Cricket Records Set on 8 January

The list of individual scores on 8 January is heavily weighted towards batters. Ross Taylor's 137 off 131 for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in 2019 tops the ODI charts, with Paul Stirling's 131 off 148 for Ireland against United Arab Emirates in 2021 close behind. Craig Williams struck 129 off just 94 balls for Namibia against Oman in 2020, while Mahela Jayawardene's 129 came in a Test innings of 278 balls for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in 2014, a contrast in tempo that shows how format shapes the same score. Henry Nicholls and Kirk Edwards also passed a hundred at better than a run a ball.

By comparison, the bowling honours on this date reach back further and sit at more modest figures. Greg Chappell took 5/15 in 9.50 overs for Australia against India in 1981, the best return listed, with Jim Smith's 5/16 and Manny Martindale's 5/22 both coming in the 1935 West Indies against England Test. More recent entries, such as Richard Ngarava's 5/32 for Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka in 2024 and Johannes Smit's 5/44 for Namibia against Oman in 2020, show bowlers working harder for wickets in an era of heavier scoring.

In franchise cricket, DR Sams's 98 off 44 for Melbourne Renegades against Sydney Thunder in BBL 2021/22 stands out for its strike rate, with BR McDermott's 93 off 61 for Brisbane Heat against Hobart Hurricanes in the same season also notable. Earlier innings such as MA Carberry's 77 off 37 in BBL 2014 and AJ Turner's 70 off 32 in BBL 2017 confirm that 8 January has repeatedly produced fast scoring in the Big Bash, reinforcing the overall lean of the date towards the bat rather than the ball.