Fourth-innings rearguards, and all-round heroics on ODI debut
Also: the highest by a No. 8 in ODIs, and the highest totals in ten-wicket wins
Steven Lynch
28-Jun-2016
At the Wanderers in 1995, England batted out 165 overs, making it the longest fourth innings in a time-limited drawn Test • Getty Images
Has any side ever made more than England did to win an ODI by ten wickets? asked Mahesh Bhasin from India
There have now been exactly 50 ten-wicket victories in one-day internationals - and none of them involved a higher total than England's 256 for 0 against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston last week. The previous highest was New Zealand's 236 for 0 to defeat Zimbabwe (235) in Harare last August. In all there have now been six instances of a team reaching a target of 200 or more without losing a wicket, the first coming when West Indies (221 for 0) beat Pakistan (220 for 2) in Melbourne during the 1992 World Cup. For the full list, click here.
There have now been exactly 50 ten-wicket victories in one-day internationals - and none of them involved a higher total than England's 256 for 0 against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston last week. The previous highest was New Zealand's 236 for 0 to defeat Zimbabwe (235) in Harare last August. In all there have now been six instances of a team reaching a target of 200 or more without losing a wicket, the first coming when West Indies (221 for 0) beat Pakistan (220 for 2) in Melbourne during the 1992 World Cup. For the full list, click here.
Dasun Shanaka scored over 40 runs and got five wickets on his ODI debut. Has anybody done this before? asked Chamitha Gunasekara from Sri Lanka
The short answer is no: before Dasun Shanaka allied 42 runs to 5 for 43 for Sri Lanka against Ireland in Dublin recently, the highest score by a one-day international debutant who also took a five-for was 28 - by another Sri Lankan, Shaul Karnain, who claimed 5 for 26 against New Zealand in Moratuwa in 1983-84. Three men have scored a fifty and taken four wickets on ODI debut: Duncan Fletcher, with 69 not out and 4 for 42 as Zimbabwe defeated Australia at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup (Zimbabwe's first official ODI); Gary Crocker, with 50 and 4 for 26 for Zimbabwe v India in Harare in 1992-93; and Shaun Pollock, with 66 not out and 4 for 34 for South Africa against England in Cape Town in 1995-96.
The short answer is no: before Dasun Shanaka allied 42 runs to 5 for 43 for Sri Lanka against Ireland in Dublin recently, the highest score by a one-day international debutant who also took a five-for was 28 - by another Sri Lankan, Shaul Karnain, who claimed 5 for 26 against New Zealand in Moratuwa in 1983-84. Three men have scored a fifty and taken four wickets on ODI debut: Duncan Fletcher, with 69 not out and 4 for 42 as Zimbabwe defeated Australia at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup (Zimbabwe's first official ODI); Gary Crocker, with 50 and 4 for 26 for Zimbabwe v India in Harare in 1992-93; and Shaun Pollock, with 66 not out and 4 for 34 for South Africa against England in Cape Town in 1995-96.
Was Chris Woakes' 95 the highest score by a No. 8 in ODIs? asked Jamie Stewart from Canada
Chris Woakes' 95 not out for England in that exciting tie against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge last week eclipsed the record for the highest score by a No. 8 in a one-day international, previously Thomas Odoyo's 84 for Kenya against Bangladesh in Nairobi in August 2006. There have been also been three 83s - by the New Zealanders Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori, and South Africa's Lance Klusener. For the full list, click here.
Chris Woakes' 95 not out for England in that exciting tie against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge last week eclipsed the record for the highest score by a No. 8 in a one-day international, previously Thomas Odoyo's 84 for Kenya against Bangladesh in Nairobi in August 2006. There have been also been three 83s - by the New Zealanders Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori, and South Africa's Lance Klusener. For the full list, click here.
What is the longest fourth innings to force a draw in a Test? asked Mangesh Limaye from India
The longest fourth innings in a drawn match came in the famous Timeless Test in Durban in 1938-39, when England - set 696 to win - had reached 654 for 5 from 218.2 eight-ball overs when they had to leave to catch the boat home. Next - and the record for a time-limited Test comes another famous England rearguard in South Africa: in Johannesburg in 1995-96, led by Mike Atherton's dogged 185 not out in nearly 11 hours; they faced 165 overs to force a draw. Then comes another timeless Test, when West Indies survived 164.3 overs against England in Kingston in 1929-30, after being set the little matter of 836 to win (they finished with 408 for 5, with George Headley making 223; again England had to leave to catch the boat home). For the full list of the longest fourth innings in draws, click here.
The longest fourth innings in a drawn match came in the famous Timeless Test in Durban in 1938-39, when England - set 696 to win - had reached 654 for 5 from 218.2 eight-ball overs when they had to leave to catch the boat home. Next - and the record for a time-limited Test comes another famous England rearguard in South Africa: in Johannesburg in 1995-96, led by Mike Atherton's dogged 185 not out in nearly 11 hours; they faced 165 overs to force a draw. Then comes another timeless Test, when West Indies survived 164.3 overs against England in Kingston in 1929-30, after being set the little matter of 836 to win (they finished with 408 for 5, with George Headley making 223; again England had to leave to catch the boat home). For the full list of the longest fourth innings in draws, click here.
Arguably an even more famous match-saving performance came in the third innings of the match in Bridgetown in 1957-58: after Pakistan were forced to follow on 473 behind West Indies, Hanif Mohammad dug in for more than 16 hours to score 337, and his side batted for 319 overs in all.
Which player made the highest score in his last Test innings? asked Haresh Sukhraj from Canada
The highest score by someone in their final Test innings is 258, by Seymour Nurse for West Indies against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1968-69. Next comes Aravinda de Silva's 206 for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in Colombo in 2002, and Jason Gillespie's 201 not out for Australia v Bangladesh in Chittagong in 2005-06. There are two higher scores by batsmen playing their last Test, who then batted again in the second innings: Andy Sandham made 325 (and 50) for England against West Indies in Kingston in 1929-30, and Bill Ponsford 266 (and 22) for Australia against England at The Oval in 1934.
The highest score by someone in their final Test innings is 258, by Seymour Nurse for West Indies against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1968-69. Next comes Aravinda de Silva's 206 for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in Colombo in 2002, and Jason Gillespie's 201 not out for Australia v Bangladesh in Chittagong in 2005-06. There are two higher scores by batsmen playing their last Test, who then batted again in the second innings: Andy Sandham made 325 (and 50) for England against West Indies in Kingston in 1929-30, and Bill Ponsford 266 (and 22) for Australia against England at The Oval in 1934.
Is it true that Pakistan have not lost a Test series at home (including those played in UAE) in the last ten years ? asked Q Hammad from Pakistan
It's not quite true, no: South Africa won a two-Test series in Pakistan 1-0 in 2007-08, winning in Karachi before a draw at Lahore. Pakistan's last home defeat before that came early in 2004, when India won a three-match series 2-1. Since Pakistan have been forced to play their home matches in the UAE, they have won four and drawn four of the eight series played. They also drew the two-match series against Australia in England in 2010, which was technically a home rubber too.
It's not quite true, no: South Africa won a two-Test series in Pakistan 1-0 in 2007-08, winning in Karachi before a draw at Lahore. Pakistan's last home defeat before that came early in 2004, when India won a three-match series 2-1. Since Pakistan have been forced to play their home matches in the UAE, they have won four and drawn four of the eight series played. They also drew the two-match series against Australia in England in 2010, which was technically a home rubber too.
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Steven Lynch is the editor of the updated edition of Wisden on the Ashes