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Ask Bearders # 156

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Bill Frindall | 12:25 UK time, Wednesday, 10 October 2007

Welcome to Ask Bearders, where statistician Bill Frindall answers your questions on all things cricket.

Below are Bill's responses to some of your questions posed at the end of his last column and if you have a question for Bill, leave it at the end of this blog entry. Please do include your country of residence - Bill loves to hear where all his correspondents are posting from.

Bill isn’t able to answer all of your questions, however. 91Èȱ¬ Sport staff will choose a selection of them and send them to Bearders for him to answer.

Q: Could you tell me how many runs Mark Ramprakash has scored at The Oval and how this compares with the runs he scored at Lord's? He seems to have improved since moving to Surrey and I was wondering if it had anything to do with a better batting wicket? Peter Booth

Bearders' Answer:An intriguing question Peter, and I am indebted to Philip Bailey for providing stats showing that Rampers has increased his batting average by 32 runs per innings since moving across the Thames.

Although he is a much improved and less stressed player than in his early days, it is a considerable difference. The quality of the Kennington pitch is bound to have been a factor but remember that half his matches are played away, while two of the home ones are staged at Guildford and at Whitgift School, Croydon.

In all first-class matches his figures for Middlesex at Lord’s and Surrey at The Oval are:

Lord's: 80 matches, 133 innings, 19 not outs, 233 highest, 5959 runs, 52.2 average, 17 hundreds
The Oval : 41 matches, 66 innings, 9 not outs, 301* highest, 4806 runs, 84.31 average, 21 hundreds


Q: How many people have matched Mark Ramprakash's achievement of averaging over 100 in first-class cricket in two separate seasons? Alison B

Bearders' Answer: Only one, Alison. Geoff Boycott averaged 100.12 in 1971 and 102.53 in 1979. Mark is alone in achieving this feat in successive seasons.

Three other batsmen and one tail ender have averaged 100: Don Bradman (115.66 in 1938); Damien Martyn (104.66 in 2001), Graham Gooch (101.70 in 1990); and the fluke, Bill Johnston (102.00 by being out only once in 17 innings in 1953).


Q: Based on the highest percentage of victories, who is the most successful Test captain of all time? Matthew Ryder

Bearders' Answer: Given a qualification of 20 matches as captain, Ricky Ponting is currently top with 26 wins from 34 Tests and a success rating of 76.4%.

Interestingly, seven of the 12 captains with a success rating of 50% or higher are Australian, including the top four. The other 11 are: Steve Waugh (Aus – 71.9%); Don Bradman (Aus -62.5%); Lindsay Hassett (Aus – 58.3%); Mike Brearley (Eng – 58.0%); Michael Vaughan (Eng – 56.4%); Bill Woodfull (Aus – 56.0%); Viv Richards (WI – 54.0%); Shaun Pollock (SA – 53.8%); Mark Taylor (Aus – 52.0%); ‘Hansie’ Cronje (SA – 50.9%); Ian Chappell (Aus – 50.0%).


Q: Am I correct in remembering Geoff Boycott batting on all five days of a Test match? I believe he batted through day one and the early part of day two, before batting again towards the end of day three, all through day four and the early part of day five. Has any other batsman achieved this? Hugo

Bearders' Answer: Yes, you are correct but the details are slightly awry. Boycott achieved this feat in the Trent Bridge Ashes Test of 1977. Returning after three years of self-imposed exile, he began his first innings at 6.17 on the first evening and had scored 1 off 3 balls at stumps.

On the second day his interval scores were: lunch - 14 off 96 balls, having run out Nottingham hero, Derek Randall; tea – 63 off 199; stumps (29 minutes early due to bad light) – 88 off 268. He was out for 107 off 315 balls in 419 minutes at 12.45pm on the third day.

He began his second innings at 6.05 on the fourth evening and raced to 12 off 20 balls at stumps. When England completed a seven-wicket victory at 4.42pm on the fifth day he was not out 80 from 231 balls in 311 minutes.
Six others have batted on each day of a five-day Test: Allan Lamb and Andrew Flintoff (England); Kim Hughes (Australia); Adrian Griffith (WI); M.L.Jaisimha and Ravi Shastri (India).


Q: I know that England have had a Scotsman and a Welshman as captains (Mike Denness and Tony Lewis), but have they ever been captained by an Irishman? Evan Jones, England

Bearders' Answer: Yes, two Irish-born cricketers have led England but both learned the game in England. Freddie Fane, born at Curragh Camp in 1875 (Charterhouse, Oxford and Essex), deputised for injured appointed captains in five Tests (three v Australia 1907-08 and two v South Africa 1909-10).

Sir Timothy O’Brien, born at Dublin in 1861 (Downside, Oxford and Middlesex), skippered England in the opening Test against South Africa in 1895-96.


Q: What is the highest last-wicket stand in first class and Test cricket? Sam Cooper

Bearders' Answer: The highest in Tests is 151. Scored in 155 minutes by Brian Hastings (110) and Richard Collinge (68*) for New Zealand v Pakistan at Auckland on 18 February 1973, it took the total from 251 to 402, levelling the first innings totals in a drawn match.

Their record was equalled, in 183 minutes, by Azhar Mahmood (128*) and Mushtaq Ahmed (59) for Pakistan v South Africa at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 7, 8 October 1997.

The tenth-wicket first-class record is 307 in 304 minutes by Alan Kippax (260*) and Hal Hooker (62) for New South Wales v Victoria at Melbourne on 25, 26 December 1928.

It took the score from 113 for 9 to 420 and enabled the eventual Sheffield Shield champions to draw this vital match.


Q: Who did Sir Don Bradman choose as his wicket-keeper in his all time XI? Taru, India

Bearders' Answer: Don Tallon (Queensland and Australia) was The Don’s chosen gloveman in his All Time XI (2001). His full side was Barry Richards, Arthur Morris, Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Gary Sobers, Tallon, Ray Lindwall, Dennis Lillee, Alec Bedser, Bill O'Reilly and Clarrie Grimmett.


Q: Which player has been on the losing side the most times in Test matches? Paul Adams, England

Bearders' Answer: Brian Lara has that dubious honour, having been on the losing side in 62 of his 130 Test matches for West Indies (32 wins, 36 draws).

Two other players have featured in 50 or more defeats: Alec Stewart (54 out of 133 Tests for England) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (51 out of 104 for West Indies).


Q: Bearders, indeed all cricket lovers might be interested to know of a century that might well be unique. Playing for Herongate in Essex on a full-size away ground, their beefy slogger Colin Hart scored a century from 26 balls.

He faced every ball bowled during his stay at the crease, striking ten sixes, ten fours, three singles and a two. One ball he missed (taking a leg-bye) and the last he was dismissed by a catch on the mid-wicket boundary, where most of his hits went.

The whole thing lasted about 15 minutes and of course his 105 came in a partnership of 106. Colin was no batter, taking a cross-batted swipe at everything, regardless of the delivery or the state of the match, but he was an excellent medium pace bowler.

He told me afterwards that the man who caught him was actually well over the boundary, but that he was too puffed to return to the crease having run half way to the pavilion!

I have never heard of a faster ton, in terms of balls or time, or indeed a partnership of this size where all but one run were scored by one player. This took place in, I think, 1963 or 1964. Paul Money

Bearders' Answer: It is a fascinating account, Paul, and will greatly cheer all chronic swipers. Records of minor cricket are inevitably far from complete but I have details of a faster hundred against genuine bowling. Playing for Rosewater against Warradale, Adelaide, on 19 December 1987, Lindsay Martin scored 100 off 20 balls, hitting them for 13 sixes, 5 fours and 2 singles.

