Test cricket has witnessed bowlers coming up with surprises not just with the ball but also with the bat at times. Some of them had the talent of playing big knocks while few of them are known to produce impactful innings despite their short stay in the middle.

In this article, we discuss few batting records which are on the name of bowlers. The list does not include records such as most ducks, performances as night-watchman and knocks while batting down the order.

Here we look at five batting records of Test cricket which are held by specialist bowlers:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410781" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Geoff-Allott.jpg" alt="Geoff Allott" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410781" class="wp-caption-text">Geoff Allott. (Photo by Ross Setford/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Geoff Allott had a tough start with the ball during the 1999 Auckland Test against South Africa. He bowled 38 overs and conceded 153 runs while the Proteas smashed 621/5 in 200 overs. The Blackcaps were nine down for 320 after resuming the 4th day on 204/2.

Allott joined hands with Chris Harris as the duo batted nearly a session. They added 32 runs in 27.2 overs for the 10th wicket but none of the runs came from  Allott’s bat. The No.11 batsman Geoff Allott spent 101 minutes at the crease before bagging a 77-ball duck.

This is the longest balls faced duck in the history of Test cricket. In fact, Allott’s 77 balls are the 2nd most for any player before scoring first run in an innings. England’s John Murray scored his first run on the 80th ball he faced during the 1962-63 Sydney Test match against Australia.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410780" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/James-Anderson.jpg" alt="James Anderson of England" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410780" class="wp-caption-text">James Anderson of England. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto via Getty Images)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/james-anderson-trains-uniquely-with-the-help-of-his-daughters-while-at-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">James Anderson</a>’s numbers with the bat are quite poor in Test cricket as he has scored only 1185 runs across 212 innings at a lowly average of 9.63. He managed to score only one fifty during his 151-match Test career – 81 against India in 2014 Nottingham Test. Despite his underwhelming career, Anderson does hold a batting record to his name in the longer format.

The left-handed batsman holds the record for the most number of not outs in Test cricket as he remained unbeaten on 89 instances. Coming to bat at No.11 for the majority of career helped Anderson to hold the record as he needs to play less than 10 balls before his team gets bowled out. Another factor which contributed to this record is Anderson’s 151 Test appearances which are the most for a specialist bowler.

Courtney Walsh is second on the list as he remained unbeaten on 61 occasions; 28 less than that of Anderson. Among the specialist batsmen, Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s 49 not outs are most in Test cricket. James Anderson’s 135 not outs are the second most number of not outs in International cricket. Only <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/5-india-players-who-debuted-after-ms-dhoni-and-are-retired-already/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MS Dhoni</a> is ahead of Anderson with 142 not outs. Dhoni holds the corresponding records in ODI and T20I formats with 84 and 42 not outs respectively.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-364591" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Umesh-Yadav.jpg" alt="Umesh Yadav" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-364591" class="wp-caption-text">Umesh Yadav. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/thoda-bura-to-lagta-hai-umesh-yadav-opens-up-about-not-getting-enough-chances-in-the-indian-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Umesh Yadav</a> is known for producing some quickest deliveries but during the 2019/20 India home season, he ended up recording some quick-fire innings in Test cricket. During the Ranchi Test against South Africa, Umesh was sent to get quick runs before an early declaration. Yadav smashed the first two deliveries of his innings for maximums off George Linde.

This made Umesh only the 3rd player after Foffie Williams (vs England in 1948) and Sachin Tendulkar (vs Australia in 2013) to achieve the feat of hitting sixes on the first two balls of an innings in Test cricket. He ended up with 31 runs from only 10 balls out of which 30 runs came through sixes as he hit 5 maximums. The five sixes by Umesh were also the highest by any player in a Test innings without hitting a four.

Umesh Yadav recorded a strike rate of 310 during his rapid knock which is the highest batting strike rate for any player in a Test inning. Umesh is also the first player with 300+ strike rate in a Test inning of 30+ runs or 10+ balls. In this process, he broke the record held by Stephen Fleming with his unbeaten 31 off 11 balls. Fleming had a strike rate of 281.81 during a chase against New Zealand in the 2004 Auckland Test.

