Gary Sobers, cricketer beyond compare, genius like no other. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

Just as the memorable careers of the three Ws were drawing to a close, there appeared on the stage a cricketer blessed by nature like no other. Inarguably the most versatile and complete player, with class stamped all over, the left-handed genius Garfield Sobers was the only one apart from Bradman who would walk into everybody’s all-time dream team. To state the obvious, Sobers was a powerful strokeplayer, predecessor to Brian Lara in myriad ways, not the least in hitting up the record score and highest aggregate in Test cricket; bowler of greater variety than anyone in history - genuine speed, medium-pace swing, left-arm orthodox as well as chinaman; and a superb fielder, particularly close to the wicket in the slips or at backward short-leg.  Like Bradman, the game is not likely to see another with his amazing skills.

The doyen himself, Sir Neville Cardus, described Sobers’ batting thus: “He makes a stroke with moments to spare. The sure sign of mastery, of genius of any order, is absence of strain, natural freedom of rhythm.” How aptly can this be applied to sportspersons of any discipline. Brian Johnston, legend in the commentary box, observed Sobers for years. He wrote in his book It’s Been a Piece of Cake: “…..like all the greats - he had a sound defensive technique, but in attack with a high backlift and perfect timing the power of his strokes had to be seen to be believed. His sizzling drives and crashing hooks were hammered to the boundary, leaving the fielders helpless to stop them.”

Sobers never wore a thigh pad, and except for early in his career had no use for a cap, batting or fielding. His rasping cuts were facilitated by a light bat weighing around 2 lb 4 oz. There was no less power in his shots than seen today by those wielding the chunky modern day bludgeons. That is one of the reasons why there are not many players today who can play genuine horizontal bat shots like the cut, pull and hook with authority. Sobers rarely went down the wicket to the spinners, either using his long reach to drive or playing right back.

For someone who was pitchforked into the Test arena as a 17-year-old left-arm spinner in 1953-54 after just two first-class appearances, it is quite amazing that Sobers went on to become one of the greatest batsmen in history. Four years after his debut, he recorded his first Test hundred against Pakistan at Kingston, an unbeaten 365, the top score at the highest level, surpassing Len Hutton’s mark of two decades earlier. He added 446 for the second wicket in the company of Conrad Hunte, just five runs short of the then all-time high for any wicket put up by Ponsford and Bradman in 1934. Sobers celebrated his achievement by hammering a century in each innings - 125 and 108 not out - in the Georgetown Test. He finished the series with 824 runs at an average of 137.33. The legend of Sobers had been launched.

In 1959-60 against England, Sobers hit up 709 runs at an average of 101.28, crashing 226 at Bridgetown, 147 at Kingston and 146 at Georgetown. He put on 399 for the fourth wicket with Worrell in the Georgetown Test. Though a natural successor to Worrell, Sobers was not as diligent a captain as Bradman. From 1966 to 1967-68, Sobers had a golden run with the bat, averaging over 100 in two successive series, and 90 in the third. During the 1966 tour of England, he scored 722 runs at an average of 103.14 in five Tests, took 20 wickets at 27.25 apiece and held 10 catches. England were again given a 3-1 hammering, and Sobers once more hit up three centuries - 161 at Old Trafford, 163 not out at Lord’s and 174 at Headingley. He then went to India in 1966-67, scoring half-centuries in all his five innings with a highest of 95, aggregating 342 runs and averaging 114. By now the West Indies were the best side in the world. In 1967-68 against England at home, Sobers knocked up 545 runs in five Tests at 90.83 per innings but his over-confident declaration in the fourth Test at Kingston - 215 to win in 165 minutes - handed the series to England, who won that game with three minutes to spare, and the crown slipped.

The irrepressible Sobers became the first batsman in first-class cricket to hit 6 sixes in an over for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan, smashing a bewildered Malcolm Nash at St Helen’s Ground, Swansea in 1968. It was in the evening of his career that Sobers played what Sir Donald Bradman described as the best innings he had seen in Australia, comparing it to Stan McCabe’s superb 232 at Trent Bridge in 1938. He slammed 254 for the Rest of the World against Australia at Melbourne in 1971-72 against a young and lightning fast Dennis Lillee. It was an amazing display of pyrotechnics, and when it reached its crescendo, rousing applause came from the spectators and fielders alike. 

