Best now holds the record for the highest score made by a number 11 batsman

West Indies pace bowler Tino Best has announced that he is looking to take full advantage of his West Indies “rebirth” after scoring a record-breaking 95 against England last month.

Best’s innings of 95 in the third Test at Edgbaston became the highest ever score for a number 11 batsman in the history of the game, surpassing India’s Zaheer Khan’s 75 runs against Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2004.

Best, scored his 95 runs from just 112 balls, hitting 14 boundaries and a six to help the West Indies make 426 in the first innings.

Together with wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, who made 107 runs, the pair put on a tenth wicket partnership of  143 runs, which is the third-highest tenth wicket partnership in Test cricket history and a West Indies record.

Through a statement issued by the team spokesman, Best said: “To be able to showcase my talent to the world really felt good, I’m looking at this as my ‘rebirth’ to international cricket and I want to make sure that I allow people to remember me for the right reasons.”

Ramdin was on 63 when Best walked out to the crease for the first time in nearly three years.

“When I arrived at the crease, Denesh just told me to just back myself, he told me not to get bogged down, if the ball is in my arc lick it away, and we focused on building 10-run partnerships, it turned out to be a record partnership and I am very grateful to be part of such a special moment, and batting to allow Denesh to get his hundred,” Best said.

Best, made his debut eight years ago and was playing in his 15th Test when he made his record-breaking score of 95.

“This opportunity was a blessing and I just hope the people around me continue to encourage me, people like West Indies coach Ottis Gibson with my bowling and assistant coach Toby Radford with my batting. It is not a case of me not believing in myself, but it is about executing properly — and that’s what it is all about,” Best said.

Best, had earlier mentioned that he gained inspiration from watching ‘Fire in Babylon’, which is a documentary film about the outstanding West Indies team of the 1970s and 1980s.

“I feed off Sir Vivian (Richards) and ‘Fire in Babylon’ is a fantastic film and gave me inspiration. I was thinking about Malcolm Marshall (the late Barbados and West Indies fast bowler) and then when I got to 92 I remembered ‘this is my favourite cricketer’s highest score, let me just get past him,” Best added.

Sir Vivian Richards was delighted to have witnessed Best’s innings of 95, and said: “If this match was being played in the Caribbean everyone would have been in the trees or on top of the pavilion, they’d be going mad, people love to see this type of innings. All praise to him.”