He is currently tied with Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar
The ICC World Cup 2023 is underway, setting the stage for yet another chapter in the sport’s illustrious history to be written.
With teams from around the globe competing for the most coveted trophy in one-day international cricket, the anticipation is palpable.
But what truly makes this tournament special is the potential for records to be shattered, for new legends to emerge, and for the cricketing world to witness history in the making.
With the tournament running from October 5 to November 19, 2023, fans and players are buzzing with excitement about the prospects of witnessing new records being etched into the annals of the sport.
InsideSport has highlighted the potential records that could be broken.
Batting Records
Batting Average
Babar Azam (Pakistan), Ben Stokes (England) and Rohit Sharma (India) all could increase their batting average (with a minimum of 10 innings) and climb up the overall rankings.
The highest batting average at the ICC World Cup is South Africa’s Lance Klusener with 124.
But with the trio playing at the 2023 tournament, their numbers could rise.
Most Centuries
Rohit Sharma also has the chance to achieve the most centuries at the 2023 World Cup.
He is currently tied with Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar at six.
David Warner (Australia) could also rise in the century’s ranking. He is currently tied with five other players with four.
Highest Strike Rate
Glenn Maxwell (Australia) could extend his record for the highest strike rate at the World Cup (with a minimum of 250 balls faced).
Based on a minimum of 250 balls faced, his strike rate currently stands at 169.25.
This is followed by Jos Buttler (England), whose strike rate is 126.53.
Both are playing in the World Cup, giving them the chance to improve their strike rates.
Most 50s
Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan could close the gap on Sachin Tendulkar’s record of reaching the half-century mark 21 times.
Al Hasan stands at 12 and is tied with Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara in second place.
Bowling Records
Career Wickets
Mitchell Starc (Australia) could climb up in the rankings for the most career World Cup wickets.
He is currently tied for fifth place with Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) with 49 career wickets.
Glenn McGrath leads the way with 71.
Bowling Average
Based on a minimum of 400 deliveries, Mitchell Starc could also extend his record for best bowling average.
His bowling average at the World Cup stands at 14.81.
Mohammed Shami (India) could also climb up in the rankings for the best bowling average. His average is currently 15.70.
Strike Rate
Mohammed Shami could extend his record for the best strike rate at the World Cup (with a qualification of 20 wickets).
His strike rate is 18.6.
The likes of Mitchell Starc, Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) and Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) could all improve their records.
Wicket Hauls
Mitchell Starc holds the record for most four-wicket+ hauls at the World Cup, with six.
When it comes to five-wicket hauls, Starc stands at three.
Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) could tie Starc as he is currently in second place (six-way tie) for the most five-wicket hauls with two.
Fielding
Most Catches
England’s Joe Root has the potential to break the record for most catches.
He is currently in second place with 20 but depending on his and England’s performances at the ICC World Cup, Root could overtake Ricky Ponting’s (Australia) record of 28.
Australia
Australia could extend its record for the most World Cup wins.
Their five wins came in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015.
The side could also extend its record for the most overall matches, which is currently 69, as well as its record for the highest percentage win rate (74.73%).
If Australia wins the 2023 World Cup without losing a match, they break their tie with the West Indies for the most World Cups won with a 100% record.
Australia won all of their matches in both 2003 and 2007. West Indies did so in 1975 and 1979, but they are not playing in 2023.
England
The current holders could tie India and West Indies as the nation with the second-most World Cup wins (two) if they retain their title.
They would also join India, West Indies and Australia as the only teams to have won the World Cup more than once.
England could join Australia and the West Indies as the only sides to win consecutive World Cups.
Australia won three consecutive World Cups between 1999 and 2007 while the West Indies won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979.
England could extend its record for the most runners-up trophies.
They came runners-up in 1979, 1987 and 1992. Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand could also tie England if one of them ends up in second place since all of them have won two silver trophies.
India
If India wins the 2023 tournament, they will have the second-most wins.
It would also mark the second time that they won the World Cup as the tournament hosts. They did so as a co-host in 2011.
A streak of wins for the host countries of the World Cup could be broken in 2023 if India doesn’t win – the last three hosts of the tournament ended up winning.
New Zealand
If New Zealand win, it would break their duck of appearing in finals without winning.
New Zealand could also break its tie with Sri Lanka and England for the most consecutive runner-up placements in the Cricket World Cup.
They have finished second at the past two World Cups.
Pakistan
Pakistan could tie India and West Indies as the nation with the second most World Cup wins (2) if they win in 2023 – they first won in 1992.
They would also join India, West Indies and Australia as the only nations to have ever won at the Cricket World Cup on multiple occasions.
Pakistan could break India’s record of 27 years and 9 months for the longest gap between two World Cup wins.
If they win in 2023, they would have a gap of 31 years and 7 months between World Cup wins.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka could become the nation with the most overall matches lost, surpassing Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has 42 losses while Sri Lanka has 39. But the former has not qualified for the 2023 tournament.
Sri Lanka could tie India and West Indies as the nation with the second most World Cup wins (two) if they win in 2023 – they first won in 1996.
South Africa
South Africa could break its tie with England and become the nation with the most matches ending up in a tie (they have done so twice).
After making it to the semi-finals four times, 2023 could mark the first year that South Africa gets past the semi-finals.
Currently, South Africa is one of two nations – the other being Kenya – that have made it to the semi-finals but not further.
For five nations, it could be the first time that they have ever won the ICC World Cup.
The sides are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa and the Netherlands.
In the world of cricket, every tournament is a canvas upon which history is painted in the vibrant colors of talent, determination, and sportsmanship.
The 2023 ICC World Cup is no exception, and as the final moments of anticipation give way to the thrill of the matches, the possibilities are endless.
The records that could be broken at this prestigious event serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of the game and the boundless potential of its athletes.
As the tournament progresses, will we witness a new batting legend emerge, a bowler rewrite the history books, or a team defy all odds to claim the ultimate prize? Only time will tell.
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