Sarwan's record and Ramdin's near-miss

Did Ramnaresh Sarwan's 291 beat Rohan Kanhai's record as the highest Test score by a batsman from Guyana? And what are the records for the other West Indian territories? asked Denis Ramkissoon from Georgetown

That remarkable 291 by Ramnaresh Sarwan in the just-concluded Test in Bridgetown was indeed a record for a Guyanese-born batsman in Tests - but the record Sarwan broke was actually his own, as he also made 261 not out against Bangladesh in Kingston in June 2004. That innings eclipsed Rohan Kanhai's highest, 256 against India in Calcutta in 1958-59. As far as the other major West Indian territories go, the highest score by a Trinidadian is, of course, Brian Lara's 400 not out against England in St John's in 2003-04; for Barbados, Garry Sobers leads the way, with 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58; Chris Gayle is the top Jamaican, with 317 against South Africa in St John's in 2004-05; and Viv Richards is Antigua's top-scorer, with 291 against England at The Oval in 1976.

Was Denesh Ramdin's 166 in Barbados the highest score by a West Indies wicketkeeper? asked Jude Franco from India

Denesh Ramdin's innings against England in Bridgetown just missed out on being the highest score by a West Indian wicketkeeper in a Test. Just ahead lies Clyde Walcott, who scored 168 not out against England at Lord's in 1950. Walcott, who later gave up keeping, also scored 152 against India in Delhi in 1948-49.

Three Australians made their debuts in the first Test in South Africa - when was the last time Australia had so many debutants in one game? asked David Ralston from Melbourne

The previous occasion was more than 24 years ago, in the first Test against India in Adelaide in 1985-86. The three debutants that day were a handy trio: the opener Geoff Marsh, who went on to win 50 caps, and fast bowlers Merv Hughes, who finished with 212 wickets, and Bruce Reid, who took 113.

Carrying on from last week's question about Don Bradman never being out in the nineties in a Test, who has been out most often in the nineties? asked Maurice Edworthy from Cambridge

There are joint leaders in this list at the moment. India's Rahul Dravid was out for the ninth time in the nineties in Tests early in 2008, against Australia in Perth, joining Australia's Michael Slater, who was also dismissed nine times in the nineties. Dravid also had a not-out ninety to his name, making 10 scores between 90 and 99 in all for him. He shares that record with another Australian, Steve Waugh, who had two not-out nineties to go with eight dismissals.

I'm guessing most captains have a toss success rate of around 50%. Which international captain has the best success rate with the coin? asks AR Hemant from India

The most successful captain in Tests (given a minimum of 10 matches) is West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who won 11 of his 14 tosses, or 78.57%. There are three others tied on 75% - Australia's Lindsay Hassett (18 won out of 24), Bob Wyatt of England (12 out of 16), and South Africa's "Nummy" Deane (nine out of 12). In one-day internationals (minimum 20 matches this time) the leader is another West Indian, Jimmy Adams, with 18 out of 26 or 69.23%. Just behind is New Zealand's Daniel Vettori, with 31 tosses won out of 45, or a 68.88% success-rate.

Was Younis Khan's 313 against Sri Lanka the highest score by someone making their debut as captain? asked several people

This is a nice, simple one to finish with, as that recent high-scoring Test in Karachi wasn't Younis Khan's debut as captain - he had skippered Pakistan in four previous Tests. The highest score by anyone in their first Test as captain remains 239, by New Zealand's Graham Dowling, against India in Christchurch in 1967-68; the only other man to score a double-century on his captaincy debut is Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with 203 not out against South Africa in Georgetown in 2004-05.