Big T20 stands, and Viljoen's double feat
Plus: women double-internationals, and South Africa's lowest Test total at home
Steven Lynch
19-Jan-2016
Wicketkeeper Rowan Milburn played ODIs for Netherlands and New Zealand • Getty Images
Was the partnership between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson at Hamilton the biggest for any wicket in Twenty20 internationals? asked Juan Castro from Hong Kong
The unbroken stand of 171 between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, which hurried New Zealand to a ten-wicket victory over Pakistan in Hamilton over the weekend was a new record partnership for T20Is - by just one run. Back in November 2009, South Africa's openers Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman piled on 170 against England in Centurion in just 13 overs, hitting 15 sixes between them. There had been 11 previous ten-wicket victories in T20Is: New Zealand are the first country to manage three.
The unbroken stand of 171 between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, which hurried New Zealand to a ten-wicket victory over Pakistan in Hamilton over the weekend was a new record partnership for T20Is - by just one run. Back in November 2009, South Africa's openers Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman piled on 170 against England in Centurion in just 13 overs, hitting 15 sixes between them. There had been 11 previous ten-wicket victories in T20Is: New Zealand are the first country to manage three.
Is it right that, before last week, Pakistan had lost only one Twenty20 international when defending a total of 150-plus? asked Asim Mahmood from Pakistan
There have now been 67 instances of the side batting second overhauling a total of 150 or more to win a T20I - and it's true that last week's match in Hamilton was only the second time it had happened to Pakistan. The other occasion was in St Lucia in May 2010, in the semi-final of the World T20 in the West Indies: Pakistan rattled up 191 for 6, but Australia reached their target when Mike Hussey hit successive balls in the last over for six, six, four and six. For the full list of the highest totals batting second in T20Is, click here.
There have now been 67 instances of the side batting second overhauling a total of 150 or more to win a T20I - and it's true that last week's match in Hamilton was only the second time it had happened to Pakistan. The other occasion was in St Lucia in May 2010, in the semi-final of the World T20 in the West Indies: Pakistan rattled up 191 for 6, but Australia reached their target when Mike Hussey hit successive balls in the last over for six, six, four and six. For the full list of the highest totals batting second in T20Is, click here.
I've seen the list of men who played for two countries in Tests or one-day internationals. But are there any women who have done this? asked Jennifer Bradley from England
No woman has yet played for different sides in Test matches, but two have done it in one-day internationals. Nicola Payne played 37 ODIs for Netherlands - her debut, in the 1988 World Cup, was rather painful, as the Dutch were skittled for 29 by Australia in Perth - and in 1999-2000 switched allegiance to New Zealand, playing 28 ODIs for them and scoring 93 against India in Lincoln in 2002-03, her final season. Just to confuse things further, Payne was born in Canada! Wicketkeeper Rowan Milburn - whose father Barry kept wicket for New Zealand in Tests - performed a similar double: she played in seven matches for Netherlands in the 2000 Women's World Cup in New Zealand (playing against Payne in one of them), then returned home to New Zealand and played eight times for them in 2007, including on tours of India and England.
No woman has yet played for different sides in Test matches, but two have done it in one-day internationals. Nicola Payne played 37 ODIs for Netherlands - her debut, in the 1988 World Cup, was rather painful, as the Dutch were skittled for 29 by Australia in Perth - and in 1999-2000 switched allegiance to New Zealand, playing 28 ODIs for them and scoring 93 against India in Lincoln in 2002-03, her final season. Just to confuse things further, Payne was born in Canada! Wicketkeeper Rowan Milburn - whose father Barry kept wicket for New Zealand in Tests - performed a similar double: she played in seven matches for Netherlands in the 2000 Women's World Cup in New Zealand (playing against Payne in one of them), then returned home to New Zealand and played eight times for them in 2007, including on tours of India and England.
Was South Africa's 83 all out at the Wanderers their lowest total in a home Test? asked Lysa Lopes from Bahrain
That Stuart Broad-inspired collapse to 83 in Johannesburg at the weekend was South Africa's lowest all-out total in a Test at home since 1956-57, when they were skittled for 72 by England twice in successive matches, in Johannesburg and in Cape Town. Their only lower score anywhere since then was the 79 they scraped together against India in Nagpur in November 2015. In all South Africa have been bowled out 13 times for less than 83, although seven of those instances came before the First World War.
That Stuart Broad-inspired collapse to 83 in Johannesburg at the weekend was South Africa's lowest all-out total in a Test at home since 1956-57, when they were skittled for 72 by England twice in successive matches, in Johannesburg and in Cape Town. Their only lower score anywhere since then was the 79 they scraped together against India in Nagpur in November 2015. In all South Africa have been bowled out 13 times for less than 83, although seven of those instances came before the First World War.
Was South Africa's 313 at Johannesburg the lowest total in which everyone - including Extras - reached double figures? asked Tushar Mukherjee from the United States
South Africa's 313 in their first innings at the Wanderers provided only the 13th instance of all 11 batsmen making it into double figures in the same innings (Extras didn't get there in two of those). And 313 was indeed the lowest total among those innings: the previous lowest was South Africa's 358 against Australia in Melbourne in 1931-32, although India came close with 359 against New Zealand in Dunedin in 1967-68. Some statisticians were getting excited at the possibility of South Africa also breaking the record for the highest innings without an individual half-century, but in the end they fell just short of England's 315 against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1985-86, when the highest score was David Gower's 47 - although there were 59 extras.
South Africa's 313 in their first innings at the Wanderers provided only the 13th instance of all 11 batsmen making it into double figures in the same innings (Extras didn't get there in two of those). And 313 was indeed the lowest total among those innings: the previous lowest was South Africa's 358 against Australia in Melbourne in 1931-32, although India came close with 359 against New Zealand in Dunedin in 1967-68. Some statisticians were getting excited at the possibility of South Africa also breaking the record for the highest innings without an individual half-century, but in the end they fell just short of England's 315 against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1985-86, when the highest score was David Gower's 47 - although there were 59 extras.
Hardus Viljoen hit his first ball in Tests for four, and later took a wicket with his first ball. Has anyone else managed this particular double? asked Mark Long from England
Hardus Viljoen's feat, in South Africa's third Test against England in Johannesburg, seems to have been the second time this particular debut double has been achieved (we don't have full details for many early matches). Back in 1929-30, in New Zealand's first-ever Test, in Christchurch, Matt Henderson hit his first ball (from England's Maurice Allom) for four, and later dismissed Eddie Dawson with his opening delivery. It didn't betoken a distinguished Test career, though: Henderson, a 35-year-old left-armer, never played again. Viljoen, whose maiden victim was Alastair Cook, was the 20th bowler known to have taken a wicket with his first ball in a Test.
Hardus Viljoen's feat, in South Africa's third Test against England in Johannesburg, seems to have been the second time this particular debut double has been achieved (we don't have full details for many early matches). Back in 1929-30, in New Zealand's first-ever Test, in Christchurch, Matt Henderson hit his first ball (from England's Maurice Allom) for four, and later dismissed Eddie Dawson with his opening delivery. It didn't betoken a distinguished Test career, though: Henderson, a 35-year-old left-armer, never played again. Viljoen, whose maiden victim was Alastair Cook, was the 20th bowler known to have taken a wicket with his first ball in a Test.
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Steven Lynch is the editor of the updated edition of Wisden on the Ashes