The Don's average, and Dhoni's wicket
Chronic lbw candidates, king pairs off the first ball of the innings, and the Australian Pakistani
Steven Lynch
06-Oct-2009
The golden arm rolleth over: MS Dhoni became the third man to have started an ODI as a wicketkeeper and then taken a wicket bowling • Getty Images
Don Bradman had a batting average of 99.94 from the 52 Tests he played. Now many players have played more Tests, but who had the next-best batting average after exactly 52 matches? And what was the highest batting average The Don ever achieved? asked Shinda Singh from India
A trio of Englishmen lead the pursuing pack: Herbert Sutcliffe's batting average after 52 Tests was 61.85 (he finished with 60.73 from 54 Tests), while Sutcliffe's famous opening partner Jack Hobbs averaged 60.21 after 52 of his eventual 61 Tests, and Len Hutton 58.24. Next comes the first of the moderns: Australia's Matthew Hayden averaged 58.25 after his 52nd Test. The highest average Don Bradman ever achieved was 112.29, at the end of the 1931-32 series against South Africa. Before his fateful final innings of 0 at The Oval in 1948 The Don's average was 101.39.
A trio of Englishmen lead the pursuing pack: Herbert Sutcliffe's batting average after 52 Tests was 61.85 (he finished with 60.73 from 54 Tests), while Sutcliffe's famous opening partner Jack Hobbs averaged 60.21 after 52 of his eventual 61 Tests, and Len Hutton 58.24. Next comes the first of the moderns: Australia's Matthew Hayden averaged 58.25 after his 52nd Test. The highest average Don Bradman ever achieved was 112.29, at the end of the 1931-32 series against South Africa. Before his fateful final innings of 0 at The Oval in 1948 The Don's average was 101.39.
Is MS Dhoni the first wicketkeeper to start a one-day international with the gloves on, then bowl and take a wicket? asked Gulu Ezekiel from India
MS Dhoni's feat against West Indies in Johannesburg last week was actually the third time that a designated wicketkeeper has taken a wicket in a one-day international - and the second time this year! Against Bangladesh in Roseau in July Devon Thomas, who was playing in his first ODI, took a wicket with his second ball and another with his seventh - but West Indies still lost. The only other time it has happened was in Harare in 2003-04, when Tatenda Taibu started the match against Sri Lanka behind the stumps, handed the gloves over to Alester Maregwede in the 30th over, and proceeded to bowl a full stint of 10 overs, finishing with 2 for 42.
MS Dhoni's feat against West Indies in Johannesburg last week was actually the third time that a designated wicketkeeper has taken a wicket in a one-day international - and the second time this year! Against Bangladesh in Roseau in July Devon Thomas, who was playing in his first ODI, took a wicket with his second ball and another with his seventh - but West Indies still lost. The only other time it has happened was in Harare in 2003-04, when Tatenda Taibu started the match against Sri Lanka behind the stumps, handed the gloves over to Alester Maregwede in the 30th over, and proceeded to bowl a full stint of 10 overs, finishing with 2 for 42.
Which established batsman has the greatest percentage of lbw dismissals in Tests? asked David George from Frome
If we impose a qualification of 25 innings, to try to fulfil your criterion of an "established" batsman, the leader is the West Indian Runako Morton, who was out lbw in 11 (42.30%) of his 26 completed Test innings. Next comes another West Indian, Junior Murray, who was lbw in 16 (39.02%) of his 41 completed innings in Tests. If we raise the bar to 50 innings then Zimbabwe's Dion Ebrahim leads the way with 17 (31.48%) lbws in 54 dismissals, and if we raise it further to 100 then top of the pile is none other than England's Graham Gooch whose 209 Test dismissals included 50 lbws (23.92%).
If we impose a qualification of 25 innings, to try to fulfil your criterion of an "established" batsman, the leader is the West Indian Runako Morton, who was out lbw in 11 (42.30%) of his 26 completed Test innings. Next comes another West Indian, Junior Murray, who was lbw in 16 (39.02%) of his 41 completed innings in Tests. If we raise the bar to 50 innings then Zimbabwe's Dion Ebrahim leads the way with 17 (31.48%) lbws in 54 dismissals, and if we raise it further to 100 then top of the pile is none other than England's Graham Gooch whose 209 Test dismissals included 50 lbws (23.92%).
After reading last week's question about the top four batsmen making centuries, I looked at the scorecard of that particular match and noticed that Javed Omar collected two golden ducks, from the first ball of each innings! Now, is that a first too? asked Ateeq Mirza from Kuwait
Javed Omar's fate - out to the first ball of both innings in that match, in Mirpur in May 2007 - is indeed unique in Test history. I believe there have only been 11 "king pairs" in all in Tests (early records are incomplete so there might just be more). The one before Javed Omar's was collected by Adam Gilchrist against India in Kolkata in 2000-01, in the match India famously won after following on. But the most spectacular king pair in Tests has to be the one bagged by the South African wicketkeeper Tommy Ward on his Test debut against Australia at Old Trafford in 1912 - he was the final victim of legspinner Jimmy Matthews's hat-tricks in both innings!
Javed Omar's fate - out to the first ball of both innings in that match, in Mirpur in May 2007 - is indeed unique in Test history. I believe there have only been 11 "king pairs" in all in Tests (early records are incomplete so there might just be more). The one before Javed Omar's was collected by Adam Gilchrist against India in Kolkata in 2000-01, in the match India famously won after following on. But the most spectacular king pair in Tests has to be the one bagged by the South African wicketkeeper Tommy Ward on his Test debut against Australia at Old Trafford in 1912 - he was the final victim of legspinner Jimmy Matthews's hat-tricks in both innings!
A friend told me that an Australian Pakistani played a Test match for Pakistan. Is this true? asked Aliza Mehmood from the United States
I think the player in question is Duncan Sharpe, who played three Tests for Pakistan against Australia in 1959-60 (he made 56 and 35 on debut in Dacca). A Christian, Sharpe was born in Rawalpindi, but later emigrated to Australia, where he played in the Sheffield Shield for South Australia.
I think the player in question is Duncan Sharpe, who played three Tests for Pakistan against Australia in 1959-60 (he made 56 and 35 on debut in Dacca). A Christian, Sharpe was born in Rawalpindi, but later emigrated to Australia, where he played in the Sheffield Shield for South Australia.
Further to last week's question about Bishan Bedi once taking 7 for 5, didn't Jim Laker once take 8 for 2 in a first-class match? asked Cliff Grigg from the United States
The match in question was actually a Test Trial match between England and The Rest in Bradford - not far from Jim Laker's birthplace - in 1950. Laker, playing for England, rather ruined the match by taking 8 for 2 in 14 overs on a helpful pitch as The Rest were bowled out for 27. Legend has it that one of the two runs came courtesy of a friendly "one off the mark" for Laker's Surrey team-mate Eric Bedser. The Rest did slightly better second time around, scoring 113 (Laker 2 for 44) but still lost by an innings.
The match in question was actually a Test Trial match between England and The Rest in Bradford - not far from Jim Laker's birthplace - in 1950. Laker, playing for England, rather ruined the match by taking 8 for 2 in 14 overs on a helpful pitch as The Rest were bowled out for 27. Legend has it that one of the two runs came courtesy of a friendly "one off the mark" for Laker's Surrey team-mate Eric Bedser. The Rest did slightly better second time around, scoring 113 (Laker 2 for 44) but still lost by an innings.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket (reviewed here). If you want to ask Steven a question, use our feedback form. The most interesting questions will be answered here each week