Man claims world record for longest run-up in a cricket match by running 2.6 miles

Ian Biddle

If the sight of Shoaib Akhtar or Dennis Lillee covering a few extra strides to bowl with long run-ups provided delight to the viewer and incited fear in the batsman, imagine the kind of emotions that would emerge at the sight of a man running 2.6 miles before releasing the ball. This slightly freakish record was claimed by Ian Biddle, a 43-year-old father of two, during a celebrity cricket match this week.

Biddle, a financial consultant by day and a cricket coach by evening, was pushed forward by Alcester and Ragley Park Cricket Club to attempt to break the record for the longest bowling run-up. The previous record stood at 1.6 miles, and was held by a bowler called Jason Rowson, who completed the 1.6 mile approach immediately after running a full marathon unrelated to the attempt.

Biddle achieved this feat in a celebrity cricket match – comprising a line-up of TV, film and cricket stars. Among those playing in the match were Australian bowler and self-proclaimed fastest of all time Jeff Thomson, ex-England footballers Paul Merson and John Solako, former England cricketers Ryan Sidebottom, Tim Curtis, David Smith and Neal Radford, Harry Potter’s ‘Weasley twins’ James and Oliver Phelps and blind marathon runner Dave Heeley.

Biddle said, “I feel quite proud to have achieved something of the stature of a world record, even though it’s a small achievement in the grand scheme of things.”