Test Cricket 1970s and 1980s - Top Batsmen

 (27 November 1970 to 16 April 1990)

Sunil Gavaskar led the charge in the 1970s with a tremendous series in the West Indies, 774 runs in four Test matches, including a double century and century in the same Test. He never looked back, becoming the first to scale the Everest of 10,000 Test runs, earlier going past the inimitable Don Bradman’s 35-year-old record of 29 hundreds, setting a new benchmark for Sachin Tendulkar to surpass.

Greg Chappell made his Test debut just before Gavaskar, an upright, elegant player who overhauled Bradman’s Australian record aggregate of 6996 runs. The supercilious marauder Vivian Richards arrived a few years later, followed by the impish, street-smart Javed Mianded. The left-handed gritty fighter Allan Border followed suit, and went on to top Gavaskar’s aggregate, becoming the first to post 11,000 Test runs. Meanwhile, the copybook opener Geoff Boycott carried over his broad blade from the 1960s. All of them scored over 5000 Test runs and averaged above 50 in this golden age of the 1970s and 1980s.

Two other Australians, Ian Redpath and Dean Jones, averaged over 50, hitting up more than 2500 Test runs. Even in the evening of his brilliant career, the great Gary Sobers crashed 1256 runs in 17 Tests in the 1970s, at an average of 52.33 with a highest of 178 not out with 5 hundreds and 4 fifties. Two openers Charlie Davis of the West Indies, and Mark Taylor of Australia, averaged in the mid-60s while notching up over 1000 runs. Davis averaged 66.56 for his 1065 runs, and Taylor averaged 64.72 as he scored 1618 runs.

David Gower, Gordon Greenidge, Dilip Vengsarkar, Clive Lloyd, Gundappa Viswanath, Desmond Haynes, Ian Botham and Zaheer Abbas crafted over 5000 runs in this period. All of them averaged in the 40s, except allrounder Botham who scored 34.35 runs per innings. Several other batsmen scored over 2000 runs and averaged above 40.

Top Rungetters (minimum 5000 runs)

Sunil Gavaskar (India), Tests 125, Highest Score 236*, Runs 10122, Average 51.12, Hundreds 34, Fifties 45

Allan Border (Australia), Tests 115, Highest Score 205, Runs 8701, Average 53.38, Hundreds 23, Fifties 48

Vivian Richards (West Indies), Tests 111, Highest Score 291, Runs 7990, Average 51.21, Hundreds 24, Fifties 38

Javed Miandad (Pakistan), Tests 104, Highest Score 280*, Runs 7891, Average 56.36, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

David Gower (England), Tests 106, Highest Score 215, Runs 7383, Average 43.42, Hundreds 15, Fifties 37

Gordon Greenidge (West Indies), Tests 100, Highest Score 223, Runs 7134, Average 46.02, Hundreds 18, Fifties 34

Greg Chappell (Australia), Tests 87, Highest Score 247*, Runs 7110, Average 53.86, Hundreds 24, Fifties 31

Dilip Vengsarkar (India), Tests 107, Highest Score 166, Runs 6545, Average 44.22, Hundreds 17, Fifties 32

Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Tests 92, Highest Score 242*, Runs 6356, Average 48.51, Hundreds 16, Fifties 34

Gundappa Viswanath (India), Tests 87, Highest Score 222, Runs 5746, Average 41.63, Hundreds 13, Fifties 33

Desmond Haynes (West Indies), Tests 89, Highest Score 184, Runs 5711, Average 41.99, Hundreds 14, Fifties 31

Geoff Boycott (England), Tests 67, Highest Score 191, Runs 5505, Average 50.50, Hundreds 16, Fifties 29

Ian Botham (England), Tests 97, Highest Score 208, Runs 5119, Average 34.35, Hundreds 14, Fifties 22

Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan), Tests 77, Highest Score 274, Runs 5023, Average 45.25, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20

 

Best Averages (minimum 2000 runs and average of 50 and above)

Javed Miandad (Pakistan), Tests 104, Highest Score 280*, Runs 7891, Average 56.36, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

Greg Chappell (Australia), Tests 87, Highest Score 247*, Runs 7110, Average 53.86, Hundreds 24, Fifties 31

Allan Border (Australia), Tests 115, Highest Score 205, Runs 8701, Average 53.38, Hundreds 23, Fifties 48

Dean Jones (Australia), Tests 34, Highest Score 216, Runs 2637, Average 51.70, Hundreds 9, Fifties 9

