O'Brien's record, and the young ones
World Cup's fathers and sons, hogging the strike, birthday scores, and lots of Afridi
Steven Lynch
08-Mar-2011
Strauss is the first person to score his exact age on his birthday during a World Cup but losing to Ireland meant it was the most memorable birthday • AFP
I read that Kevin O'Brien's hundred against England was the fastest at the World Cup. How many faster ones have there been in all one-day internationals? asked Liam McNamara from London
That astonishing 50-ball century from Kevin O'Brien puts him sixth on that particular list: only Shahid Afridi (twice), Mark Boucher, Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya have ever scored faster centuries in one-day internationals, putting O'Brien in rarefied company. The previous-fastest World Cup hundred was Matthew Hayden's in 66 balls for Australia against South Africa in St Kitts in 2006-07: he reached three figures one ball quicker than John Davison for Canada against West Indies at Centurion in 2002-03. The fastest ODI century of all was Afridi's 37-ball hurricane (six fours, 11 sixes) for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996-97. Afridi was 16 at the time, and was playing in only his second one-day international: he hadn't batted in his first, so that was his maiden international innings. For the full list of the fastest hundreds in ODIs, click here.
That astonishing 50-ball century from Kevin O'Brien puts him sixth on that particular list: only Shahid Afridi (twice), Mark Boucher, Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya have ever scored faster centuries in one-day internationals, putting O'Brien in rarefied company. The previous-fastest World Cup hundred was Matthew Hayden's in 66 balls for Australia against South Africa in St Kitts in 2006-07: he reached three figures one ball quicker than John Davison for Canada against West Indies at Centurion in 2002-03. The fastest ODI century of all was Afridi's 37-ball hurricane (six fours, 11 sixes) for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996-97. Afridi was 16 at the time, and was playing in only his second one-day international: he hadn't batted in his first, so that was his maiden international innings. For the full list of the fastest hundreds in ODIs, click here.
Was 16-year-old Nitish Kumar the youngest player ever to appear in the World Cup? asked Terry Moore from Birmingham
Canada's Nitish Kumar was only 16 years and 283 days old when he opened against Pakistan last week. He is indeed the youngest player to appear in the World Cup, taking a record previously held by Talha Jubair of Bangladesh, who was 17 years 70 days old in his first match in 2002-03. Five other 17-year-olds have played in the World Cup: Sudath Pasqual of Sri Lanka in 1979, Malachi Jones (Bermuda) in 2006-07, Kenya's Thomas Odoyo in 1995-96, Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) in 2006-07, and Javed Miandad of Pakistan in 1975. Kumar was 15 years 273 days old when he made his overall one-day international debut for Canada, against Afghanistan in Sharjah in February 2010: the only younger player in any men's ODI was Hasan Raza of Pakistan (14 years 233 days old when he played against Zimbabwe in Quetta in 1996-97). Another Pakistani, Sajjida Shah, was only 12 years 171 days old when she played against Ireland in a women's one-day international in Dublin in 2000.
Canada's Nitish Kumar was only 16 years and 283 days old when he opened against Pakistan last week. He is indeed the youngest player to appear in the World Cup, taking a record previously held by Talha Jubair of Bangladesh, who was 17 years 70 days old in his first match in 2002-03. Five other 17-year-olds have played in the World Cup: Sudath Pasqual of Sri Lanka in 1979, Malachi Jones (Bermuda) in 2006-07, Kenya's Thomas Odoyo in 1995-96, Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) in 2006-07, and Javed Miandad of Pakistan in 1975. Kumar was 15 years 273 days old when he made his overall one-day international debut for Canada, against Afghanistan in Sharjah in February 2010: the only younger player in any men's ODI was Hasan Raza of Pakistan (14 years 233 days old when he played against Zimbabwe in Quetta in 1996-97). Another Pakistani, Sajjida Shah, was only 12 years 171 days old when she played against Ireland in a women's one-day international in Dublin in 2000.
