Guptill's great start, and Gavaskar's great blitz
Fastest to 100 ODI wickets, fewest Test runs including a double-century, and England's South African captains
Steven Lynch
20-Jan-2009
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Has anyone scored a century and carried his bat in his first one-day international, as Martin Guptill did last week? asked Tom Arnold from Auckland, who was there
Martin Guptill became only the fifth player to score a century in his first one-day international when he made 122 not out for New Zealand against West Indies in Auckland recently (for the full list, click here). Guptill was actually the second man to bat through his side's innings (as opposed to carrying his bat through, which would require his side to be bowled out) on debut and score a century, after Andy Flower, who made 115 not out for Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka in New Plymouth during the 1991-92 World Cup. There's a case for saying that Salim Elahi also did it - when he made his 102 not out on debut in Gujranwala in 1995-96 he opened and batted throughout the 44 overs that Pakistan needed to overhaul Sri Lanka's total. However, that wouldn't normally count as batting right through the allotment of overs.
Martin Guptill became only the fifth player to score a century in his first one-day international when he made 122 not out for New Zealand against West Indies in Auckland recently (for the full list, click here). Guptill was actually the second man to bat through his side's innings (as opposed to carrying his bat through, which would require his side to be bowled out) on debut and score a century, after Andy Flower, who made 115 not out for Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka in New Plymouth during the 1991-92 World Cup. There's a case for saying that Salim Elahi also did it - when he made his 102 not out on debut in Gujranwala in 1995-96 he opened and batted throughout the 44 overs that Pakistan needed to overhaul Sri Lanka's total. However, that wouldn't normally count as batting right through the allotment of overs.
I remember that Sunil Gavaskar once hit New Zealand's Ewen Chatfield for four sixes in an over. Could you please tell me which match it was? asked Gopakumar from the United Arab Emirates
I believe the match you are thinking of was played during the 1987-88 World Cup, when India met New Zealand in Nagpur. It was the last qualifying match, and Sunil Gavaskar made 103 not out - his first ODI century in his 107th (and last-but-one) match. During this innings, according to the report in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, the usually economical Ewen Chatfield was harshly dealt with: "The surprise was Gavaskar, who had been said to be unwell prior to the match. He matched Srikkanth stroke for stroke in the bravura of his batting. They took 18 off the first two overs, 21 came off Chatfield's third over as Gavaskar hit the first four balls for successive sixes and then successive fours." So it wasn't quite four sixes in a row, but reasonably close!
I believe the match you are thinking of was played during the 1987-88 World Cup, when India met New Zealand in Nagpur. It was the last qualifying match, and Sunil Gavaskar made 103 not out - his first ODI century in his 107th (and last-but-one) match. During this innings, according to the report in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, the usually economical Ewen Chatfield was harshly dealt with: "The surprise was Gavaskar, who had been said to be unwell prior to the match. He matched Srikkanth stroke for stroke in the bravura of his batting. They took 18 off the first two overs, 21 came off Chatfield's third over as Gavaskar hit the first four balls for successive sixes and then successive fours." So it wasn't quite four sixes in a row, but reasonably close!
Ajantha Mendis recently became the fastest bowler to reach 50 ODI wickets. Who was the fastest to 100? asked Tharindra Ranasinghe from the United States
Ajantha Mendis recently took his 50th wicket in only his 19th one-day international, breaking the previous record of 23 by India's Ajit Agarkar. There's a couple of handy Aussies in third and fourth spots: Dennis Lillee reached 50 wickets in 24 matches, while Shane Warne needed 25. The fastest to 100 ODI wickets, in terms of matches played, was the Pakistan offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who got there in his 53rd ODI - one quicker than Shane Bond of New Zealand and two faster than Australia's Brett Lee.
Ajantha Mendis recently took his 50th wicket in only his 19th one-day international, breaking the previous record of 23 by India's Ajit Agarkar. There's a couple of handy Aussies in third and fourth spots: Dennis Lillee reached 50 wickets in 24 matches, while Shane Warne needed 25. The fastest to 100 ODI wickets, in terms of matches played, was the Pakistan offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who got there in his 53rd ODI - one quicker than Shane Bond of New Zealand and two faster than Australia's Brett Lee.