Vivian Richards (West Indies), Tests 111, Highest Score 291, Runs 7990, Average 51.21, Hundreds 24, Fifties 38

Sunil Gavaskar (India), Tests 125, Highest Score 236*, Runs 10122, Average 51.12, Hundreds 34, Fifties 45

Ian Redpath (Australia), Tests 29, Highest Score 171, Runs 2578, Average 50.54, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15

Geoff Boycott (England), Tests 67, Highest Score 191, Runs 5505, Average 50.50, Hundreds 16, Fifties 29

 

Best Averages (minimum 1000 runs but below 2000 runs, and average of 50 and above)

Charlie Davis (West Indies), Tests 11, Highest Score 183, Runs 1065, Average 66.56, Hundreds 3, Fifties 4

Mark Taylor (Australia), Tests 15, Highest Score 219, Runs 1618, Average 64.72, Hundreds 6, Fifties 8

Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 17, Highest Score 178*, Runs 1256, Average 52.33, Hundreds 5, Fifties 4

 

Best Averages (minimum 2000 runs and average of 40 and above, but below 50)

Dennis Amiss (England), Tests 45, Highest Score 262*, Runs 3487, Average 49.11, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11

Mohammad Azharuddin (India), Tests 37, Highest Score 199, Runs 2527, Average 48.59, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9

Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Tests 92, Highest Score 242*, Runs 6356, Average 48.51, Hundreds 16, Fifties 34

Glenn Turner (New Zealand), Tests 32, Highest Score 259, Runs 2441, Average 47.86, Hundreds 6, Fifties 11

Ian Chappell (Australia), Tests 44, Highest Score 196, Runs 3578, Average 47.07, Hundreds 10, Fifties 18

Richie Richardson (West Indies), Tests 49, Highest Score 194, Runs 3515, Average 46.25, Hundreds 10, Fifties 13

Gordon Greenidge (West Indies), Tests 100, Highest Score 223, Runs 7134, Average 46.02, Hundreds 18, Fifties 34

Roy Fredericks (West Indies), Tests 49, Highest Score 169, Runs 3809, Average 45.89, Hundreds 8, Fifties 22

Martin Crowe (New Zealand), Tests 48, Highest Score 188, Runs 3288, Average 45.66, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11

Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan), Tests 77, Highest Score 274, Runs 5023, Average 45.25, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20

Alvin Kallicharran (West Indies), Tests 66, Highest Score 187, Runs 4399, Average 44.43, Hundreds 12, Fifties 21

Dilip Vengsarkar (India), Tests 107, Highest Score 166, Runs 6545, Average 44.22, Hundreds 17, Fifties 32

Lawrence Rowe (West Indies), Tests 30, Highest Score 302, Runs 2047, Average 43.55, Hundreds 7, Fifties 7

David Gower (England), Tests 106, Highest Score 215, Runs 7383, Average 43.42, Hundreds 15, Fifties 37

Mohinder Amarnath (India), Tests 68, Highest Score 138, Runs 4362, Average 42.76, Hundreds 11, Fifties 24

Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 49, Highest Score 250, Runs 3107, Average 42.56, Hundreds 8, Fifties 19

Asif Iqbal (Pakistan), Tests 41, Highest Score 175, Runs 2703, Average 42.23, Hundreds 10, Fifties 7

Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan), Tests 35, Highest Score 201, Runs 2449, Average 42.22, Hundreds 8, Fifties 12

Desmond Haynes (West Indies), Tests 89, Highest Score 184, Runs 5711, Average 41.99, Hundreds 14, Fifties 31

Salim Malik (Pakistan), Tests 57, Highest Score 119*, Runs 2718, Average 41.81, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15

Gundappa Viswanath (India), Tests 87, Highest Score 222, Runs 5746, Average 41.63, Hundreds 13, Fifties 33

Majid Khan (Pakistan), Tests 53, Highest Score 167, Runs 3584, Average 41.19, Hundreds 8, Fifties 17

Keith Fletcher (England), Tests 53, Highest Score 216, Runs 3045, Average 41.14, Hundreds 7, Fifties 18

Graham Yallop (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score 268, Runs 2756, Average 41.13, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9

John Edrich (England), Tests 37, Highest Score 175, Runs 2427, Average 41.13, Hundreds 4, Fifties 14

Tony Greig (England), Tests 58, Highest Score 148, Runs 3599, Average 40.43, Hundreds 8, Fifties 20

 

