Essex all-rounder Graham Napier equalled Andrew Symonds’ world record tally of 16 sixes in a first-class innings in his team’s English county championship match against Surrey on Thursday. The 31-year-old smashed 196 off 130 balls in an Essex total of 548 all out at the Whitgift School ground. His feat matched the number of sixes Australian Andrew Symonds hit for Gloucestershire against Glamorgan at Abergavenny in 1995.
“It’s been hard these past 11 months and there were low points when I wondered if I would get back out on the field again, but you play mind games with yourself in an effort to stay motivated,” said Napier, who has struggled with a back injury. “Part of that was telling myself I would enjoy every single moment if I did get back out there again.
“Things have been coming along nicely and getting back into the first team has been great for me. Every minute out there playing is something for me to savour. Now I want to make the most of any opportunity I get.” He added: “I had an idea I was close to the world record for hitting sixes when I saw the figures at lunch time but I wasn’t thinking about it too much, I was more conscious about trying to get to a double hundred.”
