Hobbs' hundreds, and Tendulkar's twelves
The last runner, the "Blocker", triples against South Africa, and the 249 myth
Steven Lynch
11-Oct-2011
Super Max: Super simple for Sachin • Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Jack Hobbs holds the record for the most first-class hundreds (199). But did he come close to scoring his 200th before he retired? asked Benoit Briens from France
First of all it needs to be stressed that Jack Hobbs probably had very little idea he was so close to 200 first-class hundreds - those were much less stat-conscious days, although having said that, it's true to say a lot of fuss was made a few years earlier when Hobbs passed WG Grace's then-record of 126 first-class centuries. For years it was set down that Hobbs made 197 first-class hundreds - Wisden still gives this figure - before two additional ones were credited to his account after a private tour of Ceylon was retrospectively upgraded to first-class status (that's also basically the reason why Wilfred Rhodes gained a few first-class wickets). Hobbs, though, apparently considered these to be exhibition games. However, to answer your question, the nearest Hobbs got to three figures after his final first-class century (116 for Surrey v Lancashire at Old Trafford in May 1934) was an innings of 79 against Sussex in Horsham the following month. Hobbs, who was nearly 52 then, retired at the end of the season.
First of all it needs to be stressed that Jack Hobbs probably had very little idea he was so close to 200 first-class hundreds - those were much less stat-conscious days, although having said that, it's true to say a lot of fuss was made a few years earlier when Hobbs passed WG Grace's then-record of 126 first-class centuries. For years it was set down that Hobbs made 197 first-class hundreds - Wisden still gives this figure - before two additional ones were credited to his account after a private tour of Ceylon was retrospectively upgraded to first-class status (that's also basically the reason why Wilfred Rhodes gained a few first-class wickets). Hobbs, though, apparently considered these to be exhibition games. However, to answer your question, the nearest Hobbs got to three figures after his final first-class century (116 for Surrey v Lancashire at Old Trafford in May 1934) was an innings of 79 against Sussex in Horsham the following month. Hobbs, who was nearly 52 then, retired at the end of the season.
Was there a "Cricket Max" game during India's 2002-03 tour of New Zealand? I seem to remember Sachin Tendulkar scoring 70-odd and India winning, but can find no references to the match anywhere. Did such a match actually happen or am I imagining it? asked Satheesh from India
You're not imagining it: there was such a match, a 20-over game to start India's tour at the end of 2002. The 20-over match was played in Christchurch in December. Sachin Tendulkar scored 72 (from 27 balls!) in India's first innings - each side had two separate blocks of 10 overs - but New Zealand won out in the end, by 21 runs. Cricket Max was the brainchild of the former New Zealand Test batsman Martin Crowe. Apart from the novel split-innings concept, it featured a "Max" zone behind the bowler in which runs counted double, the intention being to reward "proper" cricket shots. Tendulkar's innings included successive shots for eight and 12 off the unfortunate Tama Canning.
You're not imagining it: there was such a match, a 20-over game to start India's tour at the end of 2002. The 20-over match was played in Christchurch in December. Sachin Tendulkar scored 72 (from 27 balls!) in India's first innings - each side had two separate blocks of 10 overs - but New Zealand won out in the end, by 21 runs. Cricket Max was the brainchild of the former New Zealand Test batsman Martin Crowe. Apart from the novel split-innings concept, it featured a "Max" zone behind the bowler in which runs counted double, the intention being to reward "proper" cricket shots. Tendulkar's innings included successive shots for eight and 12 off the unfortunate Tama Canning.
In the wake of the recent law change, who had the honour of being the "Last Runner"? asked Roger Butcher
I suspect the last runner in international cricket (for the time being, possibly) was Ajinkya Rahane, who made a brief appearance as Parthiv Patel's runner during the fourth one-day international between England and India at Lord's last month. MCC recently issued a clarification pointing out that the ban on runners applies only to international cricket - so unless the ECB (and/or other domestic boards) follow suit, we will still have the fun a runner usually affords in county matches, and all other games below first-class level.
