Tahir's four, Afridi's nine, and ten Doeschate
Also, most wides conceded in a game, and centuries on World Cup debut
Steven Lynch
01-Mar-2011
Shahid Afridi has the best figures for a captain in a World Cup • Associated Press
Imran Tahir took four wickets on his international debut, which happened to be in the World Cup. Is this the best performance by someone making his debut in the World Cup? asked Kaushal Mistry from Mumbai
Imran Tahir took 4 for 41 on his one-day international and World Cup debut last week, against West Indies in Delhi, making him the fifth bowler to take four wickets in an innings in his first ODI for South Africa. But all of them have to give best to Allan Donald, who took 5 for 29 in South Africa's first-ever official one-day international, in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1991-92. As far as World Cups are concerned, the only better figures by anyone making their ODI debut in one is 5 for 27 by Austin Codrington, the dreadlocked plumber, for Canada against Bangladesh in Durban in 2002-03, and 4 for 21 by Abdul Qadir for Pakistan v New Zealand at Edgbaston in 1983. The only other man to have taken four wickets in an innings in his first one-day international, that debut coming in a World Cup, was Duncan Fletcher, with 4 for 42 (and 69 not out) as Zimbabwe upset Australia in the 1983 World Cup at Trent Bridge.
Imran Tahir took 4 for 41 on his one-day international and World Cup debut last week, against West Indies in Delhi, making him the fifth bowler to take four wickets in an innings in his first ODI for South Africa. But all of them have to give best to Allan Donald, who took 5 for 29 in South Africa's first-ever official one-day international, in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1991-92. As far as World Cups are concerned, the only better figures by anyone making their ODI debut in one is 5 for 27 by Austin Codrington, the dreadlocked plumber, for Canada against Bangladesh in Durban in 2002-03, and 4 for 21 by Abdul Qadir for Pakistan v New Zealand at Edgbaston in 1983. The only other man to have taken four wickets in an innings in his first one-day international, that debut coming in a World Cup, was Duncan Fletcher, with 4 for 42 (and 69 not out) as Zimbabwe upset Australia in the 1983 World Cup at Trent Bridge.
Were Shahid Afridi's 5 for 16 the best bowling figures by a captain in World Cup history? asked Chris Bolton from Middlesbrough
Those splendid figures by Shahid Afridi, to polish off Kenya in Hambantota last week, were indeed the best bowling figures by a captain in any World Cup match. The only other skipper to take five wickets in an innings was Kapil Dev, with 5 for 43 against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1983. Afridi's 4 for 34 in the next match came in third on this list: of the six other instances of a captain taking four wickets in a World Cup match, four of them were also by Pakistanis - two by Imran Khan and one each by Asif Iqbal and Wasim Akram. Bob Willis and Duncan Fletcher were the others to do this.
Those splendid figures by Shahid Afridi, to polish off Kenya in Hambantota last week, were indeed the best bowling figures by a captain in any World Cup match. The only other skipper to take five wickets in an innings was Kapil Dev, with 5 for 43 against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1983. Afridi's 4 for 34 in the next match came in third on this list: of the six other instances of a captain taking four wickets in a World Cup match, four of them were also by Pakistanis - two by Imran Khan and one each by Asif Iqbal and Wasim Akram. Bob Willis and Duncan Fletcher were the others to do this.
Was the Netherlands' total against England the highest by an Associate team against a Test-playing country? asked Michael Jones via Facebook
The only higher total by an Associate country against a Test-playing one - in a World Cup or indeed any one-day international - than Netherlands' 292 for 6 in Nagpur last week was Zimbabwe's 312 for 4 against Sri Lanka in New Plymouth in 1991-92. Zimbabwe played their first Test match later in 1992. Somebody else asked whether Ryan ten Doeschate's 119 not out in Nagpur was the highest by an Associate player against a Test team: once more he's second in both lists, again missing out to a Zimbabwean in their pre-Test days, as Dave Houghton made 142 against New Zealand in Hyderabad in the 1987 World Cup.
