Virender Sehwag scores fastest test century [cricket]
I’m a self-confessed cricket hater now (and was a fan until 2 years back), but occasionally, a cricket news catches my fancy. Sensational news is note-worthy, even if it is from the sport that you might hate. This time, it is a cracking triple century by Virender Sehwag in the ongoing Ind vs SA (India-South Africa) Test series.
For those who do not know what cricket is, read up Wikipedia entry on cricket. It is not widely popular outside the Indian subcontinent and Australia.
Test cricket involves 5 days of play, each day consisting of 90 overs. One over is further divided into 6 balls. So, on a day, a maximum of 6×90 or 540 balls will be bowled. Test cricket is generally a very slow affair, with only 250-400 runs scored in a day (as opposed to 500-700 runs scored in ODIs, which is a shorter version).
Batsmen usually take time to settle down and then slowly play their shots, without any real hurry, as there is ample time. However, Sehwag’s innings today was very explosive in nature, with triple hundred scored in just 278 balls. That is a record for the fastest triple century in the history of test cricket.
Virender Sehwag currently holds the record for the highest test score by an Indian, at 309 runs. He is the only Indian batsman to have crossed the elusive 300-run mark, and also only the third player (after Don Bradman and Brian Lara) to have scored two triple hundreds. 
Sehwag was not out at the end of third day’s play, which means that he could break his previous record of 309 runs scored against Pakistan at Multan. There is also an interesting possibility of Sehwag breaking the world record for the highest test score, currently held by Brian Lara (retired) of West Indies.
If you live in an area where live cricket is not available on television, for example USA, you can watch India-South Africa test series live through internet using the following links:
You should install Sopcast to view the India-South Africa matches live. Download Sopcast. [found live video links via Techie Buzz]
Image Credit: Heroes, Time Asia, Smh Australia
Nirmal said on March 29th, 2008
It was indeed one of the best innings, great watching him hit sixes and fours.
Madhur Kapoor said on March 30th, 2008
Even i dont watch cricket much but Sehwag’s batting this time was exceptional.