When a damaged knee ended his 20-year Test career, Sobers had become the highest run-getter in his 93 appearances with 8032 runs at an average of 57.78, having blazed 26 hundreds, second behind Bradman’s 29. He had captured 235 wickets at 34.03 each, and snapped up 109 catches. It would be fair to say that had he batted higher than the no. 6 that he often did as captain, and if the West Indies did not have bowlers of the calibre of Wesley Hall, Charlie Griffith and Lance Gibbs, Sobers would have had many more runs and wickets to his credit. Gary Sobers was a cricketer beyond compare. It was just a matter of time before knighthood was bestowed on him.

Test Cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s - Records

 (29 March 1946 to 10 March 1970)

Gary Sobers.....record score in Test cricket.

Jim Laker.....best analysis ever in an innings as well as Test.

Australia remained on top during this period, though their performance declined a bit, and England narrowed the gap. West Indies took a giant leap, and were now stationed at third place behind England. South Africa improved their record and were beginning to become a force. It was a pity that they were banished for 22 years after this period. New entrants Pakistan made an impressive start, and were perched at fifth spot, just behind South Africa. Like the West Indies, India made a quantum jump, but had to be content at the sixth position. New Zealand slipped a bit, to find themselves at the bottom.

TEAM PERFORMANCES

Australia - 1946 to 1970, Tests Played 146, Won 66, Lost 30, Tied 1, Drawn 49, Success % 62.32

England - 1946 to 1969, Tests Played 215, Won 77, Lost 46, Drawn 92, Success % 57.20

West Indies - 1948 to 1969, Tests Played 106, Won 39, Lost 30, Tied 1, Drawn 36, Success % 54.24

South Africa - 1947 to 1970, Tests Played 82, Won 23, Lost 30, Drawn 29, Success % 45.73

Pakistan - 1952 to 1969, Tests Played 59, Won 10, Lost 17, Drawn 32, Success % 44.06

India - 1946 to 1969, Tests Played 109, Won 15, Lost 44, Drawn 50, Success % 36.69

New Zealand - 1946 to 1969, Tests Played 81, Won 7, Lost 40, Drawn 34, Success % 29.62

(Success % = Won 2 points, Tied 1 point, Drawn 1 point)

