Afridi's target, and Tharanga's record
Playing for India and Pakistan, Tendulkar's World Cup runs and one-day losses, and eight-ball nostalgia
Steven Lynch
29-Mar-2011
Upul Tharanga: a much sought-after opening partner for obvious reasons • Getty Images
With Shahid Afridi going great guns in 2011, what's the record number of wickets in a single World Cup? asked James Boyle from Scotland
As I write - before the semi-final against India - Shahid Afridi has taken 21 wickets in this World Cup, already a record for Pakistan. Five bowlers have exceeded this in previous tournaments, though. Brett Lee took 22 in 2003, Muttiah Muralitharan 23 in 2007, and Shaun Tait and Chaminda Vaas 23 in 2006-07. But the man Afridi has to beat is Glenn McGrath, who took 26 wickets in Australia's successful 2007 World Cup campaign. McGrath also took 21 in 2003, as did his team-mate Brad Hogg in 2007.
As I write - before the semi-final against India - Shahid Afridi has taken 21 wickets in this World Cup, already a record for Pakistan. Five bowlers have exceeded this in previous tournaments, though. Brett Lee took 22 in 2003, Muttiah Muralitharan 23 in 2007, and Shaun Tait and Chaminda Vaas 23 in 2006-07. But the man Afridi has to beat is Glenn McGrath, who took 26 wickets in Australia's successful 2007 World Cup campaign. McGrath also took 21 in 2003, as did his team-mate Brad Hogg in 2007.
I think that Upul Tharanga has now been involved in six double-century opening partnerships in one-day internationals. Is this a record? asked Anonymous from Anguilla
You're right, if personally rather mysterious! Upul Tharanga has so far been involved in six of the 22 opening partnerships of 200 or more in one-day internationals. Two of them - including the record first-wicket stand in ODIs, 286 against England at Headingley in 2006 - were with Sanath Jayasuriya, two more with Mahela Jayawardene, and two with Tillakaratne Dilshan during this World Cup, against Zimbabwe in Pallekele (they fell just short of the overall record after a stand of 282) and the weekend demolition of England in the quarter-final. Jayasuriya was involved in four double-century opening stands (two with Tharanga and one each with Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara): no one else has shared in more than two. Ricky Ponting has featured in the most double-century stands for all wickets in ODIs - seven (Sachin Tendulkar has so far shared in six, as did Sourav Ganguly).
You're right, if personally rather mysterious! Upul Tharanga has so far been involved in six of the 22 opening partnerships of 200 or more in one-day internationals. Two of them - including the record first-wicket stand in ODIs, 286 against England at Headingley in 2006 - were with Sanath Jayasuriya, two more with Mahela Jayawardene, and two with Tillakaratne Dilshan during this World Cup, against Zimbabwe in Pallekele (they fell just short of the overall record after a stand of 282) and the weekend demolition of England in the quarter-final. Jayasuriya was involved in four double-century opening stands (two with Tharanga and one each with Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara): no one else has shared in more than two. Ricky Ponting has featured in the most double-century stands for all wickets in ODIs - seven (Sachin Tendulkar has so far shared in six, as did Sourav Ganguly).
After India was partitioned, Pakistan emerged to play Test cricket. How many people played for them after appearing for India? And how many others have played Test cricket for more than one nation? asked Sagnik Sinha from India
A total of 14 men have played Test cricket for two different teams. Of those, three played for India before Partition, and for Pakistan afterwards: Amir Elahi, Gul Mohammad, and Abdul Hafeez Kardar. Five men played for both England and Australia in the 19th century, when qualification rules were less strict than they are now: John Ferris, Billy Midwinter, Billy Murdoch, Albert Trott and Sammy Woods. Frank Hearne and Frank Mitchell both played for England and South Africa, while the Nawab of Pataudi senior played for England (in the 1932-33 Bodyline series) and India (as captain in England in 1946). Sammy Guillen kept wicket for West Indies in five Tests in 1951-52, then, after emigrating to New Zealand, turned out for them too and was part of the side that won their first-ever Test match after 26 years of trying... against West Indies in Auckland in 1955-56. More recently John Traicos played for both South Africa and Zimbabwe, and Kepler Wessels for Australia and South Africa. For the full list, click here.
