The five-wicket over, and the uncapped scorer of 400
Also: the most sixes in an ODI innings, and players who've scored hundreds in their final World Cup match
Steven Lynch
12-Apr-2011
Neil Wagner: the only man to have taken five wickets in a single over in first-class cricket • Getty Images
A Kiwi friend alerted me to the story of Neil Wagner taking five wickets in an over - apparently the first time this has ever been done in first-class cricket. Is this indeed a record?? asked Paul Reeve
The South African-born seamer Neil Wagner's remarkable achievement came for Otago against Wellington in Queenstown last week. He took wickets with the first four balls of the 70th over of the innings, and another with the sixth delivery. The only previous bowlers to take five wickets in six balls in first-class cricket were the South African William Henderson (for Northern Transvaal v Orange Free State at Bloemfontein in 1937-38, in only his third first-class match), the Englishmen Bill Copson (Derbyshire v Warwickshire at Derby in 1937) and Pat Pocock (Surrey v Sussex at Eastbourne in 1972), and Yasir Arafat of Pakistan for Rawalpindi v Faisalabad in Rawalpindi in December 2004. But all of those involved more than one over - Arafat's were spread over two innings - so Wagner is indeed alone in taking five wickets in a single first-class over (five wickets fell in an over during Pocock's spell, but one of them was a run-out). Five wickets, including two run-outs, went down in Mohammad Amir's final over during Pakistan's World Twenty20 match against Australia in St Lucia in May 2010.
The South African-born seamer Neil Wagner's remarkable achievement came for Otago against Wellington in Queenstown last week. He took wickets with the first four balls of the 70th over of the innings, and another with the sixth delivery. The only previous bowlers to take five wickets in six balls in first-class cricket were the South African William Henderson (for Northern Transvaal v Orange Free State at Bloemfontein in 1937-38, in only his third first-class match), the Englishmen Bill Copson (Derbyshire v Warwickshire at Derby in 1937) and Pat Pocock (Surrey v Sussex at Eastbourne in 1972), and Yasir Arafat of Pakistan for Rawalpindi v Faisalabad in Rawalpindi in December 2004. But all of those involved more than one over - Arafat's were spread over two innings - so Wagner is indeed alone in taking five wickets in a single first-class over (five wickets fell in an over during Pocock's spell, but one of them was a run-out). Five wickets, including two run-outs, went down in Mohammad Amir's final over during Pakistan's World Twenty20 match against Australia in St Lucia in May 2010.
Who was the Indian batsman who scored a quadruple-century in first-class cricket but never played a Test? asked Dennis Morgan from England
This unlucky man was Bhausaheb Nimbalkar, who made 443 not out for Maharashtra against Kathiawar at Poona (now Pune) in 1948-49. Despite a long career and a first-class batting average of 47.93, Nimbalkar never did play in a Test - and he was doubly unlucky as, in the match in question, he was denied a shot at the world record score of the time (Don Bradman's 452 not out) when the opposition refused to play on and conceded the match. You can read more about that in this ESPNcricinfo article.
This unlucky man was Bhausaheb Nimbalkar, who made 443 not out for Maharashtra against Kathiawar at Poona (now Pune) in 1948-49. Despite a long career and a first-class batting average of 47.93, Nimbalkar never did play in a Test - and he was doubly unlucky as, in the match in question, he was denied a shot at the world record score of the time (Don Bradman's 452 not out) when the opposition refused to play on and conceded the match. You can read more about that in this ESPNcricinfo article.
Shane Watson hit 15 sixes against Bangladesh yesterday. Is this the record for an ODI innings? asked Rakesh Parikh from Mumbai
Shane Watson's 15 sixes broke the previous record for a one-day international innings, which was 12 by Xavier Marshall for West Indies against Canada at King City in August 2008. Sanath Jayasuriya (for Sri Lanka v Pakistan in Singapore in 1995-96) and Shahid Afridi (for Pakistan v Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996-97) both hit 11 sixes in one innings. For the full list, click here. Watson also smashed 15 fours, making 150 in boundaries in the innings - another ODI record, shattering the old record of 126 by Herschelle Gibbs for South Africa v Australia in the famous 872-run match at Johannesburg in March 2006. For that list, click here.
