Test cricket is a game of endurance and persistence. A batter in a test match has almost limitless time to be ready and play each ball on its own merits. The duel between the ball and the bat isn’t characterized by the number of deliveries.
In a test match, however, the purpose isn’t just to score runs; it’s also to stuck at the crease and to soak pressure. Some batsmen prefer to stay at the crease for an extended period. Only ten batsmen have batted over all five days of a Test match across two innings in the 142-year history of the game.
This is a collection of players who have batted for at least a single ball on each day of the tournament.
10- ML Jaisimha (India vs Australia in 1960)
In Kolkata in 1960, ML Jaisimha batted for five days against the Australian squad that visited India. He contributed by playing crucial knocks in both innings for the Indian cricket squad. Jaisimha is the first Indian cricketer who batted in a Test match for all five days.
In India’s first innings, the No. 1 came into bat at the close of day 1. On day two, he resumed his innings and finished with a score of 20 not out.
Right-handed cricketer began his second innings at the end of the third day and batted through the fourth day before being removed for 74 on the fifth day. Despite his efforts, India was unable to win the match, and Australia took the test match series.
With 2056 runs, 12 fifties, and 3 centuries in 39 test matches, the excellent Hyderabadi batsman concluded his career.
9- Sir Geoffrey Boycott (England vs Australia in 1977)
Geoffrey Boycott, an English opener, is regarded as one of the best players in cricket history who possessed both tactics and a stable demeanour. He became only the 2nd batsman from England in Test cricket history who batted for the whole five-day match.
The prolific player came into bat at the close of the first day’s play, irritated the Australian bowlers, performed the entire second day, and was removed on the third 3rd day morning for 107 from 315 balls.
After the Australian players were bowled out in their 2nd innings, Boycott began his second innings at the close of the fourth day and proceeded to bat on day 5, scoring a match-winning undefeated 80 off 231 balls to help England for a 2-0 lead.
Resilient player-led England to a historic victory in this Test, he scored 187 runs in 546 balls over five days. In his 108 Test match career, Boycott amassed over 8000 runs at an average of 47.
8-Kim Hughes (Australia vs England in 1980)
In 1980, Australia paid a one-off visit to England to play a single match at Lord’s. The 26-year-old middle-order Australian batsman Kim Hughes created history by following Jaisimha and Boycott’s accomplishments. The Australian No. 4 batsman dominated the Test from the start, despite the test ending in a draw.
The right-hander scored 47 runs on day one and 35 runs on day two before being wiped out for the rest of the second day. On day three, he was dismissed after scoring 117 runs in the first inning. He on the fourth day, came out to bat and batted again on the fifth day.
On 84 runs score, Hughes was declared lbw. The Australian batsman made 117 runs in the first innings and 84 runs in the second, became the first batsman in a Test match to strike a six on each day. The proficient batter had scored 4415 runs in 70 test matches in an average of 37.41 in his test career.
7- Allan Lamb (England vs West Indies in 1984)
Allan Lamb was born in South Africa, moved to Northamptonshire, and later represented England at the international level. After the wickets of Chris Broad and David Gower, he came into play at No. 4 and scored 13 on day one.
On day two, English batsman Lamb scored 10 more runs to his account before being bowled for 23 by Malcolm Marshall, and England was dismissed for 286 runs. No.4 failed to score in the first innings, obtained only 23 runs. Right-handed batter scored 110 runs in the second innings but he was failed to build a promising start in the first.
It was a fantastic inning, but it was in naught as the West Indies won by nine wickets. He helped England to reach 300 with a tenacious 110 against the likes of Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner.
The veteran player concluded his test career with 4656 runs in 79 matches and 139 innings.
6- Ravi Shastri (India vs England in 1984)
Coming into the Test match in Kolkata, the Test series between India and England was evenly balanced. While the match was halted by terrible light and rain, Ravi Shastri went about his business, played along knock. He became the second Indian batsman to bat in a Test match for all five days.
