On 4 March 1898, in the dead-rubber Fifth Test at Sydney, Australia's South Australian opener Joe Darling reached his Test hundred in 91 minutes — at the time the fastest Test century in cricket. He went on to 160 in 165 minutes with 30 boundaries. By the end of the series Darling had become the first player to score 500 runs in an Ashes series and the first to score three hundreds in any series. Within fifteen months he was Australia's captain.
Darling had played his first Test in 1894-95 against Stoddart's England. He was a left-handed opener with a strong off-side game, born in Adelaide and educated at Prince Alfred College. The 1897-98 series was his breakthrough.
The 1897-98 Ashes were already decided 3-1 to Australia by the Fifth Test at Sydney in March 1898. Darling, the 27-year-old South Australian opener, had already made 178 at Adelaide in the Third Test (reaching 100 by hitting Briggs over the eastern gate). He needed 50 in the Sydney Test to pass 500 series runs; he made 160.
The innings opened on a true SCG pitch. Darling drove from the start, particularly off Tom Hayward, and reached 50 in 47 minutes. He hit 100 in 91 minutes — at the time the fastest Test century, beating George Bonnor's 99 minutes from 1882. He went on to 160 in 165 minutes, 30 boundaries. Australia 335 in the first innings.
Darling's 91-minute hundred stood as the fastest Test century until Jack Gregory's 70-minute hundred at Johannesburg in 1921-22. His series totals — 537 runs, three hundreds — set the template for the 'attacking opener' that Trumper, Hayden, Warner and Hick would later inhabit. He became Australia's captain in early 1899 on the strength of this series.
Darling opens with Frank Iredale.
50 in 47 minutes — clean off-driving off Hayward.
100 in 91 minutes — fastest Test century at the time.
30 boundaries; 160 in 165 minutes.
Series totals: 537 runs and three hundreds — both Test firsts.
Australia 335 first innings; eventually win by 6 wickets.
Joe Darling becomes Australia's captain in early 1899.
4 Mar 1898
Australia win toss; Darling opens.
Morning session
50 in 47 min.
Lunch
100 in 91 min — fastest Test century.
Afternoon
Out 160 in 165 min.
Series end
537 runs and three hundreds — Test firsts.
“Mr Darling drove and pulled with the freedom of a man who had nothing left to prove.”
Cricket's then-fastest Test hundred and the first 500-run Ashes series. Darling's Sydney 160 was the springboard to his Australian captaincy.
Darling's 91-minute hundred remained the fastest Test century for 23 years; the all-time Test record now belongs to Brendon McCullum (54 balls, 2016). The Sydney 160 is the moment Darling moved from the supporting cast to the captaincy line. His 1897-98 series — 537 runs, three hundreds — was the first time any batsman had reached 500 runs in an Ashes series.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.