Voracious Voges, and Smith's captaincy streak
Plus: most caught-and-bowleds in a Test innings
Steven Lynch
16-Feb-2016
Sachin Tendulkar made seven 50-plus scores in the 2003 World Cup • Getty Images
After 14 Test matches, Adam Voges averages nearly 100. Is this the highest? asked Michael Cowper from Australia
Adam Voges' eventual dismissal for 239 in Wellington reduced his average from 105.58 immediately before he was out to 97.46, just behind Don Bradman's overall record of 99.94. But after 14 Tests, Bradman averaged "only" 94.45, so Voges does lead the way at this point of a career. Next come the West Indian Jimmy Adams (86.40), and another Australian, Michael Hussey (86.33). The England pair of Herbert Sutcliffe and Walter Hammond both averaged over 74 after 14 Tests, as did the Australian opener Arthur Morris. In his 15th Test (against South Africa in Brisbane in 1931-32) Bradman scored 226, to push his average back above 100 - so Voges has his work cut out in Christchurch next week to keep up!
Adam Voges' eventual dismissal for 239 in Wellington reduced his average from 105.58 immediately before he was out to 97.46, just behind Don Bradman's overall record of 99.94. But after 14 Tests, Bradman averaged "only" 94.45, so Voges does lead the way at this point of a career. Next come the West Indian Jimmy Adams (86.40), and another Australian, Michael Hussey (86.33). The England pair of Herbert Sutcliffe and Walter Hammond both averaged over 74 after 14 Tests, as did the Australian opener Arthur Morris. In his 15th Test (against South Africa in Brisbane in 1931-32) Bradman scored 226, to push his average back above 100 - so Voges has his work cut out in Christchurch next week to keep up!
I heard that Adam Voges broke the record for runs between dismissals in Tests - who held it before? asked Cameron Horgan from Australia
After scoring 269 not out against West Indies in Hobart, and an undefeated 106 in Melbourne, Adam Voges hit 239 against New Zealand in Wellington - a grand total of 614 runs between dismissals. This shattered the previous record of 497, established by Sachin Tendulkar early in 2004, during innings of 241 and 60 (both unbeaten) against Australia in Sydney, 194 not out against Pakistan in Multan, and 2 in the next Test in Lahore. Tendulkar had broken the mark set 46 years previously by Garry Sobers, for West Indies against Pakistan in 1957-58, with 365 not out in Kingston and 125 in Georgetown. The others to make more than 400 runs between dismissals in Tests are Michael Clarke (489 in 2012-13), Kumar Sangakkara (479 in 2007), Rahul Dravid (473 in 2000-01), Jacques Kallis (456 in 2001-02), Brian Lara (453 in 2004), Daryll Cullinan (427 in 1998-99) and Mark Taylor (426 in 1998-99).
After scoring 269 not out against West Indies in Hobart, and an undefeated 106 in Melbourne, Adam Voges hit 239 against New Zealand in Wellington - a grand total of 614 runs between dismissals. This shattered the previous record of 497, established by Sachin Tendulkar early in 2004, during innings of 241 and 60 (both unbeaten) against Australia in Sydney, 194 not out against Pakistan in Multan, and 2 in the next Test in Lahore. Tendulkar had broken the mark set 46 years previously by Garry Sobers, for West Indies against Pakistan in 1957-58, with 365 not out in Kingston and 125 in Georgetown. The others to make more than 400 runs between dismissals in Tests are Michael Clarke (489 in 2012-13), Kumar Sangakkara (479 in 2007), Rahul Dravid (473 in 2000-01), Jacques Kallis (456 in 2001-02), Brian Lara (453 in 2004), Daryll Cullinan (427 in 1998-99) and Mark Taylor (426 in 1998-99).
Four batsmen were out caught and bowled in Australia's only innings at Wellington. Has this happened before in a Test? asked Charles Barr from England and Jayden O'Halloran from Australia
The four caught-and-bowleds in Australia's innings in Wellington, which (eventually) included Adam Voges, equalled the Test record. At Lord's in 1890, four England batsmen were caught and bowled by four different Australians: WG Grace fell to Charlie Turner, while Jack Ferris, Hugh Trumble and Jack Lyons all held on to return catches as well. It didn't happen again until 1985-86, when four New Zealanders were caught and bowled by Australia's spinners in Sydney. There have been 12 further instances of three caught-and-bowleds in the same Test innings, the most recent also suffered by New Zealand, against England in Auckland in 1970-71, all three taken by Derek Underwood. The one-day international record is also four, inflicted on England by Australia in Adelaide in 1998-99.
