Ask Steven

Out for 99, and the highest totals without a century

Most prolific against England, and in first-class cricket

Steven Lynch
Steven Lynch
25-Aug-2007
The regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket:


Sachin Tendulkar has twice been out for 99 in ODIs he's played over the last two months © Getty Images
I've just watched Sachin Tendulkar get out for 99 - again. How many batsmen have been out for 99 in ODIs? asked Mathaven Moodley from Canada
A lot of people also asked about this, after Sachin Tendulkar was out for 99 in Friday's match in Bristol. As this list shows, there have now been 20 instances of a batsman being out one short of a century in ODIs - and Tendulkar has been unlucky enough to make the last two, having also been out for 99 against South Africa in Belfast in June. Sanath Jayasuriya is the only other player who has twice been out for 99 in ODIs.
Was India's 329 in Bristol last week the highest ODI total without a century? asked Midhush from Australia, among others
The highest ODI total not to include a century is actually South Africa's 392 for 6 against Pakistan in Centurion in February. The highest individual score then was 88 not out, by Jacques Kallis.
There were six run-outs in the first ODI between Zimbabwe and South Africa last week, including five in Zimbabwe's innings. Is this a record? asked Javed Rentiya from the United States
The five run-outs in Zimbabwe's innings in last week's match at Bulawayo equalled the record for an ODI: it has happened eight times before, most famously to Australia in the first World Cup final at Lord's in 1975. For a full list, click here. The record for both sides in an ODI is eight, in the match between New Zealand and India in Napier in 1998-99. There have also been five ODIs with seven run-outs , and 18 previous ones with six, as this list shows.
The batsman who was at the other end when Hanif Mohammad was run out for 499 apparently died a couple of weeks later. Who was he, and what did he die of? asked Jack Coetzee from South Africa
This unfortunate player was Abdul Aziz, an 18-year-old who was Karachi's wicketkeeper in that match, against Bahawalpur in January 1959, when Hanif Mohammad was run out for 499. Abdul Aziz was indeed batting at the end, although I don't think Hanif's run-out was his fault. That match was the semi-final of the 1958-59 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The final was played a week later, and Abdul Aziz was hit on the chest by a ball from Combined Services offspinner Dildar Awan while batting in the first innings. This apparently aggravated an unsuspected heart condition, and he died on the way to hospital - in some scorecards he is recorded as "absent dead" in the second innings of the match, which Karachi still won.
Further to a question you had recently, I know Don Bradman has scored most runs in Tests against England, but who leads the way in ODIs? asked Daniel Marrin from Saltburn
The leading runscorer in ODIs against England is Viv Richards, with 1619 in 36 matches, at the imposing average of 57.82. Allan Border is next with 1302, while Desmond Haynes (1185), Ricky Ponting (1110), Sanath Jayasuriya (1102), Adam Gilchrist (1087) and Sachin Tendulkar (1016 after his 99 in Bristol) have also passed 1000.
I was looking at the records for first-class runs. Unsurprisingly they're dominated by Englishmen from before the war, but I noticed Gordon Greenidge is the leading non-Englishman. However, I didn't see a single Australian above 30,000 ... can you please tell me which Aussie has most first-class runs? asked Matt Cottle
Gordon Greenidge (37,354 runs) is indeed the leading non-Englishman on the first-class run-scorers' list, and that only puts him 25th overall. The only current player above him is Graeme Hick, who passed 40,000 runs earlier this season. The leading Australian is none other than Don Bradman, who made 28,067 first-class runs at the amazing average of 95.14. Allan Border comes next with 27,131, just ahead of Mark Waugh (26,885), while Stuart Law has 25,991 as I write.

Steven Lynch is the deputy editor of The Wisden Group. If you want to ask Steven a question, use our feedback form. The most interesting questions will be answered here each week.