A British University student, 22-year-old Alby Shale, on Tuesday set a world record by batting at the nets for 26 hours. The Newcastle University student, an amateur cricketer and sportsman, beat Australian Jade Child’s 25-hour record set in October last year for the longest ever individual cricket net.
Shale attempted the feat in order to raise funds for the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation, which aims to construct and manage on a not-for-profit basis the first dedicated international cricket ground in Rwanda.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, West Indies cricketer Brian Lara and BBC commentator Jonathan Agnew are patrons of the charitable foundation, which was set up in memory of Alby’s father, Christopher Shale, after his death in 2011. The foundation has already raised £352,306 for the stadium and aims to raise £600,000.
Alby’s father, a close friend of Cameron and his election organiser, had died suddenly of a heart attack at the Glastonbury Festival.
The 22-year-old started his attempt at 6.45 am on Monday at the Ken Barrington Centre of the Kia Oval stadium in south London. Alby soldiered on till 8.45 am on Tuesday morning. The rules set down by Guinness allowed Alby only a five minute break for every full hour completed – to take on liquids and go to the toilet.
The record for longest innings in first class cricket is Indian Rajiv Nayyar’s 16-hour and 55- minute 271 in 1999. He faced 728 balls during the innings.
The British student sustained himself on Mars bars, Haribo and Red Bull through his 26-hour feat during which he faced 6,062 balls, including those bowled by Mr Cameron on Monday evening.
At least, his record did not emulate former Lancashire cricketer Stephen Speak’s 2001 feat when he set a Guinness World Record of 24 hours for the longest individual cricket net.
He faced 12,353 balls and took only two fifteen minute breaks during the 24 hour period. He wore a camel back to keep hydrated and a nappy due to the long duration between toilet breaks.
Alby, who has taught football and cricket on the Conservative Party’s social action project Umubano in Rwanda, is keen to raise the profile of the foundation.
“I’ve been to Rwanda myself to coach cricket and seen a huge enthusiasm for the game but a country sorely lacking in facilities. A new home of cricket in Rwanda – the first dedicated international standard pitch – would be a great boost to all the cricketers over there,” he said.