2. Most sixes in an innings in Test cricket

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410782" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Wasim-Akram.jpg" alt="Wasim Akram" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410782" class="wp-caption-text">Wasim Akram. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/not-sehwag-but-shahid-afridi-changed-the-mindset-of-opening-in-test-cricket-wasim-akram/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wasim Akram</a> had his moments with the bat in Test cricket but was rarely a consistent performer which kept down his playing role to merely a bowler. The left-arm pacer struck three centuries during his 104-match career in Test cricket. Akram had the highest Test score of 257* against Zimbabwe in 1996 as a captain. His best score in Test cricket is higher than many legendary players.

Wasim Akram smashed an unbeaten 257 from 363 deliveries with the help of 22 fours and 12 sixes in the Test match hosted by Sheikhupura. His knock helped Pakistan to recover from 183/6 to 553/10 but the game ended in a draw. Akram’s 12 sixes during his unbeaten double century are the most number of maximums struck by any player in a Test inning. Only Walter Hammond (10 vs New Zealand in 1933) hit as many as ten sixes in a Test innings before Akram.

There have been five instances of a player hitting 11 sixes in a Test innings since Wasim’s record but none managed to equal or break it. Wasim Akram also created a record for most sixes in a Test match with those 12 sixes. However, the record for most sixes in a Test match now is owned by Rohit Sharma who smashed 13 maximums during last year’s Vizag Test which was his maiden Test as an opener.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410784" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Tim-Southee.jpg" alt="Tim Southee" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410784" class="wp-caption-text">Tim Southee. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Tim Southee is well known for his big-hitting especially in Test cricket as he finds himself among top six hitters of the format. Southee’s Test career began with an impressive knock when he smashed some big hits. He made his debut during the 2008 Napier Test where he picked up a 5-wicket haul on the opening day. However, England bounced back strongly in the 2nd essay to set a target of 553. The home team was reduced to 347/9 with two sessions of play still to be played.

Southee then took on the English bowlers smashing a record nine sixes and 4 fours. He finished unbeaten on 77 which came in only 40 deliveries. The No.11 batsman Chris Martin got out after being involved in an 84-run partnership for the 10th wicket which came in only 8.5 overs. Tim Southee raised his fifty in only 29 balls which is the only known fifty by a debutant in Test cricket in fewer than 35 balls. This fifty was also the then fastest for New Zealand in Test cricket.

Later, Southee also became the quickest to 1000 Test runs in terms of balls (1167). However, both those records were broken by Colin de Grandhomme who once scored a Test fifty in only 28 balls and reached 1000 runs in 1140 deliveries in Test cricket. Southee’s 9 sixes on Test debut are still a record as no other player struck more than four maximums in an innings on Test debut and none hit more than five sixes in their debut Test match.

Test cricket has witnessed bowlers coming up with surprises not just with the ball but also with the bat at times. Some of them had the talent of playing big knocks while few of them are known to produce impactful innings despite their short stay in the middle.
In this article, we discuss few batting records which are on the name of bowlers. The list does not include records such as most ducks, performances as night-watchman and knocks while batting down the order.
<h3>Here we look at five batting records of Test cricket which are held by specialist bowlers:</h3>
<h3>5. Most balls faced duck in Test cricket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410781" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410781" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-410781" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Geoff-Allott.jpg" alt="Geoff Allott" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410781" class="wp-caption-text">Geoff Allott. (Photo by Ross Setford/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Geoff Allott had a tough start with the ball during the 1999 Auckland Test against South Africa. He bowled 38 overs and conceded 153 runs while the Proteas smashed 621/5 in 200 overs. The Blackcaps were nine down for 320 after resuming the 4th day on 204/2.
Allott joined hands with Chris Harris as the duo batted nearly a session. They added 32 runs in 27.2 overs for the 10th wicket but none of the runs came from&nbsp; Allott’s bat. The No.11 batsman Geoff Allott spent 101 minutes at the crease before bagging a 77-ball duck.
This is the longest balls faced duck in the history of Test cricket. In fact, Allott’s 77 balls are the 2nd most for any player before scoring first run in an innings. England’s John Murray scored his first run on the 80th ball he faced during the 1962-63 Sydney Test match against Australia.

