Vengsarkar, Gooch, and India's favourite ground
All to do with England v India and records at Lord's
Steven Lynch
19-Jul-2011
Among the English grounds India have played in, they have been most successful at Headingley, where they won by an innings in 2002 • Paul McGregor/ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Has any visiting player matched Dilip Vengsarkar's record of scoring three centuries in Tests at Lord's? asked Deepak Verma from Mumbai
No, India's Dilip Vengsarkar remains the only visiting batsman to score three Test centuries at Lord's - he made 103 in 1979, 157 in 1982 and 126 not out in 1986. He played one more Test there - in 1990 - but was out for 52 and 35, finishing with 508 Test runs at Lord's at an average of 72.57. Among visiting batsmen only Warren Bardsley (575), Garry Sobers (571) and Don Bradman (551) have scored more Test runs at Lord's. Nine other visitors have scored two Test centuries at Lord's: Bardsley, Bradman and Bill Brown of Australia, the West Indians Sobers, Gordon Greenidge and George Headley (both in the same match in 1939), New Zealand's Martin Crowe, Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka, and South Africa's Graeme Smith. The overall record for Test centuries at Lord's is six, by Graham Gooch and Michael Vaughan.
No, India's Dilip Vengsarkar remains the only visiting batsman to score three Test centuries at Lord's - he made 103 in 1979, 157 in 1982 and 126 not out in 1986. He played one more Test there - in 1990 - but was out for 52 and 35, finishing with 508 Test runs at Lord's at an average of 72.57. Among visiting batsmen only Warren Bardsley (575), Garry Sobers (571) and Don Bradman (551) have scored more Test runs at Lord's. Nine other visitors have scored two Test centuries at Lord's: Bardsley, Bradman and Bill Brown of Australia, the West Indians Sobers, Gordon Greenidge and George Headley (both in the same match in 1939), New Zealand's Martin Crowe, Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka, and South Africa's Graeme Smith. The overall record for Test centuries at Lord's is six, by Graham Gooch and Michael Vaughan.
Who has made the highest score in a Lord's Test? asked Vijaya Ratnam from Trivandrum
The highest score in a Lord's Test - indeed, the highest score in any match there - is Graham Gooch's 333 for England against India in 1990. When he had 36 wicketkeeper Kiran More put down a catch, one of the most expensive drops in Test history. Gooch added another hundred (123) in the second innings, a feat unmatched in Test or first-class cricket. Next comes Graeme Smith's 259 for South Africa in 2003, the highest by a visiting batsman in a Test at Lord's. There have been 12 further double-centuries, by Don Bradman, Bill Brown, Denis Compton, Martin Donnelly, Gordon Greenidge, Wally Hammond, Joe Hardstaff, Jack Hobbs, Rob Key, Mohammad Yousuf and Mohsin Khan. India's highest score there is Vinoo Mankad's 184 in 1952, in a match in which he also scored 72 in the first innings, and bowled 97 overs in all, taking 5 for 231! Apart from Dilip Vengsarkar, whose three hundreds are mentioned above, India's other centurions at Lord's are Gundappa Viswanath (1979), Mohammad Azharuddin and Ravi Shastri (1990), Sourav Ganguly (1996), and a rather unlikely one in Ajit Agarkar (2002).
The highest score in a Lord's Test - indeed, the highest score in any match there - is Graham Gooch's 333 for England against India in 1990. When he had 36 wicketkeeper Kiran More put down a catch, one of the most expensive drops in Test history. Gooch added another hundred (123) in the second innings, a feat unmatched in Test or first-class cricket. Next comes Graeme Smith's 259 for South Africa in 2003, the highest by a visiting batsman in a Test at Lord's. There have been 12 further double-centuries, by Don Bradman, Bill Brown, Denis Compton, Martin Donnelly, Gordon Greenidge, Wally Hammond, Joe Hardstaff, Jack Hobbs, Rob Key, Mohammad Yousuf and Mohsin Khan. India's highest score there is Vinoo Mankad's 184 in 1952, in a match in which he also scored 72 in the first innings, and bowled 97 overs in all, taking 5 for 231! Apart from Dilip Vengsarkar, whose three hundreds are mentioned above, India's other centurions at Lord's are Gundappa Viswanath (1979), Mohammad Azharuddin and Ravi Shastri (1990), Sourav Ganguly (1996), and a rather unlikely one in Ajit Agarkar (2002).
What is India's favourite ground in England, as far as Test wins goes? asked Rakesh Patel from Mumbai
Before this series India had won five Tests in England. The first was at The Oval in 1971, on their seventh Test-playing tour. That was followed in 1986 by victories at Lord's and Headingley, then a crushing innings victory when they returned to Headingley in 2002. On the last tour, in 2007, India completed another convincing victory, this time at Trent Bridge. So India's best Test record in England is at Headingley - and there is no Test match in Leeds this time. But India have tasted victory at three of the four grounds being used this year: the only one they haven't won at is Edgbaston, the venue for the second Test, where England have won four of the five Tests between the teams. That 80% success rate makes Edgbaston probably England's favourite ground against India, although they have also won 10 of the 15 previous matches played at Lord's since the first one in 1932. England have won three out of six at Headingley, three of the eight at Old Trafford, only two of the 10 matches at The Oval (where there have been seven draws), and one out of four at Trent Bridge.
