Only six batsmen have bettered Faf du Plessis’ first three digs of 266 with 78, 110*, and 78* in Test cricket – the first time any batsman has passed 70 three times.
* 366 by Tip Foster in 1903 with 287*, 19, and 14* – the 287 the highest debut score in history.
* 336 by Lawrence Rowe in 1972 with 214, 100*, and 22 – the only time a batsman has posted a double and a ton in history on debut.
* 303 by Jacques Rudolph in 2003 with 222*, 71, ans 10.
* 292 by Doug Walters in 1965 with 155, 22, and 115.
* 278 by Neil Harvey in 1948 with 13, 153, and 112.
* And 269 by Herbert Sutcliffe in 1924 with 64, 122, and 83,
Selected notables who have come close:
* 257 by Andrew Strauss with 112, 83, and 62.
* 256 by Frank Worrell with 97, 28*, and 131*.
* 252 by Kepler Wessels with 162, 46, and 44.
* 248 by Sunil Gavaskar with 65, 67*, and 116.
* 238 by Herbie Collins with 70, 104, and 64.
* 237 by Michael Slater with 58, 27, and 152.
* 231 by Gordon Greenidge with 93, 107, and 31.
* 228 by Matthew Sinclair with 214, 8, and 6.
* 223 by Brendon Kuruppu with 201* 19, and 3.
* 213 by Javed Miandad with 163, 25*, and 25,
* 205 by George Headley with 21, 176, and 8.:
Selected notables:
Viv Richards 199, Kevin Pietersen 192, Bill Lawry 188, Mark Waugh 187, Desmond Haynes 182, Rahul Dravid 181, Alastair Cook 181, Ricky Ponting 173, Michael Clarke 173, Mike Hussey 167, Keith Miller 149, Jack Hobbs 137, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 131, Greg Chappell 125, Wally Hammond 108, Len Hutton 101, Don Bradman 98, Mahela Jayawardene 89, Allan Border 89, Garfeield Sobers 87, Bobby Simpson 84, Sachin Tendulkar 82, Graeme Smith 72, Brian Lara 66, Kumar Sangkkara 52, Ken Barrington 52, Ian Chappell 47, Clyde Walcott 44, Graeme Pollock 43, Mak Taylor 31, Hashim Amla 27, Steve Waugh 26, Jacques Kallis 14, and Graham Gooch 6.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
How about this bloke. Abul Hasan of Bangladesh batting at 10 scored 113 and 7* The only two innings of his career so far.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Azhar made 197 - 128*, 50*, DNB and then 19
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
Exactly Red
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Looking back through the years and getting a gritty guy who performs when they are down coming down the order seems like a specialized position. Klusener and Boucher comes to mind. Altough one did it more in ODI I remember Klusener and Boucher won a test for SA against India once.
Gavin Fernie
Guest
It is heartwarming to see that FAF Du Plessis grabbed his opportunity to show that he is genuine test batsmen, even if it meant that he had to wait for an unfortunate injury to Duminy. What is frustrating is that he had to wait so long. Rudolph has had far too may opportunities, and Prince was not a test batsman. If you took away the 222 Rudolph scored against Bangladesh(at that time a distinctly second tier test playing nation) his test average is poor. Prince simply blocked up one end for little value overall. Yes, he played some gutsy knocks but his negative batting far outweighed his worth. The unbelievable thing is that the Proteas brainstrust bat Elgar(who?) above Du Plessis?????
pope paul v11
Guest
Elgar lost his marbles. Good of you to put the notable poor starters like Goochy, Lordy. Elgar can take heart. Meanwhile Faf has probably earnt a promotion in the order. The 110* truly epic but the other two digs tremendously important,
Po Hansy
Guest
Goodness, I lost interest in stats about 15 years ago but this lot is a doosie. Been watching 'Faf' Du Plessis for a couple of years now, mostly T20 Titans, Lancashire and my IPL team Chennai Super Kings, he seems to have done the rise (or descent depending on One's point of view) to Test cricket arse-about-face, much like David Warner. And 'Faf', if I recall is a nickname he picked up as a toddler. He, like Mr Warner is going to be a force to be reckoned with in yeras to come. IMHO of course. Thanks
Robert
Guest
Jacques rudolph sums up fuf in ten years -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Dasilva
Guest
Still that doesn't explain why Elgar who is making his debut is batting above him
langou
Roar Guru
Great article David, The thing about Faf du Plessis’ is not only the runs he has scored but the situation in which he scored them. That knock in Adelaide not only saved the series but destroyed Australia's pace attack to the extent that had to go into the series decider with a second rate attack. Again in the first innings of this test, he stood up when the team needed him.
Red Kev
Guest
If I was feeling mean I would add that South Africa clearly understand what Australia's selectors do not, that you don't drop a debutant into a batting lineup at first drop.
Red Kev
Guest
And I very much doubt De Villiers would give up his no.5 spot either.
The Bush
Roar Guru
He won't bat higher than 5 anytime soon with Amla and Kallis in the side...
jeznez
Roar Guru
my question is why is the guy batting so low in the order? He looks like he'd have no trouble moving up a couple of slots.
Sailosi
Guest
Mohammed Azahrudin? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Sailosi
Guest
What about Azhar Mahmood? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
David Lord
Guest
Thanks for that Neuen, surfing through 2,696 Test cricketers was a massive task, so feel free Roarera to add to those who have scored more runs than Faf du Plessis.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
217 -JP Duminny 1, 50* ,166