An average of 207, and Gower's African connection
The man who made a double in his only match, the best batsmen against Australia, and players who've made their first-class debut in a Test
Steven Lynch
14-Oct-2008
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My query is regarding an Australian batsman named NF Callaway. Apparently he made a double-century in his only first-class innings, but never played again. Why not? asked Keith D'Souza from Nigeria
Norman Callaway made his first-class debut for New South Wales as an 18-year-old in February 1915 in Sydney against Queensland, who were not then included in the Sheffield Shield competition. Entering at 17 for 3, the precocious Callaway reached 50 in an hour, and advanced to his hundred with a straight six half an hour later. Next day he was eventually out for 207 after becoming only the second man (after Thomas Marsden for Sheffield & Leicester in 1826) to score a double-century on first-class debut. There was no more first-class cricket in Australia until after the end of the Great War (1914-18) - and by then, sadly, the unfortunate Callaway was dead, killed in the Second Battle of Bullecourt in France in 1917.
Norman Callaway made his first-class debut for New South Wales as an 18-year-old in February 1915 in Sydney against Queensland, who were not then included in the Sheffield Shield competition. Entering at 17 for 3, the precocious Callaway reached 50 in an hour, and advanced to his hundred with a straight six half an hour later. Next day he was eventually out for 207 after becoming only the second man (after Thomas Marsden for Sheffield & Leicester in 1826) to score a double-century on first-class debut. There was no more first-class cricket in Australia until after the end of the Great War (1914-18) - and by then, sadly, the unfortunate Callaway was dead, killed in the Second Battle of Bullecourt in France in 1917.
I recently found a website that stated that David Gower was born in Tanganyika, but Cricinfo (which I believe, of course!) says that he was born in Kent. Is there some connection between Gower and Tanganyika? asked Nuruddin Lakhani from Tanzania
The former England captain David Gower was indeed born in Kent - in Tunbridge Wells, in 1957 - but his autobiography admits that "there is a good deal of evidence to suggest that I was actually conceived in Africa". His father was in the British Colonial Service, and at the time of his son's birth had been working in Dar es Salaam in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) since the end of the Second World War. Gower's book adds: "We lived there until I was about six (at which time the country's independence brought us home) and my earliest memories are of living in a bungalow down by the beach just outside Dar es Salaam."
The former England captain David Gower was indeed born in Kent - in Tunbridge Wells, in 1957 - but his autobiography admits that "there is a good deal of evidence to suggest that I was actually conceived in Africa". His father was in the British Colonial Service, and at the time of his son's birth had been working in Dar es Salaam in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) since the end of the Second World War. Gower's book adds: "We lived there until I was about six (at which time the country's independence brought us home) and my earliest memories are of living in a bungalow down by the beach just outside Dar es Salaam."
How many Australians have scored a Test double-century in India? I can only think of Dean Jones' heroics in the Tied Test of 1986, asked Michael O'Brien from Australia
Apart from Dean Jones' 210 in that tied Test in Madras (now Chennai) in 1986-87 - after which he spent some time in hospital on a saline drip, the only other double-century by an Australian in a Test in India was scored by Matthew Hayden, also at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in 2000-01. No one else has got terribly close: the next-highest score for Australia in a Test in India is Graham Yallop's 167 in the fifth Test in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1979-80.
Apart from Dean Jones' 210 in that tied Test in Madras (now Chennai) in 1986-87 - after which he spent some time in hospital on a saline drip, the only other double-century by an Australian in a Test in India was scored by Matthew Hayden, also at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in 2000-01. No one else has got terribly close: the next-highest score for Australia in a Test in India is Graham Yallop's 167 in the fifth Test in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1979-80.
