First-ball troubles, and a score of 615 for 1
A century and a five-for on the same day, Kane's lucky 13, nineties' without hundreds, and a two-sided stand
Steven Lynch
31-Aug-2010
Sanath Jayasuriya: four first-ball ducks in ODIs • Associated Press
During the recent tri-series in Sri Lanka, Upul Tharanga was dismissed by the very first ball of an innings. It also happened to him last year in India. Who has been dismissed most often by the first ball of the innings in an ODI? asked Abhishek Singla from India
One of the overall record-holders is Tharanga's long-time Sri Lankan team-mate Sanath Jayasuriya, who has fallen to the first ball of the innings four times in one-day internationals - once to the first delivery of the match, and three times to the first one of the second innings. Australia's Adam Gilchrist also fell to the first ball of an ODI innings on four occasions. Tharanga has actually fallen to the first ball three times - apart from last week's match against India in Dambulla and the one against India in Delhi late in 2009, he also fell first ball in the second innings of the match against West Indies in Mumbai in 2006-07. Others to have fallen to the first ball on three occasions are the West Indian trio of Sherwin Campbell, Chris Gayle and Desmond Haynes, the Indians Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag, and another Sri Lankan, Roshan Mahanama.
One of the overall record-holders is Tharanga's long-time Sri Lankan team-mate Sanath Jayasuriya, who has fallen to the first ball of the innings four times in one-day internationals - once to the first delivery of the match, and three times to the first one of the second innings. Australia's Adam Gilchrist also fell to the first ball of an ODI innings on four occasions. Tharanga has actually fallen to the first ball three times - apart from last week's match against India in Dambulla and the one against India in Delhi late in 2009, he also fell first ball in the second innings of the match against West Indies in Mumbai in 2006-07. Others to have fallen to the first ball on three occasions are the West Indian trio of Sherwin Campbell, Chris Gayle and Desmond Haynes, the Indians Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag, and another Sri Lankan, Roshan Mahanama.
Which Test side was once 615 for 1? asked Tim Blake from Cardiff
That score - the highest recorded in Tests before the fall of the second wicket - was on the board at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in August 1997, during the innings in which Sri Lanka broke the Test record for the highest total, eventually declaring at 952 for 6. After Marvan Atapattu was out with the score at 39, Sanath Jayasuriya (340) and Roshan Mahanama (225) put on 576 - another Test record, since broken - to take the total to 615 for 1. Both batsmen were out at that score, but Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga quelled thoughts of a sensational collapse by taking the total to 790 for 3.
That score - the highest recorded in Tests before the fall of the second wicket - was on the board at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in August 1997, during the innings in which Sri Lanka broke the Test record for the highest total, eventually declaring at 952 for 6. After Marvan Atapattu was out with the score at 39, Sanath Jayasuriya (340) and Roshan Mahanama (225) put on 576 - another Test record, since broken - to take the total to 615 for 1. Both batsmen were out at that score, but Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga quelled thoughts of a sensational collapse by taking the total to 790 for 3.
Has anyone ever scored a century and taken five wickets on the same day in a Test? asked Ramakrishnan Vasudevan via Facebook
The considerable all-round feat of scoring a century and taking five wickets in an innings in the same Test has been achieved on 26 occasions - five of those by Ian Botham - but no one has ever quite managed it on the same day. Of those who achieved the feat the closest approach was arguably by South Africa's Jimmy Sinclair - the first to achieve such a double - against England in Cape Town in 1898-99. He took 6 for 26 when England batted first, and by the end of the opening day had scored 59 of his eventual 106 (South Africa's first-ever Test century). Mind you, on the fourth day of West Indies' Test against England at Edgbaston in 2004, Chris Gayle got even closer - even though he didn't actually complete the double in the end - by scoring 82 after taking five wickets earlier in the day. For the full list of players who have scored a century and taken a five-for in the same Test, click here.