HIGHEST TOTALS

790/3d - West Indies v Pakistan, Kingston, 1957-58

758/8d - Australia v West Indies, Kingston, 1955

681/8d - West Indies v England, Port of Spain, 1953-54

674 - Australia v India, Adelaide, 1947-48

668 - Australia v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1955

659/8d - Australia v England, Sydney, 1946-47

657/8d - Pakistan v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1957-58

656/8d - Australia v England, Manchester, 1964

650/6d - Australia v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1965

645 - Australia v England, Brisbane, 1946-47

644/8d - West Indies v India, Delhi, 1958-59

631 - West Indies v India, Delhi, 1948-49

631/8d - West Indies v India, Kingston, 1961-62

629/6d - West Indies v India, Bombay, 1948-49

622/9d - South Africa v Australia, Durban, 1969-70

620 - South Africa v Australia, Johannesburg, 1966-67

619/6d - England v West Indies, Nottingham, 1957

619 - Australia v West Indies, Sydney, 1968-69

616 - West Indies v Australia, Adelaide, 1968-69

614/5d - West Indies v India, Calcutta, 1958-59

611 - England v Australia, Manchester, 1964

608 - England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1948-49

601/8d - Australia v England, Brisbane, 1954-55

600/9d - Australia v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1955

LOWEST TOTALS

26 - New Zealand v England, Auckland, 1954-55

42 - New Zealand v Australia, Wellington, 1945-46

47 - New Zealand v England, Lord’s, London, 1958

52 - England v Australia, The Oval, London, 1948

54 - New Zealand v Australia, Wellington, 1945-46

58 - India v England, Manchester, 1952

58 - India v Australia, Brisbane, 1947-48

67 - New Zealand v England, Leeds, 1958

67 - India v Australia, Melbourne, 1947-48

70 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Dhaka, 1955-56

72 - South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1956-57

72 - South Africa v England, Johannesburg, 1956-57

74 - New Zealand v England, Lord’s, London, 1958

74 - New Zealand v Australia, Dunedin, 1955-56

75 - Australia v South Africa, Durban, 1949-50

76 - West Indies v Pakistan, Dhaka, 1958-59

77 - West Indies v New Zealand, Auckland, 1955-56

78 - Australia v England, Lord’s, London, 1968

78 - West Indies v Australia, Sydney, 1951-52

79 - New Zealand v Pakistan, Rawalpindi, 1964-65

79 - New Zealand v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1953-54

80 - Australia v Pakistan, Karachi, 1956-57

82 - India v England, Manchester, 1952

82 - Australia v West Indies, Adelaide, 1951-52

84 - Australia v England, Manchester, 1956

85 - New Zealand v England, Manchester, 1958

86 - West Indies v England, The Oval, London, 1957

87 - England v Australia, Melbourne, 1958-59

87 - Pakistan v England, Lord’s, London, 1954

88 - India v New Zealand, Bombay, 1964-65

88 - South Africa v England, Nottingham, 1960

89 - India v New Zealand, Hyderabad (Ind), 1969-70

89 - New Zealand v England, Auckland, 1962-63

89 - West Indies v England, The Oval, London, 1957

90 - Pakistan v England, Manchester, 1954

91 - West Indies v England, Birmingham, 1963

92 - India v England, Birmingham, 1967

94 - New Zealand v England, Birmingham, 1958

98 - India v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1961-62

98 - India v England, The Oval, London, 1952

98 - India v Australia, Brisbane, 1947-48

99 - South Africa v Australia, Cape Town, 1957-58

99 - South Africa v Australia, Durban, 1949-50

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES

Gary Sobers - 365*, West Indies v Pakistan, Kingston, 1957-58

Hanif Mohammad - 337, Pakistan v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1957-58

Bobby Simpson - 311, Australia v England, Manchester, 1964

John Edrich - 310*, England v New Zealand, Leeds, 1965

Bob Cowper - 307, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1965-66

Peter May - 285*, England v West Indies, Birmingham, 1957

Denis Compton - 278, England v Pakistan, Nottingham, 1954

Graeme Pollock - 274, South Africa v Australia, Durban, 1969-70

Frank Worrell - 261, West Indies v England, Nottingham, 1950

Conrad Hunte - 260, West Indies v Pakistan, Kingston, 1957-58

Tom Graveney - 258, England v West Indies, Nottingham, 1957

Seymour Nurse - 258, West Indies v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1968-69

Rohan Kanhai - 256, West Indies v India, Calcutta, 1958-59

Ken Barrington - 256, England v Australia, Manchester, 1964

Jackie McGlew - 255*, South Africa v New Zealand, Wellington, 1952-53

HUNDRED ON TEST DEBUT

SC ‘Billy’ Griffith - 140, England v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1947-48

Andy Ganteaume - 112, West Indies v England, Port of Spain, 1947-48

Jim Burke - 101*, Australia v England, Adelaide, 1950-51

Peter May - 138, England v South Africa, Leeds, 1951

RH Deepak Shodhan - 110, India v Pakistan, Calcutta, 1952-53

Bruce Pairaudeau - 115, West Indies v India, Port of Spain, 1952-53

OG ‘Collie’ Smith - 104, West Indies v Australia, Kingston, 1954-55

AG Kripal Singh - 100*, India v New Zealand, Hyderabad (Ind), 1955-56

Conrad Hunte - 142, West Indies v Pakistan, Bridgetown, 1957-58

Arthur Milton - 104*, England v New Zealand, Leeds, 1958

Abbas Ali Baig - 112, India v England, Manchester, 1959

Hanumant Singh - 105, India v England, Delhi, 1963-64

Khalid Ibadullah - 166, Pakistan v Australia, Karachi, 1964-65

Bruce Taylor - 105, New Zealand v India, Calcutta, 1964-65

Doug Walters - 155, Australia v England, Brisbane, 1965-66

John Hampshire - 107, England v West Indies, Lord’s, London, 1969

Gundappa Visvanath - 137, India v Australia, Kanpur, 1969-70 

HIGHEST PARTNERSHIP FOR EACH WICKET

1^st Wicket - 413, MH ‘Vinoo’ Mankad & Pankaj Roy, India v New Zealand, Madras, 1955-56

2^nd Wicket - 446, Conrad Hunte & Gary Sobers, West Indies v Pakistan, Kingston, 1957-58

3^rd Wicket - 370, Denis Compton & Bill Edrich, England v South Africa, Lord’s, London, 1947

