Experienced umpires and largest first-innings leads
Dot ball after dot ball, the highest first-innings lead, and a man called Musso
Steven Lynch
17-Jun-2008
 |
|
I was watching the Trent Bridge Test and noticed that the umpires had stood in 200 previous Tests between them - is this a record?asked John Canning from London
That's a good spot, because as it turns out it is indeed a record. Before England's Trent Bridge Test against New Zealand Steve Bucknor had umpired in 123 Tests and Darrell Hair in 77, and their combined total of 200 is a new record. The previous highest was 191, by Bucknor (114) and Rudi Koertzen (77) before they stood together in the second Test of the 2006-07 Ashes series at the Adelaide Oval.
That's a good spot, because as it turns out it is indeed a record. Before England's Trent Bridge Test against New Zealand Steve Bucknor had umpired in 123 Tests and Darrell Hair in 77, and their combined total of 200 is a new record. The previous highest was 191, by Bucknor (114) and Rudi Koertzen (77) before they stood together in the second Test of the 2006-07 Ashes series at the Adelaide Oval.
In the Trent Bridge Test Stuart Broad batted with Ryan Sidebottom for a while - when was the last time two sons of Test cricketers batted together for England?asked Tim Bright from Leicester
Well, Broad and Sidebottom had batted together before, during the winter series in New Zealand at McLean Park. But the previous pair of Test cricketers' sons who batted together for England was Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart - on several occasions, most recently during the fourth Test against South Africa at Headingley in 2003.
Well, Broad and Sidebottom had batted together before, during the winter series in New Zealand at McLean Park. But the previous pair of Test cricketers' sons who batted together for England was Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart - on several occasions, most recently during the fourth Test against South Africa at Headingley in 2003.
What is the most consecutive dot-balls bowled by anyone in a Test?asked Subruto Sirkar from Dubai
The record for Test (and first-class) cricket is 137 balls without conceding a run, by Hugh Tayfield, the South African offspinner, against England at Kingsmead in 1956-57. This included a run of 16 consecutive maiden (eight-ball) overs. The dot-ball sequence was split over the two England innings, 119 in the first and his first 18 balls in the second. Tayfield finished with figures of 24-17-21-1 and 37.7-14-69-8 in a match that ended up as a draw.
The record for Test (and first-class) cricket is 137 balls without conceding a run, by Hugh Tayfield, the South African offspinner, against England at Kingsmead in 1956-57. This included a run of 16 consecutive maiden (eight-ball) overs. The dot-ball sequence was split over the two England innings, 119 in the first and his first 18 balls in the second. Tayfield finished with figures of 24-17-21-1 and 37.7-14-69-8 in a match that ended up as a draw.
What is the highest first-innings lead ever achieved in a first-class match?asked Patrick Johnston from Belfast
The biggest first-innings lead in first-class history was the little matter of 886, at the MCG in 1926-27, when Victoria answered New South Wales' 221 with 1107, the highest total in first-class cricket. The top four made centuries, with Bill Ponsford extending his to 352 and Jack Ryder making 295. Victoria then bowled NSW out for 230, to win by an innings and 656 runs. The record almost went in 1964-65, when in Lahore Dera Ismail Khan were bowled out for 32 by Pakistan Railways, who had just scored 910 for 6. Their lead of 878 proved just enough when DIK succumbed for 27 second time around.
The biggest first-innings lead in first-class history was the little matter of 886, at the MCG in 1926-27, when Victoria answered New South Wales' 221 with 1107, the highest total in first-class cricket. The top four made centuries, with Bill Ponsford extending his to 352 and Jack Ryder making 295. Victoria then bowled NSW out for 230, to win by an innings and 656 runs. The record almost went in 1964-65, when in Lahore Dera Ismail Khan were bowled out for 32 by Pakistan Railways, who had just scored 910 for 6. Their lead of 878 proved just enough when DIK succumbed for 27 second time around.
Which cricketer was known as "Musso"?asked Bob Houseman from Canberra
This was the 1930s Australian batsman Jack Badcock, who apparently reminded some people facially of the Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini. Badcock, who made 325 for South Australia against Victoria in Adelaide in 1935-36, had a curious Test career: his 12 innings included one century - 118 against England in Melbourne in 1936-37 - but he never otherwise reached double figures.
This was the 1930s Australian batsman Jack Badcock, who apparently reminded some people facially of the Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini. Badcock, who made 325 for South Australia against Victoria in Adelaide in 1935-36, had a curious Test career: his 12 innings included one century - 118 against England in Melbourne in 1936-37 - but he never otherwise reached double figures.
Who has taken the most Test wickets without ever managing a five-for?asked Martin Robinson from Liverpool
Top of the list is Mike Hendrick, the England fast-medium bowler of the 1970s, who took 87 wickets in 30 Tests without ever managing five in an innings. He took four on five occasions, including his best return of 4 for 28 against India at Edgbaston in 1974. Next come the South African Brian McMillan (75 Test wickets), Dayle Hadlee of New Zealand (71), and the 1960s England pair of Barry Knight (70) and Ted Dexter (66). Mashrafe Mortaza of Bangladesh has also taken 66 wickets so far with a best performance of 4 for 60.
Top of the list is Mike Hendrick, the England fast-medium bowler of the 1970s, who took 87 wickets in 30 Tests without ever managing five in an innings. He took four on five occasions, including his best return of 4 for 28 against India at Edgbaston in 1974. Next come the South African Brian McMillan (75 Test wickets), Dayle Hadlee of New Zealand (71), and the 1960s England pair of Barry Knight (70) and Ted Dexter (66). Mashrafe Mortaza of Bangladesh has also taken 66 wickets so far with a best performance of 4 for 60.
And there's an afterthought to last week's question about cricketer-golfers,
from Hamish McDouall in New Zealand
"Alex Tait, the former New Zealand fast bowler (he played five ODIs, and won a bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia), is now a professional golfer, and won his professional first title in 2006 if my memory serves me right. Also Murphy S'ua played off scratch."
"Alex Tait, the former New Zealand fast bowler (he played five ODIs, and won a bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia), is now a professional golfer, and won his professional first title in 2006 if my memory serves me right. Also Murphy S'ua played off scratch."
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