A score of 2 for 3, and a Wessels family double
Out on first ball of a venue, out without facing a ball, a pair after 200, and more
Steven Lynch
07-Dec-2010
VVS Laxman: from sublime to ridiculous • AFP
Australia were 0 for 2 (and then 2 for 3) in that amazing start to the Adelaide Test. Has this ever happened to them before, and what was the worst start to any Test innings? asked Tim McNamara from Newcastle
That remarkable scoreline of 2 for 3 was Australia's worst start to any Test innings since 1950-51, when they were actually 0 for 3 in their second innings on a rain-affected pitch in Brisbane (they still went on to win, despite declaring that innings at 32 for 7). The Adelaide collapse was only the 16th time in all Test history that the third wicket had gone down with two runs or fewer on the board: it was the fourth time for Australia - apart from Brisbane 1950-51, they were 1 for 3 against England at Old Trafford in 1888 and also in Sydney in 1936-37. There has only been one instance of a scoreboard reading 0 for 4 in a Test - when India collapsed against the bowling of the young Fred Trueman at Headingley in 1952. Later on in that series India also tumbled to 6 for 5 at The Oval.
That remarkable scoreline of 2 for 3 was Australia's worst start to any Test innings since 1950-51, when they were actually 0 for 3 in their second innings on a rain-affected pitch in Brisbane (they still went on to win, despite declaring that innings at 32 for 7). The Adelaide collapse was only the 16th time in all Test history that the third wicket had gone down with two runs or fewer on the board: it was the fourth time for Australia - apart from Brisbane 1950-51, they were 1 for 3 against England at Old Trafford in 1888 and also in Sydney in 1936-37. There has only been one instance of a scoreboard reading 0 for 4 in a Test - when India collapsed against the bowling of the young Fred Trueman at Headingley in 1952. Later on in that series India also tumbled to 6 for 5 at The Oval.
How many fathers and sons have scored a hundred in both innings of a first-class match? asked Riki Wessels from Zimbabwe via Facebook
As I've said before, it's always nice to get one from the horse's mouth - and this question was inspired by the fact that Riki Wessels made 105 and 101 not out for Mid West Rhinos against Matabeleland Tuskers in Bulawayo a couple of weeks ago. He knew his father, Kepler Wessels, had achieved the feat of a century in each innings too (in fact he did it three times). By my reckoning they were the seventh father-and-son pairing to achieve this double double, after Joe Hardstaff senior and junior, George and Ron Headley, the Nawabs of Pataudi senior and junior, Alan and Mark Butcher, Majid and Bazid Khan, and Jimmy and Stephen Cook.
As I've said before, it's always nice to get one from the horse's mouth - and this question was inspired by the fact that Riki Wessels made 105 and 101 not out for Mid West Rhinos against Matabeleland Tuskers in Bulawayo a couple of weeks ago. He knew his father, Kepler Wessels, had achieved the feat of a century in each innings too (in fact he did it three times). By my reckoning they were the seventh father-and-son pairing to achieve this double double, after Joe Hardstaff senior and junior, George and Ron Headley, the Nawabs of Pataudi senior and junior, Alan and Mark Butcher, Majid and Bazid Khan, and Jimmy and Stephen Cook.
Chris Gayle was out to the first ball in the first Test ever played at Pallekele. Has any other Test ground started with a wicket first ball? asked Gervais de Matas from Trinidad & Tobago
Chris Gayle, two matches after his triple-century at Galle, was indeed out (lbw to Suranga Lakmal) to the first delivery in a Test match at Sri Lanka's new ground at Pallekele in Kandy. Two other grounds also started in this sensational way (and the bad news for Pallekele is that neither of them has yet staged another Test). In September 1983 the first ball in a Test at Burlton Park in Jullundur (now Jalandhar) saw Mohsin Khan of Pakistan trapped in front by Kapil Dev. And in February 1987 the boot was on the other foot at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, when Sunil Gavaskar was caught by Javed Miandad at third slip off the first ball of the match, from Pakistan's captain Imran Khan. For the full list of batsmen dismissed by the very first ball of a Test, click here.