In December 1984, the match took held at the picturesque Eden Gardens against England. In his first innings, Indian batsman Shastri scored 111 runs, and in the second, he was 7 not out. This all-rounder finished the first day with a score of 26, was unable to open his account on the second day, scored 82 on the third day, and was finally dismissed on the fourth day with a score of 111.
Ravi Shastri and Mohammad Azharuddin put on 214 runs together to help India reach 437 for 7 on day 4 of their innings. Ambidextrous batsman, Shastri was sent out to start the batting with 18 overs remaining on the fifth day. He batted like a rock with his 7 runs off 50 balls, ensuring a draw in the Test match.
The great player amassed over 3000 runs in his test series in a total of 80 matches at an average of 35.79.
5- Adrian Griffith (West Indies vs New Zealand in 1999)
In 1999, the West Indies players were well past their prime, and the two-match Test series against New Zealand was considered to be a grind. Griffith is the first and only West Indian to bat for the whole duration of a Test match.
In the first innings, West Indies batsman Adrian Griffith set the tone for his team, putting on a 276-run partnership with Sherwin Campbell. On the second day, Griffith was released on 114. Besides the opener, no other batsman managed to score more than 30 runs, and the West Indies team was dismissed for 365 runs.
At the end of day 3, the West Indies opener stepped in to bat, and Griffith made it through the single over. On a rainy day four, he batted and was removed for 18 on day five, as the West Indies players were wiped out for 97 in the third innings. The test was won by New Zealand through 9 wickets.
The right-handed batter could score 638 runs in his 14 cricket test matches after this Hamilton test series.
4- Andrew Flintoff (England vs India in 2006)
Andrew Freddie Flintoff is regarded as one of England’s best all-rounders. Both sides played thrilling cricket throughout the 2006 Test series between teams of India and England in Indian ground. “Big Freddie” became the third English player to bat on all five days of a Test match during the 2006 tour to India.
The all-rounder made 70 runs in the first innings, which was delayed by weather for the first three days. After winning the toss, Flintoff batted first, he had four runs on the first day, 22 runs on the second day, and 44 runs on the third day, which was hampered by rain.
The English right-handed batter four wickets helped India to a 38-run advantage. Flintoff would go on to make another half-century in England’s second innings, this time for 16 runs on day 4 and 35 runs on day 5.
Despite his brilliance, he was unable to prevent his side from defeat. The past master scored 3845 runs in 79 test matches with an average of 31.77.
3- Alviro Petersen (South Africa vs New Zealand in 2012)
In 2012, South Africa had a successful tour of New Zealand. They swept the hosts in the T20 series by 2-1 and then cleaned them in the three-match ODI series. Being an opener is difficult, but Alviro Petersen made it simple in Wellington.
Petersen is the only South African cricket player on this list who has batted in every day of a test match. He did so on South Africa’s 2012 trip to New Zealand. In the first innings, which was greatly influenced by rain, and dispersed 3 days, the South African opener hit 156 runs.
On day four of the second innings, Petersen began with Graeme Smith and batted until day five, when he was run-out for 39. The South Africans were able to tie the third Test and win the series by 1-0 thanks to South African batsman Peterson’s 156 in the first innings. The Proteas conceded at 189/3 in their second innings.
The legend achieved 2093 runs in 36 test matches with an average of 34.88.
2- Cheteshwar Pujara (India vs Sri Lanka in 2017)
The resilient player became the third Indian to bat on all five days of a Test match against Sri Lanka, which had been an unvarying feature for the past 15 years. The play was halted early on Day 1 due to rain, with India behind 17-3 and Pujara unbroken on 8.
Several weather delays occurred on day one and day two of India’s innings and during Pujara’s half-century, which spanned three days. At the end of day 2, the Indian No. 3 was unbeaten on 47.
On day 3, this Indian top-order batter Pujara continued his performance and was dismissed for 52 runs after 117 balls. With his half-century, India then has a total of 172.
He maintained his innings and scored 22 runs on day five. To have a chance of success, Indian players declared their innings at 352/8. With only three wickets left behind, the Sri Lankan batter managed to bat out the clock and escape with a draw.
