2014 – Corey’s Fireworks Start the Year with a Bang

New Year's Day turned into a nightmare for West Indies bowlers in Queenstown, as New Zealand's Corey Anderson rewrote history with a jaw-dropping century off just 36 balls — smashing a 17-year-old record once held by Shahid Afridi.

The left-hander was in beast mode, clearing the ropes 14 times, and bringing up his fifty in just 20 balls. By the start of the 18th over, he stood on 95. Then came a short ball from Nikita Miller — Anderson launched it over long-on for six, sealing his place in the record books.

His reign was short-lived though. Just a year later, AB de Villiers went even bigger — blasting a 31-ball century in Johannesburg, also against West Indies.

1908 – The Birth of a Legend at the MCG

January 1, 1908, marked the quiet beginning of one of Test cricket's most iconic careers. In his debut innings at the vast Melbourne Cricket Ground, Jack Hobbs showed no signs of nerves, crafting a confident 83 that hinted at the greatness to come.

He would go on to become the first player to cross 5000 Test runs, and that was just the beginning. His name dominates the pages of cricketing history — especially if you flip through the first-class batting records in the Wisden Almanack. A giant of the game had arrived.

1902 - One Eye, 50 Wickets, Endless Grit – The Buster Nupen Legacy

The birth of Eiulf Peter "Buster" Nupen — the greatest one-eyed cricketer of Norwegian descent to ever play Test cricket. A master of South African matting wickets, Nupen was widely considered one of the finest bowlers of his time.

Despite losing an eye in a freak accident while attempting to strike two hammers together, he still managed to claim 50 Test wickets at an average of 35.76. One can only wonder how much more devastating he'd have been with both eyes.

Last updated on: July 1, 2025