Top 3 players who have faced most balls in the fourth innings of a Test
Blocking balls after balls and facing a number of deliveries in a Test match requires some effort. To achieve the feat in the fourth innings of a Test match needs solid defiance, resistance, and ability from a batter to just keep on batting and batting. Over the years, batters have blocked balls and also scored runs thereby scripting a draw or a win for his side in the fourth innings.
Let’s take a look at the top 3 players who have faced most balls in the fourth innings of Tests:
3.Sunil Gavaskar (443)
Former legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has faced the third-most balls in the final innings of the match. The right-handed batter scored 221 runs by facing 443 deliveries against England at The Oval in the year 1979. He batted out of his skin to face the likes of Bob Willis and Ian Botham. Chasing a target of 438, Sunny Gavaskar batted for 490 minutes with a strike rate of 49.88 and struck 21 fours. With his marathon innings, India did reach 429/8 but the match had ended in a draw. Gavaskar was adjudged the Player of the Match award for his spectacular innings.
2.Herbert Sutcliff (462)
Right-handed England batter Herbert Sutcliff has faced the second-most balls in the fourth innings of Test cricket history. He scored 135 runs off 462 deliveries against Australia in Melbourne in 1929. In the chase of 332 runs, Sutcliff occupied the crease for 384 minutes with the help of ten fours. His innings with resistance proved worthy as England chased down the target in 159.5 overs to beat the Australians by three wickets.
1.Michael Atherton (492)
Former England skipper Michael Atherton certainly led his side from the front when he faced the most balls in the fourth innings of a Test against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1995. He played a captain’s knock by scoring an unbeaten 185 runs off 492 balls to save the match for his team. The right-handed batter opened the innings with Alec Stewart in a run chase of 479. With his defiance against the bowlers like Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock, Atherton forced a draw as England ended up with 351/5.
