Lord's tourists, and twin tons
Also, keepers scoring hundreds in the same ODI, beating Chennai Super Kings, and most ducks in an innings
Steven Lynch
10-Jun-2014
Mahela Jayawardene needs a double-hundred to become the leading visiting run scorer at Lord's • Hamish Blair/Getty Images
With the first Test approaching, I was wondering whether Mahela Jayawardene stood a chance of becoming the leading Test run scorer at Lord's among visiting players? asked Neville Karunaratne from Sri Lanka
To do that, Mahela Jayawardene will probably need to score a double-century: he currently has 375 Test runs at Lord's, exactly 200 behind the leader, Australia's Warren Bardsley. Garry Sobers scored 571 Test runs at Lord's, and Don Bradman 551, then come Shivnarine Chanderpaul (512), Dilip Vengsarkar (508) and Allan Border (503). Vengsarkar is the only visiting batsman so far to score three Test centuries at Lord's - Jayawardene is currently one of ten tourists to have made two.
To do that, Mahela Jayawardene will probably need to score a double-century: he currently has 375 Test runs at Lord's, exactly 200 behind the leader, Australia's Warren Bardsley. Garry Sobers scored 571 Test runs at Lord's, and Don Bradman 551, then come Shivnarine Chanderpaul (512), Dilip Vengsarkar (508) and Allan Border (503). Vengsarkar is the only visiting batsman so far to score three Test centuries at Lord's - Jayawardene is currently one of ten tourists to have made two.
How often have both wicketkeepers scored a century in the same one-day international, as happened at Lord's recently? asked Ramon Perera from England
That game at Lord's on May 31 - when Kumar Sangakkara made 112 for Sri Lanka and Jos Buttler replied with 121 for England - provided the fifth instance of both wicketkeepers scoring hundreds in the same one-day international. Sangakkara was involved in two of those as well: against India in Jaipur in October 2005, he made 138 not out and MS Dhoni 183 not out, then against South Africa in Johannesburg in January 2012 Sanga scored 102 and AB de Villiers 125 not out. In Harare in August 2007 de Villiers made 107 for South Africa and Tatenda Taibu 107 not out for Zimbabwe, then earlier this year in a World Cup qualifier in Lincoln in New Zealand Wesley Barresi of the Netherlands smacked 137 not out and Irfan Karim 108 for Kenya.
That game at Lord's on May 31 - when Kumar Sangakkara made 112 for Sri Lanka and Jos Buttler replied with 121 for England - provided the fifth instance of both wicketkeepers scoring hundreds in the same one-day international. Sangakkara was involved in two of those as well: against India in Jaipur in October 2005, he made 138 not out and MS Dhoni 183 not out, then against South Africa in Johannesburg in January 2012 Sanga scored 102 and AB de Villiers 125 not out. In Harare in August 2007 de Villiers made 107 for South Africa and Tatenda Taibu 107 not out for Zimbabwe, then earlier this year in a World Cup qualifier in Lincoln in New Zealand Wesley Barresi of the Netherlands smacked 137 not out and Irfan Karim 108 for Kenya.
How many wicketkeepers had scored one-day international centuries for England before Jos Buttler? I can't remember any! asked David Norman from England
You're right to think that one-day centuries by England wicketkeepers are rare: Jos Buttler, with his rampaging 121 at Lord's on May 31, was actually only the second man to score one. The only other England keeper to reach three figures in an ODI was Alec Stewart, who did it four times - including twice in three days in 2000, against Zimbabwe at Edgbaston and West Indies at Trent Bridge. The other hundreds came against Pakistan at The Oval in 1992, and India in Sharjah in 1997. Stewart averaged 33.47 in 138 ODIs when keeping wicket, and only 23.57 in 32 matches when not the designated stumper, in which his highest score was just 64. Buttler's century took him only 61 balls, the fastest for England in ODIs, beating Kevin Pietersen's 69-ball hundred against South Africa in East London in February 2005.
You're right to think that one-day centuries by England wicketkeepers are rare: Jos Buttler, with his rampaging 121 at Lord's on May 31, was actually only the second man to score one. The only other England keeper to reach three figures in an ODI was Alec Stewart, who did it four times - including twice in three days in 2000, against Zimbabwe at Edgbaston and West Indies at Trent Bridge. The other hundreds came against Pakistan at The Oval in 1992, and India in Sharjah in 1997. Stewart averaged 33.47 in 138 ODIs when keeping wicket, and only 23.57 in 32 matches when not the designated stumper, in which his highest score was just 64. Buttler's century took him only 61 balls, the fastest for England in ODIs, beating Kevin Pietersen's 69-ball hundred against South Africa in East London in February 2005.
