Youngest double-centurions, and the oldest living Test players
Also, the closest ODI team match-ups, most catches in a T20, and expensive Test debut five-fors
Steven Lynch
09-Sep-2014
Ajinkya Rahane: only the fifth player to take at least four catches in a T20 match • AFP
Is Kraigg Brathwaite the youngest West Indian to score a Test double-hundred? asked Melisa Gomes from Belgium
The Barbadian opener Kraigg Brathwaite was 21 years 279 days old when he completed his maiden double-century in the first Test against Bangladesh in St Vincent. Only six younger men have ever reached 200 in a Test - but two of them were West Indian: George Headley was 20 years 315 days old when he hit 223 against England at Kingston in 1929-30, while Garry Sobers was 21 years 215 days old when he completed his famous 365 not out against Pakistan, also at Kingston, in 1957-58. The youngest Test double-centurion of all is Javed Miandad, only 19 when he scored 206 against New Zealand at Karachi in 1976-77. Vinod Kambli (who made two), Graeme Smith and Mahela Jayawardene were all younger than Brathwaite when scoring their maiden Test double-hundreds (Jayawardene by only three days).
The Barbadian opener Kraigg Brathwaite was 21 years 279 days old when he completed his maiden double-century in the first Test against Bangladesh in St Vincent. Only six younger men have ever reached 200 in a Test - but two of them were West Indian: George Headley was 20 years 315 days old when he hit 223 against England at Kingston in 1929-30, while Garry Sobers was 21 years 215 days old when he completed his famous 365 not out against Pakistan, also at Kingston, in 1957-58. The youngest Test double-centurion of all is Javed Miandad, only 19 when he scored 206 against New Zealand at Karachi in 1976-77. Vinod Kambli (who made two), Graeme Smith and Mahela Jayawardene were all younger than Brathwaite when scoring their maiden Test double-hundreds (Jayawardene by only three days).
Taijul Islam took five wickets on debut against West Indies - but they cost him 135 runs. Is this the most expensive debut five-for? asked Mohammad Raqib from Bangladesh
There have been nine more expensive debut five-fors in all Tests, the most recent one being John Nyumbu's 5 for 157 for Zimbabwe against South Africa in Harare in August. The most expensive of all was by another offspinner, Australia's Jason Krejza, who took 8 for 215 on debut against India in Nagpur in 2008-09. Bangladesh's previous record (if that's the right word) was Naimur Rahman's 6 for 132 against India in their inaugural Test, in Dhaka in November 2000.
There have been nine more expensive debut five-fors in all Tests, the most recent one being John Nyumbu's 5 for 157 for Zimbabwe against South Africa in Harare in August. The most expensive of all was by another offspinner, Australia's Jason Krejza, who took 8 for 215 on debut against India in Nagpur in 2008-09. Bangladesh's previous record (if that's the right word) was Naimur Rahman's 6 for 132 against India in their inaugural Test, in Dhaka in November 2000.
Ajinkya Rahane took four catches at Edgbaston. Is he the first fielder to do this in a T20 international? asked Sunit Kumar from Bahrain
Rather surprisingly, perhaps, Ajinkya Rahane's four catches in England's innings at Edgbaston at the weekend was actually the fifth instance of a fielder doing this in a T20 international. The first was Darren Sammy, for West Indies against Ireland at Providence during the World T20 in 2010, and he has been followed by Peter Borren (Netherlands v Bangladesh at The Hague in 2012), Corey Anderson (New Zealand v South Africa in Port Elizabeth in December 2012), and Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka v Bangladesh in Chittagong in February 2014). Chandimal often keeps wicket, but he wasn't in that game. No wicketkeeper has made more than four dismissals in a T20 innings either - this has happened seven times, twice each by MS Dhoni and Adam Gilchrist, and once by Wesley Barresi (Netherlands), AB de Villiers and Matt Prior.
Rather surprisingly, perhaps, Ajinkya Rahane's four catches in England's innings at Edgbaston at the weekend was actually the fifth instance of a fielder doing this in a T20 international. The first was Darren Sammy, for West Indies against Ireland at Providence during the World T20 in 2010, and he has been followed by Peter Borren (Netherlands v Bangladesh at The Hague in 2012), Corey Anderson (New Zealand v South Africa in Port Elizabeth in December 2012), and Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka v Bangladesh in Chittagong in February 2014). Chandimal often keeps wicket, but he wasn't in that game. No wicketkeeper has made more than four dismissals in a T20 innings either - this has happened seven times, twice each by MS Dhoni and Adam Gilchrist, and once by Wesley Barresi (Netherlands), AB de Villiers and Matt Prior.
