Alby Shale breaks record for longest ever cricket net

They haven’t held the Ashes since 2009; they lost in the group stages of the Champions Trophy; and they lost the first test in agonising circumstances when Marais Erasmus finally got a DRS decision right. Now the Aussies, or rather an Australian, has lost the world record for the longest cricket net in history.

Yesterday at the Oval, Alby Shale batted continuously for a massive 26 hours. That’s probably longer than Ed Cowan has batted for in his entire career (if you add all his innings together). He did it to raise money for a very worthwhile charity: the Rwandan Cricket Stadium Foundation, which is raising funds to build the first ever international standard cricket ground in a land with a troubled history.

Those of you who have read Tom Rodwell’s Third Man in Havana, a book we reviewed at Christmas, will know all about the growing popularity of cricket in Rwanda. Thousands of Rwandans who fled to countries like Kenya and Uganda to escape the genocide are now slowly returning to their homeland – and they’re bringing cricket back with them.

The game is bringing disparate people together and giving young Rwandans a sense of wellbeing and happiness. Alby’s cause is therefore extremely worthwhile, and all donations are greatly appreciated. You can donate here.

A number of celebrity guests popped in to the Oval nets to bowl at Alby yesterday. They included David Cameron (who bowls a bit of left arm spin), Jonathan Agnew (who bowls at a spinner’s pace these days), and Ravi Bopara (who presumably went easy on Alby). Paul Allott also turned his arm over.

At TFT, we’d like to congratulate Alby for all his hard work. And say a big thanks for taking a Guinness World Record away from our ailing antipodean cousins. We salute you, Sir.

James Morgan

3 comments

  • How could anyone stay in the crease for 26 hours? In EA Sports Cricket 07, yea maybe :P but in real life? That is insane!

  • It’s an amazing effort. Everyone loves batting (except Tuffers, of course) but I think my back would’ve been a bit sore after 3 hours. I can barely stand up that long, let alone play cricket! Our spies tell us that he didn’t get bowled for 6 hours. Sounds like a decent player, eh.

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