Monday, November 29, 2004

Dravid's World Record

Rahul Dravid today equalled a world record of which no body seems to be aware of. Dravid had made his Test debut against England at Lord’s in June 1996. Since then he has appeared in 84 Tests at a trot without missing a single one. Dravid's 84 Tests in a row equals the record for maximum Tests played by any player in Test history since debut without missing a match. Incidentally the player whose world record Dravid equalled is none other than fellow teammate Sachin Tendulkar who made this record from his debut against Pakistan at Karachi in November 1989 to Harare Test against Zimbabwe in June 2001. Interestingly enough, before Tendulkar it was another Indian, Kapil Dev, who held the record of playing most Tests (66) in a row since his debut Test in October 1978.

The only current player capable to challenge Dravid’s record is Australia’s Adam Gilchrist, who has played 61 Tests at a trot since his debut in November 1999.

New Zealand's John Reid and England's Tony Greig are the only ones to have appeared in fifty-plus Tests without missing a single Test during their entire Test career. England's all-rounder Frank Woolley was the first player to appear in 50 or more matches in a row since debut between 1909 to 1926. The following table lists players who have played 50 or more Test matches in a row since debut.


Player Country Tests Period
Sachin Tendulkar Ind 84 1989-90 to 2001-02
Rahul Dravid Ind 84 1996 to 2004-05
Kapil Dev Ind 66 1978-79 to 1984-85
Ian Healy Aus 64 1988-89 to 1994-95
Rohan Kanhai WI 61 1957 to 1968-69
Adam Gilchrist Aus 61 1999-00 to 2004-05
John Reid NZ 58+ 1949 to 1965
Tony Greig Eng 58+ 1972 to 1977
Alistair Campbell Zim 56 1992-93 to 2001-02
Gary Kirsten SA 53 1993-94 to 1998-99
Frank Woolley Eng 52 1909 to 1926
Rodney Marsh Aus 52 1970-71 to 1977
Andy Flower Zim 52 1992-93 to 2001-02
Greg Chappell Aus 51 1970-71 to 1977

+ consecutive appearances from debut to retirement