Javed Miandad, born at Karachi on June 12, 1957, has been the best batsman and captain of Pakistan, despite temperamental quirks, for the last 16 years ever since he made a glorious Test debut on October 9, 1976, as a 19- year-old, scoring a scintillating century on first appearance (163) vs New Zealand at Lahore, reaching his hundred with three successive fours off Richard Collinge. He was the 71st player to receive Pakistani test cap.
Javed Miandad thus become the second Pakistani to hit a Test debut ton after Khalid Ibadulla [166 vs Australia at Karachi, October 1964, his only century in his brief 4-Test career]. Only other Pakistani has scored a century on Test debut is Salim Malik [100 not out vs Sri Lanka at Karachi in March 1982]
After his debut century, he slammed a tremendous 206 [with 29 fours and 2 sixes] on his third Test appearance at Karachi in the same series against New Zealand and set up a new record (unsurpassed to this date) of becoming the youngest ever to score a double century in Test cricket at the age of 19 years and 141 days. [He erased the record held by George Headley of West Indies who scored 223 vs England at Kingston in April 1930 at the age of 20 years and 315 days].
In the 1976-77 debut series against New Zealand, Miandad created an- other record by aggregating 506 runs [3 tests, 5 innings, 126 average]. The only others to top 500 in a rubber on debut are, Sunil Gavaskar [774 vs WI, 70-71], George Headley [703 vs Eng, 29-30], Conrad Hunte [622 vs Pak, 57-58], Herbie Collins [557 vs Eng, 20-21], Barry Richards [508 vs WI, 57-58], Saeed Ahmed [508 vs WI, 57-58] and Arthur Morris [503 vs Eng, 46-47].
Javed Miandad scored a Test century in his first appearance against India, an unbeaten 154 at Faisalabad in October 1978, in the course of which he completed his first thousand Test runs in the 23rd innings of his 14th Test at the age of 21 years and 126 days - the second youngest ever in Test history to perform this feat after India's Kapil Dev who was 21 years and 26 days when he completed his 1000 runs [vs Pakistan in February 1980, his 25th test, 34th innings].
He raced on to reach 2000 runs in 42nd innings of his 24th Test - a new record for a Pakistani to do so in the least number of tests as well as fewer innings. [Hanif Mohammad 27 T, 47 I; Saeed Ahmed 25 T, 48 I]. However, the world record holder Don Bradman scored his 1000 in 7 T, 13 I, and 2000 in 15 T, 22 I. He reached his 3,000 test runs in his 39th test or 67th inning against Sri Lanka, 4,000 in 53rd test or 84th inning against India, 5,000 in 68th test or 107th inning against New Zealand, 6,000 in 86th test or 133rd inning against England, 7,000 in 95th test or 145th inning against Australia, and 8,000 in his 107th test or 162nd inning against New Zealand.
Javed Miandad towers like a colossus at the pinnacle of Pakistan's Test cricket, having played in the most Tests (124) and the most innings (189), scored the most runs (8,832) with the best average (52.57), and hit the most centuries (23) with the most fifty-plus scores (63). He scored more than 1000 runs against four Test playing nations (2000+ against India). Javed scored 100s in each innings once [v New Zealand, 104 and 103*, Hyderabad, Pakistan in 1984-85]. Except West Indians, he scored double centuries against all bowlers he faced. Out of 21 Pakistani double centuries in Test matches, Javed scored six (the third highest after Don Bradman (14) and Walter Hammand (7)). 280* vs India at Hyderabad (1982-83), 271 vs New Zealand at Auckland (1988-89), 260 vs England at Oval (1987), 211 vs Australia at Karachi (1988-89), 206 vs New Zealand at Karachi (1976-77) and 203* vs Sri Lanka at Faisalabad (1985-86). He was the only Pakistani player to have scored two double hundreds while leading the Pakistani team. West Indies and Zimbabwe are the only two test playing teams that he did not score a double century. He scored over 500 runs in any single rubber twice (506 vs New Zealand in 1976-77 and 594 vs India in 1982-83). He was in three 300+ partnerships too. Miandad's career average never dropped below 50.
In addition to his batting records, he took ninety-plus catches, kept wickets, and captured wickets with his part- time bowling. Javed lead Pakistani team to 13 victories in 33 test he captained with only 6 losses with a success rate of 60.61%, the best success rate so far.
Apart from his formidable Test record, Javed has been Pakistan`s hero in limited overs cricket on many occasions when his ability to stand strong when the rest of the batting crumbles has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The most memorable 6 of the last ball in Sharja against India is an excellent example. Javed`s non-textbook batting style, though the scourge of cricket coaches, has attracted many young players, like Basit Ali, to model themselves on. Back from a two-year absence from international cricket to retake his place as the backbone of Pakistan`s batting, Javed is the only player to have played in all six World Cups.
