Which was the longest Test match ever to be played? Who holds the record for the most runs in a day? Which bowler took the most wickets in one year? As Test cricket approaches its momentous 2000th match, we bring you some of the milestones from its fascinating history.

First Match - 15-19 Mar 1877 – Australia v England, Melbourne

Most matches by a team – 911 by England

Most wins – 341 by Australia

Highest total – 952/6d by Sri Lanka v India, Colombo RPS, 1997-98

Highest fourth innings total (to win) – 418/7, West Indies v Australia, St.John’s, 2002-03

Lowest total – 26, New Zealand v England, Auckland, 1954-55

Largest win (by innings) – Innings & 579 runs, England beat Australia, The Oval, 1938

Largest win (by runs) – 675 runs, England beat Australia, Brisbane, 1928-29

Narrowest margin (by runs) – 1 run, West Indies beat Australia, Adelaide, 1992-93

Ties – Australia v West Indies, Brisbane, 1960-61 & India v Australia, Chennai, 1986-87

Longest match – 10 days, South Africa v England, Durban, 1938-39

Most consecutive wins – 16, Australia (Harare, 1999-00 to Mumbai, 2000-01) & 16, Australia (Melbourne, 2005-06 to Sydney, 2007-08)

Most consecutive matches without a defeat – 27, West Indies (Sydney, 1981-82 to Melbourne, 1984-85)

Fewest runs in a full day’s play – 95/12, Australia v Pakistan, Karachi, 1956-57 (1st Day)

Most wickets to fall in a day – 27 between England & Australia, Lord’s, 1888 (2nd Day)

Most extras in an innings (conceded) – 76, India v Pakistan, Bangalore, 2007-08

Most extras in a match – 173 between West Indies & Pakistan, Bridgetown, 1976-77

Highest individual innings – 400*, Brian Lara (WI), v England, St.John’s, 2003-04

Most runs in a career – 14692 by Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) in 177 matches

Most runs in a year – 1788 by Mohammad Yousuf (Pak) in 11 matches (in 2006)

Most runs in a series - 974 by Don Bradman (Aus) in 5 matches v England (in 1930)

Most runs in a match - 456 (333 + 123) by Graham Gooch (Eng) v India at Lord’s in 1990

Highest batting average in a career (Min.10 innings) – 99.94 by Don Bradman (Aus) (6996 runs in 52 matches)

Most hundreds – 51 by Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)

Most runs in a session – 173 by Dennis Compton (Eng) v Pak, Nottingham, 1954

Fastest hundred – off 56 balls, Viv Richards (WI) v Eng, St. John’s, 1985-86

Fastest fifty - off 24 balls, Jacques Kallis (SA) v Zimbabwe, Cape Town, 2004-05

Most runs off an over – 28 by Brian Lara (WI) off Robin Peterson (SA), Johannesburg, 2003-04

Most career sixes - 100 by Adam Gilchrist (Aus)

Most runs in a day – 309 (0-309*) by Don Bradman (Aus) v Eng, Leeds, 1930 (Day 1)

Least runs in a day – 52 (52*) by Mudassar Nazar (Pak) v England, Lahore, 1977-78 (Day 1)

Highest partnership - 624 for 3rd wkt, Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardene (SL) v SA, Colombo SSC, 2006

Best bowling in an innings – 10/53, Jim Laker (Eng) v Aus, Manchester, 1956 & 10/74, Anil Kumble (Ind) v Pak, Delhi, 1998-99

Best bowling in a match – 19/90, Jim Laker (Eng) v Aus, Manchester, 1956

Most wickets in a series – 49 by Syd Barnes (Eng) v SA, 1913-14 (in 4 matches)

Most wickets in a year – 96 by Shane Warne (Aus) in 15 matches (in 2005)

Most wickets in a career - 800 by Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) in 133 matches

Most wickets in a day – 15 by Johnny Briggs (Eng) v SA, Cape Town, 1888-89

Most 5-fors – 67 by Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)

Most 10-fors - 22 by Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)

Most catches in a career – 203 by Rahul Dravid (Ind) in 153 matches

Most dismissals in a career – 521 by Mark Boucher (SA) in 139 matches

Most appearances – 177 by Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)

Most consecutive appearances – 153 by Allan Border (Aus) between 1993 & 2002

Most matches as captain – 93 by Allan Border (Aus) – Won 32, Lost 22, Drawn 38, Tied 1

Most consecutive matches as captain – 93 by Allan Border (as above)

Most man of the match awards – 22 by Jacques Kallis (SA)

Most matches as umpire – 128 by Steve Bucknor (WI)

Most matches as referee – 124 by Ranjan Madugalle (SL)

All stats as on July 19, 2011