21 November,2012 06:15 PM IST | | A Correspondent
Abul Hasan isn't a household name even in Bangladesh, much less outside his motherland. But that is about to change with the tailender becoming just the second No. 10 batsman to score a century on debut in 135 years of Test cricket.
The Bangladesh rookie also became only the fourth number 10 batsman to score a Test ton on a remarkable opening day of the second Test against West Indies at Khulna.
The 20-year-old has played just six first-class games, brought up the milestone in just 106 balls with the help of 13 fours and three sixes.
Bangladesh cricketer Abul Hasan bows after scoring a century during the first day of the second cricket Test match between Bangladesh and The West Indies at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on Wednesday. Pic/AFPu00a0
But Hasan broke other records on the day as well. He shared an unbroken 172-run partnership with Mohammad Mahmudullah (72 not out) as the hosts reached 365 for eight at stumps. That stand is the fourth highest in Test history for the ninth wicket and they need 24 more runs on Thursday to beat the all-time record set by Mark Boucher and Pat Symcox in 1998.
The pair has also set a new record for tenth wicket in all Bangladesh Tests, beating the 77 run stand between Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain, made against India at Chittagong in 2007.
Hasan also needs nine just more to usurp Symcox's innings of 108 and he can score 18 more runs, he will have achieved the highest total ever by a number 10. That record is a 128-year-old and was held by England's Walter Read.
Interestingly, the first number 10 batsman to have scored a century on debut was Australian Reggie Duff. He became the first tailender to score a century on debut on January 1, 1902 against England in Melbourne. But his ton was in the 2nd innings, having scored 32 in the first.
