McCullum's record hunt, and Kallis' near-miss
Most consecutive internationals, stranded on 99, starting off with two sixes, and more
Steven Lynch
06-Jul-2010
Brendon McCullum: 208 consecutive international appearances and counting • Getty Images
How many consecutive international matches has Brendon McCullum played for New Zealand now without missing one? asked Imran Jazeeb via Facebook
You're right in thinking that Brendon McCullum has clocked up a long run of consecutive appearances in all international formats - Test, one-day and Twenty20 - without missing one. His run currently stands at 208 successive matches, since September 2004. The only people to have played more international matches without missing one are Sachin Tendulkar (239 between April 1990 and April 1998) and Andy Flower (224 between February 1992 and June 2001), both in the days before Twenty20 internationals. Apparently McCullum asked someone at Cricinfo about this earlier this year, so he's aware that he's closing in on the record!
You're right in thinking that Brendon McCullum has clocked up a long run of consecutive appearances in all international formats - Test, one-day and Twenty20 - without missing one. His run currently stands at 208 successive matches, since September 2004. The only people to have played more international matches without missing one are Sachin Tendulkar (239 between April 1990 and April 1998) and Andy Flower (224 between February 1992 and June 2001), both in the days before Twenty20 internationals. Apparently McCullum asked someone at Cricinfo about this earlier this year, so he's aware that he's closing in on the record!
I noticed that Jacques Kallis has scored almost a quarter of his Test runs and hundreds against West Indies. Has he scored the most against them? asked Lourens Grobbelaar from South Africa
Jacques Kallis has indeed been prolific in Tests against West Indies, scoring 2356 runs against them so far in 24 matches. But he remains behind the leader on this list, India's Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 2749 runs against West Indies in 27 Tests, at an average of 65.45. It's fair to say, too, that West Indies were a far tougher proposition in Gavaskar's day. Four other players have completed 2000 runs in Tests against West Indies: Geoff Boycott (2205) and Graham Gooch (2197) of England, and the Australian pair of Steve Waugh (2192) and Allan Border (2052). Gavaskar's 13 centuries is another record in Tests against West Indies. Kallis lies second with eight, ahead of Mohammad Yousuf, Ricky Ponting, Graeme Smith and Steve Waugh, who have seven each.
Jacques Kallis has indeed been prolific in Tests against West Indies, scoring 2356 runs against them so far in 24 matches. But he remains behind the leader on this list, India's Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 2749 runs against West Indies in 27 Tests, at an average of 65.45. It's fair to say, too, that West Indies were a far tougher proposition in Gavaskar's day. Four other players have completed 2000 runs in Tests against West Indies: Geoff Boycott (2205) and Graham Gooch (2197) of England, and the Australian pair of Steve Waugh (2192) and Allan Border (2052). Gavaskar's 13 centuries is another record in Tests against West Indies. Kallis lies second with eight, ahead of Mohammad Yousuf, Ricky Ponting, Graeme Smith and Steve Waugh, who have seven each.
Michael Clarke was stranded on 99 not out in an ODI last week. How often has this happened? asked Hemant Kher from the United States
Michael Clarke - who was left high and dry when Australia's innings ended against England at The Oval last week - was the ninth person to be stranded on 99 not out in a one-day international innings. The first was the New Zealander Bruce Edgar, against Australia in Auckland in 1980-81, and since then the fate has also befallen Australia's Dean Jones (against Sri Lanka in Adelaide in 1984-85) and Brad Hodge (v New Zealand in Melbourne in 2006-07), the Zimbabwean pair of Andy Flower (v Australia in Harare in 1999-2000) and Alistair Campbell (v New Zealand in Bulawayo in 2000-01), the West Indians Richie Richardson (v Pakistan in Sharjah in 1985-86) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (v India in Ahmedabad 2002-03), and Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan (v India in Gwalior in 2007-08). All of them did manage to complete a one-day international century elsewhere, though.
Michael Clarke - who was left high and dry when Australia's innings ended against England at The Oval last week - was the ninth person to be stranded on 99 not out in a one-day international innings. The first was the New Zealander Bruce Edgar, against Australia in Auckland in 1980-81, and since then the fate has also befallen Australia's Dean Jones (against Sri Lanka in Adelaide in 1984-85) and Brad Hodge (v New Zealand in Melbourne in 2006-07), the Zimbabwean pair of Andy Flower (v Australia in Harare in 1999-2000) and Alistair Campbell (v New Zealand in Bulawayo in 2000-01), the West Indians Richie Richardson (v Pakistan in Sharjah in 1985-86) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (v India in Ahmedabad 2002-03), and Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan (v India in Gwalior in 2007-08). All of them did manage to complete a one-day international century elsewhere, though.
