THE WEEK IN NUMBERS: Naseem's hat-trick and England's unbeaten run

It's a numbers game! Here The Cricketer takes a look back at some of the stats to come out of the world of cricket this week...

16 years and 359 days

At the age of 16 years and 359 days, Pakistan seamer Naseem Shah has written himself into the history books by becoming the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket.

Shah, who picked up one wicket in Bangladesh's first innings, removed Najmul Hossain Shanto, Taijul Islam and Mahmudullah with successive deliveries in the second to complete a maiden Test hat-trick and break the previous record, held by Bangladesh spinner Alok Kapali who took a hat-trick against Pakistan at the age of 17 in 2003.

12

Having drawn their ODI series with South Africa 1-1, England are now undefeated in their last 12 bilateral multi-game ODI series - a run that stretches back to the beginning of 2017 and a 2-1 defeat in India.

Let’s not forget Scotland however, who bettered England in a one-off ODI in June 2018.

146

Adil Rashid has moved into fifth on the list of England’s leading one-day international wicket-takers. The spinner, playing in his 100th ODI, took 3 for 51 in England’s two-wicket win at the Wanderers to surpass Sir Ian Botham’s 145 ODI scalps.

MOST ODI WICKETS FOR ENGLAND

James Anderson - 269

Darren Gough - 234

Stuart Broad - 178

Andrew Flintoff - 168

Adil Rashid - 146

62

Dale Steyn’s return to T20I cricket saw the paceman become his country’s leading wicket-taker in the format. Playing in his first international T20 since March 2019, the 36-year-old picked up one wicket in East London - his 62nd overall - to move one ahead of Imran Tahir in the record books.

35 

United States equalled an unwanted record by being bowled out for 35 by Nepal in their Cricket World Cup League 2 clash in Kirtipur.

Sandeep Lamichhane claimed a career-best 6 for 16 as USA were skittled in 72 balls - the shortest innings in the history of the 50-over format. 

The total matches Zimbabwe’s 35 against Sri Lanka in Harare in April 2004.

3-0

New Zealand turned their fortunes around against India, responding to a 5-0 T20I series whitewash with a 3-0 reverse in the three-match ODI series. Ross Taylor was named player of the series, having scored 194 runs at an average of 194, including a sublime unbeaten century at Hamilton.

60,000 

First-class cricket's 60,000th match took place this week when Manipur and Chandigarh faced off in the final round of group games in the Ranji Trophy. 

3

Sky Sports have signed a three-year deal with the IPL to screen the competition in its entirety from 2020. The IPL is due to start on March 29 and run through until May 24.