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.