The considerable all-round feat of scoring a century and taking five wickets in an innings in the same Test has been achieved on 26 occasions - five of those by Ian Botham - but no one has ever quite managed it on the same day. Of those who achieved the feat the closest approach was arguably by South Africa's Jimmy Sinclair - the first to achieve such a double - against England in Cape Town in 1898-99. He took 6 for 26 when England batted first, and by the end of the opening day had scored 59 of his eventual 106 (South Africa's first-ever Test century). Mind you, on the fourth day of West Indies' Test against England at Edgbaston in 2004, Chris Gayle got even closer - even though he didn't actually complete the double in the end - by scoring 82 after taking five wickets earlier in the day. For the full list of players who have scored a century and taken a five-for in the same Test, click here.
Kane Williamson of New Zealand scored his first run in his third one-day international innings - has anyone ever taken longer than this to get off the mark? asked Krishna Kumar from India
Kane Williamson eventually managed 13 in his third ODI, after ducks in his first two. It reminded me of the torrid start of another highly rated New Zealand youngster, Ken Rutherford: in his first Test series, in the West Indies in 1984-85, he made 0, 0, 4, 0, 2, 1 and 5. Williamson will be relieved to have avoided claiming membership of an exclusive club of players who made ducks in each of their first three ODIs: they are Shadab Kabir of Pakistan (who never played again), Ireland's Peter Gillespie, and Nicholas de Groot of Canada (during the 2003 World Cup).
Kane Williamson eventually managed 13 in his third ODI, after ducks in his first two. It reminded me of the torrid start of another highly rated New Zealand youngster, Ken Rutherford: in his first Test series, in the West Indies in 1984-85, he made 0, 0, 4, 0, 2, 1 and 5. Williamson will be relieved to have avoided claiming membership of an exclusive club of players who made ducks in each of their first three ODIs: they are Shadab Kabir of Pakistan (who never played again), Ireland's Peter Gillespie, and Nicholas de Groot of Canada (during the 2003 World Cup).
I noticed that the Australian batsman Tommy Andrews twice made it into the nineties without ever getting a Test century. Has anyone done better (worse?) than this? asked Christian Ramirez via Facebook
The New South Wales batsman Tommy Andrews made 92 in Leeds and 94 at The Oval in 1921, and never did reach three figures in the rest of his Test career. As it turns out he is one of 10 Test players who managed two nineties but no hundreds: the others include two more Australians - Alec Bannerman and Shane Warne - two West Indians in Deryck Murray and Derek Sealy, Asim Kamal of Pakistan (including 99 in his very first Test innings), South Africa's Adam Bacher, Andy Blignaut of Zimbabwe, India's Chetan Chauhan, and Geoff Miller of England (who made 98 not out against Pakistan in Lahore in 1977-78 and was out for 98 against India at Old Trafford in 1982).
The New South Wales batsman Tommy Andrews made 92 in Leeds and 94 at The Oval in 1921, and never did reach three figures in the rest of his Test career. As it turns out he is one of 10 Test players who managed two nineties but no hundreds: the others include two more Australians - Alec Bannerman and Shane Warne - two West Indians in Deryck Murray and Derek Sealy, Asim Kamal of Pakistan (including 99 in his very first Test innings), South Africa's Adam Bacher, Andy Blignaut of Zimbabwe, India's Chetan Chauhan, and Geoff Miller of England (who made 98 not out against Pakistan in Lahore in 1977-78 and was out for 98 against India at Old Trafford in 1982).
Which Test ground has a two-sided stand for cricket on one side and rugby on the other? asked Dev Raj from Manchester
The only one I know of like that is Yorkshire's home ground at Headingley, where the stand behind the bowler's arm, in which the players' dressing room is currently situated, is double-faced: the other side looks over the rugby league pitch used by the prominent Superleague side Leeds Rhinos. During Test matches the rugby pitch is used as a car park, to the great delight of the media, who are able to park much closer than usual to their working area!
The only one I know of like that is Yorkshire's home ground at Headingley, where the stand behind the bowler's arm, in which the players' dressing room is currently situated, is double-faced: the other side looks over the rugby league pitch used by the prominent Superleague side Leeds Rhinos. During Test matches the rugby pitch is used as a car park, to the great delight of the media, who are able to park much closer than usual to their working area!
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