<h3>4. Most not outs in Test cricket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410780" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410780" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-410780" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/James-Anderson.jpg" alt="James Anderson of England" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410780" class="wp-caption-text">James Anderson of England. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/james-anderson-trains-uniquely-with-the-help-of-his-daughters-while-at-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">James Anderson</a>’s numbers with the bat are quite poor in Test cricket as he has scored only 1185 runs across 212 innings at a lowly average of 9.63. He managed to score only one fifty during his 151-match Test career – 81 against India in 2014 Nottingham Test. Despite his underwhelming career, Anderson does hold a batting record to his name in the longer format.
The left-handed batsman holds the record for the most number of not outs in Test cricket as he remained unbeaten on 89 instances. Coming to bat at No.11 for the majority of career helped Anderson to hold the record as he needs to play less than 10 balls before his team gets bowled out. Another factor which contributed to this record is Anderson’s 151 Test appearances which are the most for a specialist bowler.
Courtney Walsh is second on the list as he remained unbeaten on 61 occasions; 28 less than that of Anderson. Among the specialist batsmen, Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s 49 not outs are most in Test cricket. James Anderson’s 135 not outs are the second most number of not outs in International cricket. Only <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/5-india-players-who-debuted-after-ms-dhoni-and-are-retired-already/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MS Dhoni</a> is ahead of Anderson with 142 not outs. Dhoni holds the corresponding records in ODI and T20I formats with 84 and 42 not outs respectively.

<h3>3. Fastest innings in Test cricket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_364591" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-364591" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-364591" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Umesh-Yadav.jpg" alt="Umesh Yadav" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-364591" class="wp-caption-text">Umesh Yadav. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/thoda-bura-to-lagta-hai-umesh-yadav-opens-up-about-not-getting-enough-chances-in-the-indian-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Umesh Yadav</a> is known for producing some quickest deliveries but during the 2019/20 India home season, he ended up recording some quick-fire innings in Test cricket. During the Ranchi Test against South Africa, Umesh was sent to get quick runs before an early declaration. Yadav smashed the first two deliveries of his innings for maximums off George Linde.
This made Umesh only the 3rd player after Foffie Williams (vs England in 1948) and Sachin Tendulkar (vs Australia in 2013) to achieve the feat of hitting sixes on the first two balls of an innings in Test cricket. He ended up with 31 runs from only 10 balls out of which 30 runs came through sixes as he hit 5 maximums. The five sixes by Umesh were also the highest by any player in a Test innings without hitting a four.
Umesh Yadav recorded a strike rate of 310 during his rapid knock which is the highest batting strike rate for any player in a Test inning. Umesh is also the first player with 300+ strike rate in a Test inning of 30+ runs or 10+ balls. In this process, he broke the record held by Stephen Fleming with his unbeaten 31 off 11 balls. Fleming had a strike rate of 281.81 during a chase against New Zealand in the 2004 Auckland Test.

<h3>2. Most sixes in an innings in Test cricket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410782" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410782" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-410782" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Wasim-Akram.jpg" alt="Wasim Akram" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410782" class="wp-caption-text">Wasim Akram. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/not-sehwag-but-shahid-afridi-changed-the-mindset-of-opening-in-test-cricket-wasim-akram/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wasim Akram</a> had his moments with the bat in Test cricket but was rarely a consistent performer which kept down his playing role to merely a bowler. The left-arm pacer struck three centuries during his 104-match career in Test cricket. Akram had the highest Test score of 257* against Zimbabwe in 1996 as a captain. His best score in Test cricket is higher than many legendary players.
Wasim Akram smashed an unbeaten 257 from 363 deliveries with the help of 22 fours and 12 sixes in the Test match hosted by Sheikhupura. His knock helped Pakistan to recover from 183/6 to 553/10 but the game ended in a draw. Akram’s 12 sixes during his unbeaten double century are the most number of maximums struck by any player in a Test inning. Only Walter Hammond (10 vs New Zealand in 1933) hit as many as ten sixes in a Test innings before Akram.
There have been five instances of a player hitting 11 sixes in a Test innings since Wasim’s record but none managed to equal or break it. Wasim Akram also created a record for most sixes in a Test match with those 12 sixes. However, the record for most sixes in a Test match now is owned by Rohit Sharma who smashed 13 maximums during last year’s Vizag Test which was his maiden Test as an opener.

