The largest crowds, and the fewest bowlers
Two bowlers doing the business by themselves, the highest ODI score by a No. 8, and the man called Scooter
Steven Lynch
13-Oct-2009
Full house: the MCG holds the official record for the biggest crowd for a single day's play • Getty Images
What is the largest number of spectators ever to witness a cricket match and which were the participating teams? asked Allan Alexander from the United States
The highest properly verified crowd figure for a day's cricket is 90,800, on February 11, 1961 in Melbourne, for the second day of the fifth and final Test of the epic 1960-61 series between Australia and West Indies (the one that started with the first tied Test). The record for a one-day international was also set in Melbourne: 87,182 attended the World Cup final between England and Pakistan there on March 25, 1992. However, there have almost certainly been larger crowds, especially at Eden Gardens in Kolkata: after the stadium was rebuilt the capacity there was reputedly 100,000, and that figure is claimed (but no audited figures have been produced) for five one-day internationals (including the 1995-96 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka), and the first four days of a Test against Pakistan in 1998-99.
The highest properly verified crowd figure for a day's cricket is 90,800, on February 11, 1961 in Melbourne, for the second day of the fifth and final Test of the epic 1960-61 series between Australia and West Indies (the one that started with the first tied Test). The record for a one-day international was also set in Melbourne: 87,182 attended the World Cup final between England and Pakistan there on March 25, 1992. However, there have almost certainly been larger crowds, especially at Eden Gardens in Kolkata: after the stadium was rebuilt the capacity there was reputedly 100,000, and that figure is claimed (but no audited figures have been produced) for five one-day internationals (including the 1995-96 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka), and the first four days of a Test against Pakistan in 1998-99.
I noticed that in a Test in Sri Lanka in 1994, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram bowled throughout an all-out innings of 71. How often has this happened, and what's the highest total involved? asked Abhijit Bhasin from Delhi
The match you're talking about was the third Test, in Kandy, in August 1994: Wasim Akram took 4 for 32 in 14.2 overs, and Waqar Younis 6 for 24 in 14. There has been one similar instance of two bowlers operating unchanged throughout a completed innings since: in Port-of-Spain in 1998-99, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie bowled throughout West Indies' second innings of 51. In all, it has happened 24 times in Tests, although only six of those instances have come since 1912. For a full list, click here. The highest total that has featured just two bowlers was also the first such instance - England's 133 in Sydney in 1881-82, when "Joey" Palmer took 7 for 68 in 58 (four-ball) overs, and Edwin Evans 3 for 64 from 57.
The match you're talking about was the third Test, in Kandy, in August 1994: Wasim Akram took 4 for 32 in 14.2 overs, and Waqar Younis 6 for 24 in 14. There has been one similar instance of two bowlers operating unchanged throughout a completed innings since: in Port-of-Spain in 1998-99, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie bowled throughout West Indies' second innings of 51. In all, it has happened 24 times in Tests, although only six of those instances have come since 1912. For a full list, click here. The highest total that has featured just two bowlers was also the first such instance - England's 133 in Sydney in 1881-82, when "Joey" Palmer took 7 for 68 in 58 (four-ball) overs, and Edwin Evans 3 for 64 from 57.
Was Tim Bresnan's 80 against Australia in the Champions Trophy the highest individual score by a No. 8 batsman in one-day internationals? asked Fergus from New Zealand
There have been three higher scores by a No. 8 in ODIs than Tim Bresnan's 80 in the Champions Trophy semi-final last week in Centurion. Two people have made 83, both against Australia: Lance Klusener for South Africa in Johannesburg in 2001-02, and Daniel Vettori for New Zealand in Christchurch in 2004-05. But the winner is... Kenya's Thomas Odoyo, with 84 from No. 8 against Bangladesh in Nairobi in 2006.
There have been three higher scores by a No. 8 in ODIs than Tim Bresnan's 80 in the Champions Trophy semi-final last week in Centurion. Two people have made 83, both against Australia: Lance Klusener for South Africa in Johannesburg in 2001-02, and Daniel Vettori for New Zealand in Christchurch in 2004-05. But the winner is... Kenya's Thomas Odoyo, with 84 from No. 8 against Bangladesh in Nairobi in 2006.
