B.B. Nimbalkar - Only Indian to score quadruple ton in first-class cricket

BB Nimbalkar – A forgotten hero in Indin cricket

Bhausaheb Bhausaheb Nimbalkar, also know as B.B. Nimbalkar, is the only cricketer ever not to have played Test Cricket despite scoring a quadruple century(an individual score of 400 runs or more) in first class cricket.

Playing for Maharashtra, Nimbalkar scored 443 not out during the 1948-49 Ranji Trophy season against Kathiawar at Pune. His score still remains the highest individual score and the only quadruple century in Indian first class cricket.

Nimbalkar made his Ranji Trophy debut in 1939 against Baroda. His first-class career stretched from 1939–40 to 1964–65 with an impressive batting average of 56.72 in Ranji Trophy. Nimbalkar never made it to the national team and remains the only cricketer to score a quadruple ton in first class cricket not to have played a single international match.

Apart from his batting skills, he had additional abilities as a wicket-keeper and a fast-medium bowler.

B.B. Nimbalkar died December 2012 at the age of 92 in Mumbai. He received a letter from Don Bradman, where the Don had written to him that he considered Nimbalkar’s innings better than his own.

He was never given an India call-up, but it is said that this rebuff is not something Nimbalkar took to heart, playing away his cricketing career in India’s domestic circles, the proud owner of a record nobody has come close to reaching since then.

Others who have crossed the 400 mark

An individual score of 400 runs or more is a rare feat in the history of senior cricket – only 8 players have achieved this for a total of 10 times.

It was first achieved by Archie McLaren in 1895, playing for Lancashire against Somerset. Prior to it, the highest score in first-class cricket was W.G.Graces 344.

MacLaren’s score was the only quadruple century for over 25 years, until Australian Bill Ponsford accumulated 429 runs against Tasmania for Victoria in 1923.

Ponsford improved his own record four years later, reaching 437 against Queensland at MCG.

The next quadruple century was again scored in Australia, this time by Don Bradman. Playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Queensland he scored 452 not out.

On 16th December 1948, a young Indian batsman scored 443 not out at Pure Club Ground, which remains the only quadruple century in Indian first class cricket.

Hanif Mohammad scored 499 on 8th January 1959 in Pakistani class cricket, at the time which was the highest individual score by any player.

The next century in the list was again scored in Pakistan, this time by Aftab Baloch in 1974.

in 1988, Another Englishman Graeme Hick scored 405 not out against Somerset, playing for Worcestershire at Taunton County Ground.

On 2nd June 1994, Brain Charles Lara became the first West Indian to score a quadruple century, he scored a massive 501 not out against Durham, playing for Warwicshire at Edgbaston, England. This innings remains the higgest individual score in cricketing history.

10 years later Lara became the first and till date the only player to score a quadruple century in test cricket against England on 10th April 2004.