Low winning totals, and identical scores
The smallest winning first-innings totals, two 49s in a Test, and Tendulkar's lowest match aggregates
Steven Lynch
12-Jan-2010
Umar Akmal: The only batsman to be dismissed on 49 in both innings of a Test • Getty Images
Australia won the amazing Sydney Test despite being bowled out for 127 on the first day. Is this the lowest first-innings score to win a Test? asked Gagan from the United States
Rather surprisingly, perhaps, there have been 23 lower first-innings totals by winning teams than Australia's 127 in Sydney last week (plus two others of 127). The lowest of all is England's 45 in Sydney in 1886-87, a match they went on to win by 13 runs. Twelve of the lower totals came before the Second World War, but recent ones have included New Zealand's 94 against India in Hamilton in 2002-03 (they eventually won by four wickets), India's 104 against Australia in Mumbai in 2004-05 (they won by 13 runs), and Australia's 120 against Sri Lanka in Kandy in 2003-04, when they went on to win by 27 runs. These numbers exclude the controversial match in Centurion in 1999-2000, which England won after actually scoring no runs at all in their first innings, which they forfeited.
Rather surprisingly, perhaps, there have been 23 lower first-innings totals by winning teams than Australia's 127 in Sydney last week (plus two others of 127). The lowest of all is England's 45 in Sydney in 1886-87, a match they went on to win by 13 runs. Twelve of the lower totals came before the Second World War, but recent ones have included New Zealand's 94 against India in Hamilton in 2002-03 (they eventually won by four wickets), India's 104 against Australia in Mumbai in 2004-05 (they won by 13 runs), and Australia's 120 against Sri Lanka in Kandy in 2003-04, when they went on to win by 27 runs. These numbers exclude the controversial match in Centurion in 1999-2000, which England won after actually scoring no runs at all in their first innings, which they forfeited.
Umar Akmal was out for 49 in both innings of the Sydney Test. Has anyone ever done this before? asked Tahir Masood
No, the performance of Umar Akmal in scoring 49 in both innings in Sydney is unique. The nearest approach was by South Africa's Gary Kirsten, who made 49 and 47 not out against New Zealand in Port Elizabeth in 2000-01, and by Rajin Saleh of Bangladesh, who made 49 and 47 against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2003-04. And to answer several other correspondents, the highest score made by a batsman in both innings of a Test is a pair of 105s, by Duleep Mendis for Sri Lanka v India in Madras in 1982-83.
No, the performance of Umar Akmal in scoring 49 in both innings in Sydney is unique. The nearest approach was by South Africa's Gary Kirsten, who made 49 and 47 not out against New Zealand in Port Elizabeth in 2000-01, and by Rajin Saleh of Bangladesh, who made 49 and 47 against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2003-04. And to answer several other correspondents, the highest score made by a batsman in both innings of a Test is a pair of 105s, by Duleep Mendis for Sri Lanka v India in Madras in 1982-83.
Who has the most Test caps without ever scoring a hundred or taking five wickets in an innings? asked Jack Dennison
I thought the answer to this one would turn out to be a wicketkeeper, and it is: Wasim Bari played 81 times for Pakistan with a highest score of 85, and he never took a wicket. If you exclude keepers then the leader is the Indian opening batsman Chetan Chauhan, who scored 2084 runs in 40 Tests, but never did make a century, and took only two wickets.
I thought the answer to this one would turn out to be a wicketkeeper, and it is: Wasim Bari played 81 times for Pakistan with a highest score of 85, and he never took a wicket. If you exclude keepers then the leader is the Indian opening batsman Chetan Chauhan, who scored 2084 runs in 40 Tests, but never did make a century, and took only two wickets.
Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 10 centuries in one-day internationals in 2009. Is this a record for a calendar year? asked Skanda Murthy from India
Well, it would have been a record - except Tillakaratne Dilshan actually only scored four centuries in one-day internationals in 2009. I think you might have misread a line somewhere, as Dilshan scored exactly 1000 runs in ODIs last year. The record for a calendar year is nine ODI hundreds, by Sachin Tendulkar in 1998. Next comes another Indian, Sourav Ganguly, with seven in 2000. For a full list, click here.
Well, it would have been a record - except Tillakaratne Dilshan actually only scored four centuries in one-day internationals in 2009. I think you might have misread a line somewhere, as Dilshan scored exactly 1000 runs in ODIs last year. The record for a calendar year is nine ODI hundreds, by Sachin Tendulkar in 1998. Next comes another Indian, Sourav Ganguly, with seven in 2000. For a full list, click here.
I was surprised to be told that no woman has taken 100 wickets in Test matches. Is this true? asked Thomas Franklin from Southampton
It is correct: the leading wicket-taker in women's Test cricket remains England's Mary Duggan, who took 77 wickets in 17 Tests between 1948-49 and 1963. The low figure reflects the small number of women's Test matches that are played, especially nowadays. The Australian fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who retired after a long career in 2007, is in joint-fourth place with 60 wickets. For a full list, click here.
It is correct: the leading wicket-taker in women's Test cricket remains England's Mary Duggan, who took 77 wickets in 17 Tests between 1948-49 and 1963. The low figure reflects the small number of women's Test matches that are played, especially nowadays. The Australian fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who retired after a long career in 2007, is in joint-fourth place with 60 wickets. For a full list, click here.
Has Sachin Tendulkar ever got a pair in Test cricket? If not, what is the lowest score he has made over two innings of a Test? asked Karn Sohal
No, Sachin Tendulkar has never bagged a pair of ducks in a Test (not yet, anyway!). The fewest runs he has made in a match in which he was dismissed twice is six (6 and 0) against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1992-93. He also had match aggregates of eight (0 and 8) against West Indies in Bridgetown in 2001-02, and nine (0 and 9) against Pakistan in Kolkata in 1998-99. In all Tendulkar has now been out for a duck on 14 occasions in Tests.
No, Sachin Tendulkar has never bagged a pair of ducks in a Test (not yet, anyway!). The fewest runs he has made in a match in which he was dismissed twice is six (6 and 0) against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1992-93. He also had match aggregates of eight (0 and 8) against West Indies in Bridgetown in 2001-02, and nine (0 and 9) against Pakistan in Kolkata in 1998-99. In all Tendulkar has now been out for a duck on 14 occasions in Tests.
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