Super 6! Number 11 batsmen who scored a 50 in Tests

Traditionally, a number eleven in a cricket team is not supposed to score runs, and is in the team specifically for his bowling ability. In fact, over the years, a number eleven’s arrival at the crease has often been a subject of harmless humour -- be it about Courtney Walsh’s unique batting stance which provided great comic relief, or Chris Martin’s ability to entertain with his clueless batting endeavours.

However, times have changed and over the last two decades, number 11s in many teams started to take their batting seriously to add a vital dimension to their game. As a result, a few of these batsmen even managed to score fifties after coming into bat at the last position for their team.

In this special feature, we look at the elite list of some number 11 batsmen who crossed the half-century mark in a Test innings.

#6. Tim Murtagh

Tim Murtagh

The Ireland medium pacer scored an unbeaten 54 in the one-off Test against Afghanistan played at Dehradun from March 15-March 18, 2019. Batting first, Ireland crumbled to 85 for 9 in 39.1 overs as Yamin Ahmadzai (3/41), Mohammad Nabi (3/36), Rashid Khan (2/20) and Waqar Salamkheil (2/30) ran through the Ireland line up in a highly impressive manner.

Afghanistan would have been harbouring hopes of bowling Ireland for under three figures. Murtagh though had something else in mind. He smashed 54 from merely 75 balls with four fours and two sixes, and featured in an 87-run last wicket stand with George Dockrell, who contributed 39 from 100 balls and was last-man out at the score of 172.

Despite Murtagh’s inspirational effort, Ireland ended up losing the Test by seven wickets. Rahmat Shah was the star performer for Afghanistan with the bat, registering scores of 98 and 76.

Courtney Walsh:An old-school No.11.

#5 Glenn McGrath

Glenn Mcgrath.

The Aussie number 11 played his most famous innings of 61 against arch-rivals New Zealand during the Brisbane Test, which took place from November 18-21, 2004. After New Zealand had posted a challenging 353 on the board batting first, courtesy an unbeaten 126 from Jacob Oram, Australia responded with a mammoth 585.

Michael Clarke was the top-scorer for Australia with 141 while Adam Gilchrist also helped himself to 126. This was after skipper Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn contributed fifties. However, the surprise element was way down the order. McGrath came to the crease with the score reading 471 for 9, and was last man out, but not before making 61, and featuring in a century stand with fellow pacer Jason Gillespie, who himself contributed an unbeaten 54.

McGrath hit five fours and a six in his memorable knock, and the moment of his raising his bat on reaching fifty is considered as an iconic one in world cricket.

#4. Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan.

The former left-arm pacer was no mug with the bat. Still, few expected him to notch up a Test best of 75, as he did coming in at number 11 against Bangladesh during the Dhaka Test from December 10-13, 2004. After Bangladesh were rolled over for 184 courtesy Irfan Pathan’s 5 for 45, India replied with a massive 526.

India were already a healthy 393 for 9 when last-man Zaheer walked in. Bangladesh would have been hoping to wrap up the innings quickly. Instead, Zaheer, the man more famous for his left-arm pace bowling, pummeled them en route to 75 from 115 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes, before being stumped off Mohammad Ashraful’s bowling.

So brutal was Zaheer’s counter-attack on the day, he was the dominant partner in a stand of 133 with Sachin Tendulkar, who ended up registering his highest Test score of 248 not out. Pathan claimed six more in his second innings to bowl India to an innings and 140 run triumph.

Zaheer outscored the master in their partnership!

#3. James Anderson

James Anderson

On a feather-bed of a pitch at Nottingham during a Test against India played from July 9 to July 13, 2014, James Anderson registered his Test best of 81.

Batting first, India had posted an impressive 457 on the board on the back of Murali Vijay’s dogged 146 and skipper MS Dhoni’s 82. In response, England found themselves in some spot of bother at 298 for 9 despite fifties from Gary Ballance and Sam Robson.

Joe Root was still at the crease and batting beautifully, but was running out of partners until he found an unlikely ally in Anderson. The England number 11, otherwise known for keeping the ball out, this time took on the Indian bowlers and came out on top. Anderson blazed his way to 81 from 130 balls with as many as 17 hits to the fence. Root remained unbeaten on a stupendous 154, and the match meandered into a high-scoring draw.

#2. Tino Best

Tino Best.

A couple of years before Anderson frustrated India, the West Indies number 11 dished out similar treatment to the English bowler. In the 2012 Test between West Indies and England played at Birmingham from June 7-11, Tino’s innings was the ‘Best’ thing to happen in the game.

Till then a relatively unknown fast bowler, Best blazed his way to 95 from 112 balls with 14 fours and a six at a swift strike rate of 84.82. Best narrowly missed out on becoming the first Test number 11 to score a hundred, a feat that is yet to be achieved, but it was an entertaining innings nonetheless.

Best was aided by the fact that England did not have their strongest bowling attacks. Instead, the England bowling comprised Graham Onions, Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn. Wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin also helped himself to an unbeaten hundred as West Indies went from 283 for 9 to 426 all out.

#1. Ashton Agar

Ashton Agar.

The Aussie left-arm spinner is perhaps the most accomplished number 11 to have played Test cricket till date. Picked primarily for his left-arm spin, he made a stunning debut in the first Ashes Test of the 2013 edition played at Nottingham from July 10-14, but not with the ball.

Having rolled over England for 215 in the first innings courtesy Peter Siddle’s five-for, Australia themselves crumbled to 117 for 9 as Anderson returned fire with fire, finishing with 5 for 85. But, England’s hopes of securing a crucial first innings lead were dashed by Agar, as the 19-year-old launched a stunning counter attack.

Agar blasted 98 in the most sublime fashion, facing 101 balls during which he hit 12 fours and 2 sixes. Like Best, the three-figure mark was to elude him too as he fell to Stuart Broad. Agar featured in a 163-run last-wicket stand with the late Phil Hughes as Australia posted 280. It wasn’t enough though as another five-for from Anderson bowled England to a tense victory by 14 runs despite Brad Haddin’s hard-fought 71.