Hanif Mohammad - 'Mr. Endurance' in big time cricket

By A. C. de Silva

CRICKET: Hanif Mohammad - affectionately referred to as the "Little Master" is acclaimed the world over as one of the best opening batsman on making his debut in first-class cricket in Lahore in 1951-52 season and in Test cricket against India in 1952.

Hanif - a complete text book cricketer, having started cricket when he was just eight years of age. He started his career as a wicket-keeper but later abandoned wicket-keeping and paid more attention to batting.

He made his debut in first class cricket when he played for Pakistan against the touring MCC team in the first unofficial 'Test' at Lahore in 1951-52 and instantly caught the eye of the cricket Hierachy in Pakistan.

Besides the many achievements in cricket in Pakistan, he has been idolised the world over for two of his incomparable achievements. His score of 499 for Karachi against Bahawalpur in 1958-59 which is the highest individual score in first-class cricket. Then coming on to Test cricket.

Hanif played the longest innings while scoring 337 against the West Indies at Bridgetown in 1958 and in the process stayed at the wicket for 16 hours and 13 minutes which in considered a hallmark for strength and stamina. Pakistan earned a draw is the match. Hanif's lasting power beat the previous first-class endurance record of 13 hours 20 minutes by Len Hutton of England during the Test against Australia at the Oval in 1938.

West Indies 1st Innings: 579 for 9 wkts dec. (E. Weekes 179, C. Hunte 142, O. G. Smith 78) and 28 for no wkt in 2nd innings.

Pakistan 1st Innings: 106 (R. Gilhrist 4 for 32) and 657 for 8 wkts in 2nd innings (Hanif Mohammad 337, E. Atkinson 2 for 136, A. Valentine 2 for 109).

No one can write a full description of Pakistan cricket without mentioning the role played by the Mohammad brothers - Hanif being the third in the family of five brothers. Wazir - the eldest played in 20 Tests, Hanif 55 Tests, Mushtaq 57 Tests and Sadiq 41 Tests. After playing in those 55 Tests, Hanif gathered 3,915 runs for an average of 43.98 and he had 12 Test hundreds. Hanif took the lead role and his contribution to Pakistan cricket has not gone unrecognised. He was appointed a cricket selector and his knowledge on cricket is tremendous and many have met him and got his advice in promoting the game.

Legendary

At barely 35 years of age, his name in cricket became somewhat legendary. Besides the world's highest individual score of 499 that enabled him to overtake the great late Don Bradman, who, held the record with distinction with a score of 452 not out for New South Wales against Queensland in 1929.

Hanif first played Test cricket against India when he was 17 years and 300 days in New Delhi in 1952. In the 17 years of first-class cricket against every country playing Test cricket, except of course, South Africa who were then not in the Test fold, and to cap it all, he has scored centuries against everyone of them.

Well, Hanif is no stranger to Sri Lanka too. Before Sri Lanka got into the Test fold, he made 114 in the second unofficial Test against Ceylon in Dacca.

His name is indelibly written in the record books as a cricketing great of all time and all followers of the game in Sri Lanka could justly be proud of his endeavours being Asian with the common aim and cause of spreading the game all round.

Until Brian Lara came along to score 501 for Warwickshire in a county match, the highest personal score in a first-class game belonged to Hanif Mohammad, who in 1958-59 made 499 beating Sir Donald Bradman's 452 around 30 years before Hanif's effort.

Diminutive in size, but massive in achievements, he went from strength to strength. He also holds the record for slow batting in Tests. He made 20 runs in 195 minutes batting for Pakistan against England at Lord's in 1954.

Two separate hundreds in a Test on three occasions also adorn his individual performances.