Test out-performers way down the order

Ever wondered about the best performances of players who bat at positions 9, 10 and 11? Our expert looks at some such significant innings in Tests.

I was doing some complex analysis of significant innings in Test cricket for one of my other weblogs and was impressed by some way-out performances down the batting order in positions 9, 10 and 11. This article covers some of these. I had also worked on the level of significance and have used that factor in this article.

No century has been scored in position 11. The highest score has been Zaheer Khan’s 75. However, this was out of an Indian total of 526 and, other than for record purposes, is not very significant. The most outlying performance at no.11 has been Spofforth’s 50 out of the Australian total of 163. He came in at 99 for 6 and added 50 out of the last wicket stand of 64. His significant innings (SI) index is 2.27.

At no.10, three centuries have been scored.

During 1998 against Pakistan at Jo’Burg, South Africa slumped to 166 for 8. Symcox came in to join Boucher and scored 108 in a ninth wicket stand of 195. South Africa scored 363. His SI index value is 2.45.

During 1884, Australia had scored 551 in their first innings. England slumped to 181 for 9 when W Read walked in. In association with Scotton, he added 151 for the ninth wicket while scoring 117 and took England to 346. England saved the match comfortably in the end.  His SI index value is 2.85. This innings is almost a replica of the Symcox century, made 114 years later.

During 1902 at MCG, Australia scored 112 and dismissed England for 61. Then they slumped to 167 for 8. R Duff walked in and added 66 with Clem Hill who was dismissed for 99. Then Duff added 120 for the last wicket with Armstrong and was finally dismissed for 104. Australia won comfortably. Duff’s SI index value is 2.67.

A total of 13 centuries have been scored at position no 9. I have selected three of the highest and most valuable ones.

During 1967, Pakistan scored 216 in the first innings. England replied with 440. Then Pakistan slumped to 65 for 8. Asif Iqbal then played the greatest of all late order innings and one of the best ever. He added 190 with Intikhab Alam and took the total to 255. England won comfortably. Asif Iqbal’s innings has the highest SI index value ever of 5.21.

During 1908, Australia scored 285. England replied with 363. Then they slumped to 180 for 7. Clem Hill was batting late at 9. He added 243 with Hartigan who scored a century and then 78 with Carter. Australia reached 506 and won comfortably. Hill’s innings of 160 got an SI index value of 2.81.

During 1990, New Zealand, batting first, slid to 131 for 7. Ian Smith, their wicketkeeper, walked in and added 103 with Hadlee and 136 with Sneddon. He scored 173, the highest score ever at no.9. Possibly one of the most influential late order innings ever. His SI index value is 3.68.