When Visvanath equals Sobers' record, sans runs

By A.C. De Silva

ARARE RECORD: Ever heard of a World Record without runs? Then here it is - Indian batsman Gundappa Visvanath who came into the limelight of cricket after 1971 and he was responsible in equalling West Indian allrounder Garfield Sobers' record of 85 consecutive Test appearances when he played at Hyderabad (Sind) in the fourth Test against Pakistan.

Visvanath's first Test of his 85-streak was against the West Indies in Guyana in 1971. Sobers started and ended his consecutive run at Queen;s Park Oval, Pert of Spain. The first of his 85 Tests was against Australia in 1954-55 and his last in the sequence was against New Zealand in 1971-72.

Sobers amassed 7,586 runs from 85 Tests, 148 innings, 20 times not out, with 25 centuries, 27 fifties at an average of 59.26.

Visvanath aggregated 5,736 runs, 147 innings, 9 times not out with 13 centuries, 33 times at an average of 41.56.

Sobers had more catches

Sobers pouched 101 catches to Visvanath's 57.

Sobers' 25 tons were: 9 against England, 4 against Australia, one against New Zealand, 8 against India and three against Australia, 4 against West Indies, one each against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Sobers became the first West Indian to aggregate 500 runs in a series against Pakistan when he made 824 in 1957-58. Visvanath is the only Indian to hit 500 or more runs against Australia - 518 at home in 1979-80.

Both have scored 1,000 runs against three countries. Sobers 3,214 vs England, 1,510 Australia and 1920 India. Visvanath: 1,880 vs England, 1,538 Australia and 1,455 West Indies.

In India-West Indies series Sobers aggregated 500 runs twice, 557 in 1958-59, 597 in 1970-71 while Visvanath scored 568 in 1974-75 and missed the distinction by three runs in 1978-79.

Both of them have scored zero and hundred in a Test. Vishy scored zero and 137 on his debut at Kanpur against the Aussies in 1968-69. Sobers achieved it twice: Zero and 113 not out against England at Kingston 1967-68. Then 132 and zero against India at Trinidad 1970-71.

Both were one of the partners on a day in which no wickets fell, Sobers achieving the feat on two occasions. Visvanath and Yaspal Sharma batted through out the day against England at Madras in 1981-82. Conrad Hunte and Sobers played out the third day against Pakistan at Jamaica in 1957-58. Sobers and Worrell remain the only pair to bat throughout for two days, on the 4th and 5th day at Guyana in 1959-60 against England.

Breakup of runs

Breakup of Sobers' 8,032: 93 Tests, vs England: 3,214, Australia 1,510, New Zealand 404, India 1,920, Pakistan 984: 26 centuries and 30 fifties.

Visvanath's aggregate of 6,070 runs: 89 Tests - 1,538 vs Aussies, 1,880 vs England, vs England, 585 against New Zealand, 601 vs Pakistan, 11 vs Sri Lanka and 1,455 against West Indies, 14 centuries and 35 fifties.

Visvanath is the only Indian batsman to make a hundred after a century on debut. He broke the 'hoodoo' when he hit 113 against England at Bombay.

Visvanath became the first Indian to register a century in all the Test playing countries excluding Sri Lanka, which India had nit toured till them. Sobers could not do so in New Zealand though he had hit tons in other countries.