Who were the first father and son to play in the World Cup? asked Jeremy Laing from Kent
The first son to follow in his father's World Cup footsteps was Derek Pringle, who played for England in the 1987-88 and 1991-92 tournaments. His father, Don Pringle, had represented East Africa in two of their three games at the inaugural World Cup in 1975, without taking a wicket. Sadly, he was killed in a road accident later that year. Next to join this club were New Zealand's Lance Cairns, who played in the first three World Cups, and his son Chris Cairns, who appeared in four.
The first son to follow in his father's World Cup footsteps was Derek Pringle, who played for England in the 1987-88 and 1991-92 tournaments. His father, Don Pringle, had represented East Africa in two of their three games at the inaugural World Cup in 1975, without taking a wicket. Sadly, he was killed in a road accident later that year. Next to join this club were New Zealand's Lance Cairns, who played in the first three World Cups, and his son Chris Cairns, who appeared in four.
In the group match between Pakistan and New Zealand in the 1991-92 World Cup Ramiz Raja made 119 out of Pakistan's 167, which equates to 71% of the total. Has this percentage ever been bettered in a World Cup, or any one-day international? asked Haroon Alvi
This is a difficult one, as you run into difficulty over what constitutes a completed innings - Ramiz's 119 not out against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1991-92 came out of 167 for 3 in a match Pakistan won with time to spare, so they did not use up their allocation of overs. ESPNcricinfo's table of the highest percentage of runs in a completed ODI innings (which you can see if you click here) includes only all-out innings or ones in which the allocation of overs was used up. Viv Richards comes out on top of that list, with his 189 not out against England at Old Trafford in 1984 making up 69.48% of West Indies' innings total of 272 for 9. Next comes the best World Cup performance, Kapil Dev's 175 not out in India's 266 for 8 (65.78%) against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in 1983. If you don't have any qualification at all, then Kris Srikkanth comes top for scoring 100% of India's runs against Sri Lanka in Mackay in the 1991-92 World Cup - India made 1 for 0 in 0.2 overs before it rained. I admit that Ramiz's case is a bit different! If you count him, and other innings where a target was reached, Ramiz has the highest percentage in a World Cup but the fourth-highest overall: Brendon McCullum made 80 not out of New Zealand's 95 for 0 when they overhauled a low Bangladesh total in Queenstown in 2007-08.
This is a difficult one, as you run into difficulty over what constitutes a completed innings - Ramiz's 119 not out against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1991-92 came out of 167 for 3 in a match Pakistan won with time to spare, so they did not use up their allocation of overs. ESPNcricinfo's table of the highest percentage of runs in a completed ODI innings (which you can see if you click here) includes only all-out innings or ones in which the allocation of overs was used up. Viv Richards comes out on top of that list, with his 189 not out against England at Old Trafford in 1984 making up 69.48% of West Indies' innings total of 272 for 9. Next comes the best World Cup performance, Kapil Dev's 175 not out in India's 266 for 8 (65.78%) against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in 1983. If you don't have any qualification at all, then Kris Srikkanth comes top for scoring 100% of India's runs against Sri Lanka in Mackay in the 1991-92 World Cup - India made 1 for 0 in 0.2 overs before it rained. I admit that Ramiz's case is a bit different! If you count him, and other innings where a target was reached, Ramiz has the highest percentage in a World Cup but the fourth-highest overall: Brendon McCullum made 80 not out of New Zealand's 95 for 0 when they overhauled a low Bangladesh total in Queenstown in 2007-08.