As far as the partnership is concerned, there are probably many similar instances. A comparable one at Test level would be Sanath Jayasuriya (253) and Dilhara Fernando (1) sharing a ninth-wicket stand of 101 for Sri Lanka against Pakistan at Faisalabad in October 2004.


Q: At 16 years and 351 days, was Glamorgan's James Harris the youngest ever bowler to open the bowling in the County Championship? Peter Williamson

Bearders' Answer: Not if you accept that the County Championship, although not officially constituted until 1890, existed from at least 1864.

I have found a pair of Victorian Charlies who were younger and there may have been other less obvious instances.
Charles Young, born 2 February 1852, opened the bowling and took 2-61 for Hampshire v Kent at Southborough on 8 July 1867 when aged 15 years 157 days.

Charles Winter, born 9 October 1866, opened the bowling (0-23) for Somerset v Hampshire at Southampton on 6 August 1883 when aged 16 years 301 days.

Harris is the youngest to take a Championship wicket for Glamorgan.


Q: Plenty of bowlers have taken a wicket with the first ball of a game (including quite a few in Test cricket). However, to my knowledge, no batsman has ever achieved the feat of hitting a six off the first ball of a game/innings (although I've seen a fair few 4s over the years). Is this correct? Lydiard

I am sure that it happens frequently in minor cricket but I cannot readily recall an instance in Test matches. Trevor Bailey told me that T.C. ‘Dickie’ Dodds had made a habit of hitting the opening ball of an Essex innings for six.

Apparently he was a rather stodgy batsman before he took to religion halfway through his career (1943-44 to 1961). Then, according to the testament of ‘The Boil’, God told him to hit his first ball for six – and he did!


Q: What is the highest batting partnership in a Test match and what number batsmen completed the feat? Keith O Brown

Bearders' Answer: The record is the highest partnership in all first-class cricket - 624 for the third wicket off 157 overs – and it is a fairly recent one, having been achieved on 27, 28, 29 July 2006 by Sri Lanka’s numbers 3 and 4 batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara (287) and Mahela Jayawardena (374) against South Africa at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo.

Having dismissed South Africa for 169, the hosts were 128 for 2 at stumps on the first day (Sangakkara 59, Jayawardena 55). The pair then batted throughout the second day to take the score to 485 for 2 (Sangakkara 229, Jayawardena 224).

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  • 1.
  • At 01:39 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Rick De'Laglio wrote:

I have 2 seperate questions:

I once took 5 wickets for 21 runs off 1 over in a 20 overs a-side pub match. The runs scored against me were from 3 no-balls which were all hoyked for 6 giving an over that looked like this: [W][6nb][6nb][W][6nb][W][W][.][W]

Are there any examples of similarly short-lived indifferent bowling performances from first class or Test cricket?


Secondly:

My Dad, playing for a local village side, once took wickets with both of his last 2 balls of a season. He then missed the entire next season due to injury before returning a couple of months into the next season and taking a wicket with his first ball - completing a fairly long-winded hat-trick of sorts. Do you know of any similarly long-winded hat-tricks or other bowling feats?

  • 2.
  • At 02:18 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Mat wrote:

With regards to "achieved the feat of hitting a six off the first ball of a game/innings " .. whilst playing for Coleshill Cricket Club in the late 80's (I'm still there now, celebrating my 25th year) I have experienced this TWICE .. in fact it was two weeks running that our opening bowler, who shall remain nameless, but you know who you are, was despatched for a maximum SIX off the first delivery of each game!

  • 3.
  • At 02:21 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • John New wrote:

Q - In the 1970s I was at Headingly for a test match and Tony Grieg and Bob Willis got about 50 (56 IIRC) for the last wicket on the last day with Willis getting 0. What is the biggest test partnership in which one player made a duck?

John New - Portland Dorset.

  • 4.
  • At 02:25 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Neil Spofforth wrote:

The International career of Fred Spofforth for Australia is easily obtained via google, Bill, but I am interested to know how he faired in the county game for, I beleive, Derbyshire and maybe Surrey.

As a point of interest for others, Fred Spofforth played for the Aussies in the 1883 test that became the Ashes, taking 14 wickets for 90 runs in the match.

  • 5.
  • At 02:25 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Michael Jones wrote:

Rick, I don't think anything in top level cricket can quite match your performance; the nearest is probably the performance of Zimbabwe's Graeme Cremer against South Africa at Cape Town in 2005, when the Zimbabwean side was so depleted by politics that it was questionable whether it deserved Test status. After Zimbabwe had been rolled over for 54 in barely a session (Cremer's contribution being a second ball duck), South Africa piled up 340/3 off only 50 overs; Cremer took all three wickets but they came at a cost of 86 off his 9 overs.

Unfortunately a hat-trick is usually only counted as such if all three wickets are taken in the same match, so the most long-winded possible would be one taken across both innings. There have been three such hat-tricks in Tests, by Courtney Walsh, Merv Hughes (in consecutive matches of the same series - Hughes is the only bowler to have taken a Test hat-trick spread over three separate overs) and Jermaine Lawson.

  • 6.
  • At 03:19 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Marc wrote:

Writing from Canada... I would like to know the smallest 4th innings target where the batting team went all out and lost the Test match. I know that in the famous 1882 match between Australia and England, the English had a target of 85 and fell 8 runs short, has anyone missed a smaller target?

Any other examples where the team batting in the last innings made hard work of a very small target score would also be appreciated.

  • 7.
  • At 04:07 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Louis wrote:

I was having a discussion the other day with a friend about how you define overthrows. Say for example the batsmen run one, and the fielder throws wildly and it goes over a boundary, that would be five runs. However, if the batsmen ran 5 and a fielder knocked the ball over the rope in the act of fielding (i.e. not throwing the ball would it only be 4? Hypothetically could a fielder tactically concede a boundary to reduce the runber of runs scored?

  • 8.
  • At 04:32 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • STEVE SMOUT wrote:

WHAT TIME OF DAY DID THE FAMOUS GILLETTE CUP SEMI BETWEEN LANCS AND GLOUS ACTUALLY END, AND HOW MANY DID DAVID HUGHES TAKE OFF THE PENULTIMATE OVER?.

  • 9.
  • At 05:42 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Richard Price wrote:

I have heard much chuntering on TMS about great wicketkeepers but little or no reference to Godfrey Evans who I believe is probably the greatest in living memory.
Did he not go a complete tour of Oz without conceding one bye? Or is my memory not as good as your record books, Bearders?

Richard Price Aldbourne Wilts.

  • 10.
  • At 05:50 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • paul blacknell wrote:

I recall reading that the highest two innings victory on record was something like an innings and 800 runs. Can you confirm the details or was I dreaming? Please don't tell me it was an England test result.

  • 11.
  • At 05:59 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Vijay Immanuel wrote:

Has there been an instance of a player called upon in the middle of a first-class game (say, game A), to play in another first-class game (game B)? If so, how would their appearance in game A show in their statistics? ...writing from India.

  • 12.
  • At 06:37 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Alistair wrote:

I know that Andrew Symonds can bowl both spin and medium pace deliveries, and also that Malcolm Nash used to do the same (or at least experimented with spin against Garfield Sobers).

I was just wondering if you could think of a time when a player managed to take wickets in a match with 2 different types of delivery.

Alistair McLagan, England

  • 13.
  • At 06:53 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Robert Boswell wrote:

Hi Bearders,

Re six of the first ball of a match.

This is not quite what the person asks, but I remmeber an interview by John Arlott in 1975 of the Somerset player Harold Gimblett.

Gimblett said in this interview he hit a six of the first ball of his teams first innings, but not the first ball of the match.

He said in the interview not hitting the first ball of the match for six was one of his major disappoinments.

