Special Records

Kevan James: 103 & 5-74 v India (Southampton, 1996)

All-rounder Kevan James joined Hampshire from Middlesex in 1985 when their batting was very strong but there were opportunities for new bowlers. In his first season he made a century at Taunton and shared a record partnership with Tim Tremlett but he also took 6-22 against the Australians at Southampton. Over his Hampshire career he scored more than 8,000 runs with 10 centuries and took over 350 wickets, but his greatest day came in 1996 at Southampton in a match against the Indian tourists. In that one match, he scored 103 and took 5-74 including four wickets in four balls – the only man ever to do that for Hampshire.

The Indians reached 192-0 before Kevan struck for the first time when he had Jadeja caught by Keech and with the score advanced by just 15, he added Rathour stumped by Aymes, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sanjay Manjrekar in four consecutive balls. Ganguly rescued his side with 100* and the Indians declared at 362-5. Before the close, they dismissed John Stephenson and nightwatchman Jim Bovill, leaving Kevan time to get off the mark at 49-2. On the Thursday, he and Jason Laney (100) posted 175, with Kevan facing 167 balls in 215 minutes in reaching his hundred. Rain prevented either side having a second innings but the match will always be remembered for Kevan James’ unique first-class record of a century and four-in-four. After his retirement Kevan went to the BBC in Southampton where he is their regular ball-by-ball commentator on Hampshire’s matches.