When father and son hit centuries in the same innings

Sampath BANDARA

George Gunn (Father)	Vernon Gunn (Son)

There are over 200 instances of fathers and their sons appearing in first class cricket and in fact there are 39 instances of fathers and their sons appearing in Test Cricket. But there is not a single instance of a father and son playing in the same Test Match.

But on several occasions a father has appeared with his son in first-class matches. There were eight centuries recorded by father and son in first class cricket. However only once has both father and son scored centuries in the same innings in first-class or any kind of cricket in history.

George Gunn (Father) and Vernon Gunn (son) were the pair. The match was Nottinghamshire vs Warwickshire played at Edgbaston on July 23 and 24, 1931. George Gunn on his 53rd birthday hit 183, while Vernon Gunn was 100 not out when the match ended. The Gunns of Nottinghamshire are among the best-known families in the world of cricket.

George Gunn

(1879-1958)

Right-handed opening batsman. His uncle William (11 Tests) and elder brother John (6 Tests) were also Test Cricketers.

Played for Nottinghamshire from 1902 to 1932 scoring 35,000 runs and 62 centuries, he was most efficient batsman of his era.

He made his debut in Test Cricket by chance. During the 1907-1908 MCC tour of Australia, George on holiday in Australia for health reasons was suddenly called into the injury-hit England side for the Sydney Test. Playing his very first innings on Australian soil and his first Test match innings George Gunn hit a magnificent 119 in 150 minutes with 20 fours and 74 in the second innings. He scored two Test hundreds both on the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Believe it or not George Gunn was invited to tour South Africa in 1909-10, but missed the tour because he put the letter of invitation in his pocket and forgot to open it until after the team had sailed and he was a member of the MCC team to Australia in 1911/12. He averaged 42.33 in the Test Series.

George Gunn's cricket career has many unusual instances after the tour of Australia in 1911-12. He was recalled for the West Indian tour in 1929-30 after 17 years and 316 Days. He was then 50.

This is the fourth Longest Intervals between appearances in Test History in his farewell Test at Kingston- in the marathon test lasting eight days and ending in a draw. He opened the batting and scored 85 and 47 and he became the fourth oldest Test Player of all time. (50 years and 303 days of age) and recorded seventh longest Test Career in the sport (22 years and 120 days).

George Gunn played 15 Tests and scored 1120 runs (Ave 40.00) including two centuries (highest score was 122 not out) and bagged 18 wickets and 15 catches.

G. Vernon Gunn (1905-1957) good all - rounders, played for Nottinghamshire from 1928 to 1939 scoring 10,337 runs and capturing 281 wickets. In 1934 he scored 922 runs and bagged 77 wickets. In 1937 he scored 1765 (Ave 44.00). After retiring from cricket he became a coach. In 1957 he died in car accident at the age of 52. His father George died the following year aged 79.