Cricket is known as the gentleman's game. It is a combination of skill, patience, and strategy. Under Test cricket, Test format is considered the most authentic and the most traditional and challenging format to display endurance and adaptability. Some of the slowest knocks have been witnessed in cricket history.
In this article we features 10 players who took the longest time to score Test cricket innings with minimal runs, where one of them has played the slowest innings ever scored in Test cricket, scoring no runs.
Geoff Allott (New Zealand): 0 Runs off 77 Balls
The New Zealand fast bowler Geoff Allott has the record of batting the slowest innings in Test cricket. His strike rate was a remarkable 0.00, reflecting his spirit to survive at the crease. In 1999 Playing against South Africa in Auckland, Geoff Allott survived for 101 minutes, facing 77 balls without making a single run. This is an effort unmatched for sheer grit.
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (India): 5 Runs off 84 Balls
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, proved his unbelievable patience and bravery in a Test against England in 1973 in Mumbai. India's youngest Test captain, Batting for 102 minutes and facing 84 balls, he scored only 5 runs. His strike rate of 5.95 reflected his effort to anchor the innings in tough conditions.
Stuart Broad (England): 6 Runs off 77 Balls
He is known for bowling. He figures in the list once for batting, ultra-defensive. A total of 137 minutes, against New Zealand in 2013 at Auckland, Stuart Broad managed to get only 6 runs off 77 balls. His strike rate of 7.79 speaks for his idea of just frustrating the bowlers.
Damien Martyn (Australia): 6 Runs off 59 Balls
In Sydney a test match was played against South Africa by Australia in 1994. The Australian batsman Damien Martyn clearly showed wonderful resistance. He managed to score 6 runs off 59 balls in 106 minutes, with a strike rate of 10.16 and an inning that stressed survivability over scoring.
Geoff Miller (England): 7 Runs off 101 Balls
Geoff Miller hits 7 runs in 123 minutes during a Test against Australia in Melbourne in 1979. It is the slowest ever in cricket history. Confronted with 101 balls, sadly he achieved a strike rate of just 6.93.
Rajesh Chauhan (India): 9 Runs off 96 Balls
Rajesh Chauhan, Indian batsmen played a slow but determined inning of 9 runs against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad in 1994. He faced 96 balls in 132 minutes, and managed a strike rate of 9.37, helping India avoid further collapse.
Danny Morrison (New Zealand): 14 Runs off 136 Balls
Fast bowler of New Zealand team, Danny Morrison batted for 165 minutes. He scored only 14 runs against England in Auckland in 1997. With a strike rate of 10.29 while facing 136 balls, Morrison's effort actually frustrated the opposition bowlers and helped his team extend the innings.
Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa): 17 Runs off 140 Balls
In a Test against England in 2019 in Cape Town, facing 140 balls, Rassie van der Dussen scored 17 runs in 194 minutes. His strike rate was 12.14.
Godfrey Evans (England): 10 Runs off 96 Balls
In the Test match against Australia in Adelaide in 1947 England's wicketkeeper-batsman Godfrey Evans faced 96 balls in 133 minutes. He scored 10 runs with a strike rate of 10.41, and showed defensive batting in difficult conditions.
Rahul Dravid (India): 12 Runs off 96 Balls
Rahul Dravid, known as "the wall" is famous for his resilience at the crease. At The Oval in 2007 against England, he managed 12 runs off 96 balls in 140 minutes with a strike rate of 12.50, pointing out to a defensive expertise from his side.
From Geoff Allott's memorable duck to Rahul Dravid's patient resistance, these innings are the perfect example to the survival spirit of cricket. Sometimes it can be the same as making a century-that is, merely staying at the crease.
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