A hat-trick specialist, and Ganguly's unique feat
And the most recent Test from which there remain no survivors to tell the tale
Steven Lynch
15-Feb-2011
Saqlain Mushtaq: survived a hat-trick to bowl a hat-trick • Tanveer Mughal/AFP
Who went in on a hat-trick in a one-day international but survived, then took a hat-trick himself later in the game? asked Mujeeb ur Rahman via Facebook
That's an interesting question - and the answer is Saqlain Mushtaq, who went in on a hat-trick for Pakistan against Zimbabwe at The Oval during the 1999 World Cup... and might have been out if Heath Streak had not sent down a no-ball. Later that day Saqlain ended the match - and ensured Pakistan's semi-final place - with a hat-trick of his own, dismissing Henry Olonga, Adam Huckle and Pommie Mbangwa.
That's an interesting question - and the answer is Saqlain Mushtaq, who went in on a hat-trick for Pakistan against Zimbabwe at The Oval during the 1999 World Cup... and might have been out if Heath Streak had not sent down a no-ball. Later that day Saqlain ended the match - and ensured Pakistan's semi-final place - with a hat-trick of his own, dismissing Henry Olonga, Adam Huckle and Pommie Mbangwa.
Sourav Ganguly started his Test career with a century in his first innings, but ended it with a first-ball duck in his final innings. Has anyone else done this? asked Chintan Jhaveri from India
No, no one has precisely copied Sourav Ganguly's feat of scoring a century in his first Test innings - 131 against England at Lord's in 1996 - and being out first ball in his final innings (against Australia in Nagpur in 2008-09). The closest was by the England wicketkeeper Billy Griffith, who made 140 in his first Test innings against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1947-48, and was out second ball for a duck in his last, against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1948-49. Another Englishman, John Hampshire, came close: 107 in his first Test innings, against West Indies at Lord's in 1969 - watched by Griffith, by then secretary of MCC - but a fourth-ball duck in his last, against Australia at Headingley in 1975. There are five other men who started their Test careers with a century in their first match, but were out for a duck in their last one (not necessarily their final innings): another Englishmen in Frank Hayes, two Australians in Greg Blewett and Harry Graham (oddly, both his 107 on debut and duck in the first innings of his final Test came at Lord's), and the New Zealander Jackie Mills. Among current players Jonathan Trott and Taufeeq Umar, who both scored centuries on debut, made ducks in their most recent Tests.
No, no one has precisely copied Sourav Ganguly's feat of scoring a century in his first Test innings - 131 against England at Lord's in 1996 - and being out first ball in his final innings (against Australia in Nagpur in 2008-09). The closest was by the England wicketkeeper Billy Griffith, who made 140 in his first Test innings against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1947-48, and was out second ball for a duck in his last, against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1948-49. Another Englishman, John Hampshire, came close: 107 in his first Test innings, against West Indies at Lord's in 1969 - watched by Griffith, by then secretary of MCC - but a fourth-ball duck in his last, against Australia at Headingley in 1975. There are five other men who started their Test careers with a century in their first match, but were out for a duck in their last one (not necessarily their final innings): another Englishmen in Frank Hayes, two Australians in Greg Blewett and Harry Graham (oddly, both his 107 on debut and duck in the first innings of his final Test came at Lord's), and the New Zealander Jackie Mills. Among current players Jonathan Trott and Taufeeq Umar, who both scored centuries on debut, made ducks in their most recent Tests.
Which batsman holds the record of most successive ducks in Tests and one-day internationals? asked Sachin from India (no, not that one)
The Test record is five successive ducks, set by Bob Holland of Australia in 1985. It was matched by India's Ajit Agarkar, who failed to score in five consecutive innings in Australia in 1999-2000 (including pairs at Melbourne and Sydney), and equalled again by Mohammad Asif for Pakistan in 2006, when all his ducks came in different matches against India, Sri Lanka and England. The record in one-day internationals is four ducks in a row, bagged by Gus Logie (West Indies), Pramodya Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka), Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe) and Craig White (England). In Twenty20 internationals the Scotland wicketkeeper Colin Smith and West Indies' Andre Fletcher both bagged three successive ducks.
