Century stands in low totals, and Boycs' golden pair
Also: scoring 99 and a duck, the quickest to 100 ODI wickets, fewest bowlers in a win, and the youngest and oldest triple-centurions
Steven Lynch
02-Aug-2011
Pankaj Roy: the first player to score a duck and 99 in the same Test • Getty Images
What is the lowest all-out total in Tests to include a hundred partnership? asked Ajay Mehra from Mumbai
The lowest completed innings total to include a century stand in a Test is 158, by New Zealand against Australia at Auckland in 1973-74 - Glenn Turner and John Parker puit on 107 for the first wicket, but the remaining batsmen managed only 51 between them. Not far behind is the famous innings at Headingley in 1952 when India were 0 for 4 - a unique scoreline in Test history - before Vijay Hazare, the captain, and Dattu Phadkar put on 105 for the sixth wicket to inspire a semi-recovery to 165.
The lowest completed innings total to include a century stand in a Test is 158, by New Zealand against Australia at Auckland in 1973-74 - Glenn Turner and John Parker puit on 107 for the first wicket, but the remaining batsmen managed only 51 between them. Not far behind is the famous innings at Headingley in 1952 when India were 0 for 4 - a unique scoreline in Test history - before Vijay Hazare, the captain, and Dattu Phadkar put on 105 for the sixth wicket to inspire a semi-recovery to 165.
Did Geoff Boycott ever bag a "golden pair" - out first ball in each innings? I attended the Yorkshire v Kent match in 1967 and I fancy Boycs got out twice to Norman Graham in this way? asked Harry Buck
Well, you've got a pretty good memory: Geoff Boycott was dismissed for 0 in both innings of that match at Bradford in 1967. It was the only pair of Boycott's long and distinguished career, and it was indeed inflicted by the lanky Kent fast bowler Norman Graham. Yorkshire were shot out for 40 in their first innings on a rain-affected pitch, and although the weather allowed less than 90 overs' play in the whole drawn game, there was time for Yorkshire to bat again, and for Boycott to fall for another duck as they crept to 13 for 2. Boycott was certainly out first ball in the second innings, but Wisden is silent about his fate in the first - I suspect he actually lasted a few deliveries before the bowler struck. Graham - who celebrated his birthday during the match - recalled later: "I remember Fred Trueman coming into our dressing room, calling me all sorts. He said he had to change next to the so-and-so all season and his life would be unbearable."
Well, you've got a pretty good memory: Geoff Boycott was dismissed for 0 in both innings of that match at Bradford in 1967. It was the only pair of Boycott's long and distinguished career, and it was indeed inflicted by the lanky Kent fast bowler Norman Graham. Yorkshire were shot out for 40 in their first innings on a rain-affected pitch, and although the weather allowed less than 90 overs' play in the whole drawn game, there was time for Yorkshire to bat again, and for Boycott to fall for another duck as they crept to 13 for 2. Boycott was certainly out first ball in the second innings, but Wisden is silent about his fate in the first - I suspect he actually lasted a few deliveries before the bowler struck. Graham - who celebrated his birthday during the match - recalled later: "I remember Fred Trueman coming into our dressing room, calling me all sorts. He said he had to change next to the so-and-so all season and his life would be unbearable."
Has anyone ever made 99 and a duck in the same Test? asked Tanvir Mohammad from Lahore
This has now happened four times in Tests. The first person to suffer this unusual fate was Pankaj Roy, the Indian opener, who made 0 and 99 against Australia in Delhi in 1959-60. He was followed by Mushtaq Mohammad, who was run out for 99 then made a duck against England in Karachi in 1972-73. Next was Geoff Boycott, who followed a first-innings duck against Australia in Perth in 1979-80 with 99 not out in the second innings. Something similar happened to South Africa's Andrew Hall against England at Headingley in 2003: he was out for 0 in the first innings but scored 99 not out in the second. Hall was in the middle of a peculiar sequence with the bat that featured innings of 0, 0, 99 not out, 1 and 0.
