Finishing with a flourish, and a boxing connection
Farewell with 5 for 1, most ODIs without being run out, a hat-trick off two balls, and more
Steven Lynch
28-Sep-2010
Brian Lara: Three doubles in losses • AFP
Which player ended his Test career by taking five wickets for 1 run in 17 balls? asked Jaikishen from India
At first I thought this must be Hugh Trumble, the great Australian, who ended his Test career with a flourish in Melbourne in 1903-04, taking 7 for 28, including a hat-trick to bowl England out for 101 and secure victory by 218 runs. But his spell, good as it was, did not quite stretch to 5 for 1 from 17 balls. It turns out that it was a rather less-heralded Australian, Gervys "Gerry" Hazlitt, who signed off his Test career this way, finishing with 7 for 25 against England at The Oval in the last match of the Triangular Tournament of 1912. "The innings was quickly finished off for 175, Hazlitt going on in place of Whitty at 167, and taking the last five wickets at the cost of a single run," reported Wisden. "Subsequent events proved that his astounding success was for England a blessing in disguise, as it led to victory before the end of the day" - Australia were shot out for 65 and lost by 244 runs. Sadly, Hazlitt was never to play another Test: he was born with a weak heart, and suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in 1915, when he was only 27.
At first I thought this must be Hugh Trumble, the great Australian, who ended his Test career with a flourish in Melbourne in 1903-04, taking 7 for 28, including a hat-trick to bowl England out for 101 and secure victory by 218 runs. But his spell, good as it was, did not quite stretch to 5 for 1 from 17 balls. It turns out that it was a rather less-heralded Australian, Gervys "Gerry" Hazlitt, who signed off his Test career this way, finishing with 7 for 25 against England at The Oval in the last match of the Triangular Tournament of 1912. "The innings was quickly finished off for 175, Hazlitt going on in place of Whitty at 167, and taking the last five wickets at the cost of a single run," reported Wisden. "Subsequent events proved that his astounding success was for England a blessing in disguise, as it led to victory before the end of the day" - Australia were shot out for 65 and lost by 244 runs. Sadly, Hazlitt was never to play another Test: he was born with a weak heart, and suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in 1915, when he was only 27.
Which England cricketer's autobiography was ghost-written by someone who later became the secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control? asked Alan Murdoch from Glasgow
This unlikely combination came together for David Steele's 1977 autobiography Come in Number 3. The man Steele chose to relate the remarkable story of his Test baptism against Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson in 1975 was John Morris, a former journalist and sports editor from Northampton who did indeed later became the secretary of the British Boxing Board.
This unlikely combination came together for David Steele's 1977 autobiography Come in Number 3. The man Steele chose to relate the remarkable story of his Test baptism against Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson in 1975 was John Morris, a former journalist and sports editor from Northampton who did indeed later became the secretary of the British Boxing Board.
Who has played the most innings in one-day internationals without ever being run out? asked Vinay Ponnam via Facebook
The leader here is the long-serving Kenyan batsman Maurice Odumbe, who had 59 innings in his 61 ODIs without ever being run out. The only other batsman to complete a half-century of innings without a run-out is Misbah-ul-Haq, who has had 50 so far. In Tests the clear leader is Kapil Dev, who was never run out in any of his 184 Test innings for India: he is said to have been involved in only two run-outs throughout his 131-Test career. Next comes Mudassar Nazar of Pakistan, with 116, just ahead of Graeme Hick (114). Two current England batsmen - Paul Collingwood (109) and Alastair Cook (108) - have both completed a century of Test innings without a run-out, as did a former England captain in Peter May (106).
The leader here is the long-serving Kenyan batsman Maurice Odumbe, who had 59 innings in his 61 ODIs without ever being run out. The only other batsman to complete a half-century of innings without a run-out is Misbah-ul-Haq, who has had 50 so far. In Tests the clear leader is Kapil Dev, who was never run out in any of his 184 Test innings for India: he is said to have been involved in only two run-outs throughout his 131-Test career. Next comes Mudassar Nazar of Pakistan, with 116, just ahead of Graeme Hick (114). Two current England batsmen - Paul Collingwood (109) and Alastair Cook (108) - have both completed a century of Test innings without a run-out, as did a former England captain in Peter May (106).
