The Kotla crawl, and 13-year-old internationals
Plus: most T20 keeper dismissals, and most runs in a partnership
Steven Lynch
07-Dec-2015
South Africa scored 0.99 per over in their second innings in Delhi • BCCI
In the Delhi Test, South Africa's second innings of 143 lasted 143.1 overs. How many other Test innings have ended with the scoring rate at less than one per over? Was this one the longest? asked Rafi Dover from England
The only completed (all-out) Test innings with a lower scoring rate than South Africa's 0.99 per over in Delhi involved the lowest total of all - when New Zealand were bowled out for 26 by England in Auckland in 1954-55, the misery lasted 27 overs (0.96 runs per over). There were two slower incomplete innings that ended when the match finished: at The Oval in 1956, Australia made 27 for 5 in 38.1 overs (0.70 per over), while in Dacca (now Dhaka) in 1955-56, New Zealand's 69 for 6 against Pakistan occupied 90 overs (0.76 per over). For the full list of the slowest Test innings, click here.
The only completed (all-out) Test innings with a lower scoring rate than South Africa's 0.99 per over in Delhi involved the lowest total of all - when New Zealand were bowled out for 26 by England in Auckland in 1954-55, the misery lasted 27 overs (0.96 runs per over). There were two slower incomplete innings that ended when the match finished: at The Oval in 1956, Australia made 27 for 5 in 38.1 overs (0.70 per over), while in Dacca (now Dhaka) in 1955-56, New Zealand's 69 for 6 against Pakistan occupied 90 overs (0.76 per over). For the full list of the slowest Test innings, click here.
Hashim Amla scored only six runs in the second session of the fourth day of the Delhi Test. Was this a record? asked Taj Malik from India
It's hard to say for sure, as we don't have detailed records of many early games, but there are at least two instances of a batsman scoring fewer runs in a complete session than Amla in his adhesive knock in Delhi. I'm indebted for this to the Melbourne statistician Charles Davis, who informs me that Martin Crowe scored just four runs in the second session of the final day of New Zealand's Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1983-84. And Pakistan's Arshad Khan also outdid Amla, with only five runs in the middle session of the third day, also in front of the long-suffering spectators at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo in 2000. Another New Zealander, Bill Playle, managed only two runs in the morning session against England at Headingley in 1958, but he was not in at the start of play - after a wicket fell second ball, he faced the third ball of the day.
It's hard to say for sure, as we don't have detailed records of many early games, but there are at least two instances of a batsman scoring fewer runs in a complete session than Amla in his adhesive knock in Delhi. I'm indebted for this to the Melbourne statistician Charles Davis, who informs me that Martin Crowe scored just four runs in the second session of the final day of New Zealand's Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1983-84. And Pakistan's Arshad Khan also outdid Amla, with only five runs in the middle session of the third day, also in front of the long-suffering spectators at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo in 2000. Another New Zealander, Bill Playle, managed only two runs in the morning session against England at Headingley in 1958, but he was not in at the start of play - after a wicket fell second ball, he faced the third ball of the day.
India bowled 89 maidens in South Africa's second innings in Delhi. Was this a record? asked Jeetinder Singh from India
The most maidens in any Test innings is 148, sent down by England against Australia - who scored 279 in 274.1 overs - in Melbourne in 1884-85. But those were four-ball overs, so it was easier to bowl a maiden back then. The most six-ball maiden overs in a Test innings is 113, which has happened twice: by West Indies against Pakistan in Bridgetown in 1957-58 (when Hanif Mohammad batted 970 minutes for 337), and by West Indies against India, also in Bridgetown, in 1961-62. In that innings India scored 187 in 185.3 overs - neatly avoiding a new ball, which under the regulations for that series was available only after 200 runs had been scored.
The most maidens in any Test innings is 148, sent down by England against Australia - who scored 279 in 274.1 overs - in Melbourne in 1884-85. But those were four-ball overs, so it was easier to bowl a maiden back then. The most six-ball maiden overs in a Test innings is 113, which has happened twice: by West Indies against Pakistan in Bridgetown in 1957-58 (when Hanif Mohammad batted 970 minutes for 337), and by West Indies against India, also in Bridgetown, in 1961-62. In that innings India scored 187 in 185.3 overs - neatly avoiding a new ball, which under the regulations for that series was available only after 200 runs had been scored.
