PONSFORD, THE RECORD-BREAKER.

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 260, 24 January 1928, Page 13

PONSFORD, THE RECORD-BREAKER.

A FORMIDABLE LIST. TTiese are some of the chief records, so far as can be ascertained, made by the Australian cricket record-breaker, W. K. Pons ford:— Big Score Records. World’s record score in first-class cricket—437 for Victoria v. Queensland, at Melbourne, 1927-8. World’s second-best score in firstclass cricket—429 for Victoria v. Tasmania at Melbourne, 1922-3. Only batsman in the history of the game to make two scores exceeding 400 in first-class cricket. Only Australian to make more than one score exceeding 300. He has four such scores—437, 429, 336, and 352. W. G. Grace is the only other batsman to approach this record, with 344, 318 not out, and 301. Highest score in Sheffield Shield games—437 for Victoria against Queensland at Melbourne in 1927-8. Two highest ‘individual scores in matches between Victoria and Queensland—437 and 248. Highest individual score in matches between Victoria and New South Wales—3s2. Highest individual score in matches between Victoria and Tasmania—429. The only player who has made an in-’ dividual score exceeding 200 against four other States—437 and 248 v Queensland, 352 r>nd 202 v. New South Wales, 214 and 336 v. South'Australia, and 429 v. Tasmania. Beats the records of M. A. Noble and W. W. Armstrong in making seven scores exceeding 200—437, 429, 352, 336, 248, 214, and 202. Noble and Armstrong made double centuries on five occasions. A score of 110 on each of his first three appearances on the Sydney Cricket Ground—llo and 110 not out against New South Wales, and 110 for Australia against England. The only Australian to make more than 300 runs in a day’s play in Australia—334 not out against New South Wales at Melbourne in 1926-27* Completed Australian record aggregate of more than 1000 for three successive matches in 1927-1928. First Appearance. A eentury (HO) in his first and aj century (128) in his second Test match; against England. A eentury in each of his first two hands against Tasmania—l 62 and 429. A century in each of his only two hands against West Australia—lsß and 102. A century on his first appearance against South Australia (108), Tas-. mania (162>, Queensland (2481 and West Australia (158). / A century in each of first two Test matches against England, 110 and 128. Two- centuries on his second appearance against-New South Wales—llQ and 110 not out. Oply Australian player who, in Australia*.has made three successive centuries on three, occasions—l 62, 429 and 108 in 1920-1-2; 159, 110 and 110 not oat in 1923-4; and 151, 352 and 108 in 1926-7. A century in 10 successive matches in Australia. r Most centuries for Victoria against Queensland—24B, 151, 116 and 437. Most: centuries in an* Australian season—seven in 1926-7, Most runs in a season of Sheffield Shield cricket—ll4Q in 1927-8. In this season he broke last season’s Tecord which he held of 1091 runs. Partnership Feats. Shares with E. R. Mayne Australian record for first-wicket partnership—.-456 for Victoria v. Queensland at Melbourne in 1923-4. Shares with H. L. Hendry record for second wicket in Sheffield Shield games—3l4 for Victoria v. Queensland at Melbourne in 1927-8. Shares with W. M. Woodfull record for any wicket in matches between Victoria and New South Wales—37s for first wicket at Melbourne in 1926-7. Shares with H. L. Hendry record for second wicket partnership for Victoria against New South Wales—2l9 at Melbourne in 1926-7. Shares with E. R. Mayne record for third wicket for Victoria against N.5.W.—176 at Sydney in 1923-4. Shares with IL S. Love record for fifth wicket for Victoria r. Tasmania —336 at Melbourne* 1922-3. Shares with W. H. Bailey record for sixth wicket • for Victoria v. Tasmania —197 at Melbourne in 1922-3. Shares with K. J. Schneider record for seventh wicket partnership foi Victoria against Tasmania—l 64 at Melbourne in 1922-3. Shares with L. O’Connor record foi second wicket in matches between Australian Eleven and England—l2l at Brisbane in 1924-5. Shares with H. S. Love record for second wicket Victoria v. English teams -—125 at Melbourne in 1922-3. Other partnerships exceeding 200 in which he has been concerned are:— 225, with H. L. Hendry, for first wicket, Victoria v. Queensland, at Brisbane in 1926-7. 223 with W. M. Woodfull for the first wicket, Australia v. The Rest, at Sydney in 1926-7. 217 with H. L. Hendry for the second wicket, Victoria v. Queensland. Melbourne, 1926-7. 233 'with J. M. Taylor, for fourth wicket, Australia v. West Australia, at Perth in 1925-6. In his first Test match, at Sydney, in 1924-5, he and H. L. Collins created a new record for Australia’s second wicket with 190, but this record was beaten by W. M. Woodfull and C. G. Macartney on the last tour in EuglancL