Chris Gayle, two matches after his triple-century at Galle, was indeed out (lbw to Suranga Lakmal) to the first delivery in a Test match at Sri Lanka's new ground at Pallekele in Kandy. Two other grounds also started in this sensational way (and the bad news for Pallekele is that neither of them has yet staged another Test). In September 1983 the first ball in a Test at Burlton Park in Jullundur (now Jalandhar) saw Mohsin Khan of Pakistan trapped in front by Kapil Dev. And in February 1987 the boot was on the other foot at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, when Sunil Gavaskar was caught by Javed Miandad at third slip off the first ball of the match, from Pakistan's captain Imran Khan. For the full list of batsmen dismissed by the very first ball of a Test, click here.
Simon Katich was dismissed without facing a ball in Adelaide. Has this ever happened before in an Ashes Test? asked Keith D'Souza from Nigeria
The only known instance of this in an Ashes Test, apart from Simon Katich's first-over departure in Adelaide last Friday, involved Rodney Hogg of Australia at Edgbaston in 1981. He was run out by a direct hit from Mike Brearley at wide mid-on. However, there may be one or two more "diamond ducks", as we don't have the full balls-faced details for many early matches.
The only known instance of this in an Ashes Test, apart from Simon Katich's first-over departure in Adelaide last Friday, involved Rodney Hogg of Australia at Edgbaston in 1981. He was run out by a direct hit from Mike Brearley at wide mid-on. However, there may be one or two more "diamond ducks", as we don't have the full balls-faced details for many early matches.
Has anyone scored 200 runs in a Test match then bagged a pair in his next one? asked Jeetan Ahmed from Mumbai
The only man to go from the sublime to the quite so ridiculous is VVS Laxman of India, who scored 48 and 154 not out against West Indies at Eden Gardens late in 2002, but bagged a pair in his next Test, against New Zealand in Wellington a few weeks later. Two others - Clifford Roach of West Indies in 1929-30, and Dilip Vengsarkar of India in 1978-79 - have scored 199 runs in a Test but collected two ducks in the next match. Another 17 batsmen have scored more than 100 runs in a Test but followed that with a pair in their next one, the most recent being Wasim Jaffer of India, who followed 116 and 2 against South Africa in 2006-07 with a pair against Bangladesh in his next Test (he remains the only batsman to bag a pair against Bangladesh).
The only man to go from the sublime to the quite so ridiculous is VVS Laxman of India, who scored 48 and 154 not out against West Indies at Eden Gardens late in 2002, but bagged a pair in his next Test, against New Zealand in Wellington a few weeks later. Two others - Clifford Roach of West Indies in 1929-30, and Dilip Vengsarkar of India in 1978-79 - have scored 199 runs in a Test but collected two ducks in the next match. Another 17 batsmen have scored more than 100 runs in a Test but followed that with a pair in their next one, the most recent being Wasim Jaffer of India, who followed 116 and 2 against South Africa in 2006-07 with a pair against Bangladesh in his next Test (he remains the only batsman to bag a pair against Bangladesh).
Which ground has hosted the most World Cup matches? asked Sanchit Ajit Kittur via Facebook
The slightly surprising answer for this one is Headingley, Leeds, which has staged 12 World Cup matches - one more than Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. Lord's, which you might have assumed would be the answer, has actually only hosted ten (including four finals). Outside England, Kensington Oval in Barbados, Sabina Park in Jamaica, and the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia have each staged seven matches (all during the 2007 World Cup).
The slightly surprising answer for this one is Headingley, Leeds, which has staged 12 World Cup matches - one more than Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. Lord's, which you might have assumed would be the answer, has actually only hosted ten (including four finals). Outside England, Kensington Oval in Barbados, Sabina Park in Jamaica, and the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia have each staged seven matches (all during the 2007 World Cup).
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