Full Career of those who also played in eras before or after

Allan Border (Australia, 1978-94), Tests 156, Highest Score 205, Runs 11174, Average 50.56, Hundreds 27, Fifties 63

Graham Gooch (England, 1975-95), Tests 118, Highest Score 333, Runs 8900, Average 42.58, Hundreds 20, Fifties 46

Javed Miandad (Pakistan, 1976-93), Tests 124, Highest Score 280*, Runs 8832, Average 52.57, Hundreds 23, Fifties 43

Vivian Richards (West Indies, 1975-91), Tests 121, Highest Score 291, Runs 8540, Average 50.23, Hundreds 24, Fifties 45

David Gower (England, 1978-92), Tests 117, Highest Score 215, Runs 8231, Average 44.25, Hundreds 18, Fifties 39

Geoff Boycott (England, 1964-82), Tests 108, Highest Score 246*, Runs 8114, Average 47.72, Hundreds 22, Fifties 42

Gary Sobers (West Indies, 1954-74), Tests 93, Highest Score 365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, Hundreds 26, Fifties 30

Gordon Greenidge (West Indies, 1974-91), Tests 108, Highest Score 226, Runs 7558, Average 44.72, Hundreds 19, Fifties 34

Mark Taylor (Australia, 1989-99), Tests 104, Highest Score 186, Runs 7525, Average 43.49, Hundreds 19, Fifties 40

Clive Lloyd (West Indies, 1966-85), Tests 110, Highest Score 242*, Runs 7515, Average 46.67, Hundreds 19, Fifties 39

Desmond Haynes (West Indies, 1978-94), Tests 116, Highest Score 184, Runs 7487, Average 42.29, Hundreds 18, Fifties 39

David Boon (Australia, 1984-96), Tests 107, Highest Score 200, Runs 7422, Average 43.65, Hundreds 21, Fifties 32

Dilip Vengsarkar (India, 1976-92), Tests 116, Highest Score 166, Runs 6868, Average 42.13, Hundreds 17, Fifties 35

Rohan Kanhai (West Indies, 1957-74), Tests 79, Highest Score 256, Runs 6227, Average 47.53, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28

Mohammad Azharuddin (India, 1984-2000), Tests 99, Highest Score 199, Runs 6215, Average 45.03, Hundreds 22 Fifties 21

Gundappa Viswanath (India, 1969-83), Tests 91, Highest Score 222, Runs 6080, Average 41.93, Hundreds 14, Fifties 35

Richie Richardson (West Indies, 1983-95), Tests 86, Highest Score 194, Runs 5949, Average 44.39, Hundreds 16, Fifties 27

Salim Malik (Pakistan, 1982-99), Tests 103, Highest Score 237, Runs 5768, Average 43.69, Hundreds 15, Fifties 29

Martin Crowe (New Zealand, 1982-95), Tests 77, Highest Score 299, Runs 5444, Average 45.36, Hundreds 17, Fifties 18

Doug Walters (Australia, 1965-81), Tests 74, Highest Score 250, Runs 5357, Average 48.26, Hundreds 15, Fifties 33

Ian Chappell (Australia, 1964-80), Tests 75, Highest Score 196, Runs 5345, Average 42.42, Hundreds 14, Fifties 26

Ian Botham (England, 1977-92), Tests 102, Highest Score 208, Runs 5200, Average 33.54, Hundreds 14, Fifties 22

John Edrich (England, 1963-76), Tests 77, Highest Score 310*, Runs 5138, Average 43.54, Hundreds 12, Fifties 24

Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan, 1969-85), Tests 78, Highest Score 274, Runs 5062, Average 44.79, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20

Ian Redpath (Australia, 1964-76), Tests 66, Highest Score 171, Runs 4737, Average 43.45, Hundreds 8, Fifties 31

Mohinder Amarnath (India, 1969-88), Tests 69, Highest Score 138, Runs 4378, Average 42.50, Hundreds 11, Fifties 24

Roy Fredericks (West Indies, 1968-77, Tests 59, Highest Score 169, Runs 4334, Average 42.49, Hundreds 8, Fifties 26

Majid Khan (Pakistan, 1964-83), Tests 63, Highest Score 167, Runs 3931, Average 38.92, Hundreds 8, Fifties 19

Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan, 1959-79), Tests 57, Highest Score 201, Runs 3643, Average 39.17, Hundreds 10, Fifties 19

Dean Jones (Australia, 1984-92), Tests 52, Highest Score 216, Runs 3631, Average 46.55, Hundreds 11, Fifties 14