The diligent player is considered as the spine of the Indian test matches due to his persistence and proficiency as he amassed a total of 6713 runs in 95 test matches.
1- Rory Burns (England vs Australia in 2019)
England had recently won the 2019 World Cup, and an Ashes victory would be the frosting on the cake for the hosts. Australia, on the other hand, had different plans. Rory Burns had joined a selected group of batters who had batted on all five days of a Test match. On day one, Burns and Jason Roy successfully navigated the final two overs.
Burns performed throughout the whole second day, scored a century before being dismissed for 133 on the third day’s first morning. And thanks to Burns’ innings, England achieved a 90-run lead.
On a difficult surface, the left-hander batted brilliantly, scored 133 runs. In the second innings, he could not repeat his first-inning success, as he was dismissed for just 11 runs. Nathan Lyon took a six-wicket haul to eliminate England for 146, and Australia won by a massive 251-runs margin.
With an average of 30.32 in 32 test matches, Rory Burns scored 1789 runs in his test matches.
It’s may not a batsman’s wish at the outset of his innings to have a name for this kind of record– after all, their only target and focus is to survive and score the runs for their sides. But these hitters put up a lot of effort to get their names into this unique list.
Frequently Asked Questions
1- Which batsman performed all five days of a Test match?
There are a total of 10 players in cricket history who batted on each day of a test match. These include ML Jaisimha, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Kim Hughes, Allan Lamb, Ravi Shastri, Adrian Griffith, Andrew Flintoff, Alviro Petersen, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rory Burns.
2- Who is the first Indian batsman to bat on all 5 days in a test match?
ML Jaisimha is the first Indian cricketer and even the first batsman in cricket history who batted on each day in India vs Australia test match. The batsman could score 74 runs in all five days of the test match.
3- How many Indian players have batted on each day of a test match?
ML Jaisimha, Ravi Shastri, and Cheteshwar Pujara are cricketers who have batted in each day of a test match. ML Jaisimha batted in India vs Australia match in 1960, Ravi Shastri showed his performance against England in 1984, while in 2017 Cheteshwar Pujara batted against Sri Lanka.
4- How many England cricketers have batted on each day of a test match?
Total 4 England cricketers have batted on each day of a test match.
1- Sir Geoffrey Boycott (England vs Australia in 1977)
2- Allan Lamb (England vs West Indies in 1984)
3- Andrew Flintoff (England vs India in 2006)
4- Rory Burns (England vs Australia in 2019)
5- How many runs did Geoffrey Boycott score in his test match career?
English cricketer Geoffrey Boycott is the only 2nd batsman in Test cricket history who batted for each day of a test match. He scored more than 8000 runs in 108 test matches.
6- How 1977 test match was memorable for England?
The test match was between England and Australia and English player Boycott batted on each day and led England to a historic victory in this Test. England won this match with a 2-0 lead.
7- Which Australian batsman scored 4415 runs in 70 test matches?
Kim Hughes Australian batsman scored 4415 runs in 70 test matches in 124 innings an average of 37.41. He is also ranked in the top 10 batsmen who batted on each day of a test match in cricket history.
8- Which Australian batsman made a six on each day of a test match?
Kim Hughes during Australia vs England test match in 1980 hit a six on each day of the test match and became the first Australian batsman ever.
9- Which South African batsman performed on five days of a test match?
Alvero Petersen is the only South African cricket player who has batted in every Test match. The match was against the team of New Zealand in 2012.
10- How good is Pujara?
Cheteshwar Pujara is called the “New Batting Spine” or “Backbone” of Indian test matches as he has maturity, flexibility, and enduring qualities in his field. He is 3rd Indian cricketer to bat on all days of a test match.
11- Who are the oldest and latest cricketers who batted on each day of a test match?
ML Jaisimha is the first-ever and oldest batsman in cricket history who performed on each day of a test match. He batted all five days in a test match of India vs Australia in 1960. While Rory Burns who batted for England in a test match battle with Australia in 2019 is considered the latest batsman in this record.
Also, Read: Top 10 Cricket Captain who served nearly a decade
