Hundreds on captaincy debut, hundreds in the second innings
Players who made centuries in their first Test in charge, and the country with the most 300-plus ODI scores
Steven Lynch
12-Aug-2008
 |
|
Kevin Pietersen scored a century in his first Test as captain. How may others have scored a century on their captaincy debut? asked Laks Sampath from the United States
Kevin Pietersen did indeed score 100 in his first Test as captain, against South Africa at The Oval last week. Rather surprisingly, he is only the fourth England captain to start with a century, and two of the others were also born in South Africa: Allan Lamb made 119 against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1989-90, and more recently Andrew Strauss scored 128 in his first Test as captain, against Pakistan at Lord's in 2006. The other England captain to achieve the feat was Archie MacLaren, with 109 against Australia in Sydney in 1897-98. Pietersen was the 25th player from all countries to score a century in his first Test as captain, a list which includes Australia's Greg Chappell, who made two - 123 and 109 not out against West Indies in Brisbane in 1975-76.
Kevin Pietersen did indeed score 100 in his first Test as captain, against South Africa at The Oval last week. Rather surprisingly, he is only the fourth England captain to start with a century, and two of the others were also born in South Africa: Allan Lamb made 119 against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1989-90, and more recently Andrew Strauss scored 128 in his first Test as captain, against Pakistan at Lord's in 2006. The other England captain to achieve the feat was Archie MacLaren, with 109 against Australia in Sydney in 1897-98. Pietersen was the 25th player from all countries to score a century in his first Test as captain, a list which includes Australia's Greg Chappell, who made two - 123 and 109 not out against West Indies in Brisbane in 1975-76.
Who holds the record for the most second-innings centuries in Tests? I don't think it's Sachin Tendulkar, although he holds the overall record with 39? asked Keith D'Souza
You're right, it's not Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored "only" nine second-innings centuries in Tests. Three men, though, have made 11 centuries at the second attempt in Tests: another Indian, Sunil Gavaskar, and two Australians - Allan Border and Matthew Hayden. Just behind with ten second-innings hundreds are two more Australians - Don Bradman and Mark Taylor - and England's Graham Gooch.
You're right, it's not Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored "only" nine second-innings centuries in Tests. Three men, though, have made 11 centuries at the second attempt in Tests: another Indian, Sunil Gavaskar, and two Australians - Allan Border and Matthew Hayden. Just behind with ten second-innings hundreds are two more Australians - Don Bradman and Mark Taylor - and England's Graham Gooch.
I know that the record for the highest percentage of a Test innings by one batsman is still held by Charles Bannerman from the first Test of all, but who holds the corresponding record in ODIs? asked Peter Dabberley from Worthing
The record for the highest percentage of a completed innings by one batsman in a one-day international is 69.48%, slightly higher than the Test record of 67.34% by Charles Bannerman (165 retired hurt out of 245) for Australia in the first Test of all, in Melbourne in 1876-77. The one-day record is held by Viv Richards, in the shape of his 189 not out, in a total of 272 for 9, for West Indies against England at Old Trafford in 1984, which accounted for 69.48% of the team score. In second place lies India's Kapil Dev, with his 175 not out in a total of 266 for 8 - 65.78% - against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in the 1983 World Cup. For a full list, click here.
The record for the highest percentage of a completed innings by one batsman in a one-day international is 69.48%, slightly higher than the Test record of 67.34% by Charles Bannerman (165 retired hurt out of 245) for Australia in the first Test of all, in Melbourne in 1876-77. The one-day record is held by Viv Richards, in the shape of his 189 not out, in a total of 272 for 9, for West Indies against England at Old Trafford in 1984, which accounted for 69.48% of the team score. In second place lies India's Kapil Dev, with his 175 not out in a total of 266 for 8 - 65.78% - against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in the 1983 World Cup. For a full list, click here.
Which country has passed 300 most often in one-day internationals? asked Jignesh Patel from India
Australia lead the way here, with 54 totals of 300 or more in ODIs, just ahead of Pakistan (47) and India (45). Of the other Test nations, South Africa have had 31 scores of 300-plus, Sri Lanka 27, New Zealand 24, West Indies 22, England 21, Zimbabwe 11, and Bangladesh two (Kenya have managed it three times).
Australia lead the way here, with 54 totals of 300 or more in ODIs, just ahead of Pakistan (47) and India (45). Of the other Test nations, South Africa have had 31 scores of 300-plus, Sri Lanka 27, New Zealand 24, West Indies 22, England 21, Zimbabwe 11, and Bangladesh two (Kenya have managed it three times).
Can you answer this question that had us all at the local cricket club baffled? Who completed the first-ever hat-trick on a Sunday in first-class cricket in England? asked Malcolm Cairns
This was the England spinner Tony Lock, who achieved a hat-trick spread over two innings when his second county, Leicestershire, played Hampshire in Portsmouth, in May 1967, in one of the first County Championship matches to include Sunday play. After removing Butch White and Bob Cottam with his last two balls in the first innings, Lock dismissed Danny Livingstone with his first ball in the second - so the word "completed" is important here, as only the third wicket in the hat-trick came on the Sunday!
This was the England spinner Tony Lock, who achieved a hat-trick spread over two innings when his second county, Leicestershire, played Hampshire in Portsmouth, in May 1967, in one of the first County Championship matches to include Sunday play. After removing Butch White and Bob Cottam with his last two balls in the first innings, Lock dismissed Danny Livingstone with his first ball in the second - so the word "completed" is important here, as only the third wicket in the hat-trick came on the Sunday!
Has cricket ever featured in the Olympic Games? asked Daniel Sowerby from Cheltenham
Cricket has been included in only one Olympic Games, the 1900 celebration in Paris. Only two teams took part, with Great Britain defeating a team representing France (although there was only one native Frenchman in the side) to claim the honours. For a recent Cricinfo "Rewind to" article about the occasion, click here. A campaign is now getting under way to have Twenty20 cricket included in the Olympics - perhaps it would most appropriately be introduced at the 2020 Games.
Cricket has been included in only one Olympic Games, the 1900 celebration in Paris. Only two teams took part, with Great Britain defeating a team representing France (although there was only one native Frenchman in the side) to claim the honours. For a recent Cricinfo "Rewind to" article about the occasion, click here. A campaign is now getting under way to have Twenty20 cricket included in the Olympics - perhaps it would most appropriately be introduced at the 2020 Games.
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