Dennis Amiss (England, 1966-77), Tests 50, Highest Score 262*, Runs 3612, Average 46.30, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11

Asif Iqbal (Pakistan, 1964-80), Tests 58, Highest Score 175, Runs 3575, Average 38.85, Hundreds 11, Fifties 12

Keith Fletcher (England, 1968-82), Tests 59, Highest Score 216, Runs 3272, Average 39.90, Hundreds 7, Fifties 19

Glenn Turner (New Zealand, 1969-83), Tests 41, Highest Score 259, Runs 2991, Average 44.64, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14

Graham Yallop (Australia, 1976-84), Tests 39, Highest Score 268, Runs 2756, Average 41.13, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9

Steve Waugh, legendary warrior. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

 

Steve Waugh was different; cool of mind and stout of spirit, he was a fighter to the core. He left arguably the biggest impact on the game in Australia since Bradman. His predecessor Allan Border was also a gritty batsman, and became the highest run-getter in Test cricket. But Border would grind the opposition, rather than dominate them, and the one feature that characterised his batting was his propensity to sweep. When the chips were down Border would be an immovable object for the opposition, but there was nothing endearing about him.

That was not the case with Steve Waugh. He was forever proving his critics wrong through sheer strength of character. His twin Mark was far more talented with the bat as well as a fielder, and more elegant by miles. But it was Steve who first broke into the Australian team and stayed in longer. He played a key role in Australia’s first World Cup triumph in 1987 as a bowler sans nerves, and a lower middle-order batsman with an abundance of commonsense. His stock as a batsman continued to rise, and he became a reliable rungetter by the late eighties.

It was under Border’s captaincy, and with the guiding hand of Bobby Simpson, that Australia won the 1987 World Cup, but try as he might he could not turn Australia into the best in the world in either form of the game. That changed when the more genial and composed Mark Taylor took over. Steve Waugh, helped by twin Mark, stood up to the West Indies pacemen in a titanic battle at Kingston in 1994-95, which was crucial for wresting the Test series 2-1, amazingly for the first time against these rivals in nine attempts since the heady days of 1975-76. In that Test Steve Waugh scored 200 and Mark Waugh 126. 

Then Australia were runners-up in the 1996 World Cup, with Mark Waugh in delightful form, but Steve not too far behind with bat and ball. Steve Waugh first took over the One-day captaincy, and then the top job in Tests as well. The start belied what lay ahead as Brian Lara’s genius denied Australia a Test series win in the Caribbean in 1998-99, and then Steve Waugh’s team faltered in the early stages of the 1999 World Cup. But Australia were unstoppable once Waugh’s fighting hundred, aided by a gaffe in the field by Herschelle Gibbs, in their last super-six match, and subsequent tie in the semi-final, also against South Africa, breathed life into the team.          

They went on to lift the 1999 World Cup, and then carve an unprecedented 16 consecutive Test victories. Steve Waugh built one of the greatest teams in history, and his own batting continued to rise to greater heights. He scored an exhilarating century at Sydney in the 2002-03 Ashes series as a scathing riposte to his critics who wanted him out of the side. When he took his final bow a year later, he was given a touching farewell.

By then he was the most capped player ever at 168 Tests, Australia’s second-highest rungetter with 10,927 runs at an average of 51.06, and their top century maker with 32, surpassing Bradman’s tally. Steve Waugh never gave in, or gave up, the quintessential warrior always searching for new frontiers. He was strong on the back foot through the off-side, and played the slog sweep better than most. More admired than loved, he had no shot that would delight the connoisseur, but he was effective. He never learnt to deal with the rising delivery, but coped well enough. If ever there was a player with little natural ability, but achieved super success by dint of hard work, resilience and determination, it would have to be Steve Waugh.

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Don’s Century

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

Fully illustrated

Paperback French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

Weight 480 grams

188 pages

Available on Amazon at an attractive price:  

https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166859  

Indra Vikram Singh's other books available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.in/s?k=Indra+Vikram+Singh&i=stripbooks&rh=p_6%3AA3HSV0N9AV7NOK&dc&qid=1602408830&rnid=1318474031&ref=sr_nr_p_6_1

Road to the cricket World Cup 2019. Reigning champions crash to one-run defeat. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘The Big Book of World Cup Cricket 1975-2011’

AUSTRALIA v INDIA    

CHIDAMBARAM STADIUM, CHEPAUK, MADRAS,

9 OCTOBER 1987

Ice Man Steve Waugh celebrating the nail-biting one-run win over India.