Thanks

Robert Boswell

  • 14.
  • At 06:57 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Robert Boswell wrote:

Hi Bearders,

I remeber an interview between John Arlott and Harold Gimblett - the Somerset player. It took place in 1975 or 1976.

Gimblett said he never hit the first ball the match for six, but he did hit the first ball of Somersets first innings for six.

Gimblett said not hitting the first ball of the match for six was a major disappoinment in his career.

Thanks

Robert Boswell

  • 15.
  • At 07:37 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Paul Money wrote:

I certainly saw Dicky Dodds hit the first ball of a match for 6 and I am pretty sure that it wasn't unique for him. Perhaps in his honour Bearders could compile an XI of parsons for us. Dicky would of course open with David Shepherd and Andrew Wingfield-Digby could open the bowling, but who else would be available. He may have to resort to players called Parsons or McVicar perhaps!

  • 16.
  • At 07:39 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Robert Boswell wrote:

Hi

In reply to Alisatir below and a bowler taking wickets with two different types of bowling in the same match. Tony Grieg went better than this and took wickets with two types of bowling in the same innings.

By coincidence I have just this evening just finished reading Christopher Martin Jenkins account of the MCC in the West Indies in 1974. In decribing the Barbados Test he states;

" Grieg having one success as a seamer before lunch, now had one in his newly discovered role as an off-spinner"

Thanks

Robert Boswell

  • 17.
  • At 07:41 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Russell (from Durham) wrote:

Hi Bearders,

With the new one day regulations allowing a free hit following a front foot no ball, what happens if the free hit ball is a wide or another no ball?

Since its introduction, it does seem to have had a postive effect on no balls in matches.

Thanks
Russell

  • 18.
  • At 07:42 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Robert Boswell wrote:

Hi

In reply to Alisatir below and a bowler taking wickets with two different types of bowling in the same match. Tony Grieg went better than this and took wickets with two types of bowling in the same innings.

By coincidence I have just this evening just finished reading Christopher Martin Jenkins account of the MCC in the West Indies in 1974. In decribing the Barbados Test he states;

" Grieg having one success as a seamer before lunch, now had one in his newly discovered role as an off-spinner"

Thanks

Robert Boswell

  • 19.
  • At 07:55 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Richard Tims wrote:

Dear Bill,
What is a KOLPAK registration and how does it affect one's qualification to play for England?

  • 20.
  • At 08:34 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Christian Annesley wrote:

Bill, Stuart Broad going for 36 off an over got me wondering. Is there any long-standing ODI bowler who has never really been got after by batsmen -- either in terms of really bad 10-over figs or going for, say, 16-plus in a single over?

If such a bowler exists he is surely the most consistently tight in world cricket.

  • 21.
  • At 09:08 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Chris Thomas wrote:

Here is a challenge for cricket record keepers:

How many runs, give or take a few, have been scored in first class and test cricket in the entire history of the game. The aggregate of runs must run into the millions for the first class game.

Similarly, how many wickets all time in first class and test cricket?

  • 22.
  • At 09:26 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Brian Smith wrote:

Has any team ever been set a target of 1 run to win in the final innings of a test match?

  • 23.
  • At 09:49 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Richard wrote:

Bill,

Wicket keeper Phil Mustard achieved his first international dismissal when he stumped Sangakarra in the first ODI in Sri Lanka. In fact, it was not until the second ODI that he took his first catch.

Are there any other examples of (international) debutant wicket keepers who achieved a stumping before taking their first catch?

  • 24.
  • At 09:53 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Kev Hicks wrote:

Bearders
Can you tell me who the highest test score containing only boundaries? I seem to recall John Emburey being a candidate for a knock against (I think) Pakistan in 1986.

  • 25.
  • At 10:28 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Jeremy Hicks wrote:

In response to Russell's question about the new free hit rule, ICC playing condition 24.2 (which introduces it) states that "If the delivery for the free hit is not a legitimate delivery (any kind of no ball or a wide ball) then the next delivery will become a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it."

  • 26.
  • At 10:50 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Joe LeBroudt wrote:

Do day/night floodlit matches have an ultimate cut off point beyond which the match is deemed drawn or void ? This occurred to me recently during the 4th ODI in Sri Lanka when England batting under lights went off due to rain; under "daylight" conditions there would come a point where the conditions were too poor to bat ,but under lights conditions would change very little from sunset until dawn; could the two sides have been kept snoozing in the changing rooms overnight waiting for dry intervals ?

  • 27.
  • At 11:51 PM on 10 Oct 2007,
  • Keith O. Brown, Germany wrote:

Bill,
I'm West Indian by birth and I love your columns.

Who is the most successful set of brothers playing for their country and give me some stats such as batting partnership, test hundreds, batting average and bowling. The Chappell brothers of Austraila comes most prominent to mind.Thanks.

  • 28.
  • At 01:03 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Keith O. Brown, Germany` wrote:

Bill,
In terms of a 5 test matches series, who holds the record for most runs, hundreds, highest batting average and most wickets. As for the bowlers, Colin Croft's 33 wickets against Pakistan in 1977 was the most but I'm sure you will correct me. Thanks.

Keith (Jamaican by birth) from Germany

  • 29.
  • At 01:07 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Keith O. Brown wrote:

Bill,
I'm entuned with your columns.

What is the fastest result obtain in a test match. I can only remember a 1970s test between WI and England where both side were bowled out in a single day. Can you give details. Thank you.

Keith in Germany

  • 30.
  • At 03:46 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Ian Findlay wrote:

In reference to the query by Lydiard on whether any batsman had hit this first ball faced fro six, iIseem to remember the Barbadian-born WI batsman Carlisle Best hitting his first ball faced for six on his debut in Kingston, Jamaica around the 1986. Maybe the venerable Tony Cozier could help us here.

  • 31.
  • At 07:23 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Anoop SK wrote:

I think philo wallace of west indies hit javagal srinath of india for a six of the very first ball in their innings chasing a modest target during a champions trophy match in dhaka, I think in 1998.

  • 32.
  • At 08:20 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Paul Hawkins wrote:

Not often we can catch you out, Bill, but following your list of England players born in Devon - Tolchard, Childs, Coldwell etc there is one you have missed, in fact the most recent one, Ian Ward, ex-Sussex, born in Plymouth, and played for England a few times about year 2000.

  • 33.
  • At 08:50 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • HITESH wrote:

Hi Bill,

Can you please confirm what is the highest and the lowest number of runs scored by Glamorgan
at home and away during the English Summer.
i.e the total of runs in a season. As it seems that 2007 has been the worst year for Glamorgan Cricket Club.

Thanks
Hitesh
(Wales team Supporter)

  • 34.
  • At 09:11 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Mike Fairclough wrote:

Hi Bill,
when the "speed" of a delivery is displayed on TV, is it really the "speed" or the "velocity" of the ball.

"speed" being distance travelled/time.
"velocity" being displacement (distance travelled in a particular direction)/time.

From this a ball which pitches short would have to travel further to get to the batsman and would have a lower "velocity" than a "yorker".

Same with tall bowlers and wide balls.

Hope it's clearer than mud.

Regards

Mike

  • 35.
  • At 09:51 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Thomas wrote:

Hi Bill,

Has any wicketkeeper ever had 1000 first class dismissals?

Thomas, England

  • 36.
  • At 10:03 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Barrie Darby wrote:

Bill

When a wide ball goes to the boundary the score goes up by 5 runs. Has this always been the case or was it previously just 4 ?

Also, if a batsman hits a no-ball for 4, am I correct in assuming that the batsman is credited with 4 runs with the no ball going in the extra's column ? How is this shown in the bowlers column ?

