In a Test against Ireland, Zimbabwe player Clive Madande conceded 42 byes in a single innings, thereby setting a record for the most byes ever conceded by a wicketkeeper in Test cricket. This easily surpassed the previous record of 37 byes, which was achieved by Les Ames of England back in 1934. It is noteworthy that no wicketkeeper has ever given away more than 40 byes in an innings.
Madande’s Record-Breaking Test Performance
Clive Madande let through 42 byes, which is a hefty allowance for any wicketkeeper. His bowlers seemed to have some problems with their deliveries, and the ball was hardly stoppable. Despite this, Madande set a new record for the most byes given by a wicketkeeper in a Test match. His very first match had lots of issues and the record he set would be noted in cricket history, even if it’s not a bright one. He faced very challenging conditions and deliveries but tried to do his best. Madande made his Test match debut under tough conditions. Moreover, he was out for a duck on the first day, which added to his woes.
On the second day, things didn’t get much better for him. Most of the deliveries that his bowlers served were not easy to cope with. Some traveled down the leg side, while others swung late, well past the bat, making it hard for Madande to prevent them from reaching the byes. Despite all this, the number of byes he conceded was still more than the Irish first-inning lead of 40 runs.
The keeper did not imagine such an awful start to his test career. His batting front and the keeping side are both under threat for now and he might find his spot in danger for the next match. Moreover, this series is of the utmost importance for Zimbabwe as the country has gotten the chance to play a Test in the UK. Therefore, there is a lot of pressure on the players to perform to keep a place in the side.
