Carrying the bat, and scoring 700 and losing
Batting through an innings, the 100-Test club, double internationals, and pairs after centuries
Steven Lynch
15-Dec-2009
Farhat: the fourth Pakistani to carry his bat in a Test • Getty Images
Imran Farhat carried his bat for Pakistan against New Zealand. How many other Pakistan openers have done this? asked Kamran Ahmed from Lahore
When Imran Farhat carried his bat for 117 not out against New Zealand in Napier last week, he became only the fourth Pakistani to do it in a Test, although it was the 45th instance by players of all countries. The previous three for Pakistan were all against India, and the first was Nazar Mohammad, who achieved the feat in only Pakistan's second Test, in Lucknow in 1952-53. His son Mudassar Nazar - they are the only father-son combination to achieve this in Tests - carried his bat in Lahore in 1982-83, and finally Saeed Anwar did it in Kolkata in 1998-99.
When Imran Farhat carried his bat for 117 not out against New Zealand in Napier last week, he became only the fourth Pakistani to do it in a Test, although it was the 45th instance by players of all countries. The previous three for Pakistan were all against India, and the first was Nazar Mohammad, who achieved the feat in only Pakistan's second Test, in Lucknow in 1952-53. His son Mudassar Nazar - they are the only father-son combination to achieve this in Tests - carried his bat in Lahore in 1982-83, and finally Saeed Anwar did it in Kolkata in 1998-99.
Chris Gayle carried his bat against Australia in Adelaide. How many captains have done this, and how many of them have managed it away from home? asked Allan Alexander from the United States
Chris Gayle, with his 165 not out for West Indies against Australia in Adelaide recently, provided the 44th instance of a batsman carrying his bat through a completed - shortly afterwards, Imran Farhat of Pakistan was the 45th. Of those 45, a surprising 30 were achieved away from home. Overall Gayle was the seventh captain to do it, following Mike Atherton and Graham Gooch of England, Australia's Bill Lawry (twice), Mark Taylor and Bill Woodfull, South Africa's Jackie McGlew, and Sunil Gavaskar of India. Of those, Atherton, Gavaskar and Lawry (once) did it outside their own country. For a full list of batsmen carrying their bat through a Test innings, click here.
Chris Gayle, with his 165 not out for West Indies against Australia in Adelaide recently, provided the 44th instance of a batsman carrying his bat through a completed - shortly afterwards, Imran Farhat of Pakistan was the 45th. Of those 45, a surprising 30 were achieved away from home. Overall Gayle was the seventh captain to do it, following Mike Atherton and Graham Gooch of England, Australia's Bill Lawry (twice), Mark Taylor and Bill Woodfull, South Africa's Jackie McGlew, and Sunil Gavaskar of India. Of those, Atherton, Gavaskar and Lawry (once) did it outside their own country. For a full list of batsmen carrying their bat through a Test innings, click here.
Sri Lanka scored more than 702 runs in the match against India at Mumbai, yet lost by an innings. Is this the most runs made by a losing side? asked Vikesh Ahluwalia from Mumbai
Sri Lanka did indeed score a total of 702 runs in the recent match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, yet still lost by an innings after India piled up their highest Test total of 726 for 9 declared. Rather surprisingly, perhaps, this was the 25th time that a team has scored more than 700 runs but still lost the match. This list is headed by England, who made 861 in all at Headingley in 1948, only for Don Bradman's "Invincibles" to score 404 for 3 on the final day to win. The match in Mumbai, however, did provide the first instance of a team making more than 700 runs yet still losing by an innings.
Sri Lanka did indeed score a total of 702 runs in the recent match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, yet still lost by an innings after India piled up their highest Test total of 726 for 9 declared. Rather surprisingly, perhaps, this was the 25th time that a team has scored more than 700 runs but still lost the match. This list is headed by England, who made 861 in all at Headingley in 1948, only for Don Bradman's "Invincibles" to score 404 for 3 on the final day to win. The match in Mumbai, however, did provide the first instance of a team making more than 700 runs yet still losing by an innings.
Makhaya Ntini will soon join the 100-Test club. How many men have played in 100 Tests so far? asked AJ Biswas from India
Assuming Makhaya Ntini plays in the series against England, he will become the 49th player from all countries to win 100 caps (he currently has 99), but only the fifth from South Africa after Jacques Kallis (currently 131, including one for the World XI), Mark Boucher (126, also including one for the World XI), Shaun Pollock (108) and Gary Kirsten (101).
Assuming Makhaya Ntini plays in the series against England, he will become the 49th player from all countries to win 100 caps (he currently has 99), but only the fifth from South Africa after Jacques Kallis (currently 131, including one for the World XI), Mark Boucher (126, also including one for the World XI), Shaun Pollock (108) and Gary Kirsten (101).
Has anyone ever scored a hundred in each innings of a Test match and then got a pair in the following Test? asked Sameer Arora from India
No, no one has yet managed quite such a shift in fortunes. Arguably the closest anyone came was as long ago as 1929-30, when Clifford Roach of West Indies made 122 and 77 against England in the first Test in Bridgetown, then bagged a pair in the second Test in Port-of-Spain. Perhaps the boat trip disagreed with him! The only batsman to score more than 200 runs in a Test then bag a pair in the next one is India's VVS Laxman, who followed 48 and 154 not out against West Indies in Kolkata in 2002-03 with a pair of ducks in his next Test, against New Zealand in Wellington about six weeks later.
No, no one has yet managed quite such a shift in fortunes. Arguably the closest anyone came was as long ago as 1929-30, when Clifford Roach of West Indies made 122 and 77 against England in the first Test in Bridgetown, then bagged a pair in the second Test in Port-of-Spain. Perhaps the boat trip disagreed with him! The only batsman to score more than 200 runs in a Test then bag a pair in the next one is India's VVS Laxman, who followed 48 and 154 not out against West Indies in Kolkata in 2002-03 with a pair of ducks in his next Test, against New Zealand in Wellington about six weeks later.
I recently found a list of double (cricket/football) internationals, and was surprised that Denis Compton's name wasn't on it. Didn't he play football for England too? asked Ray Rhodes from Merseyside
The great Denis Compton played 79 times for England at cricket, and he did indeed represent them at football too - but his 12 appearances were all in wartime internationals, which are not counted as official ones. That is why his name does not appear on the select list of 12 players who have played both cricket and football for England. The last ones to achieve this feat - which is now almost impossible, given the increased demands of both sports - were Arthur Milton and Willie Watson in the 1950s. Compton, whose brother Leslie did play football (but not cricket) for England, was a talented left-winger who played 60 matches for Arsenal, the last of them the 1950 FA Cup final, when they beat Liverpool 2-0.
The great Denis Compton played 79 times for England at cricket, and he did indeed represent them at football too - but his 12 appearances were all in wartime internationals, which are not counted as official ones. That is why his name does not appear on the select list of 12 players who have played both cricket and football for England. The last ones to achieve this feat - which is now almost impossible, given the increased demands of both sports - were Arthur Milton and Willie Watson in the 1950s. Compton, whose brother Leslie did play football (but not cricket) for England, was a talented left-winger who played 60 matches for Arsenal, the last of them the 1950 FA Cup final, when they beat Liverpool 2-0.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket. If you want to ask Steven a question, use our feedback form. The most interesting questions will be answered here each week