Cricket Records Set on 2 January

Brian Lara's 277 off 372 balls for West Indies against Australia in 1993 stands as the highest score recorded on 2 January, though Ben Stokes came closest to matching it with 258 off 198 for England against South Africa in 2016. Stokes required 174 fewer deliveries and struck 11 sixes to Lara's none, reflecting the different eras in which the innings were played. Sachin Tendulkar's 241 off 436 against Australia in 2004 ranks third, while Herschelle Gibbs (228 in 2003) and Justin Langer (223 in 2000) complete a top five dominated by post-1990 batting. The date has produced 12 international scores above 180, with Ricky Ponting, Ravi Shastri, Greg Chappell, Hashim Amla, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rahul Dravid and Michael Vaughan all contributing double-centuries or near-misses.

The bowling figures tell a story of batsmen in command. Anil Kumble's 8/141 in 46.50 overs against Australia in 2004 is the sole eight-wicket haul, achieved on the same day Tendulkar made 241. Stuart MacGill claimed 7/50 against England in 1999, the most economical seven-wicket return on the date, while Shane Warne's 7/56 against South Africa in 1994 and Frederick Spofforth's 7/62 against England in 1879 show quality spin has occasionally thrived. Rashid Khan's 7/66 for Afghanistan against Zimbabwe in 2025 is the most recent elite performance. In T20 leagues, LJ Wright's 109 off 63 for Melbourne Stars against Melbourne Renegades in 2015 remains the format's highest score on 2 January, well clear of Lhuan-dre Pretorius's 98 in 2026.