The quickest to 1000 ODI runs

For someone who's played a middling number of Tests and ODIs, Yasir Hameed has some quirky records to his credit. That he was only the second batsman after Lawrence Rowe to score two centuries on Test debut is well known. That he and Imran Farhat are the only openers to have four consecutive century partnerships in ODIs is more obscure. Hameed also took the least time to reach 1000 runs in ODIs, 242 days, during which he averaged 44.34 in 24 matches with a couple of centuries and seven fifties. Following on from last week's column, in which, among other things, we dug up who played 100 ODIs in the shortest time, this week we've looked at which players achieved a couple of one-day runs and wickets landmarks quickest.

Two batsmen are tied for the record of scoring their first 1000 ODI runs in the fewest innings. Both Viv Richards and Kevin Pietersen needed only 21 innings to get there. Richards, however, reached the landmark four years and 229 days after making his debut. It took him that long to play 22 matches. Pietersen, on the other hand, scored his 1000th run in his 27th ODI, only a year and 122 days since his first game for England.

While the three batsmen to get to 1000 ODI runs in less than a year had averages of over 40, the fourth quickest got there in exactly 365 days despite an average of only 25. Shahid Afridi, never the most consistent batsman, made up by playing 45 ODIs in his first year on the international circuit. Before the year was out, he had played nine opponents and in seven different countries. Mohammad Kaif's on the list too, having played his first 50 ODIs, scoring 1017 runs, in a year and 75 days.

Most of the players in the table above made their debuts in the late 1990s or the 2000s, after the ODI explosion, but there are four in there from the '80s and one from the early '90s. Chris Broad, Geoff Marsh, Kepler Wessels and Andrew Jones made their debuts between 1983 and 1987 but got to 1000 runs in quick time. Broad, in fact, was second quickest, at 325 days, despite not scoring a century in 26 innings. Wessels and Jones didn't score a century in their first 1000 either.

MS Dhoni played his first 100 ODIs in the shortest span of time - three years and 51 days - and is on course to beat Kumar Sangakkara's mark for 200 as well. He's also the only batsman to reach 5000 runs in fewer than five years, getting there in four years and 357 days. During that time Dhoni played 152 matches, 135 innings and averaged 50.26. Michael Bevan's stats are similar - 153 matches, 135 innings, 5006 runs at an average of 56 - but he needed six years and 299 days to achieve the landmark.

Richards, however, was still the quickest to 5000 in terms of innings - 114 over 11 years and 237 days - followed by Brian Lara, who got there in 118 innings.

Ajit Agarkar held the record for taking 50 ODI wickets in the fewest matches - 23 - until Ajantha Mendis came along and did it in 19. Agarkar, however, was the first man to do it inside a year and is still the quickest in terms of time - 182 days, compared to Mendis' 277.

Mendis' early record is staggering. Each of his first 51 wickets cost 9.82 runs and he struck every 17 balls on average. His record has tapered since, though, and in his last 19 ODIs he's taken only 21 wickets, while his career average has risen to 17.86. Unless Mendis' form takes a dramatic upward surge, he's unlikely to challenge Saqlain Mushtaq's record of being the fastest to 100 ODI wickets.

Saqlain was 11th quickest to 50 wickets in terms of matches - 28 - and fourth in terms of time - one year and 35 days. He accelerated spectacularly thereafter, needing only another 25 ODIs and 195 days to reach 100 wickets. He's the only bowler to get there in less than two years.

Saqlain's wicket-taking momentum did not flag after 100; instead it picked up. He went from 100 to 200 wickets in 51 matches and reached the landmark three years and 249 days after his debut. The next quickest was Brett Lee, who needed five years and 184 days.

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