Gundappa Visvanath equals Sir Garfield Sobers 85 consecutive Test appearances

Gundappa Vishvanath, born on February 12th, 1949, affectionately known as Vishy had all the qualities of a top-class batsman. While batting he had a powerful wrist that snapped at every scoring opportunity. He gave a new dimension to cricketing shots with delicacy, economy of movement, and action. A born stylist, Vishy's game was beyond the realms of imitation and he really let the bat do the talking.

Gundappa Visvanath equalled another great cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers' record of 85 consecutive Test appearances when he played at Hyderabad (Sind) the fourth Test against Pakistan.

Visvanath's first Test of his 85-break was against the West Indies in Guyana in 1971. Sobers started and ended his consecutive run at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain.

The first of Sobers' 85 Tests was against Australia in 1954-55 and his last in the series was against New Zealand in 1971-72.

Sobers beyond compare

Sobers was a cricketer beyond compare - the only Perfect Player the game has ever product - it there was one, what with his near-possible qualities. Yet, he was human. Sobers amassed 7,586 runs from 85 Tests, 148 innings, 20 times not out, with 25 centuries, 27 fifties at an average of 58.26.

It's now two decades or so Gundappa Vishwanath or Vishy, 'disappeared' from the Test scene and there has not been a single player who has come close, forget about matching him in his Godgifted, refined and sustained artistry, Vishy's genius had in it all of nature's bounty - like the slow blossoming of a flower.

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

Sobers poached 101 catches to Visvanath's 57.

Sobers' 25 'tons' were: 9 against England, 4 against Australia, 1 against New Zealand, 8 against India and 3 against Pakistan.

Visvanath - 13 hundreds

Visvanath's 13 hundreds were: 4 against England, 3 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, 1510 Australia and 1,920 India. Visvanath: 1,880 vs England, 1,538 Australia and 1,455 vs 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 3 runs in 1978-79.

Both have scored zero and 100 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, 132 and zero against India at Trinidad 1970-71.

Both partners - no wicket fell

Both were one of the partners on a day in which no wickets fell, Sobers achieving the beak on two occasions. Visvanath and another one - Yaspal Sharma batted throughout 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 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 6,070: 89 Tests, 1,538 vs Aussies, 1,880 vs England, 585 vs New Zealand, 611 vs Pakistan, 11 vs Sri Lanka and 1,455 vs 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.

A. C. de S