On this day, 1899, AEJ Collins scored 628 not out.
This remained the highest recorded score until 2016, when Pranav Dhanawade broke the thousand-run barrier.
Collins, 13 at this point, was leading Clark's House Junior against North Town Juniors.
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This remained the highest recorded score until 2016, when Pranav Dhanawade broke the thousand-run barrier.
Collins, 13 at this point, was leading Clark's House Junior against North Town Juniors.
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The venue in Clifton had a curious shape. The rules were unusual too.
On three sides were short boundaries. The straight boundaries, especially, were ridiculously short – just 19 yards behind the stumps.
So the batters were rewarded boundary twos for these three sides.
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On three sides were short boundaries. The straight boundaries, especially, were ridiculously short – just 19 yards behind the stumps.
So the batters were rewarded boundary twos for these three sides.
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No fours on three sides, that is.
The fourth side was longer. There was a slope.
But there were no boundaries on this side either. Everything had to be run.
(In the next year, 1900, England experimented with the no-boundary rule)
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The fourth side was longer. There was a slope.
But there were no boundaries on this side either. Everything had to be run.
(In the next year, 1900, England experimented with the no-boundary rule)
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So basically, barring that boundary two on three sides, everything had to be run.
The match was timeless, but was only played on half-days after school.
Collins raced to 200 on Thursday.
On Friday, he reached 509.
This was already the highest recorded score at that point.
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The match was timeless, but was only played on half-days after school.
Collins raced to 200 on Thursday.
On Friday, he reached 509.
This was already the highest recorded score at that point.
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He had gone past Drewy Stoddart's 485.
After the weekend, there was only 55 minutes of cricket on Monday. Collins finished on 598.
Clark's House were eventually bowled out for 836 on Tuesday.
Collins, as mentioned, was left stranded on 628 not out.
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After the weekend, there was only 55 minutes of cricket on Monday. Collins finished on 598.
Clark's House were eventually bowled out for 836 on Tuesday.
Collins, as mentioned, was left stranded on 628 not out.
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There were 87 ones, 146 twos, 33 threes, 31 fours, 4 fives, 1 six.
Remember, anything other than two had to be run.
Perhaps some twos were run as well.
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Remember, anything other than two had to be run.
Perhaps some twos were run as well.
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He had been dropped on 80, 100, 140, 400, 556, 605, and 619.
If the first four sound "approximate", that is because they probably were. It was a school match, after all.
The score, too, is somewhat approximate. Edward Peglar, who kept score, put it at 628±20.
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If the first four sound "approximate", that is because they probably were. It was a school match, after all.
The score, too, is somewhat approximate. Edward Peglar, who kept score, put it at 628±20.
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Having warmed up nicely, Collins now opened bowling with his medium-pace. He took 7-33 and 4-30.
North Town were bowled out for 87 and 61, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Collins never played First-class cricket. He died in the Great War, in Ypres, France. He was 29.
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North Town were bowled out for 87 and 61, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Collins never played First-class cricket. He died in the Great War, in Ypres, France. He was 29.
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PS
He was born in Hazaribagh.
He was born in Hazaribagh.
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