Most balls taken to get off the mark in test cricket

Test cricket is a game of patience, skill, and endurance. It is a format that rewards the ability to grind out runs and to wear down the opposition. For some batsmen, this means taking their time to get off the mark, with the first run often coming after a significant period at the crease. In this article, we will explore some of the instances where players have taken the most balls to score their first run in Test cricket.

Geoff Allott’s record-breaking innings

Geoff Allott was a left-arm fast bowler who played for New Zealand in the late 1990s. He was not known for his batting abilities, but in a Test match against South Africa in Auckland in 1999, he made history by taking 77 balls to score his first run. Allott’s innings was not a pretty one, as he struggled to get the bat on the ball against the South African bowlers. However, he showed great determination and grit and eventually managed to nudge a ball from Shaun Pollock for a single. Allott went on to score 17 runs in the innings, but his slow start will always be remembered as a unique feat in Test cricket.

Mudassar Nazar’s slow start

Mudassar Nazar was a Pakistani batsman who played Test cricket in the 1970s and 1980s. In a Test match against England in Karachi in 1977, Nazar took 62 balls to score his first run. His innings was a typically defensive one, as he blocked out the English bowlers and waited for the bad ball. Nazar eventually managed to score a single off the bowling of Mike Hendrick, but he was out soon after for just 4 runs. Despite his slow start, Nazar was a highly respected batsman, and he went on to score over 4000 runs in Test cricket for Pakistan.

Hanif Mohammad’s famous innings

Hanif Mohammad is considered one of the greatest batsmen in the history of Pakistani cricket. In a Test match against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1958, he took 55 balls to get off the mark. Hanif’s innings was a masterpiece of defensive batting, as he faced up to the likes of Wes Hall and Roy Gilchrist with great composure and skill. He eventually scored 337 runs in the innings, which remains the longest innings in Test cricket history. Hanif’s slow start was a reflection of his cautious approach to batting, but it ultimately led to one of the greatest innings in Test cricket history.

Chris Tavaré’s defensive style

Chris Tavaré was an English batsman who played Test cricket in the 1980s. He was known for his ultra-defensive style of batting, which often frustrated the opposition bowlers. In a Test match against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1984, Tavaré took 53 balls to score his first run. His innings was typically slow and cautious, as he blocked out the New Zealand bowlers with great patience. Tavaré eventually managed to score a single off the bowling of Richard Hadlee, but he was out soon after for just 5 runs. Despite his low score, Tavaré’s innings were a testament to his defensive abilities and his ability to frustrate the opposition.

Conclusion

Taking a long time to get off the mark in Test cricket is not always a sign of poor batting. In fact, it can often be a deliberate tactic designed to wear down the opposition and conserve energy. The players mentioned in this article all had their own unique reasons for taking their time to score their first run, whether it was due to their defensive style of batting or simply a lack of batting ability. Regardless of the reason, their slow starts will always be remembered by fans of red-ball cricket.