Jack Russell was often best remembered for his outstanding wicketkeeping, but one of his two Test centuries came in the second Test Match against India at Lord’s in 1996, a match that was eventually drawn.
Russell had fell only six runs short of earning a place on the coveted Honours Board on his debut in 1988, making 94 against Sri Lanka, but he wrote his name into Lord’s history eight years later.
England were in trouble at 107 for 5 when Russell strode to the crease. Known for his rear guard action, he batted for more than six hours with some careful shot selection, putting on 137 for the sixth wicket with Graham Thorpe and 83 with Chris Lewis for the seventh.
When he was the last man to be dismissed for 124, he had helped England to recover to 344 all out. The match ended in a draw as India reached 429 all out before England’s 278 for 9 declared. Russell won the Man of the Match award for his efforts and England went on to win the three-match series 1-0. He also had the unique honour of being the last man given out by Dickie Bird in Test Matches.