel is the first batter to record at least one 50+ score in his first seven Test matches. The left-handed batter can extend this record in his future Test matches.
Saud Shakeel’s batting performances in his first seven Test matches
Scores (1st innings & 2nd innings) | Opposition | Venue | Month and Year |
37 & 76 | England | Rawalpindi | December 2022 |
63 & 94 | England | Multan | December 2022 |
23 & 53 | England | Karachi | December 2022 |
22 & 55* | New Zealand | Karachi | December 2022 |
125* & 32 | New Zealand | Karachi | January 2023 |
208* & 30 | Sri Lanka | Galle | July 2023 |
57 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (SSC) | July 2023 |
(Updated till 26 July 2023)
Saud Shakeel has managed eight 50+ scores in his first seven Tests
Shakeel has scored 875 runs in his first 13 Test innings with an average of 87.50. Apart from six half-centuries, the left-handed batter has also hit two centuries, including one double-century in the ongoing Sri Lanka tour.
