Most consecutive Tests missed for a team between appearances

GARETH BATTY Matches missed: 142 Time: 11y 137d (5 Jun 2005 - 20 Oct 2016) Batty made his debut in England's inaugural Test against Bangladesh in 2003 scoring 19 and taking 1/43 and 1/63 before getting dropped for the next Test. The highlight of his Test career came against West Indies in St John's in 2004 when Brian Lara scored Test cricket's only quadruple hundred. It was off Batty's bowling he 'swept' past Matthew Hayden's record of 380 as well reached 400.

MARTIN BICKNELL Matches missed: 114 Time: 10y 12d (9 Aug 1993 - 21 Aug 2003) Bicknell was the record holder for the last 13 years till Batty broke it. A legend for Surrey with over 1000 first class wickets including five-fers against all opposition counties, he could muster only four caps for England. He made a comeback after almost exactly 10 years and dismissed Herschelle Gibbs in his first over of comeback. He played his last Test at his home ground at the Oval in the last match of the series.

FLOYD REIFER Matches missed: 109 Time: 10y 172d (18 Jan 1998 - 9 Jul 2009) Reifer is the holder of the worst batting average in Test cricket history for any specialist batsman who batted in the top six at least 10 times - 9.25. He was dropped after a disappointing showing in the South Africa in the 0-5 demolition in 1998 and returned in 2009 to captain the side against Bangladesh when the seniors were unavailable.

YOUNIS AHMED Matches missed: 104 Time: 17y 111d (2 Nov 1969 - 21 Feb 1987) Among the players who made their debut since WW II, nobody had to wait as much as Younis Ahmed for two consecutive Test appearances for a team. He played two Tests in a series in 1969 in what was New Zealand's first series win in the subcontinent. He had to wait for over 18 years for his next cap - against arch-rivals India in India.

DEREK SHACKLETON Matches missed: 103 Time: 11y 225 (7 Nov 1951 - 20 Jun 1963) Nobody has taken more wickets from Hampshire than Shackleton's tally of 2669 and only Wilfed Rhodes and Fred Titmus has bowled more number of deliveries (159001) than him in first class cricket. His best performance came in his comeback Test at Lord's where he took 7/165 in a match which England held for a draw against the West Indies with just one wicket remaining.