Which batsman holds the record for scoring the most runs in a Test?
(23 July 2002)

The first Test of India's 1990 tour of England will remain one of the most memorable ever. Lord's, the prim and propah headquarters of cricket that was the venue, witnessed as many as 1,603 runs being scored. Six individual Test hundreds - one of them a triple, 333 to be exact - were required to push the match aggregate beyond the previous highest of 1,601, set in a 1930 Test match between England and Australia that was Don Bradman's debut at Lord's.

Of these hundreds, the most dazzling was definitely the 121 that recently-crowned Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin made in the Indian first innings. In a knock notable for its sheer audacity and genius, Azhar stroked as many 22 fours off 111 balls, each of them leaving the spectators and critics purring in delight.

A little while later in the Indian innings came larceny on a scale rarely witnessed on a cricketing field previously; with only last man Narender Hirwani for company and India needing 24 to avoid follow-on, Kapil Dev, after patting back the first two deliveries gently, freed his hefty shoulders to hit off-spinner Eddie Hemmings for consecutive sixes off the next four. It soon proved to be a very admirable exercise in foresightedness as Hirwani promptly fell to the first ball off the very next over.

These acts won India the hearts of the spectators, but the Test was still destined to go England's way. With skipper Graham Gooch leading from the front, the home team went on to inflict a 247-run defeat on the Indians, who made a horrendous start to the match by deciding to insert the Englishmen on a track full of runs. The error was compounded when Indian wicket-keeper Kiran More dropped a regulation catch when Gooch was on 36.

It was just the stroke of good fortune that the very professional and prolific Gooch needed. He went on to pile on another 297 runs before finally departing for 333, a 10-hour 28-minute innings studded with 43 fours and six sixes. Azhar's innings was to seem a cameo in comparison.

Then, when England batted for a second time after securing a 199-run lead, Gooch got among the runs yet again. His rapid 123 off just 113 balls ensured that England left themselves with ample time to bowl out the Indians and take an early lead in the three-Test series. Gooch's eventual match aggregate of 456 runs, which secured him the Man of the Match award, remains the world record for the most runs scored by a batsman in a single Test.

For more details on all the above facts check out [ StatsGuru ]

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