Know Joe Darling who was the first to smash six in Test cricket
Updated - 10 Jan 2019, 01:08 AM
Gentleman’s game has witnessed a lot since its inception way back in eighteen hundred and Test cricket, in particular, has sprung a surprise from time-to-time while considering the rules as batsmen have registered record after records and Australia batter Joe Darling has achieved such a milestone.
Moreover, the longest version of the game saw the first-ever six came off the bat of former Kangaroos opening batsman Darling on January 14 in 1898 against England.
Interestingly, it was the 55th Test match overall which further saw the hosts sealed the five-match series 2-1 against the then skipper Andrew Stoddart.
Not one Darling hit three sixes out of the ground:
In that Test fixture, Darling batted for 285 minutes to post 178. His innings included 26 boundaries and three sixes.
Playing at the home ground, the left-handed batsman Darling was nearing the hundred when he struck the first-ever six in the Test cricket while smashing the ball out of the Adelaide Oval ground during the third Test.
You must be wondering why the first six came after 54 Tests?
Back then, it was more all about the rules and regulations which further saw the ball landing into the stands would fetch batsmen five runs and the ball sailing out of the ground would be counted as six.
Australia Vs. England, 1898 – Three sixes in the same game:
Before Harry Trott-led Australia went on to win the Test match by an innings and 13 runs against the Three Lions, Darling registered three sixes in the Test fixture.
Darling – the Test specialist:
Darling’s top-flight cricket ran through the period of little over 11 years (1894-1905).
Darling played 34 Tests for Australia.
He had also played 202 first-class matches in which he scored 10,635 runs at an average of 34.53. He scored 19 hundreds and 55 fifties.
Darling’s first-class career was spread over 14 years after featuring in the domestic fold in 1893 which saw him bidding adieu to cricket in 1908.
The Test specialist Darling was further known for his batting prowess which further saw him making his international debut in December 1984 at Sydney against England.
However, he played his last match against England at The Oval in August 1905.
Where he was born and when he passed away:
Known as Joseph Darling, the late top-order was born at Glen Osmond in Adelaide.
Sporting the mustache, Darling died on January 2 at the age of 75 in Hobart.
Read Also:
South Africa Vs India, 2018: Five Talking Points – Centurion Test, 2nd Test Day One
Follow more about the news here: Cricket, 2018
