Statistical highlights: Day 1 at Harare
Mohandas Menon
Ian Robinson, who had the distinction of umpiring Zimbabwe's inaugural
Test match in October 1992, was officiating in his 25th Test match. He
becomes the 31st umpire in Test history to reach this landmark. Incidentally
he was umpiring in his 15th match at home. Former Sri Lankan Test cricketer
Ashoka deSilva was officiating in third Test match and his first overseas as
an ICC umpire.
Hemang Badani and Travis Friend became the 237th and the 51st players to
represent India and Zimbabwe respectively in Tests. Interestingly both
these players have appeared in 13 LOI matches each for their respective
countries.
Grant Flower joins his brother Andy and Alistair Campbell to become the
third Zimbabwean to appear in 50 or Test matches. He also becomes the 171st
player in Test history to reach the 50-match landmark.
Harbhajan Singh was appearing in his 50th first-class match of his career
since his debut during the 1997-98 season.
Rahul Dravid during his unbeaten 68, when on 25, became the highest
run-getter against Zimbabwe in Tests. He went past the run aggregate of 662
runs by New Zealander Nathan Astle, who needed 9 matches and 15 innings to
run these runs against Zimbabwe. Dravid, however, playing in his fifth match
and seventh innings against Zimbabwe, has now scored 706 runs (avg. 176.50),
with two hundreds and four fifties.
Dravid's Test scores against Zimbabwe makes interesting reading: 118 & 44
(at Harare, 1998); 200* & 70* (at Delhi, 2000); 162 (at Nagpur, 2000); 44
(at Bulawayo, 2001) and 68* (at Harare).
Andy Blignaut's three catches in India's first innings equals the best by
a Zimbabwe fieldsman against India. He equals the performance of teammate
Guy Whittall who also took three catches, last week, in the first innings of
the Bulawayo Test match.
Leg-spinner Brain Murphy playing in his 10th Test match recorded his
second best figures of his career. His best still remains as 3-32, which he
had achieved on his Test debut against West Indies at Port of Spain in March
last year.