This article first appeared in the book Saltire & Flannels by Fraser Simm, which is available for online purchase in the Cricket Scotland Shop.

Jim Aitchison, along with Greenock legend John Kerr, holds the record of being the only Scottish players to score a century against full test-playing sides. At the time of his retirement, Aithison had notched up the highest number of international caps for Scotland - 69 - and also easily the highest run aggregate in such matches - 3,699.

Only one other batsman, Ronnie Chisholm, had passed the 3,000 run target and although in the recent proliferation of matches these statistics have been surpassed, they nevertheless still tell of a formidable player. Aitchison is best remembered for the unique feat of making two centuries against the touring teams; but five other centuries in his 69 capped internationals, and 30,318 runs in all matches make up an impressive tally.

Jim Aitchison inherited his love of cricket from his father, who was a regular Kilmarnock player until he lost an arm and a leg in the 1914-18 war: his mother bowled to him in a space behind their house. He was then coached by Harold Riley of Leicestershire and early prowess came at the age of 17 with 100* in his fifth game for Kilmarnock 2nd XI.

Using impressive footwork, orthodox technique and a keen eye, his progress was steady; a fierce competitive spirit matched his ability, and the leap forward with his left leg hitting the ground with remarkable momentum in the off and straight drive was his speciality. Later on he developed his on-side play, and hooked to leg with great strength.

With the war years delaying his appearance at higher levels of the game, he first wore Scottish colours in 1946. Jim Aitchison made a big impact at club level, averaging 46 in two spells at Kilmarnock, as well as representing Grange and Carlton while working in Edinburgh. Against Yorkshire in 1952 he scored 150. As he progressed slowly through the 90s, Johnny Wardle, the Yorkshire spinner, bowled maiden after maiden to him. Eventually, when he reached his hundred, Wardle strolled past and said "If you are throwing your wicket away now lad, make sure you throw it t' Wardle, eh?"

Not a bit of it - Aitchison, never ready to throw away his wicket, went on to add a further 50 runs. In his highest international innings, 190 against Ireland in 1959, Wisden went out of its way to describe him as "the master of the situation" and he added 144 with the schoolboy Mike Denness. This innings was the highest ever innings by a Scotland batsman at the time, and it has since only been surpassed once. One likes to think of the batting mantle which was once John Kerr's being passed down through the generations, with Jim Aitchison being the link between the Scottish master of the 1920s and the 1970s.

To return, though, to the major achievement of Aitchison's career. Only one Scottish batsman, Kerr, had achieved a century off a major touring attack, before he equalled and then surpassed the feat. That there were nine years between those centuries shows something of the way Aitchison maintained his level of performance-even at test level, not many batsmen can show mastery over such a length of time. In 1947, his 106 was played in front of a crowd of 10,000 at Paisley, and was the backbone of his side's total of 177 against South Africa. It was a steady knock, lasting four hours, but was noted for some hefty hitting to leg.

In 1956, he was up against an Australian attack of Lindwall, Miller, Davidson and Benaud, and made exactly 100 (with two 6s and nine 4s) out of 196. Amid very tense scenes, Aitchison dominated the batting on the second day of the match, but was indebted to an innings of 1 by David Livingston of Poloc, who valiantly kept an end safe while the score mounted from 153/8 to 194/9. Aitchison scored 40 in the same time, and I hope he bought Livingston a drink at the end of the match! Lindwall and

Miller later counted this as the best innings they had encountered on the whole tour. Richie Benaud remembered it many years later "our game against Scotland in Glasgow produced a lovely short contest between Keith Miller and the Rev. Jimmy Aitchison, who was the leading batsman in the Scottish team. Keith came on first change, and for fun, bowled a bumper to the Reverend, who ducked and then fell over. This produced hilarity around the packed ground, so Keith, again for fun, gave him another. It whistled into the shrubbery at deep square-leg. This brought a roar from the crowd and shouts to give him another. This one hit the seats at deep square-leg and bounced back on to the field. Nugget had had enough of this little game, so he fired a few more in and the "Rev J" hooked them, either well or off the top edge as he raced to his century out of 196. It was a delightful innings which was tremendously appreciated by the crowd". By happy chance, John Kerr, who had taken a century off the Australians in 1921, was present to see his unique record being equalled.

The 1950s produced both Jim Aitchison and David Sheppard as cricketing men of the cloth. The stories emanating from Sheppard's misfortunes in the field on his comeback tour to Australia in 1962-63 kept after dinner speakers going for some time. Aitchison's profession also gave rise to the occasional remark. After a long, chancy innings against Worcestershire, Roly Jenkins said that with his luck, Aitchison was bound to become an Archbishop! Could this have been the match in 1951, when Aitchison scored 64 (out of his side's total of 114) and 44? He did have a distinguished ministery at Repton, St Stephen's Comely Bank in Edinburgh, and Broomhill in Glasgow.

He was an impecable sportsman, maintaining modesty as rigorously as fitness. In 1992 he was honoured by being invited as Guest of Honour at the annual cricket festival of St George's, Bermuda, where he had obviously made a great impression as a player.