  • 37.
  • At 10:10 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Josh West wrote:

Correct me if I am wrong, but Carlisle Best's first scoring shot in Test cricket was a six. I just wanted to know if any other players have scored a six with their first scoring shot in Test cricket?

  • 38.
  • At 10:57 AM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Cyrus wrote:

Hi Bearders,

I do remember that a Sri Lankan batsman (I think it was Aravinda D'Silva) hit a 6 off the first ball in the Sri Lankan 2nd innings against India sometime in the eighties (between 1982 and 1987). I think that the bowler on the receiving end was Kapil Dev. I was listening to teh commentary.

Cyrus

  • 39.
  • At 12:00 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Richard wrote:

Hi Bearders,

How many test matches would record holder Steve Waugh have played if he had never been dropped or injured?

Thanks

Richard, London

  • 40.
  • At 12:06 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • david mcauley wrote:

Hi Bearders, In answering the question if an Irishman has ever captained England, I think you missed out on the most famous of them all. I am almost certain Ian Botham was born in my home town of Derry.I believe Botham was born at Ebrington Barracks in the Waterside of Derry.

  • 41.
  • At 12:15 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Alex T wrote:

Re Keith, #28:
Your guess of most wickets is quite well off, in terms of both wickets and years.
I'm not sure this is the record, but Shane Warne took 40 wickets in the 5 Test Ashes series in 2005, including his 600th scalp.
Even if this isn't the record in a 5 Test series: could it be the record by a bowler on the losing team?

  • 42.
  • At 12:52 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Tommy Scragend wrote:

David McAuley - Botham was born in Heswall (Wirral/Cheshire). Nowhere near Ireland!

(I have commented in the past about people doing Bill's job by answering the questions themselves, but as this is in response to a comment rather than a question, I let myself off!)

  • 43.
  • At 02:29 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • guido christiaens wrote:

hi
as been belgian born is there any possibilty that i could play for england as a testplayer (not that i am a good player in any way)

Bill,

Just a brief note to thank you on behalf of Bickley Park CC for your excellent after dinner speech last week.

Your stories of TMS were a joy.

Regards

Barry Hainworth
Hon. Secretary

  • 45.
  • At 03:02 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • ravi wrote:

Hi, Can you please answer Q.44 posted...

At 07:11 PM on 30 Sep 2007, Dav wrote: What the result of a match be if the side batting first scored 200 all out and the side batting second were 200 for 9 before the last man was stumped of a wide? I assume the side batting second would win, but what would the margin of victory be?

I really would like to know the answer. Thanks!

Ravi, India

  • 46.
  • At 03:28 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • tom carey wrote:

My questions concern the two knighted friends ex-Somerset Sir Viv and Sir Ian. They were presumably captains of their respective countries at some time in the same era. If so, how often did they lead teams against each other at this level and what was the overall outcome? Also it would be interesting to know the respective bowling and batting averages for each of these Knights in the test matches that they contended as captains.
Thank you for this most interesting blog from an almost Cricket-less Cyprus. Didn't Allan Knot move to Cyprus, does he still play?

  • 47.
  • At 03:53 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • BABS PINNINGTON wrote:

I'am off on my first tour to Nz next feb/march and am trying to brush up on my cricket terms,don;t want to ask hubby so can you tell me where Cow Corner is,please help

  • 48.
  • At 04:06 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Taushulu Freedom Aluteni wrote:

What is the highest Test score ever made by a South African batsman in England?

  • 49.
  • At 05:00 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Prashant wrote:

Alec Stewart made 8400-odd runs, but only 15 centuries. Is he the leading run scorer among batsmen who have scored less than 20 test centuries? Also, is he the leading scorer among batsmen who have never scored a double century?

  • 50.
  • At 06:17 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Peter Vickers wrote:

The Boil is indeed right about Dickie Dodds' decision to hit the first ball of the match for 6 (and the motivation for it). The story is well told in his entertaining autobiography, "Hit Hard and Enjoy it" which is a good description of life on the county circuit in the 1950s and early 60s. (He was a family friend).
Peter Vickers, Leeds

  • 51.
  • At 07:32 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Vijay Immanuel wrote:

We've seen many a bouncer top-edged for sixes behind the wicket. And we've seen numerous batsmen getting hit on the body, and the ball running away to the boundary. Now, has there ever been an instance where the ball hit the batsmen and gone over the ropes for a six?

  • 52.
  • At 07:39 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Sam Cooper wrote:

Thanks for the info bearders, something else about the last wicket. Has there ever been a 10th and 11th man both scoring a hundred in the same innings? Thanks again, Sam

  • 53.
  • At 07:46 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Gordon Taylor wrote:

Hi. When a batsman scores either 100 or 400it is still classified as a hundred scored by the batsman. However, if the 400 was shown as 4 instead of 1, which batsman has scored the most hundreds. Hope you follow. ie 100 = 1, 200 = 2 etc.

  • 54.
  • At 08:41 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Darshak Patel wrote:

Has there ever been an instance in ODI where the 10th Wicket partnership has been the highest in the innings? Zaheer Khan and RP Singh almost managed to do it against Australia at Vadodara.

  • 55.
  • At 09:14 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • David McKay wrote:

Hello Bill,

I have an unusual example of a six having been scored off the first ball of an innings by an unlikely batsman.
At Benwell Hill, in the last league match of the 1994 season, Ashington Seconds decided to arrange their batting order by the "pack of cards" method. Young Steve Harmison came out first and proceeded to flick his first ball over mid-wicket, Caribbean style, for six (off Phil Hall) in a very brief cameo of about 20.

  • 56.
  • At 11:52 PM on 11 Oct 2007,
  • Tim Conder wrote:

Hey Bill,

I was just curious as to how near Ottis Gibson was to the record for county championships taken in a season by a seam bowler? I know spin bowlers have taken a fair few more than his seasons tally but wasn't sure for pacemen, especially in the modern era.

Thanks,
Tim Conder, Oxford England

  • 57.
  • At 12:44 AM on 12 Oct 2007,
  • Nick Platten wrote:

Dear Bill,

In addenda to the question on batting on all 5 days of a test. Am i right in saying that Courtney Walsh is the only bowler to have bowled on all 5 days?

Nick, Isle of Man

  • 58.
  • At 01:58 AM on 12 Oct 2007,
  • Douglas Campbell wrote:

Hi Bill,

I vaguely remember hearing that Ashely Giles was the 10th Englishman to reach 100 wickets and 1000 runs in test cricket. Can you please confirm who the other 9 are?

Thanks,

Douglas
Glasgow

  • 59.
  • At 11:25 AM on 12 Oct 2007,
  • Barry Wilson wrote:

Hi Bearders, I have been following cricket for a couple of years now and been catching up with all the older stuff via DVD's and the internet. I have seen footage of quite a few Test and ODI hat-tricks but cannot recall seeing a hat trick including three different types of dismissal ie. 1 caught, 1 bowled, 1 LBW etc. Is this something that has been recorded in the international or first class game and if so who and when has obtained this feat? Thanks, and keep up the excellent work! It helps relative novices' like me learn more about the true beautiful game!

Barry Wilson - Hamilton, Scotland

  • 60.
  • At 12:54 PM on 12 Oct 2007,
  • Louis wrote:

Hi Bill,

A few years ago, I saw a game where the batsmen edged the ball onto the helment placed behind the keeper and the ball then went over the rope without bouncing. 11 runs were given and I was wondering if this is the correct application of the law?

  • 61.
  • At 02:33 PM on 12 Oct 2007,
  • Yassir Mahmood wrote:

With Inzamam bowing out of Test cricket, one wonders if we will ever see players of his stature again. Who is the heaviest player ever to score a test century and are there any candidates playing today who might steal that crown?

