Nottinghamshire’s LV= County Championship match at Headingley last week ended in disappointment with heavy rain wiping out the final session with the visitors closing in on a deserved victory. Amongst a number of outstanding performances, in a game which served as a sharp reminder of just how compelling four day cricket can be, was David Hussey’s magnificent 251 not out.

The Australian came to the wicket late on the first evening – and was 35 not out at the close. During the 76 overs available during a rain-affected second day, he raced to 222 – and the following morning, in the twenty minutes before Chris Read declared Notts’ first innings closed, he advanced to 251 not out.

Conveniently for those who like a good stat or two – it was David’s 100th first class innings for the county he joined in 2004 and the 22nd time he had reached three figures for them.

He made his Notts debut on 21 April 2004 away at Durham and showed his intent by scoring 76 in an innings victory. His first ton for his new county came in his 5th match, 125 against Yorkshire at Headingley. This was the start of a particularly impressive run of scores against the White Rose county. After last weeks effort he now boasts an average of 138.66 against them, having hit four centuries – 832 runs – from just eight visits to the crease.

"David joins Notts’ greats, William ‘Dodger’ Whysall, Derek Randall, Tim Robinson, Clive Rice and Kevin Pietersen who all hit three double centuries for the county."

There must also be something about the Leeds air that agrees with him also, as he now boasts an average of 198 at Headingley, with 3 tons from just 5 innings.

On three previous occasions ‘Huss’ has reached 200. The first, for Victoria against New South Wales was a match-winning 212 not out, as his state chased down a fourth innings 455 in a Pura Cup fixture in January 2004.

His previous other two ‘doubles’ both came for Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. A score of 232 not out against Warwickshire in August 2005 was followed in May 2007 when he recorded 275 against Essex.

David joins Notts’ greats, William ‘Dodger’ Whysall, Derek Randall, Tim Robinson, Clive Rice and Kevin Pietersen who all hit three double centuries for the county during their time with Notts, with only seven other players having hit more.

Other footnotes to attach to his 251 not out, it was the 13th highest individual score for Nottinghamshire and the 39th century of his career.

At the close of the second day at Headingly David did hope that he’d be allowed the time to go on and beat his previous best (275) but confirmed that the team effort would always come before individual milestones.

Nevertheless, brother Mike Hussey scored three triple centuries during his stint in county cricket with Northamptonshire – so don’t rule out David having another attempt to reach that landmark!

Nottinghamshire’s highest first class scores

312* WW Keeton v Middx 1939
296 AO Jones v Gloucs 1903
294 JR Gunn v Leics 1903
275 DJ Hussey v Essex 2007
274 AO Jones v Essex 1905
272 J Iremonger v Kent 1904
268* JA Dixon v Sussex 1897
267 A Shrewsbury v Middx 1887
267 A Shrewsbury v Sussex 1890
266 J Hardstaff jnr v Leics 1937
261 WW Keeton v Gloucs 1934
254* KP Pietersen v Middx 2002
251* DJ Hussey v Yorkshire 2010

Dave Bracegirdle provides ball-by-ball commentary at all of Nottinghamshire’s LV= County Championship fixtures on behalf of BBC Radio Nottingham