This has now happened four times in Tests. The first person to suffer this unusual fate was Pankaj Roy, the Indian opener, who made 0 and 99 against Australia in Delhi in 1959-60. He was followed by Mushtaq Mohammad, who was run out for 99 then made a duck against England in Karachi in 1972-73. Next was Geoff Boycott, who followed a first-innings duck against Australia in Perth in 1979-80 with 99 not out in the second innings. Something similar happened to South Africa's Andrew Hall against England at Headingley in 2003: he was out for 0 in the first innings but scored 99 not out in the second. Hall was in the middle of a peculiar sequence with the bat that featured innings of 0, 0, 99 not out, 1 and 0.
Which bowler reached 100 wickets in one-day internationals the quickest? asked Malcolm Banks from Colchester
The quickest in terms of both time and matches is Saqlain Mushtaq, the Pakistan offspinner. He took his 100th wicket in his 53rd match, one quicker than Shane Bond of New Zealand and two faster than Australia's Brett Lee. Saqlain reached 100 wickets in well under two years - 592 days - around eight months faster than Irfan Pathan of India (832 days). Two more Indians - Zaheer Khan (893 days) and Ajit Agarkar (983) - also needed less than 1000 days to reach three figures, which I suppose helps to emphasise how many one-day internationals India play.
The quickest in terms of both time and matches is Saqlain Mushtaq, the Pakistan offspinner. He took his 100th wicket in his 53rd match, one quicker than Shane Bond of New Zealand and two faster than Australia's Brett Lee. Saqlain reached 100 wickets in well under two years - 592 days - around eight months faster than Irfan Pathan of India (832 days). Two more Indians - Zaheer Khan (893 days) and Ajit Agarkar (983) - also needed less than 1000 days to reach three figures, which I suppose helps to emphasise how many one-day internationals India play.
What is the least number of bowlers used during a Test match which had a result? asked Oliver Howitt from New Zealand
The fewest bowlers from both sides in a Test match with a positive result is six, in the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford in August 1888. England, who won by an innings and 21 runs, needed only three bowlers (Bobby Peel, George Lohmann and Johnny Briggs) to bowl Australia out for 81 and 70, while the Aussies used only three themselves (John Ferris, Charlie Turner and Sammy Woods) in England's innings of 172. There are three instances of only seven bowlers in a completed match, all of them before the First World War.
The fewest bowlers from both sides in a Test match with a positive result is six, in the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford in August 1888. England, who won by an innings and 21 runs, needed only three bowlers (Bobby Peel, George Lohmann and Johnny Briggs) to bowl Australia out for 81 and 70, while the Aussies used only three themselves (John Ferris, Charlie Turner and Sammy Woods) in England's innings of 172. There are three instances of only seven bowlers in a completed match, all of them before the First World War.
Twenty batsmen have now made triple-centuries in Tests. Who was the oldest, and who was the youngest? asked Allan Alexander from the United States
The oldest Test triple-centurion was also the first: England's Andy Sandham was 39 years 271 days old when he made 325 against West Indies in Kingston in 1929-30, in what turned out to be his last Test match. The next-oldest - and the only other one over 35 - was Graham Gooch, who was three days past his 37th birthday when he made 333 against India at Lord's in 1990. The youngest man to reach 300 in a Test innings remains Garry Sobers, who was just 21 years and 215 days old when he made 365 not out for West Indies against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58. The only other man to score a Test triple-century before turning 22 is Don Bradman, who was 21 years 318 days old when he hit 334 against England at Headingley in 1930.
The oldest Test triple-centurion was also the first: England's Andy Sandham was 39 years 271 days old when he made 325 against West Indies in Kingston in 1929-30, in what turned out to be his last Test match. The next-oldest - and the only other one over 35 - was Graham Gooch, who was three days past his 37th birthday when he made 333 against India at Lord's in 1990. The youngest man to reach 300 in a Test innings remains Garry Sobers, who was just 21 years and 215 days old when he made 365 not out for West Indies against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58. The only other man to score a Test triple-century before turning 22 is Don Bradman, who was 21 years 318 days old when he hit 334 against England at Headingley in 1930.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2011. Ask Steven is now on Facebook