The number of sixes hit nowadays (and the big fuss made) reminds me of that bit I read in Gideon's book "The Cricket War" when a WSC or Channel 9 "high-up" at one point was bragging about how many fours were hit, and a well-known writer came back with something like "It's not all about fours [name] my boy ..." or something like that. It seems rather quaint now, talk about fours, as do a lot of things about old-world cricket.
The writer may have been Jack Fingleton? The high-up Chris Forsyth? I haven't read the book for a while, a few years, but have read it several times.
My early memory of a fiery and fiesty knock was that of Mohammed Azaruddin in an ODI match against New Zealand in 1988, hitting the fastest ODI century in the process - a record that remained until 1996.
Correction to what I posted yesterday. Over the fence for 5 (and go to the other end) was an Australian thing. 22 fives let Trumper keep the strike during his legendary 335 for Paddington at Redfern Oval in 1903 -- he would plonk one over the fence at the end of an over, and save the window smashers for earlier on. Australia increased the reward for over the fence to six in 1905, but England kept to four until 1910, by which time Jessop was nearly done. They allowed six for out of the ground. (My source is the ultimate desert island cricket book, Gerald Brodribb's Next Man In, pp 121-22).
Sixes are ugly, Fours are beautiful. Only a swivelled pull shot in front of square, a la Ricky Ponting, could be described as a thing of beauty; any other shot that clears the rope is the result of an agricultural heave, swipe, or a short arm biff. Ok, maybe a six back over the bowlers head is nice to see occasionally, especially if the bowler is mouthing off a bit, but generally sixes in Tests are still, thankfully, a rarity. Sixes are only interesting if a tailender is having a bit of a dip, or someone is engaging in a mighty battle to chase down an unlikely win, like Ben Stokes in 2019 and 2023, or Ian Botham in 1981. Adam Gilchrist certainly brought out the Long Handle but I don’t remember them being in epic run chases, usually setting up big first innings, but I could be wrong about that.
Fours on the other hand are invariably a delight, especially on a big ground. Who cannot wonder at a crashing cover drive, straight hit down the ground or a clip off the toes through midwicket, all played along the carpet. We can discount 4’s behind the wicket; those that go through, over or around the slips down to third man; these are usually the result of nicks, errors and other misjudgements. Ponting, Greg Chappell, David Gower, Mike Hussey, even David Warner, could caress 4’s all day without resorting to heaving an ugly shot over the fence. Leave the 6’s to the biff and bash merchants in the short form games.
Nobody outside Newcastle will remember Charlie Baker, who made a hundred at home against the Poms in 1966 and another in 1969 in the second of the two state games they finally gave him. Charlie was one of the finest late cutters I have ever seen -- side on, close to the ball, wait for it and then just tap it down between the slips. Like McCabe used to do, so they said. Maybe the State selectors discounted 4s behind the wicket too.
From the British Newspaper Archive, the Hull Daily Mail 3 August 1897 reports of the 'smashing tactics of the Jessopian Leeming and Fowler' of the De La Pole club.
Don't forget that for the first ten years or so of Jessop's career over the fence was five, and you lost the strike. You had to hit the ball out of the ground to get six. These days to get six you only have to hit a rope that is placed metres inside the fence or (better) persuade the fielder who has just caught you to step on that rope, so it's not surprising that so many more are hit. It's a good thing Jessop was an amateur -- he would have been ashamed to take the money.
After being hit for 6 sixes in one over Nash is supposed to have said "I suppose I can gain some consolation from the fact that my name will be permanently in the record books". Has Sobers record ever been equalled?
The number of sixes hit nowadays (and the big fuss made) reminds me of that bit I read in Gideon's book "The Cricket War" when a WSC or Channel 9 "high-up" at one point was bragging about how many fours were hit, and a well-known writer came back with something like "It's not all about fours [name] my boy ..." or something like that. It seems rather quaint now, talk about fours, as do a lot of things about old-world cricket.
The writer may have been Jack Fingleton? The high-up Chris Forsyth? I haven't read the book for a while, a few years, but have read it several times.
My early memory of a fiery and fiesty knock was that of Mohammed Azaruddin in an ODI match against New Zealand in 1988, hitting the fastest ODI century in the process - a record that remained until 1996.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-tour-of-india-1988-89-62135/india-vs-new-zealand-4th-odi-64335/full-scorecard
What a wonderful player.
Correction to what I posted yesterday. Over the fence for 5 (and go to the other end) was an Australian thing. 22 fives let Trumper keep the strike during his legendary 335 for Paddington at Redfern Oval in 1903 -- he would plonk one over the fence at the end of an over, and save the window smashers for earlier on. Australia increased the reward for over the fence to six in 1905, but England kept to four until 1910, by which time Jessop was nearly done. They allowed six for out of the ground. (My source is the ultimate desert island cricket book, Gerald Brodribb's Next Man In, pp 121-22).
Sixes are ugly, Fours are beautiful. Only a swivelled pull shot in front of square, a la Ricky Ponting, could be described as a thing of beauty; any other shot that clears the rope is the result of an agricultural heave, swipe, or a short arm biff. Ok, maybe a six back over the bowlers head is nice to see occasionally, especially if the bowler is mouthing off a bit, but generally sixes in Tests are still, thankfully, a rarity. Sixes are only interesting if a tailender is having a bit of a dip, or someone is engaging in a mighty battle to chase down an unlikely win, like Ben Stokes in 2019 and 2023, or Ian Botham in 1981. Adam Gilchrist certainly brought out the Long Handle but I don’t remember them being in epic run chases, usually setting up big first innings, but I could be wrong about that.
Fours on the other hand are invariably a delight, especially on a big ground. Who cannot wonder at a crashing cover drive, straight hit down the ground or a clip off the toes through midwicket, all played along the carpet. We can discount 4’s behind the wicket; those that go through, over or around the slips down to third man; these are usually the result of nicks, errors and other misjudgements. Ponting, Greg Chappell, David Gower, Mike Hussey, even David Warner, could caress 4’s all day without resorting to heaving an ugly shot over the fence. Leave the 6’s to the biff and bash merchants in the short form games.
Nobody outside Newcastle will remember Charlie Baker, who made a hundred at home against the Poms in 1966 and another in 1969 in the second of the two state games they finally gave him. Charlie was one of the finest late cutters I have ever seen -- side on, close to the ball, wait for it and then just tap it down between the slips. Like McCabe used to do, so they said. Maybe the State selectors discounted 4s behind the wicket too.
Good point. A delicate late cut for 4 is a lovely shot.
From the British Newspaper Archive, the Hull Daily Mail 3 August 1897 reports of the 'smashing tactics of the Jessopian Leeming and Fowler' of the De La Pole club.
Good find, Nick.
Don't forget that for the first ten years or so of Jessop's career over the fence was five, and you lost the strike. You had to hit the ball out of the ground to get six. These days to get six you only have to hit a rope that is placed metres inside the fence or (better) persuade the fielder who has just caught you to step on that rope, so it's not surprising that so many more are hit. It's a good thing Jessop was an amateur -- he would have been ashamed to take the money.
Alletson's runs in an over record lasted I believe, until a certain Mr Nash ran into a certain Mr Sobers many, many years later
After being hit for 6 sixes in one over Nash is supposed to have said "I suppose I can gain some consolation from the fact that my name will be permanently in the record books". Has Sobers record ever been equalled?
Yes. Eight other batsmen have now hit 36 in an over
In Test matches?
In international limited overs match. Don't think it has been done in a 5 day Test match
Love it GH.
Cheers Hal, nice to have you aboard.