Long gaps, Oval stats, and opening bats
Twenty-two years between Tests, both openers scoring centuries, and triples without a six
Steven Lynch
18-Aug-2009
John Traicos spent 22 years and 222 days between two Tests • Getty Images
With all the talk about Mark Ramprakash's possible recall by England after more than seven years, what is the longest gap between Test appearances? asked Sarah Hockings from Leeds
Mark Ramprakash has a long way to go to match the longest gap between two Test appearances - the offspinner John Traicos played the last of his three Tests for South Africa against Australia in Port Elizabeth in March 1970, and reappeared in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test in Harare 22 years 222 days later, in October 1992. In second place is the Nottinghamshire and England batsman George Gunn, who had a gap of 17 years 316 days between Test appearances in 1911-12 and 1929-30, while Pakistan's Younis Ahmed also went more than 17 years between Tests (1969-70 to 1986-87). The record for the most matches missed by anyone between Test appearances is held by Martin Bicknell: England played 114 matches between his second cap in 1993 and his third one, in 2003. Younis (104 matches) was recently pushed down into third place on this list by the West Indian Floyd Reifer, who missed 109 Tests between 1999 and his recent recall as captain against Bangladesh. For a full list of the longest gaps in terms of time, click here, or for matches missed, click here.
Mark Ramprakash has a long way to go to match the longest gap between two Test appearances - the offspinner John Traicos played the last of his three Tests for South Africa against Australia in Port Elizabeth in March 1970, and reappeared in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test in Harare 22 years 222 days later, in October 1992. In second place is the Nottinghamshire and England batsman George Gunn, who had a gap of 17 years 316 days between Test appearances in 1911-12 and 1929-30, while Pakistan's Younis Ahmed also went more than 17 years between Tests (1969-70 to 1986-87). The record for the most matches missed by anyone between Test appearances is held by Martin Bicknell: England played 114 matches between his second cap in 1993 and his third one, in 2003. Younis (104 matches) was recently pushed down into third place on this list by the West Indian Floyd Reifer, who missed 109 Tests between 1999 and his recent recall as captain against Bangladesh. For a full list of the longest gaps in terms of time, click here, or for matches missed, click here.
How often have England beaten Australia in a Test at The Oval? asked a hopeful Nick Bloor from Twickenham
The two teams have met in 34 previous Tests at The Oval, and England hold a 15-6 lead, with 13 draws. Australia's wins have come in 1882 (the match that spawned the Ashes legend), 1930, 1934, 1948, 1972 and 2001, while England's successes include five in a row between 1886 and 1896. The scoreline since the Second World War is England 5, Australia 3 (and eight draws).
The two teams have met in 34 previous Tests at The Oval, and England hold a 15-6 lead, with 13 draws. Australia's wins have come in 1882 (the match that spawned the Ashes legend), 1930, 1934, 1948, 1972 and 2001, while England's successes include five in a row between 1886 and 1896. The scoreline since the Second World War is England 5, Australia 3 (and eight draws).
How often have both openers scored centuries in the same one-day international innings? asked Mark Wilson from London
This has now happened on 20 occasions in one-day internationals, most recently by Gavin Hamilton (119) and Fraser Watts (101) for Scotland against Canada in Aberdeen in July 2009. The last occasion involving two Test-playing teams was in Karachi during the Asia Cup in 2008, when Sanath Jayasuriya scored 130 and Kumar Sangakkara 121 for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh. And the first time it happened was in Jaipur in 1986-87, when Geoff Marsh made 104 and David Boon 111 for Australia against India.
This has now happened on 20 occasions in one-day internationals, most recently by Gavin Hamilton (119) and Fraser Watts (101) for Scotland against Canada in Aberdeen in July 2009. The last occasion involving two Test-playing teams was in Karachi during the Asia Cup in 2008, when Sanath Jayasuriya scored 130 and Kumar Sangakkara 121 for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh. And the first time it happened was in Jaipur in 1986-87, when Geoff Marsh made 104 and David Boon 111 for Australia against India.
I spotted an Indian wicketkeeper called Rajindernath who had four stumpings but no catches in Test cricket. Has anyone done better (or worse) than this? asked James Merriman from Australia
Rajindernath did indeed complete four stumpings but no catches in what turned out to be his only Test, against Pakistan in Bombay in 1952-53. It's easily a record: no other wicketkeeper has made more than one Test stumping without taking at least one catch as well.
Rajindernath did indeed complete four stumpings but no catches in what turned out to be his only Test, against Pakistan in Bombay in 1952-53. It's easily a record: no other wicketkeeper has made more than one Test stumping without taking at least one catch as well.
I noticed that Garry Sobers hit 38 fours but no sixes in his then-record Test score of 365 not out in 1957-58. Is this the highest individual Test score that did not include a six? asked Keith D'Souza from Nigeria
I was slightly surprised to find that Garry Sobers's 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58 was not the highest Test score which did not include any sixes: Brian Lara's 375 against England in St John's in 1993-94 didn't contain any either. In all there have been seven triple-centuries in Tests that did not include any sixes. For a full list of the highest Test scores, with details of fours and sixes, click here.
I was slightly surprised to find that Garry Sobers's 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58 was not the highest Test score which did not include any sixes: Brian Lara's 375 against England in St John's in 1993-94 didn't contain any either. In all there have been seven triple-centuries in Tests that did not include any sixes. For a full list of the highest Test scores, with details of fours and sixes, click here.
What is Garry Sobers' middle name? I've seen it written as "St Auburn" and also "St Aubrun" ... asked Danny Williams from Barbados
Well, according to his most recent (2002) autobiography and Trevor Bailey's earlier biography (1976) of him, Garry Sobers's middle name is "St Aubrun". Bailey wrote: "His parents ... christened him Garfield St Aubrun - which, following George, Greta, Elise and Gerry, does appear to be an exotic choice." By the way, many years ago Sobers confirmed to Wisden Cricket Monthly magazine that the shortened version of his first name should be spelt "Garry".
Well, according to his most recent (2002) autobiography and Trevor Bailey's earlier biography (1976) of him, Garry Sobers's middle name is "St Aubrun". Bailey wrote: "His parents ... christened him Garfield St Aubrun - which, following George, Greta, Elise and Gerry, does appear to be an exotic choice." By the way, many years ago Sobers confirmed to Wisden Cricket Monthly magazine that the shortened version of his first name should be spelt "Garry".
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket (reviewed here). If you want to ask Steven a question, use our feedback form. The most interesting questions will be answered here each week