Hayden 119, Pakistan 59 and 53 all out
In 1830 Tests to date, a batsman has outscored the opposition in both innings together only on eight occasions
Travis Basevi and George Binoy
09-May-2007
 |
|
Ninety nine years ago, almost to the day, Northamptonshire and Yorkshire played an extraordinary match at Northampton. Yorkshire batted first and scored 356 after which they bowled out Northamptonshire for 27 in the first innings and 15 in the second. None of their batsmen reached double figures. George Hirst, the man responsible for the demolitions, took 12 for 19 off 20.1 overs and his 44 with the bat was more than all of Northamptonshire's batsmen managed in both efforts together.
In Test matches, however, such an occurrence has been extremely rare. So rare, in fact, that out of 1830 Tests to date, a batsman has outscored the opposition in both innings together only on eight occasions.
Bobby Abel (120) v South Africa (47 & 43) 1889
England thrashed South Africa, Test infants playing only their second match, by an innings and 202 runs at Cape Town, their biggest margin of defeat until 1950. Bobby Abel's 120 out of England's 292 in the first innings was the first century in first-class cricket in South Africa. Gobo Ashley, making his first-class debut, took 7 for 95 in what was his only Test appearance. Johnny Briggs claimed 7 for 17 in South Africa's first innings and Bernard Tancred became the first batsman to carry his bat through an innings as the home side fell for 47. In the second innings Tancred was bowled for 3 by Briggs, who took 8 for 11 (all of them bowled), a Test record at the time. South Africa's combined effort in both innings produced only 90 runs, 30 fewer than Abel's contribution to England's total.
England thrashed South Africa, Test infants playing only their second match, by an innings and 202 runs at Cape Town, their biggest margin of defeat until 1950. Bobby Abel's 120 out of England's 292 in the first innings was the first century in first-class cricket in South Africa. Gobo Ashley, making his first-class debut, took 7 for 95 in what was his only Test appearance. Johnny Briggs claimed 7 for 17 in South Africa's first innings and Bernard Tancred became the first batsman to carry his bat through an innings as the home side fell for 47. In the second innings Tancred was bowled for 3 by Briggs, who took 8 for 11 (all of them bowled), a Test record at the time. South Africa's combined effort in both innings produced only 90 runs, 30 fewer than Abel's contribution to England's total.
Patsy Hendren (169 & 45) v Australia (122 & 66) 1928
Australia were humbled by England in the first Test of the 1928-29 Ashes at Brisbane by a whopping 675 runs. The architect of England's victory was Patsy Hendren who helped post 521 in the first innings by scoring 169 at No 6. Coming out to bat at 161 for 4, Hendren added 124 for the eighth wicket with Harold Larwood in less than two hours before he was the last man to be dismissed. There were concerns over the strength of England's bowling attack after the management opted for only four bowlers but Larwood allayed those fears by bowling Australia out for 122. England batted again and declared on 342 for 8, Hendren's contribution being 45, and set Australia a target of 742. It was a Herculean task and Australia crumbled for 66. One Don Bradman made his debut in this match and the bat he used to score 18 and 1 was auctioned in 2006 for US$44,000.
Australia were humbled by England in the first Test of the 1928-29 Ashes at Brisbane by a whopping 675 runs. The architect of England's victory was Patsy Hendren who helped post 521 in the first innings by scoring 169 at No 6. Coming out to bat at 161 for 4, Hendren added 124 for the eighth wicket with Harold Larwood in less than two hours before he was the last man to be dismissed. There were concerns over the strength of England's bowling attack after the management opted for only four bowlers but Larwood allayed those fears by bowling Australia out for 122. England batted again and declared on 342 for 8, Hendren's contribution being 45, and set Australia a target of 742. It was a Herculean task and Australia crumbled for 66. One Don Bradman made his debut in this match and the bat he used to score 18 and 1 was auctioned in 2006 for US$44,000.
Len Hutton (364) v Australia (201 & 123) 1938
Nearly a decade later, England handed out another similar thrashing to Australia, this time by 579 runs at The Oval. Len Hutton, during the course of his 364, surpassed Wally Hammond's 336 as the highest individual score in Tests but his innings could have ended on 40 had Ben Barnett taken a stumping opportunity. England's 903 for 7 declared was the highest total at the time. Australia were further crippled; first when Jack Fingleton strained a muscle and then by an injury to Don Bradman's ankle. Without the two of their premier batsmen, they were bowled out for 201 and 123 as England came back to draw the series in the final match.
