Top 10 highest scores by a number 11 batsman in Test cricket

It is always interesting when tail-enders end up making runs. They are usually full-time bowlers so at best they are expected to retain their wicket for a few overs or rotate the strike in crucial situations if there is a batsman at the other end.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the game of cricket and sometimes things do not exactly go according to plan. Fans and spectators simply love it when the lowest order batsman frustrates the opposition bowlers.

Albeit these cameo's by the number elevens, more often than not, do not alter the result of the match, they have in some cases made things interesting and helped their side in getting a favorable result.

We take a look at the top 10 highest scores made by a number 11 batsman in Tests. All the 10 players featuring in the list are different. It is comical that all the knocks played by these players were one-off and there has never been any batsman who performed consistently with the bat at the number 11 position.

Without further ado, here are the Top 10 highest scores:

#10 Mushtaq Ahmed (59 runs)

This match dates back to 6th October 1997. South Africa were on a tour to Pakistan. Mushtaq Ahmed came in to bat at the number 11 with absolutely no pressure on him. Centuries from Ali Naqvi and Azhar Mahmood had already aided Pakistan in achieving a big total.

Mahmood was still batting at the other end when the leg-break bowler came in to bat. Ahmed could have simply decided to give the strike to the all-rounder but instead, he decided to come out all guns blazing and was not afraid to play his strokes.

Mushie, as he was popularly known, scored 59 runs in just 106 balls. His innings also included 4 fours and 4 sixes. Ultimately Hansie Cronje of South Africa bowled him out.

The match was eventually drawn but Ahmed's cameo was a memorable one.

The veteran Pakistani spinner played 52 Test matches for the national team and scored 656 runs in his Test career. He also went on to clinch 185 wickets in Tests and was an important cog of Pakistan's ODI team as well.

#9 John Snow (59* runs)

John Snow was one of the most lethal fast bowlers of his time

Right-arm fast-medium bowler John Snow hit an unbeaten 59 when West Indies were on a Tour of England long back in August 1966.

The Windies had posted a total 268 in their first innings. In response, England posted a massive total of 527. John's 59 not out from 146 deliveries was also a vital contribution in the total.

The Peopleton-born player was also effective with the ball as he snapped up 2 wickets in the first innings and 3 wickets in the second dig.

His match-winning contribution by Snow helped England win the game by an innings and 34 runs. John played 49 tests overall for England and picked up 202 wickets. The Cricket Rebel, as Snow was popularly known, also scored an overall 772 runs in entire his Test career.

#8 Wasim Bari (60* runs)

It was the 1st Test when Pakistan were on a tour to West Indies in 1977. Pakistan made 435 in the first innings and the Windies made 421 in response.

The match could have gone anywhere as Pakistan came in to bat in the second innings. Their top order failed miserably. Wasim Raja came in and anchored the innings with his brilliant knock of 71. However, they still needed more runs in order to put up a competitive total.

They found their unlikely hero in Wasim Bari. The Karachi-born player came in to bat at number 11 and scored an unbeaten 60 runs in 110 minutes he was at the crease. His innings included 10 fours.

Pakistan almost ended up winning the match as West Indies were 251/9 in the 2nd innings. Sir Andy Roberts who came in to bat at number 9 saved the match for Windies with his unbeaten 9 runs.

In retrospect, Wasim's innings was also of paramount importance as otherwise, the Windies might have chased down the total.

#7 Glenn McGrath (61 runs)

The legendary right-arm fast-medium bowler Glenn McGrath once contributed 61 runs with the bat as well. It was the first Test during New Zealand's tour of Australia. The match was being played in Brisbane on 18 November in 2004.

A century from Jacob Oram and a fifty from Matthew Sinclair helped The Kiwis post a total of 353 in the first innings. The Aussies posted a massive total of 585 in response with Adam Gilchrist and Mcihael Clarke hitting centuries.

However, the highlight of the innings was when both Jason Gillespie and McGrath scored half-centuries. McGrath scored 61 off 92 balls with a strike rate of 66.30 and his innings included 5 fours and the solitary famous six.

The Black Caps were bowled out for just 76 in the 2nd innings and Australia won the match by an innings and 156 runs.

In fact, McGrath has an overall 641 runs in 124 matches which means he almost ended up scoring 10% of the runs in this one innings he played.

#6 Bert Vogler (62* runs)

This record is the oldest in the list. It dates back to the match between South Africa and England in Cape Town on March 30, 1906. England went in to bat first and posted 187 runs in the first innings.

South Africa's first innings was also not going so well with the top order collapsing after getting small starts. Faulkner and Snooke held the innings together and scored 45 and 60 runs, respectively. However, Bert Vogler, who came in to bat at number 11, hit 3 sixes and 5 fours to hit a quickfire 62 and help his team to a total of 333 runs.