4^th Wicket - 411, Colin Cowdrey & Peter May, England v West Indies, Birmingham, 1957

5^th Wicket - 405, Sidney Barnes & Don Bradman, Australia v England, Sydney, 1946-47

6^th Wicket - 274*, David Holford & Gary Sobers, West Indies v England, Lord’s, London, 1966

7^th Wicket - 347, Denis Atkinson & Clairmonte Depeiaza, West Indies v Australia, Bridgetown, 1955

8^th Wicket - 217, Tom Graveney & John Murray, England v West Indies, The Oval, London, 1966

9^th Wicket - 190, Asif Iqbal & Intikhab Alam, Pakistan v England, The Oval, London, 1967

10^th Wicket - 128, Ken Higgs & John Snow, England v West Indies, The Oval, London, 1966

OTHER DOUBLE CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS

4^th Wicket - 399, Gary Sobers & Frank Worrell, West Indies v England, Bridgetown, 1959-60

1st Wicket - 382, Bill Lawry & Bobby Simpson, Australia v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1965

2^nd Wicket - 369, Ken Barrington & John Edrich, England v New Zealand, Leeds, 1965

1^st Wicket - 359, Len Hutton & Cyril Washbrook, England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1948-49

3^rd Wicket - 341, Eddie Barlow & Graeme Pollock, South Africa v Australia, Adelaide, 1963-64

3^rd Wicket - 338, Everton Weekes & Frank Worrell, West Indies v England, Port of Spain, 1953-54

4^th Wicket - 336, Bill Lawry & Doug Walters, Australia v West Indies, Sydney, 1968-69

3^rd Wicket - 319, Alan Melville & Dudley Nourse, South Africa v England, Nottingham, 1947

7^th Wicket - 308, Imtiaz Ahmed & Waqar Hasan, Pakistan v New Zealand, Lahore, 1955-56

2^nd Wicket - 301, Arthur Morris & Don Bradman, Australia v England, Leeds, 1948

2^nd Wicket - 298, Bill Lawry & Ian Chappell, Australia v West Indies, Melbourne, 1968-69

3^rd Wicket - 295, Neil Harvey & Colin McDonald, Australia v West Indies, Kingston, 1955

1^st Wicket - 290, Colin Cowdrey & Geoff Pullar, England v South Africa, The Oval, London, 1960

4^th Wicket - 283, Everton Weekes & Frank Worrell, West Indies v England, Nottingham, 1950

3^rd Wicket - 276, Don Bradman & Lindsay Hassett, Australia v England, Brisbane, 1946-47

2^nd Wicket - 275, Lindsay Hassett & Colin McDonald, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1952-53

3^rd Wicket - 273, Rohan Kanhai & Seymour Nurse, West Indies v England, Port of Spain, 1967-68

2^nd Wicket - 269, Gary Sobers & Clyde Walcott, West Indies v Pakistan, Georgetown, 1957-58

4^th Wicket - 267, Gerry Gomez & Clyde Walcott, West Indies v India, Delhi, 1948-49

2^nd Wicket - 266, Tom Graveney & Peter Richardson, England v West Indies, Nottingham, 1957

5^th Wicket - 265, Seymour Nurse & Gary Sobers, West Indies v England, Leeds, 1966

2^nd Wicket - 255, Rohan Kanhai & Easton McMorris, West Indies v India, Kingston, 1961-62

4^th Wicket - 252, Geoff Boycott & Basil D’Oliveira, England v India, Leeds, 1967

4^th Wicket - 250, Rohan Kanhai & Gary Sobers, West Indies v England, Georgetown, 1967-68

1^st Wicket - 249, Abdul Kadir & Khalid Ibadullah, Pakistan v Australia, Karachi, 1964-65

2^nd Wicket - 249, John Edrich & Phil Sharpe, England v New Zealand, Nottingham, 1969

2^nd Wicket - 248, Colin Cowdrey & Ted Dexter, England v Pakistan, The Oval, London, 1962

7^th Wicket - 246, Jackie McGlew & Anton Murray, South Africa v New Zealand, Wellington, 1952-53

2^nd Wicket - 246, Hanif Mohammad & Saeed Ahmed, Pakistan v India, Bombay, 1960-61

3^rd Wicket - 246, Ken Barrington & Ted Dexter, England v Australia, Manchester, 1964

