Think of a situation where the bowling side has been bowling for over a hundred overs in a Test match and still haven’t cleared up the batting side. It would be frustrating. Technically, when the top seven batsmen get out fast, any bowling side would expect the innings to end soon.
Though it doesn’t happen often, there have been instances when a No. 11 batsman gets settled to play a cameo, hitting fours and sixes. If the last man standing hits a fifty, would it be awesome to watch? Most times, it helps the team register an even better total and allows them to get out of the situation of follow-on or even win a match.
So, let us head on to talk about the top five highest scores by a No. 11 batter in Test cricket.
#5 Richard Collinge – 68* vs Pakistan (Auckland, 1973)
We are talking about a left-handed fast bowler and one of the best fast bowlers produced by New Zealand. The extra pace he created with his height was the primary ability that helped him run through the batting lineup. A great thing to know is that he was present in New Zealand’s maiden victory against the mighty Aussies and the English side – teams to beat back then. He had more than 500 first-class wickets, making his name among the most legendary players ever played for the Kiwis.
He doesn’t boast any good records from the batting perspective, but that is quite understandable from a No. 11 batter. However, he put up his best show back in the 1970s. It was against Pakistan where he troubled their bowlers to a large extent with his gritty effort of hitting a half-century. That was the highest score back then for a batsman batting this low. His knock of 68* is the only case you would see for the batsman to stay not out, and this thing isn’t generally seen for a number 11 batsman.
#4 Zaheer Khan – 75 vs Bangladesh (Dhaka, 2004)
Known for his reverse swing ability, this left-handed Indian bowling legend is whom we have up next, Zaheer Khan. He always had that knack for taking wickets, whether dominating on the surface, supporting pace bowlers or bowling his often trusted yorkers to dismantle the batting lineups on flat decks. The moment to witness India reach 1st position in Test cricket history back in 2011 was just the best highlight of his career.
Let us focus on his best performance with the bat in his Test career. Nearly two decades back, India was playing its only Test match against Bangladesh when the Indian cricket team fans saw something incredible to witness. From his bowling perspective, it wasn’t that good game for Zaheer, as he had just managed to take two wickets. But with his sensible batting, he could extend the Indian lead. He paired up with the great Sachin Tendulkar and put up a great show contributing 75 runs consisting of 10 boundaries and two hits in the stands. Fun fact: India got to see Sachin and Zaheer slam their highest-ever Test score that day.
#3 James Anderson – 81 vs India (Nottingham, 2014)
He is the only English cricketer to have ever reached a mighty barrier of 600 Test wickets, which also remains untouched in the future. Also, he is the only pace bowler with more than 650+ wickets in Test cricket. Yes, we are talking about James Anderson. A genuine swing bowler every team would like to have. He has just been getting better as he still progresses to play in what has been an outstanding career already.
With India dominating against England that day, Jimmy came in as a saviour for the English side. Not with the bowl this time, but with a bat in hand, joining hands with his fellow mate Joe Root. The English pair put up the highest-ever partnership for the last wicket in Test cricket history. Of the 198 runs this pair had put up, 81 were of Jimmy’s bat. Anderson hit 17 fours in that innings – the highest by a number 11 batsman in Test cricket.
#2 Tino Best – 95 vs England (Birmingham, 2012)
Tino Best, the West Indian pace bowler, had sheer aggression and a short height, which he used effectively to generate pace. However, his lack of discipline in his line and length didn’t let him have that consistency, due to which he could only play a quarter of a hundred matches in the longest format of the game.
Let’s focus on how well he was with the bat against the English side in June 2012, where he registered his highest score in Test cricket. His score that day is the second-highest-ever score by the last man to come in at the crease. The knock, which included fourteen boundaries and a maximum, also helped the Windies draw the match. Here is an exciting article on how Darren Sammy shared few exciting things about the Best’s best knock.
#1 Ashton Agar – 98 vs England (Nottingham, 2013)
Now comes the table topper: Australia’s Ashton Agar scored 98 runs, against England in Nottingham, which is the highest score for a No. 11 batsman in Test cricket.
Ashton had what could have been the most exciting and thrilling experience in his first-ever Test match to witness and be a part of. But, unfortunately, the left-handed bowling all-rounder hasn’t got enough opportunities to play for Australia consistently to cement his place with his skills.
Let’s go back in time to 2013; it was a regular Ashes match. Australia had not much on the scorecard to boast of. But when Agar came in at position No. 11 and joined hands with the late Phil Hughes, both were up on 163 runs which is still an Australian record for the 10th wicket in Test cricket. Agar, meanwhile, contributed more in that partnership with that 98 runs. It consisted of 12 boundaries and a couple of six.