Smith, Gibbs smash records

The opening partnership of 338 runs between South African openers Graeme Smith and Hershelle Gibbs against England at Birmingham have surpassed the following records:

** Smith and Gibbs became the first opening pair in Test cricket history to be involved in two separate partnerships of over 300 runs. The pair had put on 368 against Pakistan at Cape Town earlier this January.

** This was the best partnership for the first wicket by any team against England in Tests (previous best 329 by Australians Geoff Marsh and Mark Taylor at Nottingham, 1989).

** This was the best partnership for the first wicket by any team in England in Tests (previous best 329 between Australians Geoff Marsh and Mark Taylor at Nottingham, 1989).

** This was the best partnership for any wicket for South Africa against England in Tests (previous best 319 - for the 3rd wkt between Alan Melville and Dudley Nourse at Nottingham, 1947).

** This was the best partnership for the first wicket for South Africa against England in Tests (previous best 260 - between Bruce Mitchell and Jack Siedle at Cape Town, 1930-31).

** This was the best partnership for the first wicket for South Africa in an away Test match (previous best 256 - between Gary Kirsten and Gibbs against Zimbabwe at Harare, 2001-02).

** This was the best partnership for the first wicket by any team at Edgbaston, Birmingham in Tests (previous best 179 - between Englishmen Mike Atherton and Mark Butcher against South Africa, 1998).

** This was the best partnership for South Africa in England for the first wicket in Tests (previous best 176 - between Jack McGlew and Trevor Goddard at Leeds, 1955).

** This was the best partnership for any wicket and also the first wicket for South Africa at Birmingham in Tests (previous best 171 - between Bruce Mitchell and Bob Catterall, 1929).

** Their partnership was the 6th highest for the first wicket in Tests.

** Their partnership was the 29th joint highest for any wicket in Tests.