Double and a duck, and tail-end highs
What's the highest score by a No. 10 in a Test?
Steven Lynch
24-Jan-2017
Shoaib Malik made 245 and a duck in Abu Dhabi against England and then retired from Tests after the series • Associated Press
Is it correct that Bangladesh's 595 at the Basin was the highest score by a team that ended up losing the Test? asked Kieron Campbell from New Zealand
It is true: Bangladesh's 595 for 8 declared in Wellington last week was the highest total ever made in a losing cause in a Test match. It broke a record that had stood for more than 122 years: Australia lost to England in Sydney in 1894-95 despite making 586 in their first innings. England ended up winning by the narrow margin of ten runs, in the first of just three Test matches won by the side that followed on. There have been only 14 other Tests in which a total of 500-plus wasn't enough to avoid defeat, seven of them in the current century. The last of those was by New Zealand, who made 523 but lost to England at Lord's in 2015.
It is true: Bangladesh's 595 for 8 declared in Wellington last week was the highest total ever made in a losing cause in a Test match. It broke a record that had stood for more than 122 years: Australia lost to England in Sydney in 1894-95 despite making 586 in their first innings. England ended up winning by the narrow margin of ten runs, in the first of just three Test matches won by the side that followed on. There have been only 14 other Tests in which a total of 500-plus wasn't enough to avoid defeat, seven of them in the current century. The last of those was by New Zealand, who made 523 but lost to England at Lord's in 2015.
Shakib Al Hasan made a double-century and a duck in the same Test. How many other people have done this? asked Michael Sinclair from England
Shakib Al Hasan's unusual double - 217 and 0 fort Bangladesh against New Zealand in Wellington - was only the seventh time it had been completed in a Test. The first to do it was South Africa's Dudley Nourse, with 0 and 231 against Australia in Johannesburg in 1935-36. Since then it's also been done by Imtiaz Ahmed (209 and 0 for Pakistan v New Zealand in Lahore in 1955-56), Seymour Nurse (201 and 0 for West Indies v Australia in Bridgetown in 1964-65), Viv Richards (208 and 0 for West Indies v Australia in Melbourne in 1984-85), Ricky Ponting (242 and 0 for Australia v India in Adelaide in 2003-04) and Shoaib Malik (245 and 0 for Pakistan v England in Abu Dhabi in 2015-16). For the full list of players who have scored a century and a duck in the same Test, click here.
Shakib Al Hasan's unusual double - 217 and 0 fort Bangladesh against New Zealand in Wellington - was only the seventh time it had been completed in a Test. The first to do it was South Africa's Dudley Nourse, with 0 and 231 against Australia in Johannesburg in 1935-36. Since then it's also been done by Imtiaz Ahmed (209 and 0 for Pakistan v New Zealand in Lahore in 1955-56), Seymour Nurse (201 and 0 for West Indies v Australia in Bridgetown in 1964-65), Viv Richards (208 and 0 for West Indies v Australia in Melbourne in 1984-85), Ricky Ponting (242 and 0 for Australia v India in Adelaide in 2003-04) and Shoaib Malik (245 and 0 for Pakistan v England in Abu Dhabi in 2015-16). For the full list of players who have scored a century and a duck in the same Test, click here.
How often have England lost a match in which Eoin Morgan has scored a ton? asked Nair Ottappalam from India
Eoin Morgan's 102 in that big run-chase against India in Cuttack last week was the third time he has scored a century in vain for England in one-day internationals. He made 106 in Brisbane in 2013-14, only for Australia to scrape home by one wicket, and 121 in Sydney the following season: that time Australia won by three wickets. Before his England career began, Morgan also made 115 for Ireland against Canada in Nairobi in 2006-07, but they lost by six wickets. That was Morgan's only century for Ireland, although he was run out for 99 on his ODI debut for them, in a win over Scotland in Ayr in August 2006.