Andrew Strauss scored 34 on his 34th birthday during England's match against Ireland last week. Is he the first person to score his age on his birthday in the World Cup? asked Mark Long
Andrew Strauss is indeed the first person to score his exact age on his birthday during a World Cup - although I don't think he will have terribly happy memories of his 34th birthday after losing to Ireland! Only three players have made a higher World Cup score on their birthday: Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 53 for Pakistan against England in Karachi on his 26th birthday in 1995-96, Wesley Barresi of the Netherlands celebrated his 27th birthday earlier in this year's tournament by scoring 44 against South Africa; and Mike Veletta of Australia made 43 against Zimbabwe in Cuttack on his 24th birthday in 1987. In all one-day internationals three players have made centuries on their birthday: Sachin Tendulkar (134 on his 25th, India v Australia in Sharjah 1997-98), Sanath Jayasuriya (130 on 39th, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh in Karachi 2008), and Vinod Kambli (100 not out on 21st, India v England in Jaipur 1992-93). No one has made a higher score to match their age on their birthday than Strauss's 34: Kim Hughes of Australia made 28 on his 28th birthday, against West Indies in Sydney in 1981-82.
Andrew Strauss is indeed the first person to score his exact age on his birthday during a World Cup - although I don't think he will have terribly happy memories of his 34th birthday after losing to Ireland! Only three players have made a higher World Cup score on their birthday: Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 53 for Pakistan against England in Karachi on his 26th birthday in 1995-96, Wesley Barresi of the Netherlands celebrated his 27th birthday earlier in this year's tournament by scoring 44 against South Africa; and Mike Veletta of Australia made 43 against Zimbabwe in Cuttack on his 24th birthday in 1987. In all one-day internationals three players have made centuries on their birthday: Sachin Tendulkar (134 on his 25th, India v Australia in Sharjah 1997-98), Sanath Jayasuriya (130 on 39th, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh in Karachi 2008), and Vinod Kambli (100 not out on 21st, India v England in Jaipur 1992-93). No one has made a higher score to match their age on their birthday than Strauss's 34: Kim Hughes of Australia made 28 on his 28th birthday, against West Indies in Sydney in 1981-82.
Following last week's question about Shahid Afridi taking nine wickets in two matches, he then took five in his next match too. Is 14 in three matches a record for the World Cup - or all one-day internationals? asked Jamil Hassan from Karachi
This one could run and run! Shahid Afridi's 5 for 23 for Pakistan against Canada in Colombo last Thursday took him to 14 wickets in only three matches in this tournament, which is indeed a new record for anyone in three successive World Cup games. The previous-best was 12 by Chaminda Vaas in 2002-03. Just to stave off any possible questions after Pakistan's next match, since Afridi also took 3 for 20 in his last game in 2006-07 (against Zimbabwe), he also has the record for the most wickets in four successive World Cup matches with 17: Vaas (16, all in 2002-03) was the previous holder. Fourteen wickets in three successive matches also puts Afridi third on the all-time ODI list - behind his current coach, Waqar Younis, who twice took 15 wickets in three consecutive matches. Waqar first did it early in 1990 - 4 for 42 v India, 6 for 26 v Sri Lanka and 5 for 20 v New Zealand, all in Sharjah - and repeated the feat later in the year, with 5 for 11 and 5 for 16 against New Zealand (in Peshawar and Sialkot) then 5 for 52 against West Indies in Karachi.
This one could run and run! Shahid Afridi's 5 for 23 for Pakistan against Canada in Colombo last Thursday took him to 14 wickets in only three matches in this tournament, which is indeed a new record for anyone in three successive World Cup games. The previous-best was 12 by Chaminda Vaas in 2002-03. Just to stave off any possible questions after Pakistan's next match, since Afridi also took 3 for 20 in his last game in 2006-07 (against Zimbabwe), he also has the record for the most wickets in four successive World Cup matches with 17: Vaas (16, all in 2002-03) was the previous holder. Fourteen wickets in three successive matches also puts Afridi third on the all-time ODI list - behind his current coach, Waqar Younis, who twice took 15 wickets in three consecutive matches. Waqar first did it early in 1990 - 4 for 42 v India, 6 for 26 v Sri Lanka and 5 for 20 v New Zealand, all in Sharjah - and repeated the feat later in the year, with 5 for 11 and 5 for 16 against New Zealand (in Peshawar and Sialkot) then 5 for 52 against West Indies in Karachi.
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