Batting at 1 and 11, and the fewest runs with a century
Players who made their first-class debut in a Test; ones who made under 200 runs in all, but also made a century; and the longest first-class innings
Steven Lynch
13-Jan-2009
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Graeme Smith opened in the first innings but batted at No. 11 in the second in the recent Test at Sydney. Has any Test captain ever done this before? asked Dave Quin from Surrey
Graeme Smith's injury-induced double in the New Year Test against Australia in Sydney was indeed the first time that a captain has opened the batting in one innings of a Test but gone in at No. 11 in the second. Altogether it had happened on 15 previous occasions, most of them arising, as in Smith's case, from a regular opener receiving an injury, although there are also a few cases of a tailender being promoted in the second innings, usually to help knock off a small target. The only other South African on the list is "Ormy" Pearse, also in Sydney, when he opened in the first innings but went in last in the follow-on in 1910-11. The first to do it was the England wicketkeeper Harry Butt, on his debut against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1895-96. The others on the list are: Harry Donnan (1896), Hanson Carter (1911-12), "Ranji" Hordern (1911-12), Arthur Mailey (1921-22) and Percy Hornibrook (1928-29) for Australia; Herbert Strudwick (1909-10), George Macaulay (1922-23) and Geoff Pullar (1960) for England; Vinoo Mankad (1952-53) and Vijay Mehra (1961-62) for India; Talat Ali (1972-73) and Azeem Hafeez (1983-84) for Pakistan; and Danny Morrison (1989-90) for New Zealand.
Graeme Smith's injury-induced double in the New Year Test against Australia in Sydney was indeed the first time that a captain has opened the batting in one innings of a Test but gone in at No. 11 in the second. Altogether it had happened on 15 previous occasions, most of them arising, as in Smith's case, from a regular opener receiving an injury, although there are also a few cases of a tailender being promoted in the second innings, usually to help knock off a small target. The only other South African on the list is "Ormy" Pearse, also in Sydney, when he opened in the first innings but went in last in the follow-on in 1910-11. The first to do it was the England wicketkeeper Harry Butt, on his debut against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1895-96. The others on the list are: Harry Donnan (1896), Hanson Carter (1911-12), "Ranji" Hordern (1911-12), Arthur Mailey (1921-22) and Percy Hornibrook (1928-29) for Australia; Herbert Strudwick (1909-10), George Macaulay (1922-23) and Geoff Pullar (1960) for England; Vinoo Mankad (1952-53) and Vijay Mehra (1961-62) for India; Talat Ali (1972-73) and Azeem Hafeez (1983-84) for Pakistan; and Danny Morrison (1989-90) for New Zealand.
Now that Dave Warner has been elevated to the national Twenty20 squad, who was the last Australian to be chosen to represent their country before having played a first-class game? asked Bernhard Sayer from Australia
David Warner, who made his Twenty20 international debut for Australia against South Africa in Melbourne on Sunday, is the first man without first-class experience to represent Australia in a full international since the very first Test of all, in Melbourne in 1876-77.The home side in that match included John Hodges and Tom Kendall, neither of whom had played a first-class match before the Test. Funnily enough Warner has fielded in a Test match - as a substitute against South Africa in Perth in 2005-06. For a full list of the players who have made their first-class debut in a Test, click here.
David Warner, who made his Twenty20 international debut for Australia against South Africa in Melbourne on Sunday, is the first man without first-class experience to represent Australia in a full international since the very first Test of all, in Melbourne in 1876-77.The home side in that match included John Hodges and Tom Kendall, neither of whom had played a first-class match before the Test. Funnily enough Warner has fielded in a Test match - as a substitute against South Africa in Perth in 2005-06. For a full list of the players who have made their first-class debut in a Test, click here.
I know that Shane Warne has the most Test runs without ever scoring a century, but who has the fewest Test runs with a century? asked Mark Currie from New Zealand
The answer is 112 Test runs, by the West Indian opener Andy Ganteaume, who made 112 in the only innings of his Test debut, against England in Port-of-Spain in 1947-48... and never played again. Rather surprisingly there are 18 other players who made fewer than 200 runs in Tests but managed a century in that total: for the full list, click here.
The answer is 112 Test runs, by the West Indian opener Andy Ganteaume, who made 112 in the only innings of his Test debut, against England in Port-of-Spain in 1947-48... and never played again. Rather surprisingly there are 18 other players who made fewer than 200 runs in Tests but managed a century in that total: for the full list, click here.
Shivakant Shukla batted for 821 minutes in the Ranji Trophy recently. Is this the longest stay in the middle in first-class cricket? asked Santhosh from India
Shivakant Shukla's 821-minute innings of 178 for Uttar Pradesh against Tamil Nadu in last week's Ranji Trophy semi-final in Nagpur was actually the fourth-longest in first-class cricket. Leading the way, and the only man to have occupied the crease for more than 1000 minutes in one innings, is another Indian - Rajeev Nayyar, whose 271 for Himachal Pradesh against Jammu and Kashmir in Chamba in 1999-2000 lasted 16 hours 55 minutes, or 1015 minutes. The other two were both in Tests: in Bridgetown in 1957-58, Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad batted for 970 minutes (Hanif himself is sure that it was 999) in making 337 against West Indies, while Gary Kirsten's 275 for South Africa against England in Durban in 1999-00 lasted for 878 minutes.
Shivakant Shukla's 821-minute innings of 178 for Uttar Pradesh against Tamil Nadu in last week's Ranji Trophy semi-final in Nagpur was actually the fourth-longest in first-class cricket. Leading the way, and the only man to have occupied the crease for more than 1000 minutes in one innings, is another Indian - Rajeev Nayyar, whose 271 for Himachal Pradesh against Jammu and Kashmir in Chamba in 1999-2000 lasted 16 hours 55 minutes, or 1015 minutes. The other two were both in Tests: in Bridgetown in 1957-58, Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad batted for 970 minutes (Hanif himself is sure that it was 999) in making 337 against West Indies, while Gary Kirsten's 275 for South Africa against England in Durban in 1999-00 lasted for 878 minutes.
When was the last time Australia lost back-to-back Test series? asked Farooq Ahmed Aziz from Pakistan
The last time Australia suffered successive Test-series defeats was back in 1988-89, when they lost 0-1 in Pakistan then 1-3 at home to West Indies. Their recent series defeats in India and at home to South Africa sandwiched a series win at home over New Zealand.
The last time Australia suffered successive Test-series defeats was back in 1988-89, when they lost 0-1 in Pakistan then 1-3 at home to West Indies. Their recent series defeats in India and at home to South Africa sandwiched a series win at home over New Zealand.
When was the last time Australia included two debutants in the same Test, as happened at Sydney? asked Carl Drummond from Melbourne
Doug Bollinger and Andrew McDonald became the 405th and 406th wearers of the baggy green cap during the recent Test against South Africa in Sydney. The last time the Australian side included two debutants in the same Test was against Pakistan in Brisbane in 1999-2000, when the two newcomers were Adam Gilchrist, who won 95 further caps, and Scott Muller (one more).
Doug Bollinger and Andrew McDonald became the 405th and 406th wearers of the baggy green cap during the recent Test against South Africa in Sydney. The last time the Australian side included two debutants in the same Test was against Pakistan in Brisbane in 1999-2000, when the two newcomers were Adam Gilchrist, who won 95 further caps, and Scott Muller (one more).
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket (reviewed here)