Before this series India had won five Tests in England. The first was at The Oval in 1971, on their seventh Test-playing tour. That was followed in 1986 by victories at Lord's and Headingley, then a crushing innings victory when they returned to Headingley in 2002. On the last tour, in 2007, India completed another convincing victory, this time at Trent Bridge. So India's best Test record in England is at Headingley - and there is no Test match in Leeds this time. But India have tasted victory at three of the four grounds being used this year: the only one they haven't won at is Edgbaston, the venue for the second Test, where England have won four of the five Tests between the teams. That 80% success rate makes Edgbaston probably England's favourite ground against India, although they have also won 10 of the 15 previous matches played at Lord's since the first one in 1932. England have won three out of six at Headingley, three of the eight at Old Trafford, only two of the 10 matches at The Oval (where there have been seven draws), and one out of four at Trent Bridge.
Which Indian players have been involved in the most Test victories over England? I'm guessing Sachin Tendulkar must be up there ... asked Mukesh Yadav from Chennai
You're right, Sachin Tendulkar has a share in this record: he has finished on the winning side in eight Tests against England (home and away), which puts him level with Sunil Gavaskar. But Tendulkar's shades it on average: he has so far opposed England in 24 Tests, while Gavaskar played 38. Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble took part in seven Test wins over England. The reverse record is held by Dennis Amiss, who took part in nine Test victories over India: Ken Barrington, Fred Trueman and Derek Underwood participated in eight. David Gower played the most Tests for England against India (24).
You're right, Sachin Tendulkar has a share in this record: he has finished on the winning side in eight Tests against England (home and away), which puts him level with Sunil Gavaskar. But Tendulkar's shades it on average: he has so far opposed England in 24 Tests, while Gavaskar played 38. Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble took part in seven Test wins over England. The reverse record is held by Dennis Amiss, who took part in nine Test victories over India: Ken Barrington, Fred Trueman and Derek Underwood participated in eight. David Gower played the most Tests for England against India (24).
What are the best bowling figures in England-India Tests at Lord's? asked Brad Simpson from Hove
The best figures remain 7 for 49, by the great English fast-medium bowler Alec Bedser, on what was his Test debut in 1946. Next comes Ray Illingworth's 6 for 29 in 1967, while the best innings return for India is 6 for 35 by Amar Singh in 1936. Bedser went on to take 11 for 145 in the match in 1946, the best overall figures for either side in a Lord's Test. Gubby Allen, with 10 for 78 in 1936, is the only other man to take ten wickets in an England-India Test there: India's best match figures in a Lord's Test are 8 for 168 by Kapil Dev in 1982.
The best figures remain 7 for 49, by the great English fast-medium bowler Alec Bedser, on what was his Test debut in 1946. Next comes Ray Illingworth's 6 for 29 in 1967, while the best innings return for India is 6 for 35 by Amar Singh in 1936. Bedser went on to take 11 for 145 in the match in 1946, the best overall figures for either side in a Lord's Test. Gubby Allen, with 10 for 78 in 1936, is the only other man to take ten wickets in an England-India Test there: India's best match figures in a Lord's Test are 8 for 168 by Kapil Dev in 1982.
How many Test matches have been staged at Lord's in all - and has any other ground held more? asked Ray Spice from London
This week's Test against India will be the 123rd played at Lord's, all but two of them (Australia v South Africa in 1912, and Pakistan v Australia in 2010) involving England. No other venue has staged as many: in fact only one other ground - Melbourne - has clocked up 100 Tests. So far there have been 103 at the MCG, 99 at Sydney, and 93 at The Oval. Old Trafford is next with a rather distant 74. The next ground not in either England or Australia is Port of Spain, with 57. Lord's does lag a long way behind in one-day internationals, though - there have been only 51 ODIs there, while Sharjah leads the way with 200. Sydney has staged 138 ODIs, Melbourne 132, and the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo 101.
This week's Test against India will be the 123rd played at Lord's, all but two of them (Australia v South Africa in 1912, and Pakistan v Australia in 2010) involving England. No other venue has staged as many: in fact only one other ground - Melbourne - has clocked up 100 Tests. So far there have been 103 at the MCG, 99 at Sydney, and 93 at The Oval. Old Trafford is next with a rather distant 74. The next ground not in either England or Australia is Port of Spain, with 57. Lord's does lag a long way behind in one-day internationals, though - there have been only 51 ODIs there, while Sharjah leads the way with 200. Sydney has staged 138 ODIs, Melbourne 132, and the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo 101.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2011. Ask Steven is now on Facebook