There was great excitement all around Chepauk as the reigning champions took on Australia on home turf. As many as six players had survived from Kapil Dev’s 1983 winning squad, while the solitary Aussie link to the previous World Cup was skipper Allan Border. In other words, here was a home team brimming with confidence, ready to take on a relatively inexperienced side which was not expected to give a very tough fight.

As the game got under way it gradually dawned upon the partisans that this was a very determined Australian team. David Boon and Geoff Marsh put on a century partnership for the first wicket. Then Marsh combined with the belligerent Dean Jones, and took the score to 174.

Marsh carried on calmly and notched up his third century in One-day Internationals. He took his side to a formidable position even though they lost a few wickets towards the end trying to accelerate the scoring. During the interval, adjudicator Hanif Mohammad converted a four into a six. This was to prove decisive. A total of 270 in 50 overs was a very large one by any standard and had the home supporters worried.

Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth, however, gave a flying start. For once Gavaskar outscored his unorthodox big-hitting partner. The crowd went into raptures as the legendary Gavaskar and local boy Srikkanth treated the attack with disdain. When Gavaskar fell, 69 runs had been put up on the board. His place was taken by Navjot Singh Sidhu whose clean hitting had been a revelation in the run-up to the tournament. Soon he began carrying his new-found reputation forward. Srikkanth and Sidhu butchered the bowling and, suddenly, 271 did not seem an unattainable target.

Srikkanth was leg-before for 70, but that only let Sidhu loose. With the experienced Dilip Vengsarkar playing in mature fashion at the other end, Sidhu attacked with gusto. He hit five towering sixes which created a carnival atmosphere in the stadium. At 207 for two, victory seemed just a few big blows away.

That was when India began to mess it up. The Australians kept cool and bowled intelligently. Their fielding was outstanding. Wickets crashed at regular intervals. In the panic, there were two needless run outs at crucial stages. Soon the score was 265 for nine.

There were six runs left as Steve Waugh began the final over to last man Maninder Singh. Suddenly the tied Test played between the two teams at the same ground a year earlier flashed into everyone’s mind. In that Test too, Maninder had been the batsman in the firing line. He managed four runs off the first four balls. The excitement was unbelievable. Two runs were needed, and there were two balls left with one wicket in hand. But it was Waugh who kept his head and was bang on target.

Maninder was bowled off the fifth ball. Waugh was nonchalant: "It was just a confidence thing. Allan Border thought I could do it. I knew I could do it." India had lost by a solitary run. For the second time running the reigning champions had been beaten in their opening encounter.

Australia        : 270 for 6 wickets (50 overs)

India               : 269 all out (49.5 overs)

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Follow his blogs:

https://singhiv.wordpress.com/

https://indravikramsingh.blogspot.com/

Indra Vikram Singh’s books are available at attractive prices on Amazon:

The Big Book of World Cup Cricket 1975-2011

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3

https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166840

Crowning Glory

Published by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-6-7

https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166867

Don’s Century

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166859

A Maharaja’s Turf

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-3-6

https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166832

Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming books:

Indian Spring, on India’s triumph in the cricket World Cup 2011

Wonder Down Under, special souvenir on the cricket World Cup 2015

The finest left-handed batsmen in cricket's annals

Clem Hill (Australia) ….. Tests span: 1896-1912, Matches 49, Highest Score 191, Runs 3,412, Average 39.21, 7 Hundreds, 19 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1892-1923, Matches 252, Highest Score 365*, Runs 17,213, Average 43.57, 45 Hundreds, 83 Fifties.

Frank Woolley (England) ….. Tests span: 1909-1934, Matches 64, Highest Score 154, Runs 3,283, Average 36.07, 5 Hundreds, 23 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1906-1938, Matches 978, Highest Score 305*, Runs 58,959, Average 40.77, 145 Hundreds, 295 Fifties.

Arthur Morris (Australia) ….. Tests span: 1946-1955, Matches 46, Highest Score 206, Runs 3,533, Average 46.48, 12 Hundreds, 12 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1940-1955, Matches 162, Highest Score 290, Runs 12,614, Average 53.67, 46 Hundreds, 46 Fifties.

Bert Sutcliffe (New Zealand) ….. Tests span: 1947-1965, Matches 42, Highest Score 230*, Runs 2,727, Average 40.10, 5 Hundreds, 15 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1941-1966, Matches 233, Highest Score 385, Runs 17,447, Average 47.41, 44 Hundreds, 83 Fifties.

