Who's the youngest player to make a century on Test debut?

Was Prithvi Shaw the youngest to make a century on his Test debut? asked Mishal Bose from India
Prithvi Shaw scored 134 in his first Test last week, against West Indies in Rajkot, aged 18 years 329 days. That made him the youngest Indian to make a century on Test debut - previously 20-year-old Abbas Ali Baig in 1959 - although Sachin Tendulkar was only 17 when he made his maiden Test century (in his ninth match) against England at Old Trafford in 1990. ­

Three debut centurions from other countries were younger than Shaw. The youngest of all was Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful, who was only 63 days past his 17th birthday when he hit 114 against Sri Lanka in Colombo during the Asian Test Championship in September 2001. Hamilton Masakadza was 12 days short of his 18th birthday when he made 119 on debut for Zimbabwe against West Indies in Harare earlier in 2001, while Saleem Malik was a few days younger than Shaw when he compiled an unbeaten 100 for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 1981-82. For the full list of the youngest Test century-makers, click here.

Aaron Finch played 93 ODIs before his Test debut. Is this a record? asked Brett Michaels from Australia
The Australian opener Aaron Finch made his debut in the ongoing Test against Pakistan in Dubai, after playing in 93 one-day internationals. That's one short of the Australian record: Andrew Symonds played 94 ODIs before his first Test. Adam Gilchrist won 76 ODI caps before his first Test.

Two Irishmen head the list: Kevin O'Brien played 125 ODIs and William Porterfield 119 before appearing in Ireland's inaugural Test, against Pakistan in Malahide in May.

Rohit Sharma played 108 ODIs before finally getting a chance in Tests for India, while the Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien had 100. Mohammad Nabi and Suresh Raina (both 98), Paul Stirling (97), and Chamu Chibhabha and Gary Wilson (96) all played more ODIs than Finch before their Test debuts.

David Miller has now played 109 ODIs for South Africa without yet appearing in a Test; Kieron Pollard has played 101 for West Indies. Thomas Odoyo won 136 ODI caps and Steve Tikolo 135 - they have not been able to play Tests as Kenya has never had that status.

Who has been involved in the most tied ODIs? Is it MS Dhoni? asked Bilal Ahmed from India
MS Dhoni is one of eight players who have been involved in five tied one-day internationals. But three players - all from Pakistan - have been part of six: Aamer Sohail, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Wasim Akram. The matches involved, all in the 1990s, were the same ones.

If you include all international games, then New Zealand's Brendon McCullum comes out on top: he was involved in seven ties, two in ODIs and five in T20Is (a record he shares with compatriot James Franklin). Dhoni, Inzamam, Sohail, Wasim, Ross Taylor and Steve Waugh all took part in six.

I read that someone once bowled an 11-ball over in a Test, without any no-balls or wides. What happened? asked Tushar Trivedi from India
The match in question was the first Test between New Zealand and England in Auckland in 1962-63, and the man who sent down the seemingly never-ending over was the home side's offspinner John Sparling.

The incident happened on the second day. It seems that the umpire Dick Shortt dropped his counter towards the end of the over, so picked it up and started again - leaving the bemused bowler to send down 11 legal deliveries in a row, most of them to an equally confused Fred Titmus. It's a long time ago now, but you do wonder why he didn't consult his fellow umpire, or the scorers. Sparling talked about the incident in this audio interview with the New Zealand Cricket Museum.

After Pakistan's efforts in the first Test in Dubai, what's their best opening partnership against Australia, and what's the best by anyone against Australia? asked Amir Baluch from Pakistan
Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez put on 205 for Pakistan's first wicket in the ongoing Test against Australia in Dubai. It was only the fifth time Pakistan's openers had shared a stand of 200 or more in a Test. Their best against anyone remains 298, by Aamer Sohail (160) and Ijaz Ahmed (151) against West Indies in Karachi in 1997-98. And Pakistan's best first-wicket stand against Australia remains 249, by Khalid "Billy" Ibadulla (166) and Abdul Kadir (a wicketkeeper, not the later legspinner, who made 95) in Karachi in October 1964. This remains the record opening stand by two players both making their Test debut.

There have been four higher opening partnerships against Australia than the 249 of Ibadulla and Kadir (Imam and Hafeez are ninth). Top of the list is 323 of Jack Hobbs (178) and Wilfred Rhodes (179) for England in Melbourne in 1911-12.