hanif mohammad
Hanif Mohammad was the first Pakistan superstar batsman Getty

Legendary Pakistan batsman Hanif Mohammad passed away late last evening (11 August) at the age of 81. Known as the original 'Little Master', the legend was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and had been undergoing treatment for respiratory complications from lung cancer at Karachi's Aga Khan Hospital. The master eventually succumbed to lung cancer and other ailments on Thursday.

Hanif made his Test debut as an 18-year-old against arch-rivals India in 1952 and went on to have a stellar 17-year long career during which he played 55 Tests, scoring 3,915 runs at an average of 43.98 with 12 hundreds to his name. He will though be best remembered for his epic 337 runs to help Pakistan save the Barbados Test in 1958 while following on. It was the highest test score in an innings by an individual batsman at that time. At 970 minutes, it is still the longest Test innings.

We at IBTimes UK look at the top ten moments from the late batsman's career:

1) Makes his debut as an 18-year-old against arch-rivals India in 1952. Scored a composed 51 runs in the first innings showing signs of the player who is to come.

2) Registers his first Test century three years after debut. Scores 142 against India in 1955.

3) Played one of best innings ever seen in Test history, scoring 337 versus West Indies in January 1958. His knock helped Pakistan save the match after following on. The innings is still regarded as one of the best by an Asian batsman.

4) The 337 run-knock was the highest test score in an innings by a batsman at that time. At 970 minutes, it is still the longest innings in Test history. The next best in terms of duration is by South African Gary Kirsten, who spent 878 minutes at the crease for his 275 against England in 1999.

5) Hanif's penchant for big scores does not stop there, a year after, the Little Master registers the then highest first-class score of 499 which he made for Karachi against Bahawalpur.

6) The above record stood for 35 years before Brian Lara surpassed the record by scoring 501 for Warwickshire against Durham.

7) In 2010, the popular cricket magazine Cricinfo chose Hanif alongside Saeed Anwar in the all-time Pakistan Test XI.

8) Four of Hanif's five brothers represented Pakistan, playing Test matches with at least one of his brothers playing in Pakistan's first 101 Test. His son Shoaib played 45 Tests while grandson Shehzar played 30 first-class matches.

9) Retired from the game in 1969, ending his career with 3,915 runs in 55 Tests at an average of 43.98.

10) Post retirement, Hanif founded the magazine The Cricketer Pakistan in 1971, editing it for two decades.