Sri Lanka on high after beating Aussies

Zimbabwe v Sri LankaSeries preview

From time to time we might sit back and consider those cricketing records that have lasted.

In the list of cricket’s more unusual and enduring moments is the accomplishment of Arthur Fagg, of Kent, in scoring two double centuries in a game against Essex at Colchester, and that in a three-day game in 1938, now 68 years ago.

In the same year, Len Hutton scored 364 against Australia. That record lasted for 20 years but has now been beaten five times.

Fagg’s record is sufficiently outstanding that lists of records include the handful of men who have played two innings of more than 150 in a match.

Essex, in those days, had no single major base, and the team toured the county taking its mobile scoreboard with it.

There have been two first-class grounds in Colchester; until 1931 the County played matches at the Garrison Ground (Colchester being primarily a military town).

From the Twenties the local council developed Castle Park, and the lower part of the park became the home of Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club, who had also previously played at the Garrison Ground.

There had long been a ground in the park – Essex had played Suffolk there in 1866 – but it is in 1931 that its history really starts.

Essex historically would play two Championship games in a week there (today it gets one four-day game and a one-day game).

In 1938, the first of the two games was against Kent and on the first day Kent were bowled out for 429 (Essex bowling 122 overs) and Essex reached 12 for no wicket.

Fagg had scored 244 in 295 minutes, reaching his hundred well before lunch in 94 minutes, and hitting 31 fours altogether.

Essex were bowled out on day two for 350 with leg-spinner Doug Wright taking 7-107, and by the close of play Kent were 142-0. Fagg was not out 104, reaching his hundred in 69 minutes.

On the third morning, Fagg and his partner PR Sunnucks took their stand to 283 (Fagg scoring 98 in 90 minutes before lunch) and Kent declared shortly after at 313-1 when Fagg reached his second double century of the match in 165 minutes, finishing unbeaten on 202.

Shortly afterwards, with Essex stumbling at 8-2, it rained and the match was drawn.

As a young man, Fagg had seemed destined for success, making his Test debut in 1936, but then was struck down by rheumatic fever after the second Test in Australia in 1936/37 and missed the whole 1937 season.

But in 1938 he was back and had already scored four hundreds before this game. He was to play one more Test – in July 1939 and though he played in a Test trial in 1948 he was not capped for England again.

He continued playing after the War (I can remember seeing him for Kent against Hampshire in 1956) and retired in 1957.

He is one of those players whose career is always footnoted with: What would he have done but for the War?

But his record still stands today. STAND-IN skipper Rangana Herath insists Sri Lanka enter their two-Test series against Zimbabwe full of confidence.

The loss of captain Angelo Mathews to injury lengthened a casualty list that already included Dinesh Chandimal and fast bowlers Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera.

But, after a 3-0 series win at home over Australia, Herath is adamant that his side head to Harare for Saturday’s first Test in a positive mindset.

“If you take our performance against Australia, the confidence we gained from the 3-0 win will be very beneficial to us,” said the left-arm spinner.

In addition to the two Tests, Sri Lanka will also be involved in an ODI Tri-Series with West Indies and the loss of Mathews is undoubtedly a blow.

But with a tour to South Africa coming up in December, the all-rounder did not wish to jeopardise his participation in that.

“I had about one-and-a-half months to recover and I was preparing myself to be ready for the Zimbabwe tour,” Mathews, who had torn his calf during the ODIs against Australia, said.“Unfortunately there has been a setback.

“We are planning to take a closer look at why this is happening.

“The doctors have advised rest, and the recovery can be earlier than that or more; we will have to play it by ear.”

Hosts Zimbabwe also have their fair share of injury problems, quicks Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara have both been ruled out.

That means that Chris Mpofu – who has not appeared in a Test for Zimbabwe in almost five years – and the uncapped Carl Mumba have been included in an initial 16-man party.