By Jerry Games 
Cricket looks simple at first. Two teams, a bat, a ball, and some runs to score. But behind this game hides stories that sound almost too strange to be true. From odd records to funny events on the field, cricket has moments that surprise even the biggest fans. Here are some of the strangest and most surprising facts about cricket that you may not have heard before.
In 1939, England and South Africa played a Test match in Durban. It stretched for 12 days. After all that, it ended in a draw because the English team had to catch a boat home.
On the flip side, Australia bowled out South Africa twice in less than two days in 1932. That’s the shortest completed Test match ever played.
Jim Laker of England did something almost impossible in 1956. He took all 10 wickets in one innings against Australia.
Bert Sutcliffe from New Zealand played part of his cricket career with a glass eye. It never stopped him from scoring runs.
In 1984, a match between India and Pakistan was stopped when the sun disappeared during a solar eclipse. Players had to wait until light returned.
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Merv Hughes of Australia once took three wickets in three balls, but not in the same over. He dismissed one batsman with the last ball of his over, another with the first ball of the next over, and then got a third with his very first ball in the following over.
New Zealand’s Jesse Ryder once used a bat weighing more than 2 kilograms. Most bats are much lighter.
In Dartmoor Prison in England, inmates actually play cricket on a field inside the prison walls. It’s a long-standing tradition.
In a match in 2019, Ben Stokes bowled to Steve Smith. The ball hit the stumps, but the bails did not fall. Fans could not believe it.
In 2011, India and England tied a World Cup match after both scored 338. That rare tie stunned the crowd.
Cricket is often stopped by rain, but once, play was paused because of a swarm of bees in a South African match. Players had to lie flat on the field until the bees left.
Mohammad Irfan of Pakistan stands at 7 ft 1 in, making him the tallest cricketer ever. On the other hand, Kruger van Wyk from New Zealand was only 4 ft 9 in.
Carrying the bat means an opener remains not out while every other teammate is dismissed. Sunil Gavaskar did it in 1983 against West Indies, facing fierce bowling alone.
Kepler Wessels played for Australia and later switched to play for South Africa. He is one of the few cricketers to represent two nations.
When Australia first used the pink ball in 2015, many players said it swung more under lights, making it harder to bat at night.
During a match in 1957 between India and West Indies, a stray dog ran onto the field and stopped play until it was caught.
Courtney Walsh, the West Indies fast bowler, has the record for the most ducks in Tests. He got out without scoring 43 times.
Some cricketers wear the same gloves or pads if they’re scoring runs. Steve Waugh used a red handkerchief for luck in almost every innings.
In 2000, a Test match between South Africa and England saw both teams bat twice on the same day because of quick dismissals.
At the local level, strange cricket stories often go unnoticed. Now, with apps like CricHeroes, even the smallest matches get tracked with ball-by-ball scoring and commentary, making these surprising moments part of cricket history.
What is the strangest record in cricket?
Jim Laker’s 10 wickets in one innings is one of the strangest records.
Which match lasted the longest?
The England vs South Africa Test in 1939 lasted 12 days.
Who is the tallest cricketer?
Mohammad Irfan of Pakistan is the tallest at 7 ft 1 in.
Has cricket ever stopped for animals?
Yes, play has been stopped by dogs, cats, and even a swarm of bees.
Which player represented two countries?
Kepler Wessels played for both Australia and South Africa.
Why do players carry superstitions?
Many cricketers believe lucky items like gloves or handkerchiefs improve their game.
What is the shortest Test match?
Australia vs South Africa in 1932 ended in two days.
Who has the most ducks?
Courtney Walsh has the record for most ducks in Tests.
What is carrying the bat?
It’s when an opener stays not out while all other teammates are dismissed.
Why is CricHeroes popular?
Because it gives local cricket professional-style scoring, commentary, and stats for every game.
These strange and surprising facts about cricket prove the sport is full of odd moments and records that keep fans hooked. From the match that lasted 12 days to strange weather and even animals stopping play, cricket never runs out of surprises. Whether it’s the pros or local matches scored on CricHeroes, the game always has stories waiting to be told.
If you know a strange cricket fact not on this list, share it with other fans. Who knows, it may surprise even the experts.