Javed Miandad thus become the second Pakistani to hit a Test debut ton after Khalid Ibadulla [166 vs Australia at Karachi, October 1964, his only century in his brief 4-Test career]. Only other Pakistani has scored a century on Test debut is Salim Malik [100 not out vs Sri Lanka at Karachi in March 1982]
After his debut century, he slammed a tremendous 206 [with 29 fours and 2 sixes] on his third Test appearance at Karachi in the same series against New Zealand and set up a new record (unsurpassed to this date) of becoming the youngest ever to score a double century in Test cricket at the age of 19 years and 141 days. [He erased the record held by George Headley of West Indies who scored 223 vs England at Kingston in April 1930 at the age of 20 years and 315 days].
In the 1976-77 debut series against New Zealand, Miandad created an- other record by aggregating 506 runs [3 tests, 5 innings, 126 average]. The only others to top 500 in a rubber on debut are, Sunil Gavaskar [774 vs WI, 70-71], George Headley [703 vs Eng, 29-30], Conrad Hunte [622 vs Pak, 57-58], Herbie Collins [557 vs Eng, 20-21], Barry Richards [508 vs WI, 57-58], Saeed Ahmed [508 vs WI, 57-58] and Arthur Morris [503 vs Eng, 46-47].
Javed Miandad scored a Test century in his first appearance against India, an unbeaten 154 at Faisalabad in October 1978, in the course of which he completed his first thousand Test runs in the 23rd innings of his 14th Test at the age of 21 years and 126 days - the second youngest ever in Test history to perform this feat after India's Kapil Dev who was 21 years and 26 days when he completed his 1000 runs [vs Pakistan in February 1980, his 25th test, 34th innings].
He raced on to reach 2000 runs in 42nd innings of his 24th Test - a new record for a Pakistani to do so in the least number of tests as well as fewer innings. [Hanif Mohammad 27 T, 47 I; Saeed Ahmed 25 T, 48 I]. However, the world record holder Don Bradman scored his 1000 in 7 T, 13 I, and 2000 in 15 T, 22 I. He reached his 3,000 test runs in his 39th test or 67th inning against Sri Lanka, 4,000 in 53rd test or 84th inning against India, 5,000 in 68th test or 107th inning against New Zealand, 6,000 in 86th test or 133rd inning against England, 7,000 in 95th test or 145th inning against Australia, and 8,000 in his 107th test or 162nd inning against New Zealand.
Javed Miandad towers like a colossus at the pinnacle of Pakistan's Test cricket, having played in the most Tests (124) and the most innings (189), scored the most runs (8,832) with the best average (52.57), and hit the most centuries (23) with the most fifty-plus scores (63). He scored more than 1000 runs against four Test playing nations (2000+ against India). Javed scored 100s in each innings once [v New Zealand, 104 and 103*, Hyderabad, Pakistan in 1984-85]. Except West Indians, he scored double centuries against all bowlers he faced. Out of 21 Pakistani double centuries in Test matches, Javed scored six (the third highest after Don Bradman (14) and Walter Hammand (7)). 280* vs India at Hyderabad (1982-83), 271 vs New Zealand at Auckland (1988-89), 260 vs England at Oval (1987), 211 vs Australia at Karachi (1988-89), 206 vs New Zealand at Karachi (1976-77) and 203* vs Sri Lanka at Faisalabad (1985-86). He was the only Pakistani player to have scored two double hundreds while leading the Pakistani team. West Indies and Zimbabwe are the only two test playing teams that he did not score a double century. He scored over 500 runs in any single rubber twice (506 vs New Zealand in 1976-77 and 594 vs India in 1982-83). He was in three 300+ partnerships too. Miandad's career average never dropped below 50.
In addition to his batting records, he took ninety-plus catches, kept wickets, and captured wickets with his part- time bowling. Javed lead Pakistani team to 13 victories in 33 test he captained with only 6 losses with a success rate of 60.61%, the best success rate so far.
Apart from his formidable Test record, Javed has been Pakistan`s hero in limited overs cricket on many occasions when his ability to stand strong when the rest of the batting crumbles has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The most memorable 6 of the last ball in Sharja against India is an excellent example. Javed`s non-textbook batting style, though the scourge of cricket coaches, has attracted many young players, like Basit Ali, to model themselves on. Back from a two-year absence from international cricket to retake his place as the backbone of Pakistan`s batting, Javed is the only player to have played in all six World Cups.
