First-class cricket, a venerable format that serves as the foundation of the sport, has seen the rise of remarkable players whose records are a testament to their enduring skill and resilience. In this article, we delve into the archives of first-class cricket to uncover the stories of players whose extraordinary records have etched themselves into the history of cricket. From monumental runs to astonishing bowling performances, these figures have left an indelible mark on the timeless tradition of first-class cricket. Here are 10 of the statistical marvels and cricketing feats that define the careers of players with the most insane records in first-class cricket.
1. JB Hobbs
A man who played cricket for almost 30 years, Hobbs holds the record for the most runs scored in first-class cricket. He played 834 games, majorly for Surrey and England, and scored over 61000 runs! If this was not impressive, he scored them at an average of 50.70. It is unlikely that someone will ever break his record.
2. Brian Lara
Lara needs no introduction, as his records speak for themselves. One such record is the 501 not out that he scored against Durham in 1994. He hit 62 fours and ten sixes, playing 427 balls. Lara batted for nearly eight hours to achieve this feat. He beat Hanif Mohammad’s record by two runs to the number one spot.
3. Don Bradman
Probably a name that would be expected in this list, Bradman holds the record for the best test average, not just in internationals but also in first-class cricket. He has scored over 28000 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 95.14! He has almost double the number of hundreds than fifties, which is saying something.
4. Wilfred Rhodes
Rhodes played an incredible 1110 matches in first class cricket in his career spanning over 32 years. The number of wickets he took stands at an unbelievable 4204. This number is not just due to the number of matches he played, but his average was incredible as well, which stood at 16.72.
5. Hedley Verity
At a match in Leeds in 1932, Verity ran a rampage through the Nottinghamshire second innings. He bowled almost 20 overs, conceding ten runs, and taking all ten wickets. It is the best figure in a first-class match in an innings. Nottinghamshire were all out for just 67 and Yorkshire won the match by ten wickets.
6. Fuller Pilch
A record that dates back almost 200 years, Pilch has held on to the medal for the best bowling average in first-class cricket. He took 142 wickets in 229 matches at an average of 1.35! To date, no one has come even close to the record, with the next best being 9.41.
7. Alfred Freeman
Freeman holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket. He took 3776 in just 592 matches at an outstanding average of 18.42. Freeman has taken 386 5-wicket hauls in first-class cricket, and the following best is almost 100 less than his. Although not the leading wicket-taker, he was in a league of his own.
8. Douglas Wright
Taking a hat trick in any format of the game is impressive enough. But to take a hat trick seven times in one’s career is extraordinary. Wright holds the record for most hattricks in first-class cricket. He took over 2000 wickets in his career, which spanned over 25 years. His figures included 150 5-wicket hauls and 42 ten-wicket hauls.
9. Robert Taylor
In his 28 years of first-class cricket career, Taylor played 639 matches. He holds the record for the greatest number of dismissals by a wicketkeeper. He has 1649 dismissals, of which 1473 are catches and 176 are stumpings. The next best is over 100 dismissals less than him.
10. Frank Wolley
The second-highest run-getter of all time with more than 58000 runs in first-class cricket, Wolley also holds the record for the most fifties in first-class cricket. His tally of runs included 295 fifties, and 145 centuries. Wolley scored at an average of just over 40 and his personal best was 305 not out.
