5 bowlers who hold surprising batting records

There are numerous instances in cricket where bowlers have excelled with the bat. For instance, take Wasim Akram’s 257 or Mitchell Starc’s 99 or even Mohammad Rafique’s century.

Over the years, several bowlers have produced magnificent performances with the bat. However, no matter how capable a bowler is with the bat, you generally do not expect one to hold a batting record. Yet, a few beg to differ. Here are five bowlers who hold surprising batting records.

#5. Shane Shillingford - Fastest Test fifty by a West Indian

When you think about the fastest fifty by a West Indies batsman, you generally think that a Chris Gayle or a Kieron Pollard may have scored it. Even Viv Richards's name comes to our mind. However, the fastest fifty by a Windies batsman was actually scored by a bowler and that is Shane Shillingford.

It was the first Test during New Zealand's tour of the Caribbean in June 2014. At Kingston, New Zealand were on the brink of victory as West Indies was clearly struggling in their second innings.

Chasing 403 for victory, West Indies were reduced to 134/9 with Shillingford and Suliemann Benn at the crease

While Benn was batting steadily, Shillingford was just toying with the Kiwi bowlers who had been a nightmare for most of his teammates. He reached his fifty of just 25 deliveries which at the time, was the second fastest fifty after Jacques Kallis against Zimbabwe in 2005.

Shillingford broke a 66-year old West Indies record which was held by Foffie Williams after he scored a 28-ball fifty against England in January 1948. Shillingford eventually ended unbeaten on 53 but West Indies lost the match by 186 runs.

#4. Ajit Agarkar - fastest ODI fifty by an Indian

Agarkar was simply unstoppable that day against Zimbabwe

Ajit Agarkar is regarded to be one of India’s finest and most prolific bowler. He may not have fulfilled his full potential as an all-rounder but he did produce some fantastic batting performances with the Indian team including a Test hundred at Lord’s which eluded even Sachin Tendulkar.

However, there is an Indian batting record which Agarkar holds and that is for the fastest ODI fifty by an Indian. The year was 2000 and India were playing their 5th ODI against Zimbabwe at Rajkot. A 102-run partnership between Hemang Badani and Ritender Singh Sodhi put India from 114/5 to 216/6. Following Badani’s dismissal, Ajit Agarkar came in to join Sodhi with less than 40 balls remaining. The 23-year old began to smash the Zimbabwean bowlers back and forth and there was simply no stopping him.

Agarkar batted to his fifty in just 21 deliveries, bettering Kapil Dev’s record for the fastest fifty by an Indian in ODIs by a ball. Agarkar eventually ended his innings on 67 from just 21 balls. Agarkar also impressed with the ball, taking 3/26 as India defeated Zimbabwe by 39 runs to clinch the series 4-1. Agarkar was rightfully adjudged the Man of the Match for what is undoubtedly his best performance for India.

#3. Shane Warne- Most runs in Tests without scoring a hundred

Warne has more than 3000 Test runs but without a hundred

Shane Warne is one of the greatest spinners to have ever played cricket with 708 Test wickets. In addition to being a lethal spinner, Warne was also a pretty handy lower order batsman who could always chip in with crucial runs, especially in Tests.

However, Warnie never managed to score a century in Tests. He did score 12 fifties but never managed to get a century. The closest Warne ever came to hitting a Test hundred was in 2001 against New Zealand at Perth where he scored 99 before being dismissed by Daniel Vettori.

Other notable occasions where Warne could have scored a hundred was his 90 against England at Manchester in 2005 and his scores of 86 against India and Pakistan in 1999. He ended his Test career with 3154 runs, the most without scoring a century. He overtook India’s Chetan Chauhan by 1070 runs.

#2. Ashton Agar- Highest individual score by a No.11 in Test cricket

Ashton Agar broke numerous batting records for a No.11 on his Test debut, including one which was unbroken for over a century

Australian spinner Ashton Agar had a dream Test debut but surprisingly, with the bat. This was during the first Test of the 2013 Ashes at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Australia were in a very difficult position at 117/9 with Ashton Agar joining Phil Hughes at the crease.

Both batsmen began playing steadily but the 19-year old Agar was clearly the aggressor as he was batting exceptionally well against the likes of Anderson, Broad and Swann. Agar was hitting in almost every direction and the England bowlers were having doubts as to where to bowl to him. When on 43, Agar ran three off James Anderson’s bowling. This got him to 46 which was the highest score by a No.11 batsman on debut. He bettered compatriot Warwick Armstrong’s record of 45 against England which came 111 years back in 1902.

Agar went on to score 98 off just 102 deliveries before being dismissed by Stuart Broad. Agar’s 98 is the highest score by a No.11 batsman in Test history, bettering Tino Best’s 95 against England at Edgbaston which came a year back. It was also only the 9th time in Test match cricket that a No.11 batsman was the team’s top scorer in an innings.

#1. Jason Gillespie- Highest individual Test score by a night-watchman

Gillespie celebrated his 31st birthday in the best possible manner

Jason Gillespie is one of the finest fast bowlers that Australia has produced. At his prime, he was one of the most feared bowlers in the world. Gillespie was a pretty handy batsman too mainly because of his defensive style which made it really hard for bowlers to dismiss him. Gillespie scored two half-centuries but the one century he scored was a highly historic one.

The year was 2006 and Australia were playing Bangladesh at Chittagong. Three three-wicket spells by Gillespie, Warne and Stuart MacGill restricted Bangladesh to only 197 in their first innings. In reply, Australia were off to a good start with Matthew Hayden and Phil Jacques adding 67 for the first wicket. Following Hayden’s dismissal, Gillespie, who turned 31 that day, joined Jacques at the crease.

Night-watchman Gillespie was a pleasure to watch as he was calmly playing the Bangladesh bowlers. Gillespie was timing his shots beautifully well and found a very reliable partner in Michael Hussey with whom he stitched a partnership of 320 for the fourth wicket. The birthday boy reached his maiden Test century and went on to score 201 before Ricky Ponting declared Australia’s innings at 581/4. Australia went on to win the match.

Gillespie’s 201 is the highest Test score by a night-watchman, bettering Mark Boucher’s 125. He was adjudged the Man of the Match and the Man of the Series as well. However, this was to be Jason Gillespie’s final hurrah for Australia.