The only higher total by an Associate country against a Test-playing one - in a World Cup or indeed any one-day international - than Netherlands' 292 for 6 in Nagpur last week was Zimbabwe's 312 for 4 against Sri Lanka in New Plymouth in 1991-92. Zimbabwe played their first Test match later in 1992. Somebody else asked whether Ryan ten Doeschate's 119 not out in Nagpur was the highest by an Associate player against a Test team: once more he's second in both lists, again missing out to a Zimbabwean in their pre-Test days, as Dave Houghton made 142 against New Zealand in Hyderabad in the 1987 World Cup.
Kenya conceded 37 wides in their match against Pakistan. Is this a record for the World Cup? asked Birud Sindhav from the United States
Not only were Kenya's 37 wides against Pakistan in Hambantota a new World Cup record - beating, if that's the right word, Scotland's 33 against Pakistan in Chester-le-Street in 1999 - but it equalled the overall record for the most wides in any one-day international innings, 37 by West Indies against Pakistan in Brisbane in 1988-89. The overall total of 46 extras in Hambantota has been exceeded only three times in the World Cup, all three instances coming in 1999: the list is headed by Scotland's 59 extras in that match against Pakistan.
Not only were Kenya's 37 wides against Pakistan in Hambantota a new World Cup record - beating, if that's the right word, Scotland's 33 against Pakistan in Chester-le-Street in 1999 - but it equalled the overall record for the most wides in any one-day international innings, 37 by West Indies against Pakistan in Brisbane in 1988-89. The overall total of 46 extras in Hambantota has been exceeded only three times in the World Cup, all three instances coming in 1999: the list is headed by Scotland's 59 extras in that match against Pakistan.
Virat Kohli scored a century on his World Cup debut. How many other people have done this? asked Kunal Jain from India
Virat Kohli, who made 100 not out against Bangladesh in Mirpur, was the 13th batsman to make a century in his first World Cup match, a list headed by Dennis Amiss and Glenn Turner, who both reached three figures on the first day of World Cup cricket in 1975. They were followed by Trevor Chappell and Allan Lamb in 1983, Geoff Marsh in 1987-88, Andy Flower in 1991-92 (this was his overall ODI debut too), Nathan Astle and Gary Kirsten in 1995-96, Scott Styris, Andrew Symonds and Craig Wishart in 2002-03, and the Irishman Jeremy Bray in 2006-07.
Virat Kohli, who made 100 not out against Bangladesh in Mirpur, was the 13th batsman to make a century in his first World Cup match, a list headed by Dennis Amiss and Glenn Turner, who both reached three figures on the first day of World Cup cricket in 1975. They were followed by Trevor Chappell and Allan Lamb in 1983, Geoff Marsh in 1987-88, Andy Flower in 1991-92 (this was his overall ODI debut too), Nathan Astle and Gary Kirsten in 1995-96, Scott Styris, Andrew Symonds and Craig Wishart in 2002-03, and the Irishman Jeremy Bray in 2006-07.
Shahid Afridi took nine wickets over two successive matches - is that a World Cup record? asked Ayaz Ali Rajput via Facebook
Shahid Afridi followed his 5 for 16 against Kenya in Hambantota with 4 for 34 against Sri Lanka in Colombo. But he has to give best to the Australian left-arm swing bowler Gary Gilmour. In the later stages of the inaugural World Cup in 1975, Gilmour took 6 for 14 in the semi-final against England at Headingley, then 5 for 48 against West Indies in the final at Lord's. The Sri Lankan opening bowler Ashantha de Mel took 10 wickets in successive World Cup matches - 5 for 39 and 5 for 32 - against Pakistan and New Zealand in 1983.
Shahid Afridi followed his 5 for 16 against Kenya in Hambantota with 4 for 34 against Sri Lanka in Colombo. But he has to give best to the Australian left-arm swing bowler Gary Gilmour. In the later stages of the inaugural World Cup in 1975, Gilmour took 6 for 14 in the semi-final against England at Headingley, then 5 for 48 against West Indies in the final at Lord's. The Sri Lankan opening bowler Ashantha de Mel took 10 wickets in successive World Cup matches - 5 for 39 and 5 for 32 - against Pakistan and New Zealand in 1983.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden 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. Ask Steven is also now on Facebook