1^st Wicket - 244, Bill Lawry & Bobby Simpson, Australia v England, Adelaide, 1965-66

3^rd Wicket - 242, Clyde Walcott & Everton Weekes, West Indies v Australia, Port of Spain, 1955

6^th Wicket - 240, Barry Knight & Peter Parfitt, England v New Zealand, Auckland, 1962-63

1^st Wicket - 239, Allan Rae & Jeff Stollmeyer, West Indies v India, Madras, 1948-49

3^rd Wicket - 238, Vijay Manjrekar & Polly Umrigar, India v New Zealand, Hyderabad (Ind), 1955-56

5^th Wicket - 237, Denis Compton & Norman Yardley, England v South Africa, Nottingham, 1947

2^nd Wicket - 237, Vijay Manjrekar & Pankaj Roy, India v West Indies, Kingston, 1952-53

2^nd Wicket - 236, Sidney Barnes & Don Bradman, Australia v India, Adelaide, 1947-48

4^th Wicket - 235, Lindsay Hassett & Keith Miller, Australia v West Indies, Sydney, 1951-52

1^st Wicket - 234, Bob Barber & Geoff Boycott, England v Australia, Sydney, 1965-66

3^rd Wicket - 231, Jackie McGlew & Johnny Waite, South Africa v Australia, Durban, 1957-58

2^nd Wicket - 231, MC ‘Joey’ Carew & Seymour Nurse, West Indies v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1968-69

3^rd Wicket - 228, Denis Compton & Bill Edrich, England v South Africa, Manchester, 1947

3^rd Wicket - 225, Bob Cowper & Brian Booth, Australia v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1964-65

3^rd Wicket - 224, Neil Harvey & Keith Miller, Australia v West Indies, Kingston, 1955

5^th Wicket - 223*, Arthur Morris & Don Bradman, Australia v India, Melbourne, 1947-48

3^rd Wicket - 222*, John Reid & Bert Sutcliffe, New Zealand v India, Delhi, 1955-56

4^th Wicket - 222, Vijay Hazare & Vijay Manjrekar, India v England, Leeds, 1952

2^nd Wicket - 222, Frank Worrell & Joseph Holt, West Indies v England, Bridgetown, 1953-54

7^th Wicket - 221, Peter van der Merwe & Denis Lindsay, South Africa v Australia, Johannesburg, 1966-67

5^th Wicket - 220, Ron Archer & Keith Miller, Australia v West Indies, Kingston, 1955

5^th Wicket - 219, Bruce Pairaudeau & Everton Weekes, West Indies v India, Port of Spain, 1952-53

1^st Wicket - 219, Bill Lawry & Ian Redpath, Australia v South Africa, Melbourne, 1963-64

5^th Wicket - 219, Bobby Simpson & Brian Booth, Australia v England, Manchester, 1964

2^nd Wicket - 218, Len Hutton & Bill Edrich, England v New Zealand, The Oval, London, 1949

4^th Wicket - 217, Rohan Kanhai & Basil Butcher, West Indies v India, Calcutta, 1958-59

6^th Wicket - 217, Hanif Mohammad & Majid Khan, Pakistan v New Zealand, Lahore, 1964-65

2^nd Wicket - 217, Bill Lawry & Ian Chappell, Australia v West Indies, Brisbane, 1968-69

1^st Wicket - 214, Jack Moroney & Arthur Morris, Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1949-50

4^th Wicket - 213, Clyde Walcott & Frank Worrell, West Indies v India, Kingston, 1952-53

1^st Wicket - 212, Reg Simpson & Cyril Washbrook, England v West Indies, Nottingham, 1950

3^rd Wicket - 212, Bill Lawry & Bob Cowper, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1965-66

6^th Wicket - 211, Clyde Walcott & Gerry Gomez, West Indies v England, Lord’s, 1950

3^rd Wicket - 211, Vijay Hazare & Vijay Merchant, India v England, Delhi, 1951-52

3^rd Wicket - 211, Vijay Hazare & MH ‘Vinoo’ Mankad, India v England, Lord’s, London, 1952

4^th Wicket - 210, Ian Redpath & Doug Walters, Australia v West Indies, Sydney, 1968-69

3^rd Wicket - 207, Peter May & Tom Graveney, England v West Indies, Nottingham, 1957

3^rd Wicket - 207, Neil Harvey & Norman O’Neill, Australia v India, Bombay, 1959-60