One past great who springs to mind is Colin Milburn, but surely he has some competition.

  • 62.
  • At 02:40 PM on 12 Oct 2007,
  • Yassir Mahmood wrote:

With Inzamam bowing out of Test cricket, one wonders if we will ever see players of his stature again. Who is the heaviest player ever to score a test century and are there any candidates playing today who might steal that crown?

One past great who springs to mind is Colin Milburn, but surely he has some competition.

  • 64.
  • At 10:21 PM on 12 Oct 2007,
  • John Noyce wrote:

Les Ames arguably one of the best keeper/batsmen ever has a lot of records i was wondering how these stand up against other players such as scoring 3000 runs in a season, over 1000 dismissals and passing 1000 runs in several seasons. Has anyone scored a 1000 + runs in a season more times than him, has anyone scored more than 3000 runs in a season, also has anyone scored centuries against every county (Les Ames only played for kent and England so couldn't achieve this)
Also which wicket keeper has the most wickets

  • 65.
  • At 11:15 PM on 12 Oct 2007,
  • Mohamed wrote:

Who was the last English batsman to retire from test cricket with a batting average of more than 50? Was it Ken Barrington?

I had one question: We have read in the past teams used to travel by boat when visiting other countries (like say for Ashes). When was the last instance of a team traveling by boat for a series? Similarly when was the first instance when a team flew?
Also while on this, are there examples of teams traveling using any other means?

Thanks and regards,
Amol

  • 67.
  • At 01:08 PM on 13 Oct 2007,
  • Tony Fellowes wrote:

Apropos Geoff Boycott batting on all 5 days of a Test Match, did he not also, later in the same series, stay on the field of play throughout the match after being last out for 191 at Headingley? I think this match finished in 4 days however. But, how many times has this been done at Test level?

  • 68.
  • At 04:30 PM on 13 Oct 2007,
  • Porto Ian wrote:

a few answers (and a gripe)

51-Vijay Immanuel

if the ball hit the batsman but not his bat it would be 4, a six can only be scored off the bat

from law 19 pt 4

"b) ... the allowances for boundaries shall be 6 runs if the ball having been struck by the bat pitches beyond the boundary, but otherwise 4 runs...."

47-Babs Pinnington

this has already been answered in Blog 154, the question posted number 50 and Ryan M answered (in post 82)

"Cow corner- An unconventional fielding position, more commonly found in the lower reaches of the game, on the midwicket/long-on boundary. The term is thought to have originated at Dulwich College where there was the corner of a field containing livestock on that edge of the playing area. Fielders were dispatched to the "cow corner"

45-ravi

this too has already been answered, in blog 155, post 77 by M.Jones (and elsewhere), the answer being a batting side win by one wicket, the wide counting before the stumping and so the game stops then

58-douglas campbell

the other englishmen are
W.Rhodes
MW.Tate
TE.Bailey
FJ.Titmus
R.Illingworth
AW.Greig
IT.Botham
JE.Emburey
A.Flintoff

for a full list of all players to achieve this

now the gripe =(
it seems to me that the blog format is not suitable for these questions/answers as the question gets dislocated from the answer and this leads to repeated questions, even questions that have already been answered, and also to problems finding the answer (or even following your own question through many answers)
i have to say i was a fan of Bill just answering questions without the users seeing all the questions he had to wade through, however if interaction is wanted why can we not have a proper forum?
with the posts divided (laws/records/players/etc) and then sub-divided (records/bowling/tests for example) with all the comments on one question being kept together, it would thus be easy to find specific questions, track your own commments, and see unanswered questions, and even order questions/posts by date (it might even solve the slooooow post problem)
thats my tupence worth anyway...sorry for going on about it

  • 69.
  • At 01:55 PM on 14 Oct 2007,
  • Saqib wrote:

Lydiard,

As far as I remember, Philo Wallace of West Indies once hit a six off the first ball of an innings(ODI) bowled by Javagal Srinath of India.

I've got a faint memory of Philo Wallace hitting a straight shot over the bowler's head for a low six.
It must have been about 8 - 10 years ago.

Answer to the question from Brian Smith (10-oct-2007 @ 9:26 PM
I have found 4 instances where a team needs to score only 1 run in the 4th innings to win the Test match.

1st instance:
South Africa vs Australia (3rd test) in Cape Town
26 to 29-Nov-1921
South Africa 180 (all out, 88 overs)
Australia 396 (all out, 120 overs)
South Africa 216 (all out, 80.3 overs)
Scores level, so Australia require only 1 run in the 4th innings. They achieve this only 1 run with the 1st ball of their innings !

2nd instance
Australia vs England (1st test / Ashes) in Sydney
2 to 7-Dec-1932
Australia 360 (all out, 102.2 overs)
England 524 (all out, 229.4 overs)
Australia 164 (all out, 63.3 overs)
England 1 (for 0, 0.1 over)

3rd instance
England vs West Indies (1st test) in Old Trafford, Manchester / 6 to 10-Jun-1963
West Indies 501 (for 6 dec, 196 overs)
England 205 (all out, 90.3 overs)
England (f/o) 296 (all, 109.5 overs)
West Indies 1 (for 0, 0.1 over)

4th instance
West Indies vs India (4th test) in Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados / 15 to 20-Apr-1983
India 209 (all out, 57.2 overs)
West Indies 486 (all out, 158.2 overs)
India 277 (all out, 79.2 overs)
West Indies 1 (for 0, 0.1 overs)

These are all the instances I have found.
There are matches for which the team has won after having scored 2 runs only, 3 runs (in 2.2 overs including a maiden !), 5 runs (last "run" was a no-ball !), 5 runs (1 wide + 1 four, 2 balls bowled by Ramprakash / a famous bowler !)

This answer coming a cricket fan and statistician from Paris, France.
Best regards !

  • 71.
  • At 06:27 AM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • Andre LAVIGNE wrote:

Answer to the question #49 from Prashant posted on 11-Oct-2007 @ 5:00 PM

The leading run-scorer who has NOT scored a double-century is Jacques KALLIS (South Africa) with 8851 runs (high score 189 no / 27 centuries)
Then Alec STEWART with 8463 runs (HS 190 / 15 centuries), Mark WAUGH 8029 runs (HS 153 no / 20 centuries), Mike ATHERTON 7728 (HS 185 no / 16 centuries)

Yes, Alec STEWART is the leading run-scorer who has scored less than 20 centuries.

Best regards from Paris, France.

  • 72.
  • At 06:31 AM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • Andre LAVIGNE wrote:

Answer to the question from Douglas CAMPBELL posted on 12-Oct-2007 at 1:58 AM

Yes you are right : 10 Englishmen have scored 1000 runs and 100 wickets during their career.

In the alphabethical order, they are :
Trevor BAILEY, Sir Ian BOTHAM, J EMBUREY, Andrew FLINTOFF, Ashley Gilo GILES, Tony GREIG, Ray ILLINGWORTH, W RHODES, MW TATE and FJ TITMUS.

Among the current English players, the closest to this milestone is probably Stephen HARMISON (who has already taken > 100 wickets) but who needs to score 368 more runs! Hard task ahead !

Best regards from Paris, France !

  • 73.
  • At 06:49 AM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • Andre LAVIGNE wrote:

Answer to the question #48 from Taushulu Freedom Aluteni posted on 11-Oct-2007 at 4:06 PM

The highest Test score for a South African batman in England is 277 by Graeme SMITH during the 1st test of summer 2003, at Birmingham.

The second highest score is 259 runs by the same man, during the 2nd test of the same series, at Lord's !

Best regards from Paris !

