A. E. J. Collins scores 628 not out at Clifton College (1899)

In June 1899, 13-year-old schoolboy A. E. J. Collins scored 628 not out over four afternoons in an inter-house cricket match at Clifton College, Bristol. The innings surpassed Andrew Stoddart's world record of 485 and stood as the highest individual score in cricket for 116 years, until Pranav Dhanawade scored 1,009 in January 2016.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. A. E. J. Collins, a 13-year-old student at Clifton College, Bristol, achieved the highest individual cricket score of 628 not out in June 1899. The match was an inter-house contest between Clark's House and North Town, played on a pitch now known as Collins' Piece. The innings occurred over four afternoons, drawing crowds away from nearby matches.

Record Breaking. Collins's innings surpassed Andrew Stoddart's previous world record of 485, with applause breaking out around 5.30 pm after roughly five hours of batting. The Times reported the innings as a world record on Saturday 24 June, giving his score by the close of play on Friday as 501, while misreporting his age as 14 and his name. The score remained the highest for 116 years until Pranav Dhanawade scored 1,009 in January 2016.

Legacy. Despite this achievement, Collins never played first-class cricket. His record stood as the highest individual score in cricket history for over a century. The specific pitch where the innings occurred is now named Collins' Piece, commemorating the event within the college grounds.

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Sources

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