6^th Wicket - 206*, Ken Barrington & Jim Parks, England v South Africa, Durban, 1964-65

6^th Wicket - 206, Ron Archer & Keith Miller, Australia v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1955

4^th Wicket - 206, Ken Barrington & Ted Dexter, England v India, Kanpur, London, 1961-62

2^nd Wicket - 204, Neil Harvey & Jim Burke, Australia v India, Bombay, 1956-57

3^rd Wicket - 202, Neil Harvey & Arthur Morris, Australia v England, Brisbane, 1954-55

1^st Wicket - 201, Bill Lawry & Bobby Simpson, Australia v England, Manchester, 1964

3^rd Wicket - 201, Ken Barrington & Tom Graveney, England v Pakistan, Lord’s, London, 1967

3^rd Wicket - 200, Rohan Kanhai & Seymour Nurse, West Indies v Australia, Bridgetown, 1965

6^th Wicket - 200, HR ‘Tiger’ Lance & Graeme Pollock, South Africa v Australia, Durban, 1969-70

BEST BOWLING IN AN INNINGS

Jim Laker - 10 for 53, England v Australia, Manchester, 1956

Jim Laker - 9 for 37, England v Australia, Manchester, 1956

Jasu Patel - 9 for 69, India v Australia, Kanpur, 1959-60

Subhash Gupte - 9 for 102, India v West Indies, Kanpur, 1958-59

Hugh Tayfield - 9 for 113, South Africa v England, Johannesburg, 1956-57

Freddie Trueman - 8 for 31, England v India, Manchester, 1952

Lance Gibbs - 8 for 38, West Indies v India, Bridgetown, 1961-62

MH ‘Vinoo’ Mankad - 8 for 52, India v Pakistan, Delhi, 1952-53

GB Lawrence - 8 for 53, South Africa v New Zealand, Johannesburg, 1961-62

MH ‘Vinoo’ Mankad - 8 for 55, India v England, Madras, 1951-52

Hugh Tayfield - 8 for 69, South Africa v England, Durban, 1956-57

Graham McKenzie - 8 for 71, Australia v West Indies, Melbourne, 1968-69

Srinivas Venkataraghavan - 8 for 72, India v New Zealand, Delhi, 1964-65

Alf Valentine - 8 for 104, West Indies v England, Manchester, 1950

Hugh Tayfield - 7 for 23, South Africa v Australia, Durban, 1949-50

Frank Tyson - 7 for 27, England v Australia, Melbourne, 1954-55

Derek Underwood - 7 for 32, England v New Zealand, Lord’s, London, 1969

Trevor Bailey - 7 for 34, England v West Indies, Kingston, 1953-54

Tony Lock - 7 for 35, England v New Zealand, Manchester, 1958

Johnny Wardle - 7 for 36, England v South Africa, Cape Town, 1956-57

Ray Lindwall - 7 for 38, Australia v India, Adelaide, 1947-48

Brian Statham - 7 for 39, England v South Africa, Lord’s, London, 1955

Fazal Mahmood - 7 for 42, Pakistan v India, Lucknow, 1952-53

Ray Lindwall - 7 for 43, Australia v India, Madras, 1956-57

Alec Bedser - 7 for 44, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1953

Ian Johnson - 7 for 44, Australia v West Indies, Georgetown, 1955

Trevor Bailey - 7 for 44, England v West Indies, Lord’s, London, 1957

Freddie Trueman - 7 for 44, England v West Indies, Birmingham, 1963

Alec Bedser - 7 for 49, England v India, Lord’s, London, 1946

Ghulam Ahmed - 7 for 49, India v Australia, Calcutta, 1956-57

Sonny Ramadhin - 7 for 49, West Indies v England, Birmingham, 1957

John Snow - 7 for 49, England v West Indies, Kingston, 1967-68

Derek Underwood - 7 for 50, England v Australia, The Oval, London, 1968

Tony Lock - 7 for 51, England v New Zealand, Leeds, 1958

Alec Bedser - 7 for 52, England v India, Manchester, 1946

Roy Tattersall - 7 for 52, England v South Africa, Lord’s, London, 1951

Denis Atkinson - 7 for 53, West Indies v New Zealand, Auckland, 1955-56

Gerry Gomes - 7 for 55, West Indies v Australia, Sydney, 1951-52

Alec Bedser - 7 for 55, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1953

Johnny Wardle - 7 for 56, England v Pakistan, The Oval, London, 1954

Brian Statham - 7 for 57, England v Australia, Melbourne, 1958-59

Alec Bedser - 7 for 58, England v South Africa, Manchester, 1951

Keith Miller - 7 for 60, Australia v England, Brisbane, 1946-47

Ray Lindwall - 7 for 63, Australia v England, Sydney, 1946-47

Graham McKenzie - 7 for 66, Australia v India, Melbourne, 1967-68

Wesley Hall - 7 for 69, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1959-60

