The best visitors, and a No. 11's triple connection
Also: most runs without a double-ton, two doubles in a game, centuries on Test and one-day debuts, and the best Ashes hauls
Steven Lynch
28-Jun-2011
Arthur Fagg, the only batsman to score two double-centuries in a first-class match, signs autographs for kids in 1936 • Getty Images
Which batsman holds the record for the most Test runs scored at an overseas ground? My guess is Sunil Gavaskar in Port-of-Spain. asked Satish from the United States
Sunil Gavaskar scored 793 runs in five Tests at Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad - but that only places him fourth on this particular list. Wally Hammond made 808 runs in five Tests for England in Sydney, while Don Bradman amassed 963 runs (including two triple-centuries and two more hundreds) in only four Test appearances at Headingley, where his overall average was 192.60. But the leader - and the only man to pass 1000 Test runs at an overseas ground - is Jack Hobbs, who made 1178 runs in 10 appearances at the MCG on his five tours to Australia between 1907-08 and 1928-29, helped by the fact that Melbourne (and Sydney) habitually staged two Tests in each series back then. Someone who might yet move up this list is Sachin Tendulkar, who has so far made 698 runs in five Tests at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, and 664 in four matches in Sydney.
Sunil Gavaskar scored 793 runs in five Tests at Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad - but that only places him fourth on this particular list. Wally Hammond made 808 runs in five Tests for England in Sydney, while Don Bradman amassed 963 runs (including two triple-centuries and two more hundreds) in only four Test appearances at Headingley, where his overall average was 192.60. But the leader - and the only man to pass 1000 Test runs at an overseas ground - is Jack Hobbs, who made 1178 runs in 10 appearances at the MCG on his five tours to Australia between 1907-08 and 1928-29, helped by the fact that Melbourne (and Sydney) habitually staged two Tests in each series back then. Someone who might yet move up this list is Sachin Tendulkar, who has so far made 698 runs in five Tests at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, and 664 in four matches in Sydney.
Who is the only player to figure in a triple-century partnership while batting at No. 11? asked Keith D'Souza from Nigeria
The man who fits this bill is the New South Wales fast-medium bowler Hal Hooker, who shared a last-wicket stand of 307 with his captain Alan Kippax in the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG, most of the runs coming on Christmas Day 1928. When Hooker came in, NSW were struggling at 113 for 9, a long way adrift of Victoria's 376; when he was finally out after just over five hours for a heroic 62 - his highest first-class score - NSW had an unlikely lead of 44 (Kippax remained not out with 260). The match was eventually drawn. In the return game against Victoria later in the season, Hooker took four wickets in four balls. For more details of the epic stand, click here to read a recent Rewind article.
The man who fits this bill is the New South Wales fast-medium bowler Hal Hooker, who shared a last-wicket stand of 307 with his captain Alan Kippax in the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG, most of the runs coming on Christmas Day 1928. When Hooker came in, NSW were struggling at 113 for 9, a long way adrift of Victoria's 376; when he was finally out after just over five hours for a heroic 62 - his highest first-class score - NSW had an unlikely lead of 44 (Kippax remained not out with 260). The match was eventually drawn. In the return game against Victoria later in the season, Hooker took four wickets in four balls. For more details of the epic stand, click here to read a recent Rewind article.
Now that Jacques Kallis has finally got one, who has scored the most runs in Tests without a double-century? And who has made the most hundreds (if different)? asked Gareth Boyce from England
The aggregate leader is Alec Stewart, who scored 8463 runs in Tests without ever reaching 200 (his highest score was 190, against Pakistan at Edgbaston in 1992). Next comes Mark Waugh, whose highest score among his 8029 runs was 153 not out. The leading current player is Andrew Strauss, who has 6111 runs after the third Test against Sri Lanka, with a highest score of 177. Both Mohammad Azharuddin and Colin Cowdrey scored 22 Test centuries without ever making 200 - although Azhar couldn't have got any closer, as his highest score was 199 against Sri Lanka in Kanpur in 1986-87. Cowdrey's highest was 182, against Pakistan at The Oval in 1962.
