It’s common knowledge that the best result a batsman can get from a delivery is six runs, by hitting the ball over the boundary on the full. Of course, if the bowler commits the error of bowling a no-ball, you can get one extra run, making it seven from a single delivery.
It is thought that seven runs off a single ball without a no-ball is not a possibility, but that’s wrong. Seven runs have been scored from one ball a handful number of times in the history of cricket.
Michael Clarke achieved the feat during the Ashes in 2006/07. Chasing a target of 168 on the final day of the Test, Australia were in an aggressive mood with Clarke batting at number six.
After Andrew Flintoff bowled five dot balls in his over, Clarke played an on-drive which seemed to have fetched him three runs. But an overthrow saw the ball race to the boundary, which resulted in seven runs for the Australian batsman.
Australia went on to win the match by six wickets and would later complete a 5-0 whitewash over a deflated English side in the series.
