Who holds the record for the highest score by a wicket-keeper? (26 February 2002)

The first stumper to a double hundred was Pakistan's Imtiaz Ahmed, who came in at number eight, scored 209 in 680 minutes and helped Pakistan post 561 in the first innings en route to a four-wicket win over New Zealand at Lahore in 1955.

His record held until Taslim Arif, unwilling to let it slip from Pakistani hands, opened the batting and made 210 not out off 379 balls. Aided by an unbeaten century from Javed Miandad, Arif took Pakistan to 382/2 in response to Australia's mammoth 617. The knock effectively drew the 1980 Faisalabad match, although some interest was evoked in Pakistan's innings when all 11 Australian players, including 'keeper Rod Marsh, turned their arm over.

Arif's record held even as Brendon Kuruppu ground out 201 in 777 minutes on Test debut; coupled with New Zealand's equally slow batting, the double century took the 1987 Colombo game to the inevitable draw.

It took a wicket-keeper in immense batting form to surpass Arif. Batting with supreme ease on an Indian tour during which he averaged 270, Andy Flower made 232 not out at Nagpur in 2000. His scores during that series reached Bradmanesque proportions, and he was no slouch with the bat during the remainder of the calendar year either.

Flower's records till holds as the highest score by a wicket-keeper, although Adam Gilchrist recently posed serious threat to it by hitting a whirlwind 204 against South Africa at Johannesburg. Although his was the fastest Test double-century, Gilchrist got no chance to surpass Flower as the innings was declared close immediately after he reached the 200-run mark.