Frank Worrell - 7 for 70, West Indies v England, Leeds, 1957

Richie Benaud - 7 for 72, Australia v India, Madras, 1956-57

Pervez Sajjad - 7 for 74, Pakistan v New Zealand, Lahore, 1969-70

Lindsay Kline - 7 for 75, Australia v Pakistan, Lahore, 1959-60

Freddie Trueman - 7 for 75, England v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1962-63

Fred Titmus - 7 for 79, England v Australia, Sydney, 1962-63

Fazal Mahmood - 7 for 80, Pakistan v Australia, Karachi, 1956-57

Hugh Tayfield - 7 for 81, South Africa v Australia, Melbourne, 1952-53

Joe Partridge - 7 for 91, South Africa v Australia, Sydney, 1963-64

Alan Davidson - 7 for 93, Australia v India, Kanpur, 1959-60

Bishan Singh Bedi - 7 for 98, India v Australia, Calcutta, 1969-70

Mohammad Nazir - 7 for 99, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, 1969-70

Jim Laker - 7 for 103, England v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1947-48

Doug Wright - 7 for 105, England v Australia, Sydney, 1946-47

Neil Hawke - 7 for 105, Australia v England, Sydney, 1965-66

Subhash Gupte - 7 for 128, India v New Zealand, Hyderabad (Ind), 1955-56

Graham McKenzie - 7 for 153, Australia v England, Manchester, 1964

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar - 7 for 157, India v West Indies, Bombay, 1966-67

Dattu Phadkar - 7 for 159, India v West Indies, Madras, 1948-49

Subhash Gupte - 7 for 162, India v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1952-53

BEST BOWLING IN A MATCH

Jim Laker - 19 for 90, England v Australia, Manchester, 1956

Alec Bedser - 14 for 99, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1953

Jasu Patel - 14 for 124, India v Australia, Kanpur, 1959-60

Fazal Mahmood - 13 for 114, Pakistan v Australia, Karachi, 1956-57

MH ‘Vinoo’ Mankad - 13 for 131, India v Pakistan, Delhi, 1952-53

Hugh Tayfield - 13 for 165, South Africa v Australia, Melbourne, 1952-53

Hugh Tayfield - 13 for 192, South Africa v England, Johannesburg, 1956-57

 

FIVE WICKETS IN AN INNINGS ON TEST DEBUT

Alf Valentine - 8 for 104, West Indies v England, Manchester, 1950

Alec Bedser - 7 for 49, England v India, Lord’s, London, 1946

Mohammad Nazir - 7 for 99, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, 1969-70

Jim Laker - 7 for 103, England v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1947-48

Peter Pollock - 6 for 38, South Africa v New Zealand, Durban, 1961-62

Cuan McCarthy - 6 for 43, South Africa v England, Durban, 1948-49

Syed Abid Ali - 6 for 55, India v Australia, Adelaide, 1967-68

Leonard Coldwell - 6 for 85, England v Pakistan, Lord’s, London, 1962

Arif Butt - 6 for 89, Pakistan v Australia, Melbourne, 1964-65

Trevor Bailey - 6 for 118, England v New Zealand, Leeds, 1949

Sydney Burke - 6 for 128, South Africa v New Zealand, Cape Town, 1961-62

Alexander Moir - 6 for 155, New Zealand v England, Christchurch, 1950-51

George Cresswell - 6 for 168, New Zealand v England, The Oval London, 1949

Richard Pollard - 5 for 24, England v India, Manchester, 1946

Graham Mckenzie - 5 for 37, Australia v England, Lord’s, London, 1961

Hines Johnson - 5 for 41, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1947-48

Lester King - 5 for 46, West Indies v India, Kingston, 1961-62

David Ironside - 5 for 51, South Africa v New Zealand, Johannesburg, 1953-54

Robert Appleyard - 5 for 51, England v Pakistan, Nottingham, 1954

Hines Johnson - 5 for 55, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1947-48