I noticed that Jahurul Islam's first two scoring shots in Tests for Bangladesh were sixes. Has anyone else managed this? asked Niazur Rahman from Dhaka
Jahurul Islam did indeed get off the mark in Test cricket with a six - off Graeme Swann - in the second innings of his Test debut against England in Dhaka in March (he made a duck in the first innings). His second scoring shot was also a six, off James Tredwell this time. He then edged a four, and it wasn't until he had reached 20 that he managed anything other than a boundary. I did think this was unique - until I discovered that one of Jahurul's team-mates had done it too! Earlier in 2010, Shafiul Islam made his Test debut against India in Chittagong. In the first innings he got off the mark with a six off Amit Mishra before being caught next ball, then in the second innings he again slammed Mishra for six to get off the mark, before being dropped next ball going for another big hit (he collected two runs for that one, and was out for 8 in Mishra's next over).
Jahurul Islam did indeed get off the mark in Test cricket with a six - off Graeme Swann - in the second innings of his Test debut against England in Dhaka in March (he made a duck in the first innings). His second scoring shot was also a six, off James Tredwell this time. He then edged a four, and it wasn't until he had reached 20 that he managed anything other than a boundary. I did think this was unique - until I discovered that one of Jahurul's team-mates had done it too! Earlier in 2010, Shafiul Islam made his Test debut against India in Chittagong. In the first innings he got off the mark with a six off Amit Mishra before being caught next ball, then in the second innings he again slammed Mishra for six to get off the mark, before being dropped next ball going for another big hit (he collected two runs for that one, and was out for 8 in Mishra's next over).
Ricky Ponting reached 13,000 ODI runs at The Oval. Is he the quickest to get to this milestone? asked Mauro Freitas from Australia
Ricky Ponting did indeed pass 13,000 runs in one-day internationals during his innings of 92 in the fourth match against England at The Oval last week. It was his 341st innings, in his 350th match since his debut in February 1995. He is only the third man to reach this landmark, after Sanath Jayasuriya, who got there in his 416th innings in his 428th match (in January 2009, more than 19 years after his debut), and Sachin Tendulkar, who got there in his 321st innings in his 330th match. That was in March 2004, 14 years and four months after his debut, which puts Tendulkar first in all three categories for this particular landmark, with Ponting second each time.
Ricky Ponting did indeed pass 13,000 runs in one-day internationals during his innings of 92 in the fourth match against England at The Oval last week. It was his 341st innings, in his 350th match since his debut in February 1995. He is only the third man to reach this landmark, after Sanath Jayasuriya, who got there in his 416th innings in his 428th match (in January 2009, more than 19 years after his debut), and Sachin Tendulkar, who got there in his 321st innings in his 330th match. That was in March 2004, 14 years and four months after his debut, which puts Tendulkar first in all three categories for this particular landmark, with Ponting second each time.
Ben Hutton just failed to be a third-generation Test player from his family, despite a decent batting average. How many others have had a similar near-miss? asked Roy Loxley via Facebook
I suppose the nearest miss was achieved by Bobby Parks, who had a long and distinguished career keeping wicket for Hampshire. His father and grandfather - both called Jim - each played for England, but the nearest Bobby got was as one of several wicketkeeping substitutes during the Lord's Test against New Zealand in 1986, after the original keeper, Bruce French, was injured while batting. The recent England fast bowler Chris Tremlett is another who came close: his grandfather Maurice also played Test cricket, but his father Tim missed out despite a career largely played out alongside Bobby Parks at Hampshire. For the record there are two third-generation Test families: George Headley and his son Ron played for West Indies, while Dean Headley won several caps for England; Jahangir Khan played for India, while his son Majid and grandson Bazid both played for Pakistan. Ben Hutton did have a first-class batting average of 33.21, largely made while playing for Middlesex, but he never made it to the England team - unlike his father Richard, and his even more illustrious grandfather, Sir Leonard Hutton.
I suppose the nearest miss was achieved by Bobby Parks, who had a long and distinguished career keeping wicket for Hampshire. His father and grandfather - both called Jim - each played for England, but the nearest Bobby got was as one of several wicketkeeping substitutes during the Lord's Test against New Zealand in 1986, after the original keeper, Bruce French, was injured while batting. The recent England fast bowler Chris Tremlett is another who came close: his grandfather Maurice also played Test cricket, but his father Tim missed out despite a career largely played out alongside Bobby Parks at Hampshire. For the record there are two third-generation Test families: George Headley and his son Ron played for West Indies, while Dean Headley won several caps for England; Jahangir Khan played for India, while his son Majid and grandson Bazid both played for Pakistan. Ben Hutton did have a first-class batting average of 33.21, largely made while playing for Middlesex, but he never made it to the England team - unlike his father Richard, and his even more illustrious grandfather, Sir Leonard Hutton.
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