Eoin Morgan's 102 in that big run-chase against India in Cuttack last week was the third time he has scored a century in vain for England in one-day internationals. He made 106 in Brisbane in 2013-14, only for Australia to scrape home by one wicket, and 121 in Sydney the following season: that time Australia won by three wickets. Before his England career began, Morgan also made 115 for Ireland against Canada in Nairobi in 2006-07, but they lost by six wickets. That was Morgan's only century for Ireland, although he was run out for 99 on his ODI debut for them, in a win over Scotland in Ayr in August 2006.
Test cricketers wear a number on their uniform to indicate their cap sequence. To date, how many Test caps have been awarded by each nation? asked Allan Alexander from the United States
The two new caps awarded by Bangladesh in the current Test against New Zealand in Christchurch - Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Nurul Hasan - took the overall number of men who have appeared in a Test match to 2857. Of those, England have capped 676 different players, Australia 450, South Africa 329, West Indies 309, India 287, New Zealand 271, Pakistan 225, Sri Lanka 139, Zimbabwe 100 (Carl Mumba recently brought up their century) and Bangladesh 85. Note that the individual numbers add up to 2871, as 14 players have appeared for two different countries in Tests.
The two new caps awarded by Bangladesh in the current Test against New Zealand in Christchurch - Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Nurul Hasan - took the overall number of men who have appeared in a Test match to 2857. Of those, England have capped 676 different players, Australia 450, South Africa 329, West Indies 309, India 287, New Zealand 271, Pakistan 225, Sri Lanka 139, Zimbabwe 100 (Carl Mumba recently brought up their century) and Bangladesh 85. Note that the individual numbers add up to 2871, as 14 players have appeared for two different countries in Tests.
Was Jayant Yadav the first Indian No. 9 to score a Test century? asked Ian Hugo from Nigeria
Jayant Yadav's 104 against England in Mumbai last month was the 16th Test century by a No. 9 batsman - but the first for India. The previous-highest by an Indian No. 9 was Farokh Engineer's 90, against New Zealand in Madras (now Chennai) in 1964-65. The highest Test score by any No. 9 remains Ian Smith's 173 for New Zealand against India in Auckland in 1989-90. Stuart Broad came close to that at Lord's in 2010, with 169 against Pakistan.
Jayant Yadav's 104 against England in Mumbai last month was the 16th Test century by a No. 9 batsman - but the first for India. The previous-highest by an Indian No. 9 was Farokh Engineer's 90, against New Zealand in Madras (now Chennai) in 1964-65. The highest Test score by any No. 9 remains Ian Smith's 173 for New Zealand against India in Auckland in 1989-90. Stuart Broad came close to that at Lord's in 2010, with 169 against Pakistan.
What are the highest scores by a No. 10 and No. 11 in a Test match? asked Brendan Murphy from Ireland
There have now been four centuries scored from No. 10 in a Test, the most recent by Bangladesh's Abul Hasan, with 113 on debut against West Indies in Khulna in 2012-13. The others were by Walter Read (117 for England v Australia at The Oval in 1884), Reggie Duff (104 on debut for Australia v England in Melbourne in 1901-02), and Pat Symcox (108 for South Africa v Pakistan in Johannesburg in 1997-98). Duff was usually an opener, but went in low down for tactical reasons, while Read batted higher than No. 10 in all his other innings for England.
There have now been four centuries scored from No. 10 in a Test, the most recent by Bangladesh's Abul Hasan, with 113 on debut against West Indies in Khulna in 2012-13. The others were by Walter Read (117 for England v Australia at The Oval in 1884), Reggie Duff (104 on debut for Australia v England in Melbourne in 1901-02), and Pat Symcox (108 for South Africa v Pakistan in Johannesburg in 1997-98). Duff was usually an opener, but went in low down for tactical reasons, while Read batted higher than No. 10 in all his other innings for England.
There hasn't yet been a century from No. 11 in the order in Tests - but there have been two near misses in recent years. At Edgbaston in June 2012, West Indies' last man Tino Best biffed 95, beating the record for a No. 11 at the time by 20 runs. And the following summer, at Trent Bridge, 19-year-old Ashton Agar strolled in at No. 11 on his Test debut, and spanked the England attack around for 98. For a full list of Test half-centuries from No. 11 in the order, click here.
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Steven Lynch is the editor of the updated edition of Wisden on the Ashes