Afghanistan's wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad made five dismissals and scored 60 in a recent T20 international. Has this happened before? asked Abdul Haq Samoon from Afghanistan
That's a nice, simple one: playing against Oman in Abu Dhabi last month, Afghanistan's Mohammad Shahzad became the first wicketkeeper to make five dismissals in any T20I. There had been 13 previous instances of four, two each by Adam Gilchrist and AB de Villiers. For the record, Shahzad only scored 4 in that game - his 60 came the following day, also against Oman in Abu Dhabi.
That's a nice, simple one: playing against Oman in Abu Dhabi last month, Afghanistan's Mohammad Shahzad became the first wicketkeeper to make five dismissals in any T20I. There had been 13 previous instances of four, two each by Adam Gilchrist and AB de Villiers. For the record, Shahzad only scored 4 in that game - his 60 came the following day, also against Oman in Abu Dhabi.
Is Ireland's Lucy O'Reilly the youngest player to take part in a T20 international? asked Ian Hugo from Nigeria
The 16-year-old Irish medium-pacer Lucy O'Reilly, who hit the winning run in the final of the recent women's World T20 Qualifier against Bangladesh in Bangkok, was 13 years 241 days old - and the youngest T20I player at the time - when she made her debut for Ireland against Pakistan in Solihull in July 2013. But another Irish girl broke her record the following year: Gaby Lewis was only 13 years 166 days old when she played against South Africa, also in Solihull, in September 2014. There has, however, been a younger player in women's Tests and one-day internationals: Pakistan's Sajjida Shah was only 12 when she appeared against Ireland in 2000. The youngest player in a men's T20I was 15-year-old Waqas Khan, for Hong Kong against Nepal in Colombo in November 2014. The youngest from a Test-playing country was Pakistan's Mohammad Amir, at 17 in 2009.
The 16-year-old Irish medium-pacer Lucy O'Reilly, who hit the winning run in the final of the recent women's World T20 Qualifier against Bangladesh in Bangkok, was 13 years 241 days old - and the youngest T20I player at the time - when she made her debut for Ireland against Pakistan in Solihull in July 2013. But another Irish girl broke her record the following year: Gaby Lewis was only 13 years 166 days old when she played against South Africa, also in Solihull, in September 2014. There has, however, been a younger player in women's Tests and one-day internationals: Pakistan's Sajjida Shah was only 12 when she appeared against Ireland in 2000. The youngest player in a men's T20I was 15-year-old Waqas Khan, for Hong Kong against Nepal in Colombo in November 2014. The youngest from a Test-playing country was Pakistan's Mohammad Amir, at 17 in 2009.
I know that Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes put on the most runs in Tests for the first wicket. But who holds the records for the second and third wickets? asked David Finlay from England
Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes put on 6482 runs together for the first wicket in Tests, just over 800 more than Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer (5655). The record for the second wicket is 4734, by Hayden and Ricky Ponting, well clear of Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla (3644). Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are the most prolific third-wicket pair, putting on 5997 runs together - just in front of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar (5826), who are well over 2000 runs ahead of third-placed Amla and Jacques Kallis (3577). The records for the other wickets are as follows. Fourth wicket - Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq (2812 runs). Fifth - Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh (1649). Sixth - Steve Waugh and Ian Healy (2170). Seventh - Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock (912). Eighth - Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee (458). Ninth - Graeme Swann and Jimmy Anderson (258). Tenth - Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath, and Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan (both 321).
Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes put on 6482 runs together for the first wicket in Tests, just over 800 more than Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer (5655). The record for the second wicket is 4734, by Hayden and Ricky Ponting, well clear of Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla (3644). Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are the most prolific third-wicket pair, putting on 5997 runs together - just in front of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar (5826), who are well over 2000 runs ahead of third-placed Amla and Jacques Kallis (3577). The records for the other wickets are as follows. Fourth wicket - Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq (2812 runs). Fifth - Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh (1649). Sixth - Steve Waugh and Ian Healy (2170). Seventh - Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock (912). Eighth - Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee (458). Ninth - Graeme Swann and Jimmy Anderson (258). Tenth - Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath, and Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan (both 321).
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Steven Lynch is the editor of the updated edition of Wisden on the Ashes