  • 74.
  • At 08:57 AM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • Vijay wrote:

I think (though my memory might be playing tricks) Aravinda De Silva once hit the first ball of the innings (4th innings of the match) for a six. The bowler was Kapil Dev.

The test in question is Test # 1023 (1023/2) between India & Sri Lanka at Colombo in Aug 1985. Unfortunately, Cricinfo doesn't have a ball by ball for this.

Does anyone else recall this?

  • 75.
  • At 11:27 AM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • ali andrews wrote:

Beardo,

Does anyone have a slower strike rate in test cricket than Geoffrey Boycott? Also, what is Geoffrey's slowest strike rate for a test century?

cheers

SLt Andrews

  • 76.
  • At 11:45 AM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • Andre LAVIGNE wrote:

Answer to question #53 from Gordon TAYLOR posted on 11-Oct-2007 at 7:46 PM

A rather funny question that seems pointless to me, but I have found this :

Number 1 is Brian LARA with 46 "centuries"
(400 no + 375 + 7 double centuries + 25 "mono" centuries) = 4x1 + 3x1 + 2x7 + 1x25

Number 2 is Don BRADMAN !
with 43 "centuries" because he has scored 2 triple centuries + 10 double centuries + 17 "mono" centuries (3x2 + 2x10 + 1x17)

Number 3 is Sachin TENDULKAR with 41 "centuries" (4 double centuries + 33 "mono" centuries)

Then come Sunil GAVASKAR (38 "centuries"), Ricky PONTING (37), Steve WAUGH (33), Matthew HAYDEN (30), Gary SOBERS, Javed Miandad, Allan BORDER and Rahul DRAVID (29),
Inzamam-ul-Haq and several others (28)

The usual "suspects" are all there, but the order is different...

Best regards from Paris, France !

  • 77.
  • At 12:23 PM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • Swami wrote:

The remarkable thing about Tip Foster's double hundred against Australia -
287 at Sydney in 1903-04

is not only is it listed as the highest Test score on debut, it is also by a player that hardly played any first class cricket

That leads to my two questions, has any player made his first class debut in a Test? If not is Tip the first player to hit a century on Test debut weith the least number of First class appearences

  • 78.
  • At 12:43 PM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • Andre LAVIGNE wrote:

Answer to question #59 from Barry WILSON, posted on 12-Oct-2007 @ 11:25 am

So far 36 hat-tricks in Test cricket.
Yes I have found SIX of them to have included THREE different types of dismissals.

The oldest one (and the 3rd hat-trick of all) :
BRIGGS during 2nd Ashes test in 1892 (29-Jan to 3-Feb-1892 in Sydney) : bowled + lbw + caught

Then MJC ALLOM in Christchurch (New Zealand vs England / 10 to 13-Jan-1930) : lbw + caught + bowled

TWJ GODDARD in Johannesburg (South Africa vs England / 24 to 28-Dec-1938) : c&b + stumped + bowled

WW HALL in Lahore (Pakistan vs West Indies / 26 to 31-March-1959) : lbw + caught + bowled

LR GIBBS in Adelaide (Australia vs West Indies / 27-Jan to 1-Feb-1961) : lbw + caught Sobers + bowled

And the most recent hat-trick on 29-January-2006 by Irfan PATHAN (India) in Karachi (Pakistan vs India)
During the 2nd over of the MATCH with 0 run scored for Pakistan,
with the 4th ball of the over, Pathan removed Salman Butt for 0 (caught Dravid) then Younis Khan for 0 (lbw) then bowled Mohammad Yousuf.
So at the end of the 2nd over Pakistan were 0/3 !
And 101/6 at lunch on the 1st day !
And they went on to win the match by the "small" margin of 341 runs.
Incredible match.

Best regards from Paris, France !

  • 79.
  • At 01:14 PM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • Tom Goodley wrote:

Dear Bill,

In the famous Natwest final of 1993 Warks V Sussex, who did Martin Speight hit for the first six of the day over the bowlers head into the pavillion, which acted as a catalyst for the high scoring. It was either Tim Munton or Gladstone Small, but they were definately bowling from the pavillion end.

It was mine and my friends first trip to Lords (aged 11) and is always a point of disagreement when reminicing on what was a staggering game.

For the record i am sure it was Tim Munton who was dispatched as Gladys was tryin to bowl leg cutters going down the slope.

thanks

Tom

  • 80.
  • At 01:47 PM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • Chris Russon wrote:

Everybody knows that the lowest fourth innings target successfully defended in Test cricket is 85 by Australia against England at the Oval in 1882. But does Bill (or anybody ) know the corresponding record in all first class cricket ?

Chris R Davao Philippines

  • 81.
  • At 01:59 PM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • andrew seary wrote:

What is the most runs scored in the last over of a test match, ODI and 20/20 interntional match to win the game. Andrew

  • 82.
  • At 06:03 PM on 15 Oct 2007,
  • David Miles wrote:

Dear Bill,

Need some help tried the net with no luck
Is a list of the oldest cricket clubs available?
As I would like to know where Sidmouth CC might appear on the list being formed in 1823.

Best Regards

David

  • 83.
  • At 03:59 AM on 16 Oct 2007,
  • Stuart wrote:

(1.) Rick, on interesting fact is that two of Australia's greatest fast bowlers, Dennis Lillee and Glen McGrath, both took wickets with their last balls in Test cricket.

  • 84.
  • At 07:42 AM on 16 Oct 2007,
  • Joe Kerrigan wrote:

There must have been numerous occasions where all 11 men bowled during a first-class innings. However, my question is whether there has ever been a first-class innings where all 10 wickets were taken by 10 different bowlers. If not, what is the highest number of different bowlers to have taken a wicket in a first-class innings?

  • 85.
  • At 03:28 PM on 16 Oct 2007,
  • Colin H wrote:

Some years ago a teasing question was put to TMS listeners during a lunch break - and sadly I missed the answer when it was given out the next day. And I've been trying to work it out for the last decade or so - can you help?

If I remember rightly the question was something like this: after 3 balls of a match, the score is 18, Batsman no. 1 is 12 not out and Batsman no. 2 is 6 not out. How is this possible?

Please someone put me out of my misery!!

  • 86.
  • At 04:22 PM on 16 Oct 2007,
  • Toorban wrote:

If I remember it correctly, in South Africa or in Zimbabwe, one of the cricket grounds have a tree close to the boundary rope. My question is what happens if a ball destined to go the rope is stopped by the tree or what happens if the tree holds up a ball and then it falls to the hand of a fielder??
Thanks,
Toorban, France

  • 87.
  • At 05:46 PM on 16 Oct 2007,
  • Milind Phadnis wrote:

Answer to Question #85 by Colin H.
This could be achieved in 2 ways:
1.
Batsman No.1 hits first ball for 6. Then on the second ball after Batsman No.1 hits the ball somewhere in the field, there is a flurry of overthrows resulting in the batsmen running 7 runs. But the umpire signals 1 run short. Thus the strike has changed and the team total is 12 runs. Then on the 3rd ball, Batsman No2 hits a six !
2.
Batsman No.1 hits first ball for 6. On the second ball, Batsman No.1 nicks it behind the stumps, the ball ricochets of the helmet placed behind the keeper and the batsman go for a single. This results in 5 extra runs to Batsman No.1 as well as rotating the strike. Then again on the 3rd ball, Batsman No2 hits a six !

  • 88.
  • At 07:42 PM on 16 Oct 2007,
  • Carlos wrote:

is it possible to be out more in more thn one way in cricket?

For example, if the ball hit the pad, pitching in line and would have hit the stumps then he would be out lbw. But what would then happen if after hitting the pad, the ball hit the bat/glove and was caught. Is this possible?

If so how would the batsmen be deemed out: lbw or caught?