I suspect the last runner in international cricket (for the time being, possibly) was Ajinkya Rahane, who made a brief appearance as Parthiv Patel's runner during the fourth one-day international between England and India at Lord's last month. MCC recently issued a clarification pointing out that the ban on runners applies only to international cricket - so unless the ECB (and/or other domestic boards) follow suit, we will still have the fun a runner usually affords in county matches, and all other games below first-class level.
Which Test player was nicknamed "Blocker"? asked Richard Bartlett from Brisbane
This was the Australian one-Test wonder Paul Wilson, a fast bowler from Newcastle in New South Wales, who played against India in Kolkata
This was the Australian one-Test wonder Paul Wilson, a fast bowler from Newcastle in New South Wales, who played against India in Kolkata
Has any player ever scored a triple-hundred in a Test in South Africa, or against South Africa? asked Charles Ogbe from South Africa
No one has yet scored a triple-century in a Test in South Africa, the highest score being Gary Kirsten's 275 for South Africa against England in Durban in 1999-2000. That just surpassed Graeme Pollock's 274 against Australia on the same ground in 1969-70. The highest by a visiting batsman in a Test in South Africa is 262, by Stephen Fleming of New Zealand in Cape Town in April 2006. Three players have made triple-centuries against South Africa in Tests, the highest being Mahela Jayawardene's 374 for Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2006. India's Virender Sehwag hammered 319 in Chennai in 2007-08, and Chris Gayle hit 317 for West Indies in St John's in April 2005. There was also an excruciating near-miss in Adelaide in 1931-32, when Don Bradman was stranded on 299 not out after his partner, Australia's No. 11, "Pud" Thurlow, was run out as The Don tried to reach 300.
No one has yet scored a triple-century in a Test in South Africa, the highest score being Gary Kirsten's 275 for South Africa against England in Durban in 1999-2000. That just surpassed Graeme Pollock's 274 against Australia on the same ground in 1969-70. The highest by a visiting batsman in a Test in South Africa is 262, by Stephen Fleming of New Zealand in Cape Town in April 2006. Three players have made triple-centuries against South Africa in Tests, the highest being Mahela Jayawardene's 374 for Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2006. India's Virender Sehwag hammered 319 in Chennai in 2007-08, and Chris Gayle hit 317 for West Indies in St John's in April 2005. There was also an excruciating near-miss in Adelaide in 1931-32, when Don Bradman was stranded on 299 not out after his partner, Australia's No. 11, "Pud" Thurlow, was run out as The Don tried to reach 300.
India have recently lost three matches (two against West Indies and one v South Africa) chasing a target of 250. England also lost chasing that in the 1992 World Cup final. I always believe that if a team scores 249 batting first, they will win the match. Has anyone actually successfully chased this exact target? asked Rakesh Kumar Nalla from India
I'm sorry to explode your theory, but a batting-first total of 249 has been successfully chased down on 12 occasions in one-day internationals now. There's a list here. The most recent occasion was in Mirpur in January 2010, when Sri Lanka whizzed past Bangladesh's total of 249 for the loss of only one wicket after an opening stand of 215. The only instance in the World Cup was in 1996, when England made 249 for 9 in Karachi but Pakistan eased home with seven wickets and 14 balls to spare.
I'm sorry to explode your theory, but a batting-first total of 249 has been successfully chased down on 12 occasions in one-day internationals now. There's a list here. The most recent occasion was in Mirpur in January 2010, when Sri Lanka whizzed past Bangladesh's total of 249 for the loss of only one wicket after an opening stand of 215. The only instance in the World Cup was in 1996, when England made 249 for 9 in Karachi but Pakistan eased home with seven wickets and 14 balls to spare.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2011. Ask Steven is now on Facebook