The South African fast bowler Norman Gordon recently passed away. Who is now the oldest living Test player? asked Deena Saldanha from Bangladesh
The death of Norman Gordon at 103 last week means there are now no male Test players still alive who played before the Second World War. The oldest survivor is another South African fast bowler, Lindsay Tuckett, who won nine caps in the 1940s: he's now 95. Next comes 93-year-old Andy Ganteaume, the once-capped West Indian (he made the most of it, scoring 112 at Port-of-Spain in 1947-48). However, as I sometimes have to be reminded, it's not just men who play Test cricket: and Eileen Ash, who played the first of her seven Tests for England as Eileen Whelan against Australia at Northampton in 1937, is due to celebrate her 103rd birthday on October 30. For the list of the oldest living (male) Test players, click here.
The death of Norman Gordon at 103 last week means there are now no male Test players still alive who played before the Second World War. The oldest survivor is another South African fast bowler, Lindsay Tuckett, who won nine caps in the 1940s: he's now 95. Next comes 93-year-old Andy Ganteaume, the once-capped West Indian (he made the most of it, scoring 112 at Port-of-Spain in 1947-48). However, as I sometimes have to be reminded, it's not just men who play Test cricket: and Eileen Ash, who played the first of her seven Tests for England as Eileen Whelan against Australia at Northampton in 1937, is due to celebrate her 103rd birthday on October 30. For the list of the oldest living (male) Test players, click here.
Which is the closest team match-up in one-day internationals in terms of win-loss ratio? asked Cody Moody from the UK
I suppose it's not entirely surprising, given their up-and-down form, that England lead the way here among the Test-playing nations. They are actually level with West Indies (42 won, 42 lost) and Sri Lanka (28-28), and close with both South Africa (22-25) and New Zealand 33-38). Sri Lanka are also close to New Zealand (38-37) and South Africa (29-28). New Zealand, in turn, are not far behind India (41-46). Australia have met South Africa 83 times in ODIs; Australia have won 42 and South Africa 38, with three ties. Bangladesh shade Zimbabwe 31-28 at the moment.
I suppose it's not entirely surprising, given their up-and-down form, that England lead the way here among the Test-playing nations. They are actually level with West Indies (42 won, 42 lost) and Sri Lanka (28-28), and close with both South Africa (22-25) and New Zealand 33-38). Sri Lanka are also close to New Zealand (38-37) and South Africa (29-28). New Zealand, in turn, are not far behind India (41-46). Australia have met South Africa 83 times in ODIs; Australia have won 42 and South Africa 38, with three ties. Bangladesh shade Zimbabwe 31-28 at the moment.
Charles Marriott took 11 wickets in his only Test. Is this the record for a one-cap wonder? asked Mohit Patney from India
The Kent legspinner Charles "Father" Marriott took 11 for 96 on his Test debut, against West Indies at The Oval in 1933. Marriott was a 37-year-old schoolteacher who only played county cricket during the holidays, so his opportunities for further caps were restricted (although he did tour India that winter without getting into the Test side). No-one else has taken more than seven wickets on Test debut and never played again, a fate which befell Aubrey Smith (7 for 61 for England v South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1888-89), William "Gobo" Ashley (7 for 95 in the next match, for South Africa v England in Cape Town in 1888-89) and Douglas Carr (7 for 282 for England v Australia at The Oval in 1909). Pat Cummins took 7 for 117 in his only Test so far, for Australia against South Africa in Johannesburg in November 2011, while last month Dane Piedt claimed 8 for 152 on debut for South Africa against Zimbabwe in Harare. Both these players will presumably appear again soon. JJ Ferris took 13 for 91 in his first Test for England, against South Africa in Cape Town in 1891-92, but he had previously played for Australia.
The Kent legspinner Charles "Father" Marriott took 11 for 96 on his Test debut, against West Indies at The Oval in 1933. Marriott was a 37-year-old schoolteacher who only played county cricket during the holidays, so his opportunities for further caps were restricted (although he did tour India that winter without getting into the Test side). No-one else has taken more than seven wickets on Test debut and never played again, a fate which befell Aubrey Smith (7 for 61 for England v South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1888-89), William "Gobo" Ashley (7 for 95 in the next match, for South Africa v England in Cape Town in 1888-89) and Douglas Carr (7 for 282 for England v Australia at The Oval in 1909). Pat Cummins took 7 for 117 in his only Test so far, for Australia against South Africa in Johannesburg in November 2011, while last month Dane Piedt claimed 8 for 152 on debut for South Africa against Zimbabwe in Harare. Both these players will presumably appear again soon. JJ Ferris took 13 for 91 in his first Test for England, against South Africa in Cape Town in 1891-92, but he had previously played for Australia.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2014. Ask Steven is now on Facebook