Cricket has produced countless memorable records, but few are as unusual as batting on all five days of a Test match. M.L. Jaisimha was the first cricketer to achieve the feat, doing so during India’s Test against Australia at Eden Gardens in 1959.
Jaisimha walked out late on the opening day and finished unbeaten on 20. He resumed on the second morning before India was bowled out, but that was only the beginning of his record.
After Australia established a commanding lead, India was forced to bat again. Jaisimha returned to the crease late on the third day, survived until stumps, and then spent the entire fourth day battling the Australian attack. He was finally dismissed for 74 on the fifth morning, becoming the first player to have batted on all five days of a Test match.
The innings lasted more than six hours and helped India secure a draw against one of the strongest Australian teams of the era.
Born in Hyderabad in 1939, Jaisimha announced himself early in domestic cricket. On his Ranji Trophy debut for Hyderabad as a 15-year-old, he scored 90 and picked up three wickets, immediately marking himself out as one of India’s brightest young talents.
He earned his Test debut in England in 1959. Although his first appearance at Lord’s was forgettable, the tour proved invaluable. He returned a more complete batter, and over the next decade became one of India’s most stylish stroke-makers.
Jaisimha was admired for his elegant batting, close-in fielding and versatility. Besides opening the batting, he could bowl medium pace with the new ball and switch to off-spin when conditions demanded. His all-round ability made him one of India’s most valuable cricketers during the 1960s.
Across 39 Tests, Jaisimha scored 2,056 runs, including three centuries and 12 half-centuries. His first-class career was even more impressive, yielding over 13,500 runs and 431 wickets.