Nearly a decade later, England handed out another similar thrashing to Australia, this time by 579 runs at The Oval. Len Hutton, during the course of his 364, surpassed Wally Hammond's 336 as the highest individual score in Tests but his innings could have ended on 40 had Ben Barnett taken a stumping opportunity. England's 903 for 7 declared was the highest total at the time. Australia were further crippled; first when Jack Fingleton strained a muscle and then by an injury to Don Bradman's ankle. Without the two of their premier batsmen, they were bowled out for 201 and 123 as England came back to draw the series in the final match.
Gordon Greenidge (134 & 101) v England (71 & 126) 1976
In the third Test Old Trafford, debutant Mike Selvey reduced West Indies to 26 for 4 by dismissing Roy Fredericks, Viv Richards and Alvin Kallicharan in the space of 20 balls. Gordon Greenidge, on 26, mistimed a hook but Alan Knott went for what should have been Derek Underwood's catch at long leg and the chance was missed. Greenidge responded by smacking the next three balls for four and went on to score 134. After England had been rolled over for 71, Greendige scored his second century of the match as West Indies set England a target of 552 just before stumps on the third day. The West Indies bowlers came out at full throttle and Michael Holding was finally warned for intimidation by umpire Alley after an overdose of bouncers. England lost nine wickets on the fourth day and were dismissed for 126 early on the fifth.
In the third Test Old Trafford, debutant Mike Selvey reduced West Indies to 26 for 4 by dismissing Roy Fredericks, Viv Richards and Alvin Kallicharan in the space of 20 balls. Gordon Greenidge, on 26, mistimed a hook but Alan Knott went for what should have been Derek Underwood's catch at long leg and the chance was missed. Greenidge responded by smacking the next three balls for four and went on to score 134. After England had been rolled over for 71, Greendige scored his second century of the match as West Indies set England a target of 552 just before stumps on the third day. The West Indies bowlers came out at full throttle and Michael Holding was finally warned for intimidation by umpire Alley after an overdose of bouncers. England lost nine wickets on the fourth day and were dismissed for 126 early on the fifth.
Matthew Hayden (119) v Pakistan (59 & 53) 2002
You'd expect a team to muster at least 119 in a Test but Pakistan couldn't outscore Hayden in both their innings together at Sharjah in 2002. Batting first on a placid pitch, Pakistan were dismissed for 59, their lowest-ever total in Test cricket. The weather was torrid for batting, with temperatures approaching 50 degrees centigrade but Hayden exhibited extraordinary resilience during his 119 as Australia finished on 310. If Pakistan thought it couldn't get any worse than their first innings shambles, they set a new low by collapsing for 53 in the second. Australia clinched victory by an innings and 198 runs inside two days.
You'd expect a team to muster at least 119 in a Test but Pakistan couldn't outscore Hayden in both their innings together at Sharjah in 2002. Batting first on a placid pitch, Pakistan were dismissed for 59, their lowest-ever total in Test cricket. The weather was torrid for batting, with temperatures approaching 50 degrees centigrade but Hayden exhibited extraordinary resilience during his 119 as Australia finished on 310. If Pakistan thought it couldn't get any worse than their first innings shambles, they set a new low by collapsing for 53 in the second. Australia clinched victory by an innings and 198 runs inside two days.
| Player | Score1 | Score2 | Opposition | Opp1 | Opp2 | Ground | Season | Scorecard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R Abel (Eng) | 120 | - | v South Africa | 47 | ||||
| EH Hendren (Eng) | 169 | 45 | v Australia | 122 | 66 | Brisbane | 1928/29 | Test 176 |
| L Hutton (Eng) | 364 | - | ||||||
| DG Bradman (Aus) | 185 | - | v India | 58 | ||||
| CG Greenidge (WI) | 134 | 101 | v England | 71 | 126 | Manchester | 1976 | Test 779 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak) | 329 | - | ||||||
| ML Hayden (Aus) | 119 | - | v Pakistan | 59 | ||||
| JL Langer (Aus) | 191 | 97 | v Pakistan | 179 | 72 | Perth | 2004/05 | Test 1726 |
Click here for ODIs when one batsman scored more than the entire opposition.
Travis Basevi is the man who built Statsguru. George Binoy is an editorial assistant on Cricinfo