Cricketer with a 49-character surname!

The world record he holds has to do with a different angle of life.

IL Bula was easily the greatest batsman Fiji had ever produced. He averaged 41.29 from nine First-Class matches (most of them in New Zealand), was an outstanding fielder, often played in the traditional sulu, was referred to as the Fijian Bradman, and there were speculations of his being picked for the New Zealand Test side.

The world record he holds has to do with a different angle of life. He has the rather unusual full name of Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau (thankfully abbreviated to IL Bula), the 49-letter surname being the longest word in the name of any First-Class cricketer.

The phrase literally means “returned alive from Nankula hospital at Lakemba Island in the Lau group”. Go figure.

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