Tale of the toss, and expensive drops
Cashing in on reprieves, captains with 10 in a Test, maiden hundreds that turned into triples, and the most centuries in a year
Steven Lynch
19-Jan-2010
Bob Simpson and Garry Sobers: scored triples to mark their maiden hundreds • Getty Images
How big an advantage is winning the toss in a Test? What are the figures for wins, losses and draws after winning it? asked Richard Olive from Melbourne
As it happens, over the history of Test cricket (1946 Tests to the end of 2009), it seems that winning the toss does not confer as much of an advantage on the successful caller as has often been supposed. Captains winning the toss have decided to bat first 1438 times: 488 (33.93%) of those resulted in wins, 510 (35.46%) in draws (including the two tied Tests), and 440 (30.59%) in defeat. Of the 508 occasions when a captain decided to bowl first after winning the toss, 180 (35.43%) resulted in victory, 174 (34.25%) in a draw, and 154 (30.31%) in defeat. Which all goes to show, I suppose, that another of cricket's famous sayings is true: it all evens out in the end.
As it happens, over the history of Test cricket (1946 Tests to the end of 2009), it seems that winning the toss does not confer as much of an advantage on the successful caller as has often been supposed. Captains winning the toss have decided to bat first 1438 times: 488 (33.93%) of those resulted in wins, 510 (35.46%) in draws (including the two tied Tests), and 440 (30.59%) in defeat. Of the 508 occasions when a captain decided to bowl first after winning the toss, 180 (35.43%) resulted in victory, 174 (34.25%) in a draw, and 154 (30.31%) in defeat. Which all goes to show, I suppose, that another of cricket's famous sayings is true: it all evens out in the end.
Ricky Ponting was dropped on 0 in the Hobart Test and went on to make 209. What's the most expensive dropped catch? asked Ciaran Ronayne from Australia
The most expensive drop I know of in a Test cost 297 runs - and it happened at Lord's in 1990, when England's Graham Gooch was put down by India's wicketkeeper Kiran More when he had made 36. Gooch famously went on to make 333, the highest score in any innings at Lord's. A wicketkeeper also holds the first-class record - Durham's Chris Scott dropped Brian Lara of Warwickshire in the match at Edgbaston in 1994 when Lara went on to score 501 not out. (A word of warning, though: I haven't been able to check all the Test innings which contained more than 297 runs.)
The most expensive drop I know of in a Test cost 297 runs - and it happened at Lord's in 1990, when England's Graham Gooch was put down by India's wicketkeeper Kiran More when he had made 36. Gooch famously went on to make 333, the highest score in any innings at Lord's. A wicketkeeper also holds the first-class record - Durham's Chris Scott dropped Brian Lara of Warwickshire in the match at Edgbaston in 1994 when Lara went on to score 501 not out. (A word of warning, though: I haven't been able to check all the Test innings which contained more than 297 runs.)
Has anyone extended their first hundred in a Test to a score of 300 or more? asked Robert Callaghan from London
Two men have done this. The great West Indian Garry Sobers had not reached three figures in a Test before he made 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58. The other batsman concerned made his debut that same 1957-58 season - but Bob Simpson did not make a century until his 30th Test, by which time he was Australia's captain. That was against England at Old Trafford in 1964, but he made amends by going on to make 311.
Two men have done this. The great West Indian Garry Sobers had not reached three figures in a Test before he made 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58. The other batsman concerned made his debut that same 1957-58 season - but Bob Simpson did not make a century until his 30th Test, by which time he was Australia's captain. That was against England at Old Trafford in 1964, but he made amends by going on to make 311.
How many times has a captain taken 10 wickets in a Test match? asked Muneer from the United States
There are 17 instances of a captain taking 10 or more wickets in a Test, four of them by Imran Khan. Indeed Pakistan - who seem to go in for bowling captains rather more than most other teams - provide five further examples, two by Intikhab Alam and one each by Fazal Mahmood, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. The best match figures by a captain are 13 for 55 (7 for 37 and 6 for 18) by Courtney Walsh for West Indies against New Zealand in Wellington in 1994-95. Waqar Younis also took 13 wickets in the match (for 135) against Zimbabwe in Karachi in 1993-94. There has been one further 10-for, in a women's Test: Pakistan's Shaiza Khan took 13 for 226 against West Indies in Karachi in 2003-04.
There are 17 instances of a captain taking 10 or more wickets in a Test, four of them by Imran Khan. Indeed Pakistan - who seem to go in for bowling captains rather more than most other teams - provide five further examples, two by Intikhab Alam and one each by Fazal Mahmood, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. The best match figures by a captain are 13 for 55 (7 for 37 and 6 for 18) by Courtney Walsh for West Indies against New Zealand in Wellington in 1994-95. Waqar Younis also took 13 wickets in the match (for 135) against Zimbabwe in Karachi in 1993-94. There has been one further 10-for, in a women's Test: Pakistan's Shaiza Khan took 13 for 226 against West Indies in Karachi in 2003-04.
After Michael Clarke's near-miss alongside Ricky Ponting in Hobart, when was the last time two Australians scored double-centuries in the same Test innings? asked Marc Kelly from Australia
Overall there have now been 15 instances of a Test innings including two double-centuries. The most recent of them was Sri Lanka's 644 for 7 (Mahela Jayawardene 240, Thilan Samaraweera 231) against Pakistan in Karachi in February 2009. Three of these instances, including the first two, were for Australia: at The Oval in 1934, Bill Ponsford scored 266 and Don Bradman 244; in Sydney in 1946-47 both Bradman and Sid Barnes made 234 against England; and against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1964-65, Bill Lawry scored 210 and Bob Simpson 201.
Overall there have now been 15 instances of a Test innings including two double-centuries. The most recent of them was Sri Lanka's 644 for 7 (Mahela Jayawardene 240, Thilan Samaraweera 231) against Pakistan in Karachi in February 2009. Three of these instances, including the first two, were for Australia: at The Oval in 1934, Bill Ponsford scored 266 and Don Bradman 244; in Sydney in 1946-47 both Bradman and Sid Barnes made 234 against England; and against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1964-65, Bill Lawry scored 210 and Bob Simpson 201.
Regarding last week's question about Tillakaratne Dilshan, I think he actually scored 10 centuries in all international cricket in 2009 (not just ODIs). Is this a record? asked Salil Jaffrey from Mumbai
Apologies if I misunderstood last week's question about Tillakaratne Dilshan. He did indeed score 10 centuries in international cricket in 2009 - six in Tests and four in one-day internationals - which equals the tallies of another Sri Lankan, Aravinda de Silva, in 1997, and India's Rahul Dravid in 1999. But two others are ahead of them: Ricky Ponting made 11 hundreds in international cricket in 2003, one behind Sachin Tendulkar, who made no fewer than 12 in 1998. For a full list, click here.
Apologies if I misunderstood last week's question about Tillakaratne Dilshan. He did indeed score 10 centuries in international cricket in 2009 - six in Tests and four in one-day internationals - which equals the tallies of another Sri Lankan, Aravinda de Silva, in 1997, and India's Rahul Dravid in 1999. But two others are ahead of them: Ricky Ponting made 11 hundreds in international cricket in 2003, one behind Sachin Tendulkar, who made no fewer than 12 in 1998. For a full list, click here.
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