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On August 12, 1884, former Australian captain Billy Murdoch created a piece of history that would remain etched in the record books for generations. Playing against England in the third Test of the series at The Oval in London, Murdoch became the first batter to score a double century in Test cricket, smashing 211 runs.
Murdoch came into the game as Australia’s captain and No. 3 batter. After Alec Bannerman was dismissed for just four, he joined Percy McDonnell at the crease. The pair steadied Australia’s innings, with McDonnell scoring a fine 103.
However, it was Murdoch who went on to produce the defining performance of the match.
The right-hander batted for 525 balls and nearly 490 minutes, displaying remarkable patience and concentration for an era when batting conditions and equipment were very different from the modern game. His 211-run knock included 24 boundaries, and he was eventually dismissed by Thomas Emmett Barnes.
More importantly, Murdoch’s innings took him past the previous highest individual score in Test cricket. The record had belonged to Australia’s Charles Bannerman, who had scored an unbeaten 165 in the inaugural Test against England in 1877.
Murdoch’s 211 therefore became the first-ever 200-plus score in Test cricket and also raised the record for the highest individual score in the format by 46 runs.
His innings came in only the 16th official Test match in cricket history, making the achievement even more remarkable. Murdoch’s marathon knock, along with Percy McDonnell’s century and Tup Scott’s 102, helped Australia post a formidable 551 in their first innings.
England were subsequently bowled out for 346, with Australia enforcing the follow-on. However, England managed to avoid defeat, reaching 85/2 in their second innings before the match ended in a draw.
Murdoch’s 211 was not just a record-breaking innings but also one of the defining performances of his career. He had already made his mark at The Oval four years earlier, scoring an unbeaten 153 in the 1880 Test. His performances for Australia in the 1880, 1882 and 1884 tours established him as one of the finest Australian batters of his generation.
Born in Sandhurst, Victoria, on October 18, 1854, Murdoch played 19 Tests for Australia, scoring 908 runs at an average of 31.31, with two centuries and one fifty. His highest score remained his historic 211.
His first-class career was considerably larger. Across 391 matches, Murdoch accumulated 16,953 runs, including 19 centuries and 85 fifties. He also took 218 catches and completed 24 stumpings.
Murdoch’s batting style was shaped by the cricket of his time. He relied heavily on forward play and was particularly effective on good, lively pitches. Unlike modern batters, he did not have the range of pulls and hooks that are commonplace today, but when conditions suited him, he could dominate bowling attacks.
His 211 at The Oval remains one of the landmark innings in Test history. It was the first time a batter crossed the 200-run mark in the format and helped set the benchmark for generations of Test batters who followed.
More than 140 years later, Billy Murdoch still stands as the first-ever double centurion.
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