Which Test cricketer is nicknamed "Scooter"? asked Bob Higgins
I think the man you're after is the South African opener Herschelle Gibbs, who has now played 90 Tests and almost 250 one-day internationals. Gibbs made his first-class debut (and scored 77) for Western Province B in 1990-91, when he was only 16, still at school, and too young to drive. Some of his team-mates joked that since he didn't have a car they'd have to buy him a scooter to get to matches... and the name stuck.
I think the man you're after is the South African opener Herschelle Gibbs, who has now played 90 Tests and almost 250 one-day internationals. Gibbs made his first-class debut (and scored 77) for Western Province B in 1990-91, when he was only 16, still at school, and too young to drive. Some of his team-mates joked that since he didn't have a car they'd have to buy him a scooter to get to matches... and the name stuck.
What is the highest Test partnership that was ended by a run-out? asked James Simkins from Cheltenham
The biggest one in Tests was the stand of 446 between Conrad Hunte and Garry Sobers for West Indies against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58. Hunte had made 260: Sobers went on to break the then-Test record, finishing with 365 not out. Hunte later admitted that he was distracted by the thought of breaking the world-record second-wicket partnership (451 at the time) and tried a quick single, thinking that the fielders would be exhausted - but the man who picked the ball up at mid-on and threw the stumps down was a fresh substitute, Ijaz Butt (now the Pakistan board's president).
The biggest one in Tests was the stand of 446 between Conrad Hunte and Garry Sobers for West Indies against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58. Hunte had made 260: Sobers went on to break the then-Test record, finishing with 365 not out. Hunte later admitted that he was distracted by the thought of breaking the world-record second-wicket partnership (451 at the time) and tried a quick single, thinking that the fielders would be exhausted - but the man who picked the ball up at mid-on and threw the stumps down was a fresh substitute, Ijaz Butt (now the Pakistan board's president).
I noticed that Martin Donnelly of New Zealand only scored one Test century, and it was a score of 206. Is this the highest score for someone who has only one Test hundred? asked Mudit Chandra from the United States
Actually New Zealand's Martin Donnelly, whose 206 came against England at Lord's in 1949, is one of 10 batsmen who have turned their only Test century into a double. The highest score among them is 287, by England's Reginald "Tip" Foster, against Australia in Sydney in 1903-04 - just to complete that fairytale, it was also his Test debut. The others to have done it were the West Indian pair of Faoud Bacchus (250) and Denis Atkinson (219), England's Robert Key (221) and David "Bumble" Lloyd (214 not out), Taslim Arif of Pakistan (210 not out), Sri Lanka's Brendon Kuruppu (201 not out), and a couple of recent Australians in Brad Hodge (203 not out) and Jason Gillespie (201 not out).
Actually New Zealand's Martin Donnelly, whose 206 came against England at Lord's in 1949, is one of 10 batsmen who have turned their only Test century into a double. The highest score among them is 287, by England's Reginald "Tip" Foster, against Australia in Sydney in 1903-04 - just to complete that fairytale, it was also his Test debut. The others to have done it were the West Indian pair of Faoud Bacchus (250) and Denis Atkinson (219), England's Robert Key (221) and David "Bumble" Lloyd (214 not out), Taslim Arif of Pakistan (210 not out), Sri Lanka's Brendon Kuruppu (201 not out), and a couple of recent Australians in Brad Hodge (203 not out) and Jason Gillespie (201 not out).
Further to last week's question about Jim Laker's 8 for 2, Jonathan Ellis writes:
"Jim Laker was subsequently to claim that it should have been 8 for 0. Because, apart from the incident you mentioned - giving Eric Bedser a single to get off the mark (because they were team-mates at Surrey) - the other run apparently came from a misfield."
"Jim Laker was subsequently to claim that it should have been 8 for 0. Because, apart from the incident you mentioned - giving Eric Bedser a single to get off the mark (because they were team-mates at Surrey) - the other run apparently came from a misfield."
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket (reviewed here). If you want to ask Steven a question, use our feedback form. The most interesting questions will be answered here each week