Following on from last week's question about centurions with very few Test runs, I notice that Rob Key has fewer than 1000 Test runs but has scored a double-century. Is he the only player with this distinction? asked Adrian Mills
Robert Key has so far scored 775 Test runs, with a highest score of 221 (his only three-figure score) against West Indies at Lord's in 2004. But rather surprisingly there are six players who have made fewer runs in Tests including a double-century: Reginald "Tip" Foster of England (602 runs, highest score 287); New Zealand's Martin Donnelly (582 runs, HS 206); David Lloyd of England (552, HS 214 not out); the current Australian squad member Brad Hodge (503, HS 203 not out); Pakistan's Taslim Arif (501, HS 210 not out); and the clear "winner", Brendon Kuruppu of Sri Lanka, who made 201 not out against New Zealand on Test debut in 1986-87, but finished with only 320 Test runs overall.
Robert Key has so far scored 775 Test runs, with a highest score of 221 (his only three-figure score) against West Indies at Lord's in 2004. But rather surprisingly there are six players who have made fewer runs in Tests including a double-century: Reginald "Tip" Foster of England (602 runs, highest score 287); New Zealand's Martin Donnelly (582 runs, HS 206); David Lloyd of England (552, HS 214 not out); the current Australian squad member Brad Hodge (503, HS 203 not out); Pakistan's Taslim Arif (501, HS 210 not out); and the clear "winner", Brendon Kuruppu of Sri Lanka, who made 201 not out against New Zealand on Test debut in 1986-87, but finished with only 320 Test runs overall.
What is the most Test matches played by a team in between two appearances by a particular player? asked Gaurav Khode from Kolkata
The biggest gap in a career, in terms of Test appearances, was by the Surrey fast bowler Martin Bicknell. In between his second cap, against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993, and his third, against South Africa at Headingley in 2003, England played 114 Tests without him. The previous record was 104 matches missed, by Younis Ahmed of Pakistan between 1969-70 and 1986-87 (like Bicknell, Younis also played for Surrey, and won four Test caps in all, in two blocks of two). The only other man to have missed more than 100 of his country's Tests is England's Derek Shackleton, who played the third of his seven Tests in 1951-52, and his fourth in 1963.
The biggest gap in a career, in terms of Test appearances, was by the Surrey fast bowler Martin Bicknell. In between his second cap, against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993, and his third, against South Africa at Headingley in 2003, England played 114 Tests without him. The previous record was 104 matches missed, by Younis Ahmed of Pakistan between 1969-70 and 1986-87 (like Bicknell, Younis also played for Surrey, and won four Test caps in all, in two blocks of two). The only other man to have missed more than 100 of his country's Tests is England's Derek Shackleton, who played the third of his seven Tests in 1951-52, and his fourth in 1963.
How many South Africans have captained England? asked Chris van Tonder from South Africa
Four men who were born in South Africa have captained England in international matches: Tony Greig, who was born in Queenstown in Cape Province, led in 14 Tests and two one-day internationals; Allan Lamb, born in Langebaanweg (also in Cape Province), did three Tests and four ODIs; Andrew Strauss (born in Johannesburg) has so far captained in five Tests, 13 ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals; while Pietermaritzburg-born Kevin Pietersen's brief reign covered three Tests and 12 ODIs.
Four men who were born in South Africa have captained England in international matches: Tony Greig, who was born in Queenstown in Cape Province, led in 14 Tests and two one-day internationals; Allan Lamb, born in Langebaanweg (also in Cape Province), did three Tests and four ODIs; Andrew Strauss (born in Johannesburg) has so far captained in five Tests, 13 ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals; while Pietermaritzburg-born Kevin Pietersen's brief reign covered three Tests and 12 ODIs.
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Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket (reviewed here)