Centuries before lunch, and most Twenty20 runs
Hundreds in the first session, the most run-outs in ODIs, the most consecutive Tests as captain
Steven Lynch
19-Aug-2008
 |
|
My father used to tell me that India's Farokh Engineer once made a century in the first session before the lunch break in a Test. Is that correct? asked Jignesh Patel from the United States
Sadly, it's not quite true. The match in question was the third Test between India and West Indies in Madras in 1966-67, for which the flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman Farokh Engineer had been recalled after having missed the first two Tests of the series. Facing the most feared fast-bowling attack of the day - featuring Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith, backed up by Garry Sobers - Engineer had actually reached 94 by lunch on the first day. He was out soon after the interval for 109, which included 18 fours. According to the Wisden match report, "A brilliant display of controlled hitting by Engineer brought him within six runs of the honour of becoming the first Indian to score a Test century before lunch." Engineer himself later wrote: "That innings changed my whole life. It gave me so much prominence, so much publicity, and ensured I was now a regular member of the India team." The only batsmen who have scored a century before lunch on the first day of a Test are the great Australian trio of Victor Trumper (against England at Old Trafford in 1902), Charles Macartney (v England at Headingley in 1926), and Don Bradman (v England at Headingley in 1930), and Pakistan's Majid Khan (v New Zealand in Karachi in 1976-77).
Sadly, it's not quite true. The match in question was the third Test between India and West Indies in Madras in 1966-67, for which the flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman Farokh Engineer had been recalled after having missed the first two Tests of the series. Facing the most feared fast-bowling attack of the day - featuring Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith, backed up by Garry Sobers - Engineer had actually reached 94 by lunch on the first day. He was out soon after the interval for 109, which included 18 fours. According to the Wisden match report, "A brilliant display of controlled hitting by Engineer brought him within six runs of the honour of becoming the first Indian to score a Test century before lunch." Engineer himself later wrote: "That innings changed my whole life. It gave me so much prominence, so much publicity, and ensured I was now a regular member of the India team." The only batsmen who have scored a century before lunch on the first day of a Test are the great Australian trio of Victor Trumper (against England at Old Trafford in 1902), Charles Macartney (v England at Headingley in 1926), and Don Bradman (v England at Headingley in 1930), and Pakistan's Majid Khan (v New Zealand in Karachi in 1976-77).
Has anyone scored 1000 runs in Twenty20 internationals? asked Bradley Fielder from Woking
No one is near that landmark yet, as there haven't been enough Twenty20 internationals so far. As of now - the day before the Twenty20 international between England and South Africa at Chester-le-Street - the race for top spot on the run-scorers' list is an exceedingly close one between those two old mates Graeme Smith, who has made 364 runs in T20 internationals, and Kevin Pietersen, who has 363. For a full list, which will be updated, click here.
No one is near that landmark yet, as there haven't been enough Twenty20 internationals so far. As of now - the day before the Twenty20 international between England and South Africa at Chester-le-Street - the race for top spot on the run-scorers' list is an exceedingly close one between those two old mates Graeme Smith, who has made 364 runs in T20 internationals, and Kevin Pietersen, who has 363. For a full list, which will be updated, click here.
We know that Inzamam-ul-Haq holds the record for being run out most often in ODIs, closely followed by Mohammad Yousuf. Does anyone threaten Inzy's record? And who holds the record in Tests? asked Arif Roney from Bangladesh
Sorry to spoil a good story, but actually Inzamam-ul-Haq doesn't hold the record as the player most often run out in one-day internationals. It is close, though: Inzy was run out on 40 occasions, but Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu managed to be dismissed that way 41 times. In third place is Pakistan's Wasim Akram, who was run out 38 times, one more than a couple of current players - Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Yousuf. The record-holder in Tests is Allan Border, who was run out 12 times, including twice in the same match against Pakistan in Melbourne in 1981-82.
Sorry to spoil a good story, but actually Inzamam-ul-Haq doesn't hold the record as the player most often run out in one-day internationals. It is close, though: Inzy was run out on 40 occasions, but Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu managed to be dismissed that way 41 times. In third place is Pakistan's Wasim Akram, who was run out 38 times, one more than a couple of current players - Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Yousuf. The record-holder in Tests is Allan Border, who was run out 12 times, including twice in the same match against Pakistan in Melbourne in 1981-82.
How many people have scored a double-century in their final Test match? asked David Facer from Adelaide
In all there have been five people who have scored a double-century in what turned out to be their final Test. Three of those did it in their final innings: Seymour Nurse hit 258 for West Indies against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1968-69; Aravinda de Silva made 206 for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in Colombo in July 2002; and, perhaps the most unlikely Test double-centurion of them all, Jason Gillespie made 201 not out for Australia against Bangladesh in Chittagong in 2005-06. Andy Sandham (325 for England against West Indies in Kingston in 1929-30) and Bill Ponsford (266 for Australia against England at The Oval in 1934) both exceeded 200 in the first innings of their final Test, but batted again in the second innings. Ponsford also scored 110 on his debut, against England in Sydney in 1924-25, making him the only batsman to start his Test career with a century and finish with a double.
In all there have been five people who have scored a double-century in what turned out to be their final Test. Three of those did it in their final innings: Seymour Nurse hit 258 for West Indies against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1968-69; Aravinda de Silva made 206 for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in Colombo in July 2002; and, perhaps the most unlikely Test double-centurion of them all, Jason Gillespie made 201 not out for Australia against Bangladesh in Chittagong in 2005-06. Andy Sandham (325 for England against West Indies in Kingston in 1929-30) and Bill Ponsford (266 for Australia against England at The Oval in 1934) both exceeded 200 in the first innings of their final Test, but batted again in the second innings. Ponsford also scored 110 on his debut, against England in Sydney in 1924-25, making him the only batsman to start his Test career with a century and finish with a double.
I know that Mahela Jayawardene holds the record for most Test runs on a single ground, but who holds the corresponding ODI record? asked Michael Cooper from Kent
The man on top of this list is Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, who scored 2464 runs in 59 one-day internationals on the ground in Sharjah. In second place, with a reasonable chance of overtaking him, is Sanath Jayasuriya, who has so far made 2212 runs at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The only other man to have scored more than 2000 ODI runs on a single ground is Pakistan's Saeed Anwar, with 2178 in Sharjah, although Ricky Ponting has so far made 1950 at the MCG. For a full list, click here.
The man on top of this list is Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, who scored 2464 runs in 59 one-day internationals on the ground in Sharjah. In second place, with a reasonable chance of overtaking him, is Sanath Jayasuriya, who has so far made 2212 runs at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The only other man to have scored more than 2000 ODI runs on a single ground is Pakistan's Saeed Anwar, with 2178 in Sharjah, although Ricky Ponting has so far made 1950 at the MCG. For a full list, click here.
Who has had the most successive Test matches as captain? asked Anand Parkar from Mumbai
The record-holder here is, I think, unlikely ever to be beaten. Allan Border captained Australia in an amazing 93 straight Tests between 1984-85 and his retirement in 1993-94. Only three other captains have chalked up a half-century of Tests without a break: Stephen Fleming did 65 for New Zealand, Michael Atherton 52 for England, and Mark Taylor 50 for Australia.
The record-holder here is, I think, unlikely ever to be beaten. Allan Border captained Australia in an amazing 93 straight Tests between 1984-85 and his retirement in 1993-94. Only three other captains have chalked up a half-century of Tests without a break: Stephen Fleming did 65 for New Zealand, Michael Atherton 52 for England, and Mark Taylor 50 for Australia.
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