  • 89.
  • At 08:01 PM on 16 Oct 2007,
  • Porto Ian wrote:

TOORBAN - 86

this is another example of my gripe in post 68, both it has been answered before (by me in blog 155) and you lost your own question (as i was answering your identical question 48 in blog 155) and furthermore very similar questions appeared in previous blogs...i realize questioners can't be expected to trawl through 156 columns to find out if their question has already been asked/answered..this is why we need a FORUM (gripe, gripe, gripe)

however here is the answer again

in answer to 48

TOORBAN

as stated previously (look up other columns) if the tree has its roots outside the boundary then its branches, wherever they are, count as the boundary, so it would be a SIX and the ball would be dead (impossible to catch off)

if the tree is rooted inside the boundary then the umpires BEFORE play starts should decide with the captains the runs awarded for hitting it, usually it counts as a boundary anyway

see

and law 3, esp.

"Before the toss the umpires shall
...
(iii) the boundary of the field of play and allowances for boundaries. See Law 19.
(iv) any special conditions of play affecting the conduct of the match.
(b) inform the scorers of the agreements in (ii), (iii) and (iv) above."

  • 90.
  • At 08:30 PM on 16 Oct 2007,
  • Porto Ian wrote:

further to my tree answer i think the ground you are thinking of is Pietermaritzburg Oval, SA

Also there is one in Kenya, at the Mombasa Sports Club

there are others, including the famous lime tree in Canterbury, however this unfortunately fell down a few years ago

(it btw counted as 4 if struck)

  • 91.
  • At 01:36 PM on 17 Oct 2007,
  • Yaacov Greenberg wrote:

In the current One Day International, Aus v Ind, Murali Kartik took 2 wickets in two balls twice in the same innings. Has this ever happened before in first class or one day cricket?

  • 92.
  • At 12:00 AM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Philip Davis wrote:

yes Brian (post 22) there was a test match where the team was set 1 to win.

Surrey V Derby or Derby V Surrey 5 or 6 years ago

I can't remember what derby's 2nd innings score was but I do remember that surrey were set 1 to win the match but not b4 losing a wicket and so winning by 9 wickets.

there may well be other matches as well, but if so I don't hav any knowledge of them

  • 93.
  • At 10:00 AM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Toby Smith wrote:

Hello Bill,

I'm fairly sure that the Top 5 types of dismissals in first-class cricket are, in order of frequency: 1) caught, 2) lbw, 3) bowled, 4) run out, 5) stumped.
My question is: has this always been the case or was it different , say, 100 years ago? And are there any grounds in the world where the frequencies are different, e.g. where you're more likely to be trapped lbw than caught? Are there any statistics available on how you're most likely to be out at a particular ground?

Thanks in advance,
Toby, Budapest, Hungary.

  • 94.
  • At 11:21 AM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • chris wrote:

#91

I'm sure there are loads of instances of this happening. The most unique of these would be Malinga's 4 in 4 vs. S Africa in the WC this year, which is the only time in international cricket that has happened. (He just missed 5 in 5 by a whisker too!)

  • 95.
  • At 03:19 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Simon Corcoran wrote:

number 92, I'm fairly certain neither Surrey nor Derby play test cricket! :-)

  • 96.
  • At 06:14 PM on 18 Oct 2007,
  • Bill Isham wrote:

Bill,
It may be very difficult information to get, but what are the first class and test match records for the most number of wicket takers in a single innings? Are there any instances of all 10 being taken by 10 different bowlers (run outs excluded). Also in both types of fixture, what are the records for different types of dismissal? I would imagine there will be too many sharing top spot(s) to count.

Bill Isham, Ferring

  • 97.
  • At 06:34 AM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Stuart wrote:

Answer to (4). I wonder if you are related, Neil?

The following record is incomplete. There are at least six examples of Fred playing for Derbyshire for which I cannot find scorecards. I have included on match (against Yorkshire) where only one innings was played – probably due to the weather I would guess. I haven’t included a match Hampstead –v- Gentlemen of Netherlands. Fred took four wickets in this match, but overs, maidens and runs were not included on the scorecard.

None the less, the below represents all the full scorecards I could find in which Fred played First Class cricket between August 1888 and September 1897. It appears, by the dates of the matches, that Fred was limited to playing First Class matches during August and September, possibly due to work commitments. I haven’t been able to track down any records of his performance for Hampstead in League cricket except for the one related above. Any way, here it goes:

Derbyshire

M O Md R W Ave 5 10
7 287 93 617 43 14.35 3 2

BBI: 27 - 10 - 56 - 9 v Leic, 8/90
BBM: 54 - 19 - 114 - 14 v Leic, 8/90

Batting:
M I NO R HS Ave.
7 10 3 93 32 15.50

Gentleman of England.

M O Md R W Ave 5 10
1 69 29 124 11 11.27 2 1

BBI: 35 - 14 - 67 - 7 v I Zingari, 8/88

Batting:
M I NO R HS Ave.
1 2 0 2 2 1.00

Gentlemen.

M O Md R W Ave 5 10
3 140 41 260 11 26.63 - -

BBI: 42 - 16 - 71 - 4 v Players, 7/90.
BBM: 47 - 12 - 158 - 5 v Players, 9/97

Batting:
M I NO R HS Ave.
3 4 1 7 3 2.33

MCC

M O Md R W Ave 5 10
7 271.3 76 708 37 19.13 3 -

BBI/M: 35.1 - 7 - 74 - 8 v Yorkshire, 9/96

Batting:
M I NO R HS Ave.
7 10 1 57 20 6.33

North of England.

M O Md R W Ave 5 10
1 26 9 70 1 35.00 - -

BBI: 19 - 2 - 46 - 1 v South of England, 9/90

Batting:
M I NO R HS Ave.
1 2 0 23 21 11.50

South of England.
M O Md R W Ave 5 10
4 119.2 29 292 18 16.22 1 -

BBI: 25.1 - 8 - 40 - 6 v Yorkshire, 8/95.
BBM: 31.2 - 10 - 82 - 9 v Yorkshire, 8/95.

Batting:
M I NO R HS Ave.
4 7 1 45 17 7.50

Wembley Park.
M O Md R W Ave 5 10
1 50.4 18 100 11 9.09 2 1

BBI: 24.4 - 11 - 49 - 6 v Australia, 6/96

Batting:
M I NO R HS Ave.
1 2 0 3 1 1.50


Totals:
M O Md R W Ave 5 10
24 963.3 295 2171 132 16.44 10 4

BBI: 27 - 10 - 56 - 9 v Liec, 8/90.
BBM: 54 - 19 - 114 - 14 v Leic, 8/90

Batting:
M I NO R HS Ave.
24 37 6 230 32 7.41

A few interesting facts:
Fred enjoyed bowling against his former Australian team mates:

M O Md R W Ave 5 10
3 137.4 42 282 25 11.25 3 2

BBI: 19 - 3 - 42 - 6 7/90
BBM: 50.4 - 18 - 100 - 11 6/96

Fred never played in the same team as the great George Lohmann, but played against him on a few occasions.

I can only find one game in which Fred and WG Grace played in the same team - Gentleman -v- Players 7/90.

Despite Fred's amazing figures, he finished on the losing side more often than not:

M W L D
24 6 11 7

  • 98.
  • At 06:53 AM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Stuart wrote:

Answer to (91). Probably on many occasions, certainly in Tests, Yaacov. Two wickets in two balls twice in the same match is somewhat of an accomplishment, but nowhere near the record of such things.

Tests.

1. Tom Matthews has a record unlikely to ever bee surpassed. In 1912, against South Africa, he took a hat trick to finish of SA's first innings and a hat trick in the second. In Matthews second hat trick of the match, no other player was involved - one bolwed, two caught and bowled.