Chennai Super Kings are the most consistent team across all seven IPL seasons. But which team has had most success against them? asked Manish Thaduri from Singapore
You're right to say that Chennai Super Kings have been the most consistent team overall in the IPL. As this table shows, their overall success rate is 60.96% (69 wins and 44 defeats). Mumbai Indians come next with 57.27%. And it's Mumbai who have the best record against CSK: their 18 meetings have been shared 9-9. Royal Challengers Bangalore have beaten Chennai seven times, Kings XI Punjab six, and Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals five each. CSK have beaten Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals ten times - from only 14 meetings in Delhi's case.
You're right to say that Chennai Super Kings have been the most consistent team overall in the IPL. As this table shows, their overall success rate is 60.96% (69 wins and 44 defeats). Mumbai Indians come next with 57.27%. And it's Mumbai who have the best record against CSK: their 18 meetings have been shared 9-9. Royal Challengers Bangalore have beaten Chennai seven times, Kings XI Punjab six, and Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals five each. CSK have beaten Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals ten times - from only 14 meetings in Delhi's case.
What is the record for ducks in a Test innings? asked Manish Patel from India
There have been three Test innings that included six ducks. The first was in Karachi in 1980-81, when six Pakistanis were out for 0 as their side slid to 128 all out on the first day against West Indies. Colin Croft and Sylvester Clarke dismissed two each for ducks while the other two were inflicted by Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner. The record was equalled in Ahmedabad in 1996-97, when six South Africans fell for ducks as they slid to defeat against India. Javagal Srinath was responsible for four of them on his way to figures of 6 for 21, and Anil Kumble claimed the other two. The third instance was in 2002-03, as Bangladesh collapsed from 80 for 3 to 87 all out against West Indies in Dhaka. Five of those ducks were inflicted by Jermaine Lawson, who finished with the remarkable figures of 6 for 3.
There have been three Test innings that included six ducks. The first was in Karachi in 1980-81, when six Pakistanis were out for 0 as their side slid to 128 all out on the first day against West Indies. Colin Croft and Sylvester Clarke dismissed two each for ducks while the other two were inflicted by Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner. The record was equalled in Ahmedabad in 1996-97, when six South Africans fell for ducks as they slid to defeat against India. Javagal Srinath was responsible for four of them on his way to figures of 6 for 21, and Anil Kumble claimed the other two. The third instance was in 2002-03, as Bangladesh collapsed from 80 for 3 to 87 all out against West Indies in Dhaka. Five of those ducks were inflicted by Jermaine Lawson, who finished with the remarkable figures of 6 for 3.
In how many Tests has a player from each side scored a pair of centuries? asked Siddhartha from India
There have been only two occasions when opposing players scored twin centuries in the same Test. The first was in the 1946-47 Ashes series, when Arthur Morris made 122 and 124 not out for Australia, and Denis Compton 147 and 103 not out for England in Adelaide. It didn't happen again until 1990-91, when Andrew Jones made 122 and 100 not out for New Zealand and Asanka Gurusinha replied with 119 and 102 for Sri Lanka in Hamilton. The only other Test to feature two sets of twin centuries was also in New Zealand, in 1973-74, when Greg Chappell made 247 not out and 133, and his brother Ian 145 and 121 for Australia. For the full list of players scoring two centuries in the same Test, click here.
There have been only two occasions when opposing players scored twin centuries in the same Test. The first was in the 1946-47 Ashes series, when Arthur Morris made 122 and 124 not out for Australia, and Denis Compton 147 and 103 not out for England in Adelaide. It didn't happen again until 1990-91, when Andrew Jones made 122 and 100 not out for New Zealand and Asanka Gurusinha replied with 119 and 102 for Sri Lanka in Hamilton. The only other Test to feature two sets of twin centuries was also in New Zealand, in 1973-74, when Greg Chappell made 247 not out and 133, and his brother Ian 145 and 121 for Australia. For the full list of players scoring two centuries in the same Test, click here.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2014. Ask Steven is now on Facebook