Pakistan's Wasim Bari first 'Keeper' in Asia to take 200 Test catches

by A.C De Silva

Cricket in the subcontinent has taken place in recent times and from Pakistan came a wicket-keeper Wasim Bari to account a double century of catches behind the stumps in Tests. He reached the target when he snapped up Graham Yallop off Pakistani Mudassar Nazar for 30 in Australia's first innings just before lunch on the third day - January 4th, 1984 in the fifth and final Test at Sydney.

Bari is the third wicket - keeper in the world to do Soafter Marsh and Knott. Bari's achievement came in his 81st Test. Needing only two catches at the start of the Sydney Test to reach the mark. Bari accounted for Wessels and Yallop. He caught one more: Border to take his final tally tally to 201. Bari has effected 27 stumping take his total aggregate of victims is an impressive 228. Marsh has taken 344 catches (356 dismissals) in 95 tests and Knott 250 catches (269 dismissals in 95 Tests.

Wasim Bari who became 36 on March 23. in 1984 made his Test debut against England at Lord's on July 27 in 1967 along with another Pakistani Salim Altaf under the leadership of Hanits Mohammed. He made 13 runs in the only innings he played. He dismissed four English batsman (two caught and one stumped Colin Milburn being his first victim. He conceded no byes in England's first innings total of 369.

First 'Keeper' to account for 7 dismissals

Bari is the first wicket - keeper in the world to account for seven dismissals in a Test innings (all caught) at Auckland against New Zealand in 1978-79. This was emulated only by one more wicket-keeper - Bob Taylor of England in the Bombay Test in 1979 -80. Taylor dismissed three more in the second essay and held the record for dismissing most batman in a Test.

Bari is the only wicket-keeper to account for five or more dismissals in an innings on two occasions - five against England at Leeds in 1971 and seven against New Zealand at Auckland in 1978-79.

50 and eight dismissals

Bari's name also appears in the list of wicket-keepers' who have scored 50 and accounted for eight dismissals in a Test match. Dennis Lindsay: 69 and 182; 8 catches, for South Africa vs Australia at Johannesburg, 1966 -67; Marsh: 56 and 8 catches, for Australia's vs West Indies at Melbourne, 1975-76; Bari;63 and 10; 8 cathces, for Pakistan vs England at Leeds in 1971.

Bari is the only Pakistan's Wicket-keeper to compile a wicket keeper double of 1,000 runs and 100 dismissals in Tests Bari has scored 1,366 runs from 81 Tests with the help of five fifties, 85 against India at Lahore in 1978 -79 being his career best knock. His 81 appearance in Tests is also the most by a Pakistan in Test Cricket.

The break-up of Bari's 201 catches against different countries : England (50), Australia (56), India (50), West Indies (18), and New Zealand (27).