2. three players have taken four wickets in five balls, M Allom (W-WWW), C Old (WW-WW) AND Wasim Akram (WW-WW).

From my research, though, it appears this could be unique in ODI's, but I'm not certain about that.

  • 99.
  • At 11:49 AM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • John Baker wrote:

During ODI India v Australia 17th October 3 Australian batsmen were out first ball. what is the highest number of batsmen out first ball in an innings?

  • 100.
  • At 01:41 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Phil Britton wrote:

Re: #11 (Vijay)

Often in England, a player will be called from a county championship match into the test sqaud. If he plays in the test, then his stats will include both games.

On Aug 30 1988, Graham Gooch played in two first-class games. It was the last day of the test match against Sri Lanka (at Lord's), and England needed another 94 runs to win with all wickets left. Essex thinking this wouldn't take long, included him in their side to play Surrey at the Oval. Unfortunately, England were one run short at lunch, so Gooch (as captain) had to remain at Lord's all though the lunch break. Fortunately for Essex, Surrey batted first.
I believe that the ECB (or was it still the TCCB then) introduced a regulation to prevent this happening again.

  • 101.
  • At 02:28 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Graham wrote:

As a Yorkshireman I think that our county has provided the largest percentage of England captains. Am I right?

  • 102.
  • At 03:16 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Chris Higginbottom wrote:

With regard to Neil Spofforth's post re his illustrious forebear Fred. While he was qualifying for Derbyshire he played for my old club, Belper Meadows, in 1889-90, captaining the side in 1890 although he seemed to bowl very infrequently. His record for the club was 66 overs, 23 maidens, 78 runs, 32 wickets, with a best of 10-4-10-7 against Derby Midland on 28th April 1889, and also taking 5-9 against Derby Constitutional on September 23rd of the same year. The club's record in 1890 was played 24, won 13, lost 6, drawn 5. I believe that he married a girl from Breadsall in Derbyshire.

  • 103.
  • At 10:10 PM on 19 Oct 2007,
  • Porto Ian wrote:

Toby Smith - 93

not really an answer to your question just an extra to it

there are several other ways to get out in any form of cricket, 2 of which have also occured in Tests

Handled the Ball (7 times)
Obstructed Field (once)

  • 104.
  • At 01:49 AM on 20 Oct 2007,
  • Ken Bazley wrote:

In answer to Ravi (pst 45) quoted below.

"At 07:11 PM on 30 Sep 2007, Dav wrote: What the result of a match be if the side batting first scored 200 all out and the side batting second were 200 for 9 before the last man was stumped of a wide? I assume the side batting second would win, but what would the margin of victory be?"


Surely the team batting second wins by 1 wicket - The winning extra having been scored before the stumping, which would then not count as a wicket as the match had ended.

  • 105.
  • At 09:07 AM on 21 Oct 2007,
  • Monty Burns wrote:

Bill,

Can you tell me who, with a minumun of 20 Tests fulfilling the wicketkeeping role, has the most Test wickets and how many?

Thanks,

Monty

  • 106.
  • At 10:29 AM on 21 Oct 2007,
  • Porto Ian wrote:

Monty Burns 105

the most successful Test 'keeper is Mark Boucher with 402 dismissals in 104 tests

the english record is Alan Knott with 269 in 95

the top five read
BOUCHER 402/104
HEALY 395/119
GILCHRIST 381/90
MARSH 355/96
DUJON 270/81

(knott is 6th)

however the way your question was written, with a min. of 20 tests makes me think you want the most dismissals per innings, so...

the leader here is CO BROWN (WI) with exactly 20 tests and an average of 2.25 dismissals per innings (4.5 per match)

the top five here read
BROWN 2.25
GILCHRIST 2.13
AKMAL 2.03
BOUCHER 2.02
G JONES 2.02

G Jones is the leader in England (he would be bettered by C Read, but Read only has 15 tests)

oh and Knott's average is 1.55

get the full facts here


  • 107.
  • At 12:12 PM on 21 Oct 2007,
  • Monty Burns wrote:


Thanks Porto Ian...

Perhaps my question was not as clear as it should have been...Let me rephrase...

Which player, generally recognised as a wicketkeeper (20 Test minumum), has taken the most number of wickets AS A BOWLER?

Whoever it is I imagine the number of wickets will be quite small...

Monty

  • 108.
  • At 05:43 PM on 21 Oct 2007,
  • Porto Ian wrote:

Monty Burns 105&107

ah, a very different question...

well only 10 keepers have ever taken a wicket as a bowler in tests, and only two of them have ever taken more than one wicket

A.Lyttleton took 4 for ENG against AUS in one game in 1884, bowling 12 overs, but he only played 4 games in his career

W.Storer, again ENG vs AUS took 2 wickets in the series in 1898, but again only played a few matches (6 bowling in 4)

So the only keepers fulfiling your 20 match limit have only taken one wicket each

J Parks ENG vs IND 1964 (6-0-43-1) played 46 matches

S Kirmani IND vs PAK 1983 (2-0-9-1) played 88 matches

T Taibu ZIM vs SL 2004 (8-1-27-1) played 24 matches

M Boucher SA vs WI 2005 (1.2-0-6-1) 104 matches

of these Parks bowled twice in his career and Kirmani 3 times (having career figures of 9-1-51-1 and 3.1-0-13-1 respectively) Boucher and Taibu only bowling once

hope thats what you wanted

  • 109.
  • At 03:34 AM on 23 Oct 2007,
  • Stuart wrote:

Reply to (88). Carlos, it would depend entirely on the umpire. If the umpire deems that the LBW appeal should be upheld, then it that dismissal would be entered in the scorebook. If the LBW appeal is rejected, and the catch accepted, then 'Caught' would be the method. No, it is not possible for a person to be dismissed more than one way, at least as far as the scorebook entry is concerned.

  • 110.
  • At 01:20 AM on 24 Oct 2007,
  • Anonymous wrote:

how many runs did Andrew Simonds get in the last test match

  • 111.
  • At 10:28 AM on 28 Oct 2007,
  • Simon Brand wrote:

Bill

I know both Tendulkar and Jayasuria have both played more than 400 ODIs but which one reached 400 first?

Simon Brand
(England)

  • 112.
  • At 02:39 PM on 28 Oct 2007,
  • Porto Ian wrote:

111 SIMON BRAND

okay as i type this (28th Oct) Jayasuria is the leading ODI player with 403 games, Tendulkar has 402

Jayasuria also played his 400th game first (4th Oct)

However all of this is complicated in that the records include 3 games Jayasuria played for an ASIA XI vs AFRICA XI

If these games are not included then Tendulkar in fact reached 400 first (11th Oct vs 13th Oct for Jayasuria)

So it really depends on if you count the ASIA team as a real team equal to Sri Lanka or India (i know what Bill's views would be here)

110 ANONYMOUS

there is no Andrew Simonds playing international cricket (there was a H Simonds in the 19th century), however if you mean Symonds then

20/20 he scored 20 Run Out vs IND (Oct)

ODI he scored 0 ct Tendulkar b Kartik vs IND (Oct)

TEST 48 b Panesar vs ENG (Jan!!! really that was Aus last test) he didn't need to bat in the 2nd innings

  • 113.
  • At 08:00 AM on 04 Nov 2007,
  • James Middleton wrote:

in recent years the amount of money paid for TV rights and test match attendance has been affected by rain.
Whilst the pitch area can be covered the infield outside the pitch and the outfield are not protected. Are there any statistics to show which games were lost to the elements affecting the uncovered infield and outfield and an indication of what this likely cost monetarily in lost TV and ground revenues ?
James Middleton
Hong Kong

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