<h3>1. Fastest fifty on Test debut</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410784" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410784" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-410784" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Tim-Southee.jpg" alt="Tim Southee" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410784" class="wp-caption-text">Tim Southee. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Tim Southee is well known for his big-hitting especially in Test cricket as he finds himself among top six hitters of the format. Southee’s Test career began with an impressive knock when he smashed some big hits. He made his debut during the 2008 Napier Test where he picked up a 5-wicket haul on the opening day. However, England bounced back strongly in the 2nd essay to set a target of 553. The home team was reduced to 347/9 with two sessions of play still to be played.
Southee then took on the English bowlers smashing a record nine sixes and 4 fours. He finished unbeaten on 77 which came in only 40 deliveries. The No.11 batsman Chris Martin got out after being involved in an 84-run partnership for the 10th wicket which came in only 8.5 overs. Tim Southee raised his fifty in only 29 balls which is the only known fifty by a debutant in Test cricket in fewer than 35 balls. This fifty was also the then fastest for New Zealand in Test cricket.
Later, Southee also became the quickest to 1000 Test runs in terms of balls (1167). However, both those records were broken by Colin de Grandhomme who once scored a Test fifty in only 28 balls and reached 1000 runs in 1140 deliveries in Test cricket. Southee’s 9 sixes on Test debut are still a record as no other player struck more than four maximums in an innings on Test debut and none hit more than five sixes in their debut Test match.

Test cricket has witnessed bowlers coming up with surprises not just with the ball but also with the bat at times. Some of them had the talent of playing big knocks while few of them are known to produce impactful innings despite their short stay in the middle.
In this article, we discuss few batting records which are on the name of bowlers. The list does not include records such as most ducks, performances as night-watchman and knocks while batting down the order.
<h3>Here we look at five batting records of Test cricket which are held by specialist bowlers:</h3>
<h3>5. Most balls faced duck in Test cricket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410781" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410781" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410781" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Geoff-Allott.jpg" alt="Geoff Allott" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410781" class="wp-caption-text">Geoff Allott. (Photo by Ross Setford/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Geoff Allott had a tough start with the ball during the 1999 Auckland Test against South Africa. He bowled 38 overs and conceded 153 runs while the Proteas smashed 621/5 in 200 overs. The Blackcaps were nine down for 320 after resuming the 4th day on 204/2.
Allott joined hands with Chris Harris as the duo batted nearly a session. They added 32 runs in 27.2 overs for the 10th wicket but none of the runs came from  Allott’s bat. The No.11 batsman Geoff Allott spent 101 minutes at the crease before bagging a 77-ball duck.
This is the longest balls faced duck in the history of Test cricket. In fact, Allott’s 77 balls are the 2nd most for any player before scoring first run in an innings. England’s John Murray scored his first run on the 80th ball he faced during the 1962-63 Sydney Test match against Australia.

<h3>4. Most not outs in Test cricket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410780" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410780" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410780" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/James-Anderson.jpg" alt="James Anderson of England" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410780" class="wp-caption-text">James Anderson of England. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/james-anderson-trains-uniquely-with-the-help-of-his-daughters-while-at-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">James Anderson</a>’s numbers with the bat are quite poor in Test cricket as he has scored only 1185 runs across 212 innings at a lowly average of 9.63. He managed to score only one fifty during his 151-match Test career – 81 against India in 2014 Nottingham Test. Despite his underwhelming career, Anderson does hold a batting record to his name in the longer format.
The left-handed batsman holds the record for the most number of not outs in Test cricket as he remained unbeaten on 89 instances. Coming to bat at No.11 for the majority of career helped Anderson to hold the record as he needs to play less than 10 balls before his team gets bowled out. Another factor which contributed to this record is Anderson’s 151 Test appearances which are the most for a specialist bowler.
Courtney Walsh is second on the list as he remained unbeaten on 61 occasions; 28 less than that of Anderson. Among the specialist batsmen, Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s 49 not outs are most in Test cricket. James Anderson’s 135 not outs are the second most number of not outs in International cricket. Only <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/5-india-players-who-debuted-after-ms-dhoni-and-are-retired-already/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MS Dhoni</a> is ahead of Anderson with 142 not outs. Dhoni holds the corresponding records in ODI and T20I formats with 84 and 42 not outs respectively.