Which batsman has scored the most double-centuries in Tests his side lost? asked Rohit Shinde
There have only been 15 double-centuries made in a losing cause in Tests, the most recent being Paul Collingwood's 206 for England against Australia in Adelaide in 2006-07. Brian Lara was responsible for three of those: he made 221 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2001-02, 202 v South Africa in Johannesburg in 2003-04, and 226 against Australia in Adelaide in 2005-06. No one else has suffered this misfortune more than once: the highest score made by someone who finished up on the losing side is 242, by Ricky Ponting for Australia against India, again at Adelaide, in 2003-04. For a full list, click here.
There have only been 15 double-centuries made in a losing cause in Tests, the most recent being Paul Collingwood's 206 for England against Australia in Adelaide in 2006-07. Brian Lara was responsible for three of those: he made 221 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2001-02, 202 v South Africa in Johannesburg in 2003-04, and 226 against Australia in Adelaide in 2005-06. No one else has suffered this misfortune more than once: the highest score made by someone who finished up on the losing side is 242, by Ricky Ponting for Australia against India, again at Adelaide, in 2003-04. For a full list, click here.
In the one-dayer at Lord's last week Eoin Morgan was caught by 36-year-old Mohammad Yousuf off the bowling of Shoaib Akhtar, who is 35. Is their combined 71 years a record for a dismissal? asked Omar Chaudhuri via Facebook
It's quite impressive, but some way off the record for one-day internationals, which is 90 years. That happened during the 1996 World Cup, when Nolan Clarke - at 47, the oldest person ever to appear in an official ODI - caught Adam Parore off the bowling of 43-year-old Flavian Aponso during Netherlands' first-ever World Cup match, against New Zealand in Baroda. In Test matches the record is a remarkable 102 years (more than 103 actually when days are taken into account): In Kingston in 1929-30, Clifford Roach of West Indies was caught by 50-year-old George Gunn off the bowling of England's Wilfred Rhodes - at 52, the oldest Test player of all.
It's quite impressive, but some way off the record for one-day internationals, which is 90 years. That happened during the 1996 World Cup, when Nolan Clarke - at 47, the oldest person ever to appear in an official ODI - caught Adam Parore off the bowling of 43-year-old Flavian Aponso during Netherlands' first-ever World Cup match, against New Zealand in Baroda. In Test matches the record is a remarkable 102 years (more than 103 actually when days are taken into account): In Kingston in 1929-30, Clifford Roach of West Indies was caught by 50-year-old George Gunn off the bowling of England's Wilfred Rhodes - at 52, the oldest Test player of all.
I have just watched Isuru Udana take a hat-trick despite bowling only two legal deliveries - has this feat ever happened previously? asked Daniel Enslin
The Sri Lankan left-armer Isuru Udana managed this while bowling for Wayamba in their Champions League Twenty20 match against Central Districts in Port Elizabeth last week: the key point is that the second victim, Mathew Sinclair, was stumped off a wide. Udana had already persuaded Brad Patton to sky a catch to the wicketkeeper, Kushal Perera, and then after Sinclair's unusual dismissal, George Worker was bowled by his first ball. As far as I can see, there have been no other hat-tricks in senior cricket that did not come from three legal deliveries.
The Sri Lankan left-armer Isuru Udana managed this while bowling for Wayamba in their Champions League Twenty20 match against Central Districts in Port Elizabeth last week: the key point is that the second victim, Mathew Sinclair, was stumped off a wide. Udana had already persuaded Brad Patton to sky a catch to the wicketkeeper, Kushal Perera, and then after Sinclair's unusual dismissal, George Worker was bowled by his first ball. As far as I can see, there have been no other hat-tricks in senior cricket that did not come from three legal deliveries.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo 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 now on Facebook