The Test record is five successive ducks, set by Bob Holland of Australia in 1985. It was matched by India's Ajit Agarkar, who failed to score in five consecutive innings in Australia in 1999-2000 (including pairs at Melbourne and Sydney), and equalled again by Mohammad Asif for Pakistan in 2006, when all his ducks came in different matches against India, Sri Lanka and England. The record in one-day internationals is four ducks in a row, bagged by Gus Logie (West Indies), Pramodya Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka), Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe) and Craig White (England). In Twenty20 internationals the Scotland wicketkeeper Colin Smith and West Indies' Andre Fletcher both bagged three successive ducks.
My grandmother and I were talking last week about cricket, and she remembered going to Lord's before the war to watch the South Africans play. King George V and Queen Mary attended, and the players were presented to them during the match. Can you give me any details about this game? asked David Malleson
I imagine the match must have been this one, in 1935, in which South Africa completed their first victory in a Test in England. Wisden reports that "His Majesty, the King, visited the ground on the first day when South Africa, staying in until nearly five o'clock, put together a total of 228". And I wrote, in my book The Lord's Test 1884-1989 (copies still available for avid collectors!), that "On the rest day, the South Africans took tea at Buckingham Palace, and their trip seemed to inspire them, for on the second day England were shot out for 198." South Africa also toured England in 1924 and 1929 in the inter-war years.
I imagine the match must have been this one, in 1935, in which South Africa completed their first victory in a Test in England. Wisden reports that "His Majesty, the King, visited the ground on the first day when South Africa, staying in until nearly five o'clock, put together a total of 228". And I wrote, in my book The Lord's Test 1884-1989 (copies still available for avid collectors!), that "On the rest day, the South Africans took tea at Buckingham Palace, and their trip seemed to inspire them, for on the second day England were shot out for 198." South Africa also toured England in 1924 and 1929 in the inter-war years.
Who played second-eleven cricket for Essex and also scored a try at Wembley? asked Richard Goodman via Facebook
This is the great rugby league winger Martin Offiah, who scored a few tries at Wembley, notably a 90-metre solo effort to help Wigan beat Leeds in the 1994 Challenge Cup final. As a youngster Offiah was also a handy cricketer, and played for Essex second eleven in the mid-1980s. Don Topley remembered: "I think I captained him, and remember him from his initial Essex trials during pre-season, probably in 1986 or 1987. I also played schoolboy rugby against him and his brother Cyril. He was a left-arm fast bowler - but Keith Fletcher was not impressed, as Martin bowled a number of accidental beamers at our old captain in the nets. I remember him getting one or two flat ones on the gloves! Perhaps the rugby star in the making was a bit nervous."
This is the great rugby league winger Martin Offiah, who scored a few tries at Wembley, notably a 90-metre solo effort to help Wigan beat Leeds in the 1994 Challenge Cup final. As a youngster Offiah was also a handy cricketer, and played for Essex second eleven in the mid-1980s. Don Topley remembered: "I think I captained him, and remember him from his initial Essex trials during pre-season, probably in 1986 or 1987. I also played schoolboy rugby against him and his brother Cyril. He was a left-arm fast bowler - but Keith Fletcher was not impressed, as Martin bowled a number of accidental beamers at our old captain in the nets. I remember him getting one or two flat ones on the gloves! Perhaps the rugby star in the making was a bit nervous."
A slightly morbid follow-up to last week's question about the oldest Test XI still alive: which is the most recent Test match from which there are no surviving players at all? asked Steve King
At the time of writing - with fingers again firmly crossed - it seems that the final Test between England and India at The Oval in 1946 is the most recent Test match from which there are no survivors (Alec Bedser, who died early last year, was the last). That summer's three Tests and the one-off match between New Zealand and Australia the previous winter are the only post-war Test matches which, at the moment, do not have at least one player left to tell the tale.
At the time of writing - with fingers again firmly crossed - it seems that the final Test between England and India at The Oval in 1946 is the most recent Test match from which there are no survivors (Alec Bedser, who died early last year, was the last). That summer's three Tests and the one-off match between New Zealand and Australia the previous winter are the only post-war Test matches which, at the moment, do not have at least one player left to tell the tale.
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