David Larter - 5 for 57, England v Pakistan, The Oval, London, 1962

Peter Heine - 5 for 60, South Africa v England, Lord’s, London, 1955

Robert Perry - 5 for 63, England v West Indies, Manchester, 1950

VV Vaman Kumar - 5 for 64, India v Pakistan, Delhi, 1960-61

Sydney Burke - 5 for 68, South Africa v New Zealand, Cape Town, 1961-62

Lindsay Tuckett - 5 for 68, South Africa v England, Nottingham, 1947

Bruce Taylor - 5 for 86, New Zealand v India, Calcutta, 1964-65

John Shepherd - 5 for 104, West Indies v England, Manchester, 1969

Jaswick Taylor - 5 for 109, West Indies v Pakistan, Port of Spain, 1957-58

Michael Melle - 5 for 113, South Africa v Australia, Johannesburg, 1949-50

Ian Meckiff - 5 for 125, Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1957-58                                                                                          

TEN WICKETS IN A MATCH ON TEST DEBUT

Alec Bedser - 11 for 145, England v India, Lord’s, London, 1946

Sydney Burke - 11 for 196, South Africa v New Zealand, Cape Town, 1961-62

Alf Valentine - 11 for 204, West Indies v England, Manchester, 1950

Hines Johnson - 10 for 96, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1947-48

HAT-TRICKS

Peter Loader - England v West Indies, Leeds, 1957

Lindsay Kline - Australia v South Africa, Cape Town, 1957-58

Wesley Hall - West Indies v Pakistan, Lahore, 1958-59

Geoff Griffin - South Africa v England, Lord’s London, 1960

Lance Gibbs - West Indies v Australia, Adelaide, 1960-61

MOST CATCHES BY A FIELDER

Colin Cowdrey (England) - Tests 104, Catches 113

Bobby Simpson (Australia) - Tests 52, Catches 99

Gary Sobers (West Indies) - Tests 76, Catches 95

Tom Graveney (England) - Tests 79, Catches 78

Richie Benaud (Australia) - Tests 63, Catches 65

Freddie Trueman (England) - Tests 67, Catches 64

Neil Harvey (Australia) - Tests 79, Catches 64

Tony Lock (England) - Tests 49, Catches 59

Ken Barrington (England) - Tests 82, Catches 58

Mike Smith (England) - Tests 47, Catches 49

Everton Weekes (West Indies) - Tests 48, Catches 49

Ian Redpath (Australia) - Tests 37, Catches 48

Trevor Goddard (South Africa) - Tests 41, Catches 48

Len Hutton (England) - Tests 66, Catches 48

Ian Chappell (Australia) - Tests 31, Catches 46

Frank Worrell (West Indies) - Tests 51, Catches 43

Denis Compton (England) - Tests 70, Catches 43

Alan Davidson (Australia) - Tests 44, Catches 42

Peter May (England) - Tests 66, Catches 42

John Reid (New Zealand) - Tests 58, Catches 39

Russell Endean (West Indies) - Tests 28, Catches 38

Hanif Mohammad (Pakistan) - Tests 55, Catches 38

Keith Miller (Australia) - Tests 55, Catches 38

Peter Parfitt (England) - Tests 34, Catches 37

Chandu Borde (India) - Tests 55, Catches 37

Eddie Barlow (South Africa) - Tests 30, Catches 35

Fred Titmus (England) - Tests 49, Catches 35

Lance Gibbs (West Indies) - Tests 50, Catches 35

MH ‘Vinoo’ Mankad (India) - Tests 44, Catches 33

Graham McKenzie (Australia) - Tests 57, Catches 33

Polly Umrigar (India) - Tests 59, Catches 33

Ajit Wadekar (India) - Tests 21, Catches 32

Trevor Bailey (England) - Tests 61, Catches 32

Jack Ikin (England) - Tests 18, Catches 31

Bill Edrich (England) - Tests 30, Catches 31

Ian Johnson (Australia) - Tests 45, Catches 30

# In addition,

Tom Graveney took 2 catches as wicketkeeper

John Reid took 4 catches as wicketkeeper

Russell Endean took 3 catches as wicketkeeper

Hanif Mohammad took 2 catches as wicketkeeper