England were wrapped up for 130 runs in the 2nd innings and The Proteas won the match by an innings and 16 runs. Vogler was also good with the ball and picked up 3 wickets in the match. The South African player played 15 Tests and scored 340 runs in his career.

#5 Richard Collinge (68* runs)

New Zealand were squaring off against Pakistan in Auckland on February 16, 1973, in what was the 3rd match of the series. Pakistan scored 402 runs in their first innings.

Redmond and Hastings scored a ton each for The Kiwis and it seemed like they would be heading to a massive total after getting such a solid start. However, the middle order just collapsed with brilliant bowling from Intikhab Alam. None of the number 5 to 10 batsman could even make it to double digit scores.

Richard Collinge came in to bat at number 11 and showed phenomenal resilience to hit an unbeaten 68. His innings included 6 fours and a six and New Zealand eventually were bowled out for 402, quite coincidentally the same score Pakistan had in the first innings.

The match was eventually drawn. The left-arm medium-fast bowler Collinge was also good with the ball and picked up 4 wickets in the match.

#4 Zaheer Khan (75 runs)

India's veteran speedster hit a brilliant 75 when the men in blue were on a Test tour to Bangladesh in 2004. The Tigers had been bowled out for 184 with a brilliant bowling display from Irfan Pathan who had a 5-wicket haul in the first innings.

India's start was not the best with Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, and Rahul Dravid- the 3 top order batsman headed back to the pavilion with scores of 35, 13, and 0, respectively.

Sachin Tendulkar came in at number 4 and hit a brilliant double hundred. The master blaster scored an unbeaten 248 from 379 balls and it was a special innings indeed.

Zaheer Khan came in to bat at number 11 and stayed at the crease for 115 balls, not only helping Tendulkar get his double ton but also making a superb 75 himself. Zak's innings included 10 fours and 2 sixes and both him and Tendulkar would remember it fondly.

Zaheer was eventually stumped by Khaled Mashud with a ball from Mohammad Ashraful.

#3 James Anderson (81 runs)

James Anderson is the most successful fast bowler in Tests.

This is the most recent innings in this countdown. India were on a tour to England in July 2014 when James Anderson produced an unexpected knock of 81 runs.

India had played well in the first innings and posted a handsome total of 457 runs. England came in to bat and were helped immensely with a brilliant 154 run knock from Joe Root. However, Anderson, who scored 81 runs off 130 balls after coming in to bat at number 11, stole the show. His innings included 17 fours and many proper cricketing shots which even top-order batsmen would be proud of.

The Indian bowlers were frustrated by the English speedster but eventually, Bhuvneshwar Kumar got him out with a catch from Shikhar Dhawan.

The match ended in a draw but James Anderson was named the player of the match for his 81-run knock and 4 wickets in the match.

#2 Tino Best (95 runs)

Tino la Bertram Best hit a brilliant 95 runs from 112 balls in what was a rain-marred Test match between West Indies and England on June 7-11 2012 in Birmingham.

The Windies were batting in the first innings. Best came in to bat at number 11 and supported Denesh Ramdin (who made a century in the match) like a proper batsman. Best's 95 included 14 fours and a six. The right-arm fast bowler also played fearlessly and made the runs with an impressive strike rate of 84.82.

England managed 221/5 in the first innings and the match was drawn due to very less playing time due to rain. Best was named the player of the match for his 95-run knock and 2 wickets. England, however, won the 3-match test series 2-0.

#1 Ashton Agar (98 runs)

Ashton Charles Agar is the number 11 batsman who has come closest to hitting a century. The Aussies were on a tour to England in July 2013.

England had posted a total of 215 runs in their first innings. The Aussies' top order batsmen had failed to put runs on the board in their first innings. However, Steve Smith's 53 and Phil Hughes' unbeaten 81 somewhat helped the team get back on track.

There was no one to support Hughes when Smith got out until the number 11 batsman Agar came in to bat. Just 19 at the time this match was played, Agar showed tremendous maturity.

The youngster played his shots and hit a brilliant knock of 98 off just 101 deliveries which included 12 fours and 2 sixes. He was the unlikeliest top scorer for Australia in the match.

England posted a total of 375 runs in the 2nd innings. As a result, the Aussies needed 311 runs to win. Agar was promoted to the number 8 batting position in the 2nd innings but could only manage to score only 14 runs this time. England eventually won the match by 14 runs as Australia were bowled out for 296 in the 2nd innings.

However, the Melbourne-born Agar would certainly remember this Ashes match as he made one of the most sensational debuts of all time. He also became the first Teenage Aussie spinner to grasp a wicket in Tests.

National team appearances have been few and far out for the youngster since then and Agar is currently playing in the Big Bash League for the Perth Scorchers.

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