Cricket Records Set on 1 January

Donald Bradman's 270 off 375 balls for Australia against England in 1937 remains the highest individual score recorded on 1 January. Bill Ponsford's 183 against West Indies in 1931 is the next best, with Herbert Sutcliffe's 176 off 481 balls against England in 1925 third. The date has been particularly kind to Australian batsmen in Tests, with Gary Cosier's 168 off 206 against Pakistan in 1977 and Norm O'Neill's 163 against India in 1960 also featuring prominently. In modern T20 cricket, Mitchell Marsh's 102 off 58 for Hobart Hurricanes against Perth Scorchers in BBL 2025/26 stands as the format's best on this date, supported by Aaron Hardie's 94 off 43 in the same match.

The finest bowling on 1 January belongs to Wilfred Rhodes, who took 8/68 in 15.00 overs for Australia against England in 1904. Monty Noble's 7/17 in 7.40 overs for Australia against England in 1902 represents the most economical seven-wicket haul on the date. Rhodes also claimed 7/56 in the same 1904 match, while Johnny Wardle's 7/36 for South Africa against England in 1957 and Alf Hall's 7/63 for South Africa against England in 1923 complete the list of seven-wicket returns. The concentration of exceptional bowling figures in the early 20th century contrasts sharply with the batting dominance seen in later decades, particularly in Test cricket during the 1930s and in contemporary T20 leagues.