The aggregate leader is Alec Stewart, who scored 8463 runs in Tests without ever reaching 200 (his highest score was 190, against Pakistan at Edgbaston in 1992). Next comes Mark Waugh, whose highest score among his 8029 runs was 153 not out. The leading current player is Andrew Strauss, who has 6111 runs after the third Test against Sri Lanka, with a highest score of 177. Both Mohammad Azharuddin and Colin Cowdrey scored 22 Test centuries without ever making 200 - although Azhar couldn't have got any closer, as his highest score was 199 against Sri Lanka in Kanpur in 1986-87. Cowdrey's highest was 182, against Pakistan at The Oval in 1962.
Is Rodney Hogg's 42 wickets the best for an Ashes series? asked Gunjalu Sundararajulu Rajendran via Facebook
Rodney Hogg actually took 41 in the six Tests of the 1978-79 Ashes (his first Test series), which places him third on this particular list, behind Jim Laker, who took 46 (at an average of 9.60) in the five Tests of the 1956 Ashes series; that included the world record 19 wickets in the match at Old Trafford. Then comes Terry Alderman, who took 42 wickets in the 1981 Ashes series (six matches again). Alderman also took 41 wickets in England in 1989. Shane Warne (40 in five matches in 2005) is the only other bowler to reach 40 wickets in an Ashes series: for a full list, click here.
Rodney Hogg actually took 41 in the six Tests of the 1978-79 Ashes (his first Test series), which places him third on this particular list, behind Jim Laker, who took 46 (at an average of 9.60) in the five Tests of the 1956 Ashes series; that included the world record 19 wickets in the match at Old Trafford. Then comes Terry Alderman, who took 42 wickets in the 1981 Ashes series (six matches again). Alderman also took 41 wickets in England in 1989. Shane Warne (40 in five matches in 2005) is the only other bowler to reach 40 wickets in an Ashes series: for a full list, click here.
Has a batsman ever scored two double-centuries in the same match? asked BPN Mendis from Sri Lanka
The only instance of this in first-class cricket was by Arthur Fagg, the Kent batsman who won five England caps and later became a Test umpire. Opening against Essex in Colchester in 1938, Fagg made 244 in the first innings and 202 not out in the second. The nearest approach in a Test match was arguably achieved by Graham Gooch, who scored 333 and 123 for England against India at Lord's in 1990. Gooch's 456 runs in the match remains a Test record: click here for a full list.
The only instance of this in first-class cricket was by Arthur Fagg, the Kent batsman who won five England caps and later became a Test umpire. Opening against Essex in Colchester in 1938, Fagg made 244 in the first innings and 202 not out in the second. The nearest approach in a Test match was arguably achieved by Graham Gooch, who scored 333 and 123 for England against India at Lord's in 1990. Gooch's 456 runs in the match remains a Test record: click here for a full list.
Has anyone ever scored a century on their Test debut and in their first one-day international? asked Abhijeet Naikara via Facebook
No one has yet managed centuries on both their Test and one-day international debuts. Three men have scored a hundred in their first Test and a half-century in their initial one-day international: Kepler Wessels for Australia, India's Pravin Amre, and most recently Adrian Barath of West Indies. Another West Indian opener, Desmond Haynes, did the reverse - a century on one-day debut and a fifty in his first Test - a feat later equalled by Andy Flower for Zimbabwe. But perhaps the man who came closest to this double feat was the New Zealander Stephen Fleming, who made 92 on his Test debut and 90 (run out) in his first one-day international, all in the space of less than a week in March 1994.
No one has yet managed centuries on both their Test and one-day international debuts. Three men have scored a hundred in their first Test and a half-century in their initial one-day international: Kepler Wessels for Australia, India's Pravin Amre, and most recently Adrian Barath of West Indies. Another West Indian opener, Desmond Haynes, did the reverse - a century on one-day debut and a fifty in his first Test - a feat later equalled by Andy Flower for Zimbabwe. But perhaps the man who came closest to this double feat was the New Zealander Stephen Fleming, who made 92 on his Test debut and 90 (run out) in his first one-day international, all in the space of less than a week in March 1994.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2011. Ask Steven is now on Facebook