Sanga's record, and No. 10 highs
Also, lowest winning totals, two hat-tricks against the same team, and most number of not-outs in first-class cricket
Steven Lynch
24-Jun-2014
Kumar Sangakkara has the chance to break the record for the most consecutive fifty-plus scores in Tests in his next match • Getty Images
India beat Bangladesh after being bowled out for 105 - was that a record? asked Anshuman Naik from India
India broke their own record after being bowled out for 105 in Mirpur last week yet still winning. Back in March 1985, India were demolished for 125 in Sharjah - Imran Khan took 6 for 14 - but then skittled Pakistan for just 87. It was the first match of a four-nation competition, and India went on to beat Australia in the final in Sharjah a week later. There have been nine further instances of a team winning after being bowled out for less than 150 in the first innings of a one-day international.
India broke their own record after being bowled out for 105 in Mirpur last week yet still winning. Back in March 1985, India were demolished for 125 in Sharjah - Imran Khan took 6 for 14 - but then skittled Pakistan for just 87. It was the first match of a four-nation competition, and India went on to beat Australia in the final in Sharjah a week later. There have been nine further instances of a team winning after being bowled out for less than 150 in the first innings of a one-day international.
Was the aggregate in the Bangladesh-India match the lowest for any ODI? asked Arjun Singh from India
As you might perhaps expect from the previous answer, the 163 runs scored in total in last week's match in Mirpur was easily a record low for any one-day international in which all 20 wickets fell: the previous-lowest was 203, in the match between Kenya (134) and Zimbabwe (69) in Harare in March 2006. The lowest run aggregate in any completed ODI came during the 2003 World Cup, when Sri Lanka (37 for 1 in 4.4 overs) beat Canada (36 all out in 18.4 overs) by nine wickets. For the full list of the lowest ODI match aggregates, click here.
As you might perhaps expect from the previous answer, the 163 runs scored in total in last week's match in Mirpur was easily a record low for any one-day international in which all 20 wickets fell: the previous-lowest was 203, in the match between Kenya (134) and Zimbabwe (69) in Harare in March 2006. The lowest run aggregate in any completed ODI came during the 2003 World Cup, when Sri Lanka (37 for 1 in 4.4 overs) beat Canada (36 all out in 18.4 overs) by nine wickets. For the full list of the lowest ODI match aggregates, click here.
Was Mark Craig's 67 at Port-of-Spain the highest Test score by a New Zealand No. 10? asked David Howe from Japan
Mark Craig's valiant 67 in the second Test against West Indies in Port-of-Spain last week was actually the third-highest score by a New Zealand No. 10 in Tests. The highest of all remains John Bracewell's 83 not out against Australia in Sydney in 1985-86, when he shared a last-wicket partnership of 124 with Stephen Boock (37). And Tim Southee, Mark Craig's current team-mate, marked his Test debut, against England in Napier in 2007-08, by smashing 77 not out in just 40 balls, including nine sixes.
Mark Craig's valiant 67 in the second Test against West Indies in Port-of-Spain last week was actually the third-highest score by a New Zealand No. 10 in Tests. The highest of all remains John Bracewell's 83 not out against Australia in Sydney in 1985-86, when he shared a last-wicket partnership of 124 with Stephen Boock (37). And Tim Southee, Mark Craig's current team-mate, marked his Test debut, against England in Napier in 2007-08, by smashing 77 not out in just 40 balls, including nine sixes.
Stuart Broad took his second Test hat-trick against Sri Lanka. How many other bowlers have done this? asked Trevor Badham
Stuart Broad's hat-trick at Headingley made him the first England bowler to take two in Tests, following his similar effort against against India at Trent Bridge in 2011. Only three other bowlers have managed two hat-tricks in Tests. The old Australian offspinner Hugh Trumble took one against England in Melbourne in 1901-02, and two years later, also at the MCG, took another in his final Test, against England again. At Old Trafford in 1912, playing against South Africa in the Triangular Tournament, the Australian legspinner Jimmy Matthews uniquely took two hat-tricks in the same game - one in each innings. Many years later, Wasim Akram joined the list, with hat-tricks in successive Tests against Sri Lanka - in the qualifying round of the Asian Test Championship in Lahore in March 1999, and shortly afterwards in the final in Dhaka. Wasim also took two hat-tricks in one-day internationals.
