Healy breaks world record (5 October 1998)

5 October 1998

Healy breaks world record

The Dawn

ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: Australian wicket keeper Ian Healy shattered the world record for most dismissals by a wicket-keeper when all rounder Wasim Akram became his 356th victim off the bowling of debutant Colin Miller here on the fourth-day of the first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Healy crossed the tally in his 104th Test with 331 catches and 25 stumpings.

The last record was held by Australia's Rodney Marsh who had 355 dismissals (343 catches and 12 stumps) in 96 tests.

Soon after taking Wasim Akram's catch, Healy was surrounded by fellow team-mates who enthusiastically congratulated him on the remarkable feat.

Healy, 34, in a Press briefing on Sunday stated that it was a great honour for Australia that another Australian has crossed the world record for most dismissal by a wicket-keeper.

He maintained that before coming to Pakistan he was looking forward to beating this record.

Healy needed three more dismissals to cross the record. He had already tied the record with Marsh on the first day of the first Test when combining with pacers Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming he had removed two Pakistani batsmen at the score of 18. He caught Aamir Sohail (4) and Mohammad Wasim (1) to tie the record. However, in order to shatter the tally, Healy had to wait almost three days of play.

In between, the gutsy cricketer who talked of extreme passion for the game, he scored 82 runs to complete his 22nd half century and shared a 91 runs sixth wicket stand with Darren Lehmann. He also has scored three hundred in his test career.

Healy who made his debut against Pakistan back in 88-89 also achieved his best figures of 5 catches in an innings in the same Test.

Healy who plays for Queensland added that it was just a coincidence that Marsh was also from the same province.

The Australian keeper highly praised his team's bowling strength both fast and spin and vowed to cross the 400 plus in the future. Healy especially praised Miller's specific ball on which he took Wasim's catch.

Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)