Tons as captain, and ducks in run-fests
Trueman's rant, India's most successful leader, most hit-wicket dismissals, and more
Steven Lynch
22-Jun-2010
Denis Compton: hit-wicket on five occasions and run out on three • Playfair Cricket Monthly
Has anyone ever scored a century in his first and last Test as captain? asked Ashwath Sekhar via Facebook
The only one is England's Kevin Pietersen - he made 100 in his first Test as captain, against South Africa at The Oval in 2008, and 144 in his third and final match in charge (to date), against India in Mohali in 2008-09. You could also add Alastair Cook, who made centuries in both his Tests as captain in Bangladesh earlier this year. Of course, both of these might return as captain in the future and lose (or improve) their records.
The only one is England's Kevin Pietersen - he made 100 in his first Test as captain, against South Africa at The Oval in 2008, and 144 in his third and final match in charge (to date), against India in Mohali in 2008-09. You could also add Alastair Cook, who made centuries in both his Tests as captain in Bangladesh earlier this year. Of course, both of these might return as captain in the future and lose (or improve) their records.
While on a private tour sponsored by a tobacco company, Fred Trueman once opened his newspaper and exploded: "While X and Y are opening the bowling for England, I'm here playing for cigarette coupons." Who were X and Y? asked Jim Williams from London
I think quite a lot of Fred's words there have been deleted, for the benefit of a family audience! This incident came about early in 1965, while Trueman was touring the West Indies with an International Cavaliers side sponsored by Rothmans. Trueman, who was 34 at the time, had been overlooked by England for their winter tour of South Africa - although, in a strange decision, one of the opening bowlers who replaced him was the 35-year-old Sussex paceman Ian Thomson. As so often happens, England ran into injury problems, and for the final Test in Port Elizabeth, they called up Ken Palmer, the Somerset medium-pacer, who was coaching in the area. It was Palmer's only Test, and the last of Thomson's five, all of which came in that series. Fiery Fred's fiery reaction may have been fuelled by the first-innings figures of the modestly paced new-ball pair in that Test: Thomson took 1 for 128 and Palmer 1 for 113.
I think quite a lot of Fred's words there have been deleted, for the benefit of a family audience! This incident came about early in 1965, while Trueman was touring the West Indies with an International Cavaliers side sponsored by Rothmans. Trueman, who was 34 at the time, had been overlooked by England for their winter tour of South Africa - although, in a strange decision, one of the opening bowlers who replaced him was the 35-year-old Sussex paceman Ian Thomson. As so often happens, England ran into injury problems, and for the final Test in Port Elizabeth, they called up Ken Palmer, the Somerset medium-pacer, who was coaching in the area. It was Palmer's only Test, and the last of Thomson's five, all of which came in that series. Fiery Fred's fiery reaction may have been fuelled by the first-innings figures of the modestly paced new-ball pair in that Test: Thomson took 1 for 128 and Palmer 1 for 113.
Who has been India's most successful captain ever? asked Saha from India
In terms of results, Sourav Ganguly leads the way for India in Tests, as he presided over 21 victories from 49 matches as captain (another Indian record), well ahead of Mohammad Azharuddin's 14 from 47. MS Dhoni is already in joint third spot with nine wins (from only 13 matches), level with Sunil Gavaskar (from 47 Tests) and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (from 40). In one-day internationals Azharuddin leads the way with 90 victories, ahead of Ganguly (76), Dhoni (46) and Rahul Dravid (42). Next comes the man who many might argue is really India's most successful captain: Kapil Dev only won 39 ODIs as skipper, but one of them was the World Cup final at Lord's in 1983. The global list is headed by Ricky Ponting, who has won 46 Tests (Steve Waugh is next with 41) and 158 ODIs (Allan Border next with 107) while captain.
In terms of results, Sourav Ganguly leads the way for India in Tests, as he presided over 21 victories from 49 matches as captain (another Indian record), well ahead of Mohammad Azharuddin's 14 from 47. MS Dhoni is already in joint third spot with nine wins (from only 13 matches), level with Sunil Gavaskar (from 47 Tests) and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (from 40). In one-day internationals Azharuddin leads the way with 90 victories, ahead of Ganguly (76), Dhoni (46) and Rahul Dravid (42). Next comes the man who many might argue is really India's most successful captain: Kapil Dev only won 39 ODIs as skipper, but one of them was the World Cup final at Lord's in 1983. The global list is headed by Ricky Ponting, who has won 46 Tests (Steve Waugh is next with 41) and 158 ODIs (Allan Border next with 107) while captain.
Which Test player was nicknamed "Wombat"? asked Neil Simpson from Adelaide
There may be some others, but the only one I know about isn't actually a Test player, although he did play a one-day international and a couple of Twenty20 games for Australia - it's the much-travelled allrounder Ashley Noffke, who played for Queensland and Western Australia, and also had stints in county cricket for Durham, Gloucestershire, Middlesex and Worcestershire.
There may be some others, but the only one I know about isn't actually a Test player, although he did play a one-day international and a couple of Twenty20 games for Australia - it's the much-travelled allrounder Ashley Noffke, who played for Queensland and Western Australia, and also had stints in county cricket for Durham, Gloucestershire, Middlesex and Worcestershire.
Which batsman has been out hit wicket most often in Tests and ODIs? asked Sandor Arpa
The leader in Tests is England's Denis Compton, who managed to hit his own wicket no fewer than five times during his 131 innings. Although Compton was a legendarily bad runner, he was actually out hit-wicket more often than he was run out - that only happened to him three times, although we don't always have the details of the (several) partners he left stranded. The only other man to have been out hit-wicket more than twice in Tests is India's Mohinder Amarnath (three). Among the 10 men who have hit their own wicket twice in Tests is Sri Lanka's Romesh Kaluwitharana, who is also one of six people to share the one-day international record of two hit-wicket dismissals.
The leader in Tests is England's Denis Compton, who managed to hit his own wicket no fewer than five times during his 131 innings. Although Compton was a legendarily bad runner, he was actually out hit-wicket more often than he was run out - that only happened to him three times, although we don't always have the details of the (several) partners he left stranded. The only other man to have been out hit-wicket more than twice in Tests is India's Mohinder Amarnath (three). Among the 10 men who have hit their own wicket twice in Tests is Sri Lanka's Romesh Kaluwitharana, who is also one of six people to share the one-day international record of two hit-wicket dismissals.
I know that there have been two first-class totals of more than 1000. Did anyone miss out spectacularly in those innings and bag a duck? asked Dave Brewer from Sydney
That's an unusual question, and the answer is yes: when Victoria made 1107 (the highest first-class total of all) against New South Wales in Melbourne in 1926-27, a bowler called Francis Morton managed to get himself run out for a duck. He didn't manage to take a wicket either, so had little to boast about apart from Victoria's winning margin of an innings and 656 runs. There were no such sob stories in the other four-figure total: when Victoria amassed 1059 against Tasmania in Melbourne in 1922-23, the lowest score of any of the batsmen was 16, by the splendidly named Len Mullett.
That's an unusual question, and the answer is yes: when Victoria made 1107 (the highest first-class total of all) against New South Wales in Melbourne in 1926-27, a bowler called Francis Morton managed to get himself run out for a duck. He didn't manage to take a wicket either, so had little to boast about apart from Victoria's winning margin of an innings and 656 runs. There were no such sob stories in the other four-figure total: when Victoria amassed 1059 against Tasmania in Melbourne in 1922-23, the lowest score of any of the batsmen was 16, by the splendidly named Len Mullett.
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