On This Day: December 21, 1934 - Hanif Mohammad, the original Little Master was born

[A-1]

Hanif was the first star of Pakistan cricket, the "Little Master" who played the longest innings in Test history - his 970-minute 337 against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1957-58 - then followed it a year later with the highest first-class innings to that point, 499 run out. With such feats, broadcast on radio, he turned cricket in Pakistan from the preserve of the Lahore educated elite into the mass sport it is today. Although famous for his immaculate defence and never hitting the ball in the air, Hanif could also attack, and was probably the originator of the reverse-sweep. His versatility extended to captaining and keeping wicket, and bowling right- and left-handed in Test cricket. But in addition to being the jack of all trades, he was the master of one.
Scyld Berry

From Wisden

Cometh the crisis to end all crises, cometh Hanif Mohammad. He scored 337 in an occupation of 16 hours 39 minutes. It was the longest innings ever known. The Test was drawn and Hanif, for his pains, had three layers of skin burned away beneath his eyes by the harsh glare reflected from the pitch.

Having thus erased Sir Leonard Hutton's name from the record book on one score he soon turned his attention to another knight and another long-held record: Sir Donald Bradman's 452 not out, established 30 years earlier. In a Trophy match against Bahawalpur in Karachi, the year after his Barbados innings, he smashed that, too, by scoring 499 in just short of 11 hours before running himself out trying to get the strike in the final over of the day.
Wisden

Pakpassion interview:

http://www.pakpassion.net/articles/pakpassion_presents_an_exclusive_interview_with_hanif_mohammad

 

[Gotham Cronie]

"Cometh the crisis to end all crises, cometh Hanif Mohammad."

What a reputation to leave behind!

 

[IAJ]

Happy birthday Sir.

So Pakistan have (probably) originators of reverse-sweep and reverse-swing and not to forget the doosra

 

[saiyan0312]

Happy birthday the LEGEND ....

What a player. He never hit the bowl in the air. Unlimited defense. Man i tell you these old legends are soo great that if we get a player with even half their talent they would be calling us the best.

 

[Robert]

I thought this would be about Gavaskar.

 

[shaz619]

Cometh hanif mohammed! What a legend, the champion of champions.

 

[Saurav]

Happy Birthday

 

[King_Rizzy]

A legend. Hope we can get someone like him soon.

 

[Abdullah719]

One of Pakistan's earliest cricketing greats.

 

[HuzaifaE]

Underrated and unappreciated. Many seem to think "Pakistani openers" and associate it with Saeed Anwar and dozens of useless planks when Hanif is right up there with him. The closest player to a Boycott or a Sunny G we've had. True Pakistani great.

 

[giri26]

Brilliant player, Happy birthday to him

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[MenInG]

An amazing batsman and a humble servant of Pakistan.

 

[Bhaijaan]

A true legend of the game and one of the greatest ever Cricketers from Asia. His math saving marathon triple hundred is arguably the greatest rescue effort of all time alongside Laxman 281.