Best’s 95 is best score by a No.11 batsman in Test histoory

West Indies pace bowler Tino Best smashed 95 on Sunday to record the highest score by a number 11 batsmen in the history of Test cricket on the fourth day of the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston, says media reports.

Best added 143 for the final wicket with wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, who completed his second Test hundred to remain 107 not out in a West Indies first innings total of 426 in the rain-interrupted match, says a report in The Times Of India.

Meanwhile Hindustan Times reports that England reached 113 for three when bad light stopped play with Kevin Pietersen batting on 56 and Ian Bell on 54, after Best continued to impress.

“He dismissed England captain Andrew Strauss, caught at first slip, after Ravi Rampaul trapped Alastair Cook lbw and Darren Sammy forced Jonathan Trott to play on.  Best, playing his first test for three years, was earlier the last man out when he skied an attempted slog to Andrew Strauss running back from slip off Graham Onions,” says the report.

Meanwhile Ramdin reached three figures with a single off Tim Bresnan to fine leg, he took a handwritten note out of his pocket and showed it to the commentary box. It read ? YeahVivTalkNah” in an apparent reference to criticism from former WIndies captain Viv Richards.

According to an Indian Express report, batsman Denesh Ramdin responded to criticism by Sir Vivian Richards in an unusual manner, flashing a note that read ‘Yeah Viv talk nah’ soon after completing his century against England on the fourth day of the third Test here on Sunday. That display of aggression overshadowed a gritty 95 by fast bowler Tino Best, the highest score by a No.11 batsman in a Test, as West Indies were bowled out for
426 in the first innings.

“Ramdin was unbeaten on 107 and his last-wicket stand of 143 with Best was a West Indies record, surpassing the 106 put on by Carl Hooper and Courtney Walsh against Pakistan at St John’s in 1993, as the morning session yielded 146 runs for the loss of just two wickets in 31.3 overs. The day’s play ended with the hosts 221 for 5. Ian Bell was unbeaten on 76 and Steve Finn was yet to open his account.”

A string of poor performances in the ongoing series had prompted Richards to describe Ramdin as a “lost guy”.

Meanwhile Mike Hussey has withdrawn from Australia’s limited overs tour of England and Ireland to remain with his family after his fourth child was born three months premature. “Due to our baby being born three months early, it is important for the family for me to be here at this time,” Hussey said on Sunday in a Cricket Australia (CA) statement.