Cricket: Numbers make excellent reading

Ross Taylor has 12 test centuries, placing him level with John Wright on the all-time New Zealand list and behind just Martin Crowe on 17. Photo / Getty Images

The Cricket World Cup is at the forefront of most cricket fans’ minds but a number of milestones are looming ahead of this week’s first test against Sri Lanka, writes Andrew Alderson

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Victory against Sri Lanka in Christchurch would mark New Zealand's most successful year with five wins in nine tests. After their opening effort against India at Eden Park, they beat the West Indies at Kingston and Bridgetown before defeating Pakistan in Sharjah. Further underlining the achievement is the fact the results have come against top-eight ranked teams. New Zealand have previously won four matches in a calendar year on five occasions. The first came in 1985 with twin wins against Pakistan and Australia in 10 tests during the pomp of Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe.

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Here we were last year marvelling at the batting splendour of Ross Taylor as he scored centuries in three consecutive tests and came within five runs of equalling John R Reid's New Zealand record of 871 runs in a calendar year. This year Brendon McCullum went past the mark to reach 969 with his 202 against Pakistan recently. If he sees the shine off the ball in Christchurch, he'll be within touching distance of 1000 runs in a calendar year. Kane Williamson could also be a late wildcard given his current form. He sits on 844 after posting his highest score of 192 against Pakistan in Sharjah.

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While we're on the topic of Williamson, the 24-year-old can add to his record of the most centuries by a New Zealand batsman in a calendar year. He has four (v India, the West Indies (2) and Pakistan). Geoff Howarth (1978), John F Reid (1985), Martin Crowe (1987), John Wright (1990), Andrew Jones (1991), Daniel Vettori (2009), Ross Taylor (2012, 2013) and Brendon McCullum (2014) have scored three. Williamson has more centuries (8) in less tests (37) than Glenn Turner (7 in 41), Jones (7 in 39), Howarth (6 in 47) and, dare it be whispered, Bert Sutcliffe (5 in 42). A record tally of 1848 runs across all forms in 2014, overtakes Stephen Fleming's 1658 in 2004.

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A wicket for Trent Boult in Christchurch would make him the 13th New Zealander to take 100 test wickets. If successful, he will have done it in the third-equal fastest time in 29 tests behind Sir Richard Hadlee (25), Bruce Taylor (27) and equal with Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee and Danny Morrison. The race is also on for New Zealand's highest wicket-taker this year; Boult and Southee have 27 each, and Mark Craig could put in a late run with 25 in his first year.

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If the test rankings system falls in New Zealand's favour (ie they beat Sri Lanka and Australia defeat India) they could move to fifth by year's end.

Currently seventh, they've consistently stayed ahead of the West Indies this year and are gradually hauling in Sri Lanka and India.

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This will be the fourth test in the last 16-and-a-half years that Sri Lanka have played without Mahela Jayawardene. The right-hander retired in August after the series against Pakistan, finishing with 11,814 runs at an average of 49.84 in 149 tests. In shades of Bradman, albeit pale shades, had Jayawardene scored 90 rather than 54 in his last innings he would have averaged 50. The three tests he missed were all against Bangladesh (one in 2002 and two in 2013).

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Taylor has 12 test centuries, placing him level with John Wright on the all-time New Zealand list and behind just Martin Crowe on 17. The upcoming test gives him a chance to claim second place on his own.