Neil Harvey (Australia) ….. Tests span: 1948-1963, Matches 79, Highest Score 205, Runs 6,149, Average 48.41, 21 Hundreds, 24 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1946-1963, Matches 306, Highest Score 231*, Runs 21,699, Average 50.93, 67 Hundreds, 94 Fifties.

Gary Sobers (West Indies) ….. Tests span: 1954-1974, Matches 93, Highest Score 365*, Runs 8,032, Average 57.78, 26 Hundreds, 30 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1952-1974, Matches 383, Highest Score 365*, Runs 28,314, Average 54.87, 86 Hundreds, 121 Fifties.

Graeme Pollock (South Africa) ….. Tests span: 1963-1970, Matches 23, Highest Score 274, Runs 2,256, Average 60.97, 7 Hundreds, 11 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1960-1987, Matches 262, Highest Score 274, Runs 20,940, Average 54.67, 64 Hundreds, 99 Fifties.

Allan Border (Australia) ….. Tests span: 1978-1994, Matches 156, Highest Score 205, Runs 11,174, Average 50.56, 27 Hundreds, 63 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1976-1996, Matches 385, Highest Score 205, Runs 27,131, Average 51.38, 70 Hundreds, 142 Fifties.

Brian Lara (West Indies) ….. Tests span: 1990-2006, Matches 131, Highest Score 400*, Runs 11,953, Average 52.88, 34 Hundreds, 48 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1987-2008, Matches 261, Highest Score 501*, Runs 22,156, Average 51.88, 65 Hundreds, 88 Fifties.

Matthew Hayden (Australia) ….. Tests span: 1994-2009, Matches 103, Highest Score 380, Runs 8,625, Average 50.73, 30 Hundreds, 29 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1991-2009, Matches 295, Highest Score 380, Runs 24,603, Average 52.57, 79 Hundreds, 100 Fifties.

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) ….. Tests span: 2000-2015, Matches 134, Highest Score 319, Runs 12,400, Average 57.40, 38 Hundreds, 52 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 2000-2015, Matches 235, Highest Score 319, Runs 18,134, Average 50.51, Hundreds 53, Fifties 77.

Reliance Cricket World Cup 1987 : Excerpt from ‘The Big Book of World Cup Cricket 1975-2011’ by Indra Vikram Singh

India’s surprise win in 1983 strengthened the claims of the sub-continent to stage the event. The cricketing world thus travelled to a new destination in 1987, with India and Pakistan jointly hosting the event. The sponsorship also changed hands with Reliance Industries underwriting the effort. There was a new trophy too, a gold-plated cup, studded at the top with diamonds, and flags of all the participating nations embossed all round. It was crafted by Arun Industries of Jaipur and cost Rs.600,000 ($42,260).

The sponsorship amount was about Rupees fifty million (£2.17 million), inclusive of title sponsorship, in-stadia advertising and merchandising rights. The prize money increased to £99,300 ($160,000), with the winners receiving £30,000 and the runners-up £12,000. The losing semi-finalists got £6,000 each. The guarantee money this time was £200,000 to Test-playing countries, and £170,000 to Zimbabwe. Amazing, though, it may seem today, Doordarshan paid nothing for television rights. Still, the gross earnings from the tournament were estimated to be $12 million.

With shorter hours of daylight during the northern winter, the number of overs to be bowled per innings was curtailed from 60, which was the norm in the first three World Cups, to 50. Innings of 50 overs came to be accepted universally thereafter in One-day matches. In Group A were Australia, India, New Zealand and Zimbabwe, who had qualified by winning the ICC Trophy for the second successive time in 1986. Group B comprised England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

The sentimental favourites were India and Pakistan, but both were upset in the semi-finals. First Australia defeated Pakistan, and next day England beat India. The final between the Ashes rivals was a keen affair. Australia narrowly beat England to lift the Reliance World Cup and signal their climb towards new peaks in world cricket.

The final:

Eden Gardens, Calcutta, 8 November 1987

Australia won by 7 runs

Australia: 253 for 5 wickets in 50 overs (David Boon 75, Dean Jones 33, Allan Border 31, Mike Veletta 45 not out)

England: 246 for 8 wickets in 50 overs (Graham Gooch 35, Bill Athey 58, Mike Gatting 41, Allan Lamb 45)

Man of the Match: David Boon

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

The Big Book of World Cup Cricket 1975-2011

ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3

Distributed in India by Variety Book Depot, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Phones + 91 11 23417175, 23412567

Available in leading bookshops, and online on several websites.