KP's record, and a man called Foffie
The highest batting average in ODIs, the highest match aggregate in Twenty20s, most runs and wickets at a ground, and most 150s
Steven Lynch
16-Mar-2010
Brian Lara holds the record for most scores of 150 or more in Tests • AFP
What is the highest batting average anyone has had in one-day internationals (presumably at the start of their career)? asked Mike Richards from Colchester
The highest average by anyone in one-day internationals - and you're right, this is the sort of thing that usually happens almost by accident at the start of a career, helped by a few not-outs - is one of 267.00 by England's Kevin Pietersen, who began his one-day international career with innings of 27*, 77*, 0, 22*, 108* and 33: so the ball before his second dismissal his average was 267. Pietersen took the record off another South African-born England player, Allan Lamb, whose average stood at 252.00 just before he was dismissed for 118 in his third innings, after starting with 35* and 99. Two current Australians also once boasted ODI averages of more than 200: Michael Hussey (234.00) and Michael Clarke (209.00).
The highest average by anyone in one-day internationals - and you're right, this is the sort of thing that usually happens almost by accident at the start of a career, helped by a few not-outs - is one of 267.00 by England's Kevin Pietersen, who began his one-day international career with innings of 27*, 77*, 0, 22*, 108* and 33: so the ball before his second dismissal his average was 267. Pietersen took the record off another South African-born England player, Allan Lamb, whose average stood at 252.00 just before he was dismissed for 118 in his third innings, after starting with 35* and 99. Two current Australians also once boasted ODI averages of more than 200: Michael Hussey (234.00) and Michael Clarke (209.00).
Which cricketer was nicknamed "Foffie"? asked Rizwan Rahmat from Toronto
This was the Barbadian fast bowler Ernest Albert Vivian Williams, who was nicknamed "Foffie" for reasons I have so far been unable to discover! Williams toured England in 1939, playing in one of the Tests without taking a wicket, and he won three more caps after the Second World War, also against England, this time at home in 1947-48. He took nine wickets, finishing with a respectable bowling average of 26.77, but is best remembered for a whirlwind innings in the first Test of that series in Bridgetown, when he smashed 72 in little more than an hour, starting with 6 6 4 4 from his first four balls, bowled by Jim Laker. His next two deliveries - from Jack Ikin - also went for fours, and he reached 50 in just 30 minutes. He was only playing in this match as Frank Worrell had gone down with food poisoning shortly before the game, and had earlier sent down a probing spell of 11-8-3-1. One oddity of Williams' four-Test career was that he played each of his matches under a different captain.
This was the Barbadian fast bowler Ernest Albert Vivian Williams, who was nicknamed "Foffie" for reasons I have so far been unable to discover! Williams toured England in 1939, playing in one of the Tests without taking a wicket, and he won three more caps after the Second World War, also against England, this time at home in 1947-48. He took nine wickets, finishing with a respectable bowling average of 26.77, but is best remembered for a whirlwind innings in the first Test of that series in Bridgetown, when he smashed 72 in little more than an hour, starting with 6 6 4 4 from his first four balls, bowled by Jim Laker. His next two deliveries - from Jack Ikin - also went for fours, and he reached 50 in just 30 minutes. He was only playing in this match as Frank Worrell had gone down with food poisoning shortly before the game, and had earlier sent down a probing spell of 11-8-3-1. One oddity of Williams' four-Test career was that he played each of his matches under a different captain.
During Bangladesh's Test against India in Mirpur earlier this year both openers were out for ducks. How many times has this happened? asked Noor Hossain from Dhaka
That instance in Mirpur was the 43rd occasion that both openers had been out without scoring in the same Test innings. The first time was in the match at Old Trafford in 1888, when both Australia's openers (and their numbers 3 and 4 as well) were out for ducks. Uniquely, it happened to both sides (Sri Lanka and South Africa) in Kandy in 2000, and it also happened to Pakistan in successive Tests against Australia, in Colombo and in Sharjah in 2002-03.
That instance in Mirpur was the 43rd occasion that both openers had been out without scoring in the same Test innings. The first time was in the match at Old Trafford in 1888, when both Australia's openers (and their numbers 3 and 4 as well) were out for ducks. Uniquely, it happened to both sides (Sri Lanka and South Africa) in Kandy in 2000, and it also happened to Pakistan in successive Tests against Australia, in Colombo and in Sharjah in 2002-03.
I know that more one-day internationals have been played in Sharjah than on any other ground. Who has scored most runs and taken most wickets there? asked Bilal Ahmed from Lahore
The stadium in Sharjah has hosted 200 one-day internationals, well ahead of Sydney (135) and Melbourne (130), which are the only other grounds into three figures. Leading the way for the batsmen in Sharjah is Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, with 2464 runs in 59 matches there. Another Pakistani, Saeed Anwar, lies second with 2179, ahead of Sanath Jayasuriya (1831) and Sachin Tendulkar (1778). Pakistanis lead the way for the bowlers, too: Wasim Akram took 122 wickets in Sharjah and Waqar Younis 114. Muttiah Muralitharan comes next with 82 (these are the three highest totals for a single ground in ODIs).
The stadium in Sharjah has hosted 200 one-day internationals, well ahead of Sydney (135) and Melbourne (130), which are the only other grounds into three figures. Leading the way for the batsmen in Sharjah is Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, with 2464 runs in 59 matches there. Another Pakistani, Saeed Anwar, lies second with 2179, ahead of Sanath Jayasuriya (1831) and Sachin Tendulkar (1778). Pakistanis lead the way for the bowlers, too: Wasim Akram took 122 wickets in Sharjah and Waqar Younis 114. Muttiah Muralitharan comes next with 82 (these are the three highest totals for a single ground in ODIs).
The recent New Zealand-Australia Twenty20 international had a total of 428 runs. Is this a record for a Twenty20 match? asked Adhit from Indonesia
That 428-run match in Christchurch last month did indeed establish a new aggregate record for a Twenty20 international. The previous mark of 418 was set during the first World Twenty20 tournament in Durban in September 2007, when India made 218 for 4 and England replied with 200 for 6. The aggregate record for any senior Twenty20 match is 449 runs, by Worcestershire (227 for 6) and Northamptonshire (222 for 3) in Kidderminster in 2007.
That 428-run match in Christchurch last month did indeed establish a new aggregate record for a Twenty20 international. The previous mark of 418 was set during the first World Twenty20 tournament in Durban in September 2007, when India made 218 for 4 and England replied with 200 for 6. The aggregate record for any senior Twenty20 match is 449 runs, by Worcestershire (227 for 6) and Northamptonshire (222 for 3) in Kidderminster in 2007.
Who has the most 150s in Tests and ODIs? My guess is Brian Lara in Tests and Sachin Tendulkar in ODIs - am I right? asked Vijay from India
The short answer is yes, you are! Brian Lara made 19 scores of 150 or more in Tests, one more than Don Bradman (in only 52 matches) and Sachin Tendulkar (to date). In one-day internationals Tendulkar now has five scores of 150 or more, one more than Sanath Jayasuriya and two ahead of the West Indian triumvirate of Lara, Chris Gayle and Viv Richards.
The short answer is yes, you are! Brian Lara made 19 scores of 150 or more in Tests, one more than Don Bradman (in only 52 matches) and Sachin Tendulkar (to date). In one-day internationals Tendulkar now has five scores of 150 or more, one more than Sanath Jayasuriya and two ahead of the West Indian triumvirate of Lara, Chris Gayle and Viv Richards.
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