Legends of first class cricket

Sachin Tendulkar recently completed 25,000 runs in First Class Cricket. With an unbeaten 140 against the Rest of India in the Irani Trophy match, Tendulkar equaled Sunil Gavaskar‘s record 81 tons in first class matches. It is a monumental achievement for a batsman, having survived the rigors of the game for over two decades. This record calls for a peek into the older records set by batsmen forgotten and who were a part of timeless matches.

First on the list is Sir Jack Hobbs. He is the most prolific batsman in the history of the game (first class matches). Hobbs played 834 matches over a career span of 29 years. He scored a staggering 61,760 runs at an average of 50.70. Not only does he hold the record for maximum runs, he holds the record for maximum centuries as well. Sir Hobbs ended his career scoring 199 centuries. Hobbs was equally proficient on the international circuit too. He scored 5410 runs in only 61 matches for England, at a rate of 56.94 per dismissal. He remains the oldest cricketer to score a Test century at the age of 46.

Frank Woolley is easily the best all-rounder the game has ever seen. By all-round, I mean his exploits with the bat, the ball and in the field. Woolley scored 58,959 runs, picked up 2066 wickets and held on to 1,015 catches. Further, he scored 145 centuries and a mesmerizing 295 half-centuries. He retired when he was well past the half-century of his age. He took Kent to its first County Championship victory in 1906.

Yet another English player, Patsy Hendren, shares the podium with the aforementioned gentlemen. Third on the list of most runs in the career at 57,611, he holds the record for the second-highest centuries at 170. An entertaining character on-field, he was a favorite in the dressing room for his skills with mimicry and wit.

The top three players are names immortal in the history of the game, but are relatively unknown to contemporary followers. We also have a few players of our generation who have made it to this list.

My favorite commentator, Geoff Boycott, played 609 First Class matches, scoring 48,426 runs. He scored 151 centuries, 22 of them coming in Test matches. The stylish batsman rose to captaincy after making a strong comeback in 1977. However, he held the throne only for four matches in 1978.

Graham Alan Gooch won’t be easily forgotten by Indian fans. Gooch scored a mammoth 333 against India at Lords in 1990. Gooch is the most prolific run-getter ever. Gooch played in an age stormed by One Day Internationals. He scored 67,057 runs in all forms of the game put together, which puts him well ahead of Sir Jack Hobbs. Gooch captained the side for five years, though his records do not testify the professionalism and work-ethic he brought to the team.

Other players who have made similar contributions are:

Graeme Hick – 41,112 runs with a highest score of 405*

Gordon Greenidge – 37,354 runs in 523 matches

Sir Vivian Richards was a phenomenon that stormed international cricket. One of the most successful captains in the history of the game, he is regarded as the most destructive batsman in the long as well as the shorter format of the game. Viv scored tonnes of runs in international as well as domestic cricket.

The realms of cricket are unlimited and there are many more frontiers for Sachin to still conquer.