Shane Watson's 15 sixes broke the previous record for a one-day international innings, which was 12 by Xavier Marshall for West Indies against Canada at King City in August 2008. Sanath Jayasuriya (for Sri Lanka v Pakistan in Singapore in 1995-96) and Shahid Afridi (for Pakistan v Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996-97) both hit 11 sixes in one innings. For the full list, click here. Watson also smashed 15 fours, making 150 in boundaries in the innings - another ODI record, shattering the old record of 126 by Herschelle Gibbs for South Africa v Australia in the famous 872-run match at Johannesburg in March 2006. For that list, click here.
Are Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist the only men who scored a century in their last World Cup match? asked Fahed Javed from Pakistan
Actually the full list of batsmen who scored a century in their last World Cup match currently contains 11 names, although that does include Ponting and three other players from the 2010-11 tournament, in Mahela Jayawardene, the Irishman Paul Stirling and Ryan ten Doeschate of the Netherlands. The others, whose World Cup careers are presumably finished, are David Boon and Brad Hodge of Australia (as well as Gilchrist and Ponting), the New Zealander Lou Vincent, Imran Nazir of Pakistan, and the Dutch pair of Klaas-Jan van Noortwijk and Feiko Kloppenburg.
Actually the full list of batsmen who scored a century in their last World Cup match currently contains 11 names, although that does include Ponting and three other players from the 2010-11 tournament, in Mahela Jayawardene, the Irishman Paul Stirling and Ryan ten Doeschate of the Netherlands. The others, whose World Cup careers are presumably finished, are David Boon and Brad Hodge of Australia (as well as Gilchrist and Ponting), the New Zealander Lou Vincent, Imran Nazir of Pakistan, and the Dutch pair of Klaas-Jan van Noortwijk and Feiko Kloppenburg.
How many players have scored a century in their first one-day international as captain, as Michael Clarke did last week? asked Jim Thompson from Pottsville, NSW
Well, first of all Michael Clarke didn't do that, because he had captained in no fewer than 24 one-day internationals - when Ricky Ponting was injured or rested - before taking official charge in Bangladesh last week. In his first match as captain (against West Indies in St Kitts in 2008), Clarke made 36. Seven people have scored a century in their first one-day international as captain, including Clarke's team-mate Michael Hussey, who made 109 not out against West Indies in the DLF Cup in Kuala Lumpur in September 2006: the others are Gavin Hamilton (Scotland), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Richie Richardson (West Indies), Irving Romaine (Bermuda), Sachin Tendulkar (India) and Glenn Turner (New Zealand).
Well, first of all Michael Clarke didn't do that, because he had captained in no fewer than 24 one-day internationals - when Ricky Ponting was injured or rested - before taking official charge in Bangladesh last week. In his first match as captain (against West Indies in St Kitts in 2008), Clarke made 36. Seven people have scored a century in their first one-day international as captain, including Clarke's team-mate Michael Hussey, who made 109 not out against West Indies in the DLF Cup in Kuala Lumpur in September 2006: the others are Gavin Hamilton (Scotland), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Richie Richardson (West Indies), Irving Romaine (Bermuda), Sachin Tendulkar (India) and Glenn Turner (New Zealand).
Who is the only player to score more than 500 runs in a World Cup without playing in the final? asked Ricky Dooley from Australia
Only six players have ever scored 500 or more runs in a single World Cup, the latest being Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made exactly 500 in 2010-11. The only one who didn't play in the final was Sachin Tendulkar, who made 523 runs in 1995-96, when India went out at the semi-final stage. The New Zealander Scott Styris just misses out: he made 499 runs in 2006-07. Tendulkar also leads the way for a single World Cup, with 673 runs in 2002-03, when India were beaten in the final. The other 500-plus run-scorers all came from the 2006-07 finalists: Matthew Hayden (659 runs), Mahela Jayawardene (548 runs) and Ricky Ponting (539).
Only six players have ever scored 500 or more runs in a single World Cup, the latest being Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made exactly 500 in 2010-11. The only one who didn't play in the final was Sachin Tendulkar, who made 523 runs in 1995-96, when India went out at the semi-final stage. The New Zealander Scott Styris just misses out: he made 499 runs in 2006-07. Tendulkar also leads the way for a single World Cup, with 673 runs in 2002-03, when India were beaten in the final. The other 500-plus run-scorers all came from the 2006-07 finalists: Matthew Hayden (659 runs), Mahela Jayawardene (548 runs) and Ricky Ponting (539).
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden 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 also now on Facebook