Statistical highlights: Day 1 at Harare

Mohandas Menon

  Ian Robinson, who had the distinction of umpiring Zimbabwe's inaugural Test match in October 1992, was officiating in his 25th Test match. He becomes the 31st umpire in Test history to reach this landmark. Incidentally he was umpiring in his 15th match at home. Former Sri Lankan Test cricketer Ashoka deSilva was officiating in third Test match and his first overseas as an ICC umpire.

  Hemang Badani and Travis Friend became the 237th and the 51st players to represent India and Zimbabwe respectively in Tests. Interestingly both these players have appeared in 13 LOI matches each for their respective countries.

  Grant Flower joins his brother Andy and Alistair Campbell to become the third Zimbabwean to appear in 50 or Test matches. He also becomes the 171st player in Test history to reach the 50-match landmark.

  Harbhajan Singh was appearing in his 50th first-class match of his career since his debut during the 1997-98 season.

  Rahul Dravid during his unbeaten 68, when on 25, became the highest run-getter against Zimbabwe in Tests. He went past the run aggregate of 662 runs by New Zealander Nathan Astle, who needed 9 matches and 15 innings to run these runs against Zimbabwe. Dravid, however, playing in his fifth match and seventh innings against Zimbabwe, has now scored 706 runs (avg. 176.50), with two hundreds and four fifties.

  Dravid's Test scores against Zimbabwe makes interesting reading: 118 & 44 (at Harare, 1998); 200* & 70* (at Delhi, 2000); 162 (at Nagpur, 2000); 44 (at Bulawayo, 2001) and 68* (at Harare).

  Andy Blignaut's three catches in India's first innings equals the best by a Zimbabwe fieldsman against India. He equals the performance of teammate Guy Whittall who also took three catches, last week, in the first innings of the Bulawayo Test match.

  Leg-spinner Brain Murphy playing in his 10th Test match recorded his second best figures of his career. His best still remains as 3-32, which he had achieved on his Test debut against West Indies at Port of Spain in March last year.