Kamindu Mendis Makes History as Fastest Asian to 1000 Test Runs

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis has etched his name in the annals of cricket history by becoming the fastest Asian batter to reach 1000 Test runs. This remarkable feat was achieved during the second Test against New Zealand at the Galle International Stadium.

Mendis reached this milestone in his 13th Test innings, a mark that places him joint second on the all-time list alongside the legendary Sir Don Bradman. Bradman had also achieved this feat in 13 innings back in 1930.

Fastest to 1000 Test Runs

The record for the fastest to 1000 runs in Test cricket is held by England's Herbert Sutcliffe and West Indies' Everton Weekes, both of whom achieved this milestone in just 12 innings. Sutcliffe reached the mark in February 1925, while Weekes equalled it in 1949.

Mendis's achievement not only equals Bradman's record but also surpasses the previous Asian record held by India's Vinod Kambli, who had reached 1000 Test runs in 14 innings.

Other Notable Records

In addition to his record-breaking run to 1000 Test runs, Mendis has also made several other notable achievements. He became the first cricketer debuting in the 21st century to score five Test centuries in his first eight Tests. Moreover, he has the joint-most fifty-plus scores after eight Tests, a record he shares with India's Sunil Gavaskar.

Mendis's unbeaten 182 against New Zealand in the first innings of the second Test was the highlight of his journey to this milestone. His consistent and impressive form has drawn comparisons to the batting genius of Sir Don Bradman.