A total of 14 men have played Test cricket for two different teams. Of those, three played for India before Partition, and for Pakistan afterwards: Amir Elahi, Gul Mohammad, and Abdul Hafeez Kardar. Five men played for both England and Australia in the 19th century, when qualification rules were less strict than they are now: John Ferris, Billy Midwinter, Billy Murdoch, Albert Trott and Sammy Woods. Frank Hearne and Frank Mitchell both played for England and South Africa, while the Nawab of Pataudi senior played for England (in the 1932-33 Bodyline series) and India (as captain in England in 1946). Sammy Guillen kept wicket for West Indies in five Tests in 1951-52, then, after emigrating to New Zealand, turned out for them too and was part of the side that won their first-ever Test match after 26 years of trying... against West Indies in Auckland in 1955-56. More recently John Traicos played for both South Africa and Zimbabwe, and Kepler Wessels for Australia and South Africa. For the full list, click here.
Sachin Tendulkar passed 2000 World Cup runs in this tournament. How many others are past 1000? asked Derek Montgomery via Facebook
Before the semi-final against Pakistan Sachin Tendulkar had amassed 2175 runs in World Cups: next comes Ricky Ponting with 1743. Earlier in this tournament Jacques Kallis became the 13th batsman to reach 1000 World Cup runs (he now has 1148). The others are Brian Lara (1225), Sanath Jayasuriya (1165), Adam Gilchrist (1085), Javed Miandad (1083), Stephen Fleming (1075), Herschelle Gibbs (1067), Aravinda de Silva (1064), Viv Richards (1013), Sourav Ganguly (1006) and Mark Waugh (1004). Matthew Hayden (987) and Steve Waugh (978) fell just short.
Before the semi-final against Pakistan Sachin Tendulkar had amassed 2175 runs in World Cups: next comes Ricky Ponting with 1743. Earlier in this tournament Jacques Kallis became the 13th batsman to reach 1000 World Cup runs (he now has 1148). The others are Brian Lara (1225), Sanath Jayasuriya (1165), Adam Gilchrist (1085), Javed Miandad (1083), Stephen Fleming (1075), Herschelle Gibbs (1067), Aravinda de Silva (1064), Viv Richards (1013), Sourav Ganguly (1006) and Mark Waugh (1004). Matthew Hayden (987) and Steve Waugh (978) fell just short.
In the early 1950s, when I was around 10 years old, I used to listen to cricket on the radio, and I am sure an over consisted of eight balls back then. Am I right? asked David Young
If you were up late at night listening to the radio commentary from Tests in Australia, then you'd be right: the eight-ball over was used in Australia (and New Zealand) up until 1979-80, when the over was standardised worldwide at six balls. It has almost always been six in England, since 1900 (eight-ball overs were tried in 1939, but quietly dropped after the war). Cynics suggested Australia finally fell in line because six-ball overs meant more natural breaks for adverts!
If you were up late at night listening to the radio commentary from Tests in Australia, then you'd be right: the eight-ball over was used in Australia (and New Zealand) up until 1979-80, when the over was standardised worldwide at six balls. It has almost always been six in England, since 1900 (eight-ball overs were tried in 1939, but quietly dropped after the war). Cynics suggested Australia finally fell in line because six-ball overs meant more natural breaks for adverts!
Further to last week's question about the player on the winning side most often in one-day internationals, which man has lost in the most ODIs? asked Aleem Zubair from Pakistan
The reluctant leader on this list is Sachin Tendulkar, who had finished on the losing side in 195 one-day internationals before the World Cup semi-final. Sanath Jayasuriya ended up losing in 192 of his one-day appearances, while next come Aravinda de Silva (163), Rahul Dravid (162), Mohammad Azharuddin (157) and Arjuna Ranatunga (150). Zimbabwe's Grant Flower played 221 ODIs and lost 149 of them.
The reluctant leader on this list is Sachin Tendulkar, who had finished on the losing side in 195 one-day internationals before the World Cup semi-final. Sanath Jayasuriya ended up losing in 192 of his one-day appearances, while next come Aravinda de Silva (163), Rahul Dravid (162), Mohammad Azharuddin (157) and Arjuna Ranatunga (150). Zimbabwe's Grant Flower played 221 ODIs and lost 149 of them.
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