<h3>3. Fastest innings in Test cricket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_364591" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-364591" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-364591" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Umesh-Yadav.jpg" alt="Umesh Yadav" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-364591" class="wp-caption-text">Umesh Yadav. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/thoda-bura-to-lagta-hai-umesh-yadav-opens-up-about-not-getting-enough-chances-in-the-indian-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Umesh Yadav</a> is known for producing some quickest deliveries but during the 2019/20 India home season, he ended up recording some quick-fire innings in Test cricket. During the Ranchi Test against South Africa, Umesh was sent to get quick runs before an early declaration. Yadav smashed the first two deliveries of his innings for maximums off George Linde.
This made Umesh only the 3rd player after Foffie Williams (vs England in 1948) and Sachin Tendulkar (vs Australia in 2013) to achieve the feat of hitting sixes on the first two balls of an innings in Test cricket. He ended up with 31 runs from only 10 balls out of which 30 runs came through sixes as he hit 5 maximums. The five sixes by Umesh were also the highest by any player in a Test innings without hitting a four.
Umesh Yadav recorded a strike rate of 310 during his rapid knock which is the highest batting strike rate for any player in a Test inning. Umesh is also the first player with 300+ strike rate in a Test inning of 30+ runs or 10+ balls. In this process, he broke the record held by Stephen Fleming with his unbeaten 31 off 11 balls. Fleming had a strike rate of 281.81 during a chase against New Zealand in the 2004 Auckland Test.

<h3>2. Most sixes in an innings in Test cricket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410782" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410782" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410782" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Wasim-Akram.jpg" alt="Wasim Akram" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410782" class="wp-caption-text">Wasim Akram. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/not-sehwag-but-shahid-afridi-changed-the-mindset-of-opening-in-test-cricket-wasim-akram/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wasim Akram</a> had his moments with the bat in Test cricket but was rarely a consistent performer which kept down his playing role to merely a bowler. The left-arm pacer struck three centuries during his 104-match career in Test cricket. Akram had the highest Test score of 257* against Zimbabwe in 1996 as a captain. His best score in Test cricket is higher than many legendary players.
Wasim Akram smashed an unbeaten 257 from 363 deliveries with the help of 22 fours and 12 sixes in the Test match hosted by Sheikhupura. His knock helped Pakistan to recover from 183/6 to 553/10 but the game ended in a draw. Akram’s 12 sixes during his unbeaten double century are the most number of maximums struck by any player in a Test inning. Only Walter Hammond (10 vs New Zealand in 1933) hit as many as ten sixes in a Test innings before Akram.
There have been five instances of a player hitting 11 sixes in a Test innings since Wasim’s record but none managed to equal or break it. Wasim Akram also created a record for most sixes in a Test match with those 12 sixes. However, the record for most sixes in a Test match now is owned by Rohit Sharma who smashed 13 maximums during last year’s Vizag Test which was his maiden Test as an opener.

<h3>1. Fastest fifty on Test debut</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410784" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410784" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410784" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Tim-Southee.jpg" alt="Tim Southee" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410784" class="wp-caption-text">Tim Southee. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Tim Southee is well known for his big-hitting especially in Test cricket as he finds himself among top six hitters of the format. Southee’s Test career began with an impressive knock when he smashed some big hits. He made his debut during the 2008 Napier Test where he picked up a 5-wicket haul on the opening day. However, England bounced back strongly in the 2nd essay to set a target of 553. The home team was reduced to 347/9 with two sessions of play still to be played.
Southee then took on the English bowlers smashing a record nine sixes and 4 fours. He finished unbeaten on 77 which came in only 40 deliveries. The No.11 batsman Chris Martin got out after being involved in an 84-run partnership for the 10th wicket which came in only 8.5 overs. Tim Southee raised his fifty in only 29 balls which is the only known fifty by a debutant in Test cricket in fewer than 35 balls. This fifty was also the then fastest for New Zealand in Test cricket.
Later, Southee also became the quickest to 1000 Test runs in terms of balls (1167). However, both those records were broken by Colin de Grandhomme who once scored a Test fifty in only 28 balls and reached 1000 runs in 1140 deliveries in Test cricket. Southee’s 9 sixes on Test debut are still a record as no other player struck more than four maximums in an innings on Test debut and none hit more than five sixes in their debut Test match.

Here we look at five batting records of Test cricket which are held by specialist bowlers.

5 Batting records held by bowlers in Test cricket

Test cricket has witnessed bowlers coming up with surprises not just with performances with the ball but also with the bat at times.