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
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.