I was reading Cricinfo's text commentary on the first Test between India and Australia, where it was noted that Ricky Ponting had fallen to Harbhajan Singh nine times in Test cricket - which prompts me to ask, what's the record for a batsman falling to the same bowler in Tests? asked Allan Alexander from the United States
Ricky Ponting's ninth dismissal to Harbhajan Singh, in the first Test in Bangalore, was a long way short of the record, which stands at 19. That's how often, in only 17 matches, Glenn McGrath derailed an England innings by removing Mike Atherton. The long-suffering Atherton was also dismissed 17 times each by the West Indian pairing of Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. The only thing stopping this from being a complete misery list for Athers is that England's Alec Bedser dismissed the Australian opener Arthur Morris 18 times in 21 Tests. For a full list, click here.
Ricky Ponting's ninth dismissal to Harbhajan Singh, in the first Test in Bangalore, was a long way short of the record, which stands at 19. That's how often, in only 17 matches, Glenn McGrath derailed an England innings by removing Mike Atherton. The long-suffering Atherton was also dismissed 17 times each by the West Indian pairing of Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. The only thing stopping this from being a complete misery list for Athers is that England's Alec Bedser dismissed the Australian opener Arthur Morris 18 times in 21 Tests. For a full list, click here.
VVS Laxman is approaching 2000 runs against Australia in Test matches. Which other players have managed this? asked Sharad from India
At the end of the first Test of the current series, VVS Laxman had scored 1865 runs in Tests against Australia. If he reaches 2000 he will become only the 17th batsman to make 2000 against the Aussies: it's a list headed by England's Jack Hobbs, with 3636 runs from 41 matches. Another Englishman, David Gower, with 3269, is the only other man to have made more than 3000, while Geoff Boycott (2945) fell just short. The only Indian with more than 2000 Test runs against Australia at the moment is Sachin Tendulkar, with 2414, although Rahul Dravid (1796) is also quite close.
At the end of the first Test of the current series, VVS Laxman had scored 1865 runs in Tests against Australia. If he reaches 2000 he will become only the 17th batsman to make 2000 against the Aussies: it's a list headed by England's Jack Hobbs, with 3636 runs from 41 matches. Another Englishman, David Gower, with 3269, is the only other man to have made more than 3000, while Geoff Boycott (2945) fell just short. The only Indian with more than 2000 Test runs against Australia at the moment is Sachin Tendulkar, with 2414, although Rahul Dravid (1796) is also quite close.
Has anyone made his first-class debut in a Test match? asked Bevan from Australia
A total of 33 players have made their first-class debut in a Test match: to see the full list, click here. Almost all of them date from the 19th century, when first-class cricket outside England was patchy - over half of them were in South Africa's two-Test series at home to England in 1888-89 (these were the initial first-class matches in South Africa too, and aren't really deserving of Test status: but they are enshrined that way now and will stay as Tests for ever!). Only five players have made their first-class debut in a Test since 1898-99: New Zealand's Graham Vivian, against India in Calcutta in 1964-65; Ujesh Ranchod, for Zimbabwe against India in Delhi in 1992-93; Bangladesh's Mashrafe Mortaza, against Zimbabwe in Dhaka in 2001-02; Yasir Ali of Pakistan against Bangladesh in Multan in 2003-04; and Bangladesh's Nazmul Hossain, against India in Chittagong in 2004-05.
A total of 33 players have made their first-class debut in a Test match: to see the full list, click here. Almost all of them date from the 19th century, when first-class cricket outside England was patchy - over half of them were in South Africa's two-Test series at home to England in 1888-89 (these were the initial first-class matches in South Africa too, and aren't really deserving of Test status: but they are enshrined that way now and will stay as Tests for ever!). Only five players have made their first-class debut in a Test since 1898-99: New Zealand's Graham Vivian, against India in Calcutta in 1964-65; Ujesh Ranchod, for Zimbabwe against India in Delhi in 1992-93; Bangladesh's Mashrafe Mortaza, against Zimbabwe in Dhaka in 2001-02; Yasir Ali of Pakistan against Bangladesh in Multan in 2003-04; and Bangladesh's Nazmul Hossain, against India in Chittagong in 2004-05.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo 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