The four caught-and-bowleds in Australia's innings in Wellington, which (eventually) included Adam Voges, equalled the Test record. At Lord's in 1890, four England batsmen were caught and bowled by four different Australians: WG Grace fell to Charlie Turner, while Jack Ferris, Hugh Trumble and Jack Lyons all held on to return catches as well. It didn't happen again until 1985-86, when four New Zealanders were caught and bowled by Australia's spinners in Sydney. There have been 12 further instances of three caught-and-bowleds in the same Test innings, the most recent also suffered by New Zealand, against England in Auckland in 1970-71, all three taken by Derek Underwood. The one-day international record is also four, inflicted on England by Australia in Adelaide in 1998-99.
South Africa won the one-day series against England after being 2-0 down. How often has this happened in ODIs? asked Gordon Cameron from Scotland
South Africa's come-from-behind victory in the one-day series against England that finished at the weekend was only the third time a team had recovered from 2-0 down to win a five-match series 3-2. South Africa also did it in Pakistan in 2003-04, while Bangladesh bounced back to beat Zimbabwe at home in 2004-05. India led their six-match home series against Pakistan 2-0 in April 2005 - but Pakistan won out 4-2 in the end.
South Africa's come-from-behind victory in the one-day series against England that finished at the weekend was only the third time a team had recovered from 2-0 down to win a five-match series 3-2. South Africa also did it in Pakistan in 2003-04, while Bangladesh bounced back to beat Zimbabwe at home in 2004-05. India led their six-match home series against Pakistan 2-0 in April 2005 - but Pakistan won out 4-2 in the end.
Steve Smith has captained Australia in ten Tests without a loss. Is that a record? asked Joan Fernandes from Germany
Steve Smith is actually the tenth captain to avoid defeat in his first ten Tests in charge - a list that includes another Smith, MJK of England. For the record, the others are Mike Brearley, Colin Cowdrey and Ray Illingworth of England, Nari Contractor, MS Dhoni and Sunil Gavaskar of India, Australia's Warwick Armstrong, and Viv Richards of West Indies. Illingworth captained England in 19 Tests before he lost one (against India at The Oval in 1971). At the other end of the spectrum, Khaled Mashud of Bangladesh lost all 12 Tests in which he captained.
Steve Smith is actually the tenth captain to avoid defeat in his first ten Tests in charge - a list that includes another Smith, MJK of England. For the record, the others are Mike Brearley, Colin Cowdrey and Ray Illingworth of England, Nari Contractor, MS Dhoni and Sunil Gavaskar of India, Australia's Warwick Armstrong, and Viv Richards of West Indies. Illingworth captained England in 19 Tests before he lost one (against India at The Oval in 1971). At the other end of the spectrum, Khaled Mashud of Bangladesh lost all 12 Tests in which he captained.
Alex Hales reached 50 in each innings of the recent one-day series. Has anyone else done this in a five-match series? asked Harsha Prudhvi from India
During England's recent one-day games in South Africa, Man of the Series Alex Hales scored 57, 99, 65, 50 and 112. He's only the third batsman to make a half-century or more in every innings of a five-match one-day series, after Yasir Hameed for Pakistan at home to New Zealand in 2003-04 (52, 53, 63, 61 and 127 not out), and New Zealand's Kane Williamson at home against India in 2013-14, when he scored 71, 77, 65, 60 and 88. The record for any international series is seven scores of 50-plus, by Sachin Tendulkar in 11 matches at the 2003 World Cup.
During England's recent one-day games in South Africa, Man of the Series Alex Hales scored 57, 99, 65, 50 and 112. He's only the third batsman to make a half-century or more in every innings of a five-match one-day series, after Yasir Hameed for Pakistan at home to New Zealand in 2003-04 (52, 53, 63, 61 and 127 not out), and New Zealand's Kane Williamson at home against India in 2013-14, when he scored 71, 77, 65, 60 and 88. The record for any international series is seven scores of 50-plus, by Sachin Tendulkar in 11 matches at the 2003 World Cup.
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Steven Lynch is the editor of the updated edition of Wisden on the Ashes