Cricket is known for its quirky, awe-inspiring numbers that challenge the boundaries of urban legend. Fans love to tell stories about incredible feats that are almost unbelievable yet true; from a team getting all out for just 3 or 0 runs to Travis Birt’s 20 runs off 1 ball, these remarkable feats leave spectators astonished. While some legends are too fantastic and lack reliable evidence, they still hang between reality and myth in the hearts of cricket enthusiasts.
Origin of the Story
On January 15th, 1894, an extraordinary cricket match took place in Bunbury, Western Australia between Victoria and a ‘scratch XI from the neighborhood’. When the Victorians went in to bat, the first ball was hit up into the branches of a tall jarrah tree inside the ground. Although the home team appealed for a ‘lost ball’, the umpires were able to see that the ball was stuck and refused the appeal. With no other options left, the batters began running back and forth between the wickets while someone searched for an axe to bring down the tree.
Fortunately, someone eventually produced a rifle and fired a shot at the ball, which fell to the ground – but unfortunately, it wasn’t caught in time. Miraculously, the Victorians had earned a world record-breaking 286 runs off that single delivery! The Victorians ultimately declared their innings, ending what must have been the shortest cricket match ever – and amazingly, they won!
Is it a myth or reality?
Despite the strange and fantastic nature of the story, no solid proof exists to back it up. It would require an immense effort -about 6 kilometers- to make 286 runs on the pitch, leading one to question the integrity of this remarkable tale. The Gazette was the source for many other outlets worldwide, but the Australian press was highly skeptical, with the Western Mail dubbing it an “enormous fairy tale.”