Stuart Broad's hat-trick at Headingley made him the first England bowler to take two in Tests, following his similar effort against against India at Trent Bridge in 2011. Only three other bowlers have managed two hat-tricks in Tests. The old Australian offspinner Hugh Trumble took one against England in Melbourne in 1901-02, and two years later, also at the MCG, took another in his final Test, against England again. At Old Trafford in 1912, playing against South Africa in the Triangular Tournament, the Australian legspinner Jimmy Matthews uniquely took two hat-tricks in the same game - one in each innings. Many years later, Wasim Akram joined the list, with hat-tricks in successive Tests against Sri Lanka - in the qualifying round of the Asian Test Championship in Lahore in March 1999, and shortly afterwards in the final in Dhaka. Wasim also took two hat-tricks in one-day internationals.
I heard that Kumar Sangakkara hit his seventh successive half-century at Headingley to equal the Test record - whose? asked Stanley Silva from Sri Lanka
Kumar Sangakkara's twin fifties in the second Test at Headingley enabled him to equal the record, set by Everton Weekes of West Indies in 1948-49 - a run that included a record five successive centuries. Since then two other players also managed to pass 50 in seven successive Test innings: Andy Flower for Zimbabwe in 2000-01, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul of West Indies in 2006-07. Sangakkara's run started in Bangladesh earlier this year, with 75 in the first Test in Dhaka, and 319 and 105 in the second in Chittagong; he then made 147 and 61 at Lord's, and 79 and 55 at Headingley. Sangakkara already had the Sri Lankan record, with six in a row (including two double-centuries) in 2007; now he has a chance to break the overall mark in his next Test. For the full list, click here.
Kumar Sangakkara's twin fifties in the second Test at Headingley enabled him to equal the record, set by Everton Weekes of West Indies in 1948-49 - a run that included a record five successive centuries. Since then two other players also managed to pass 50 in seven successive Test innings: Andy Flower for Zimbabwe in 2000-01, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul of West Indies in 2006-07. Sangakkara's run started in Bangladesh earlier this year, with 75 in the first Test in Dhaka, and 319 and 105 in the second in Chittagong; he then made 147 and 61 at Lord's, and 79 and 55 at Headingley. Sangakkara already had the Sri Lankan record, with six in a row (including two double-centuries) in 2007; now he has a chance to break the overall mark in his next Test. For the full list, click here.
I know that Courtney Walsh holds the Test record for not-outs (61). He was also unbeaten in first-class cricket 158 times - is that also the record? asked Allan Alexander from the United States
Courtney Walsh remained not out in 61 of his 185 Test innings, more than anyone else. There are four other batsmen (or, rather, bowlers) with more than a half-century of undefeated innings - Muttiah Muralitharan (56), Bob Willis (55), Chris Martin (52) and Glenn McGrath (51). Jimmy Anderson, with 48 so far, might join them soon, as might Shivnarine Chanderpaul (46). Walsh's 158 not-outs in first-class cricket, however, leaves him well down a list dominated by English county players. Top of the pile is the old Yorkshire wicketkeeper David Hunter, who was undefeated in 351 of his 721 innings - that's an impressive 48% asterisk record - between 1888 and 1909. Jack Hearne of Middlesex recorded 318 not-outs, Eric Hollies 282 and Norman Gifford 263.
Courtney Walsh remained not out in 61 of his 185 Test innings, more than anyone else. There are four other batsmen (or, rather, bowlers) with more than a half-century of undefeated innings - Muttiah Muralitharan (56), Bob Willis (55), Chris Martin (52) and Glenn McGrath (51). Jimmy Anderson, with 48 so far, might join them soon, as might Shivnarine Chanderpaul (46). Walsh's 158 not-outs in first-class cricket, however, leaves him well down a list dominated by English county players. Top of the pile is the old Yorkshire wicketkeeper David Hunter, who was undefeated in 351 of his 721 innings - that's an impressive 48% asterisk record - between 1888 and 1909. Jack Hearne of Middlesex recorded 318 not-outs, Eric Hollies 282 and Norman Gifford 263.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2014. Ask Steven is now on Facebook