The lowest World Cup totals, and the shortest matches
The regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket
Steven Lynch
23-Apr-2007
The regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket:
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What is the lowest total by a Test-playing country in the World Cup? asked Conrad Beukes from Johannesburg
The lowest total by a Test nation in a World Cup match is 74, by the eventual champions Pakistan against England at Adelaide in 1991-92. Pakistan escaped from that match with a point after England faced only eight overs before the rain came down - without that point they would not have qualified for the later stages of the competition, so obviously wouldn't have won it. There have been four lower totals by non-Test countries, two of them by Canada (36 and 45), and one each by Namibia (45) and Scotland (68). For a full list of the lowest World Cup totals, click here.
The lowest total by a Test nation in a World Cup match is 74, by the eventual champions Pakistan against England at Adelaide in 1991-92. Pakistan escaped from that match with a point after England faced only eight overs before the rain came down - without that point they would not have qualified for the later stages of the competition, so obviously wouldn't have won it. There have been four lower totals by non-Test countries, two of them by Canada (36 and 45), and one each by Namibia (45) and Scotland (68). For a full list of the lowest World Cup totals, click here.
What is the fewest number of overs to be bowled in a completed one-day international where there was no reduction in the overs? asked Reaze Rambharat from Trinidad
The shortest "full" one-day international took place at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo in 2001-02. It lasted only 120 legal balls: Sri Lanka bowled Zimbabwe out for 38, the lowest total in one-day internationals at the time, in just 15.4 overs - Chaminda Vaas took 8 for 19, still the best figures in all ODIs - then knocked off the runs required in 4.2 overs. The shortest match in the World Cup lasted 140 balls, and again Sri Lanka were involved: at Paarl in 2002-03 they bowled Canada out for 36 in 18.4 overs, then reached their target in 28 balls.
The shortest "full" one-day international took place at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo in 2001-02. It lasted only 120 legal balls: Sri Lanka bowled Zimbabwe out for 38, the lowest total in one-day internationals at the time, in just 15.4 overs - Chaminda Vaas took 8 for 19, still the best figures in all ODIs - then knocked off the runs required in 4.2 overs. The shortest match in the World Cup lasted 140 balls, and again Sri Lanka were involved: at Paarl in 2002-03 they bowled Canada out for 36 in 18.4 overs, then reached their target in 28 balls.
In a match in Pakistan recently one team made 580, with the highest individual score being 88. Is this the highest first-class total not to include a century? asked Mohammad Qumar from Islamabad
The match you're talking about was in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy in January, when Islamabad made 580 against Quetta at Islamabad, and the top score was Imad Wasim's 88. That innings lies fourth on the table of the highest scores without an individual century. Nottinghamshire made 581 against Derbyshire at Derby in 1899, William Gunn top-scoring with 90. At Bristol in 2005, the highest score in Surrey's total of 603 was Azhar Mahmood's 89. But the highest total of all not to include a ton is Madhya Pradesh's 605 against Haryana at Rajnandgaon in 1998-99 - the highest score was Jai P. Yadav's 90, and the lowest was Sunil Lahore's unbeaten 21 from No. 11.
The match you're talking about was in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy in January, when Islamabad made 580 against Quetta at Islamabad, and the top score was Imad Wasim's 88. That innings lies fourth on the table of the highest scores without an individual century. Nottinghamshire made 581 against Derbyshire at Derby in 1899, William Gunn top-scoring with 90. At Bristol in 2005, the highest score in Surrey's total of 603 was Azhar Mahmood's 89. But the highest total of all not to include a ton is Madhya Pradesh's 605 against Haryana at Rajnandgaon in 1998-99 - the highest score was Jai P. Yadav's 90, and the lowest was Sunil Lahore's unbeaten 21 from No. 11.
Who is the only cricketer to play in the World Cup after previously coaching a country at one? asked Ashoke Sanyal from India
The holder of this unusual distinction is the Warwickshire allrounder Dougie Brown, who played for Scotland in the 2007 World Cup. In 2003 he was the coach of Namibia, as they took part in the World Cup for the only time to date. Brown, who's now 37, also played nine one-day internationals for England in 1997-98.
The holder of this unusual distinction is the Warwickshire allrounder Dougie Brown, who played for Scotland in the 2007 World Cup. In 2003 he was the coach of Namibia, as they took part in the World Cup for the only time to date. Brown, who's now 37, also played nine one-day internationals for England in 1997-98.
What was unusual about the Australian batsman Roy Park's Test career? asked Murray Wild from Kyneton, Victoria
The most notable thing about the Test career of Doctor Roy Park was its brevity - he played only one match, against England at Melbourne in 1920-21 after replacing the unfit Charlie Macartney, and was bowled by the only ball he received, from the Warwickshire and England bowler Harry Howell. It's said that Park's wife, who was in the stands, dropped her knitting as Howell came in to bowl, bent down to pick it up, and missed her husband's entire Test career - he was dropped for the next Test, and never came close to selection again as his medical career took up more and more time. The Parks' daughter later married Ian Johnson, the Victoria offspinner who captained Australia in 17 of his 45 Tests.
The most notable thing about the Test career of Doctor Roy Park was its brevity - he played only one match, against England at Melbourne in 1920-21 after replacing the unfit Charlie Macartney, and was bowled by the only ball he received, from the Warwickshire and England bowler Harry Howell. It's said that Park's wife, who was in the stands, dropped her knitting as Howell came in to bowl, bent down to pick it up, and missed her husband's entire Test career - he was dropped for the next Test, and never came close to selection again as his medical career took up more and more time. The Parks' daughter later married Ian Johnson, the Victoria offspinner who captained Australia in 17 of his 45 Tests.
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Only two people have done this. India's Gundappa Viswanath made 230 on his first-class debut, for Mysore (now Karnataka) against Andhra at Vijayawada in 1967-68, and two years later hit 137 on his Test debut for India against Australia at Kanpur. Vishy's feat was echoed in 1981, when Australia's Dirk Wellham made 103 in the sixth Test against England at The Oval, to follow his 100 on debut for New South Wales against Victoria at Melbourne the previous December.
Steven Lynch is the deputy editor of The Wisden Group. If you want to Ask Steven a question, use our feedback form. The most interesting questions will be answered here each week. Unfortunately, we can't usually enter into correspondence about individual queries.