Losing causes, and debut run-outs

What is the longest Test innings by a batsman who finished on the losing side? asked Lewis from Australia
The longest was an innings of 590 minutes - 10 minutes short of 10 hours - by Andy Flower, the Zimbabwean wicketkeeper-batsman who is now England's coach. Against South Africa in Harare in 2001-02 Flower made 199 not out as Zimbabwe followed on (despite Flower's 142 in 289 minutes in the first innings), but South Africa still won by nine wickets before tea on the final day. Flower survived 470 balls during his vigil, but there has been one longer innings in vain in Tests in terms of balls faced: England's Herbert Sutcliffe lasted 481 for his 176 against Australia in a seven-day Test in Melbourne in 1924-25. Sutcliffe batted for 431 minutes.

How many players have been run out in their very first Test innings, as Jonathan Trott was at The Oval? asked Keith D'Souza from Nigeria
England's Jonathan Trott was the 85th player to be run out in the first innings of his first Test. The previous unfortunate was Sulieman Benn of West Indies, against Sri Lanka at Providence in 2007-08; the first one was Dave Gregory, Australia's captain in the very first Test of all, against England in Melbourne in 1876-77. The highest score made by someone who was then run out in the first innings of his first Test is 93, by Gordon Greenidge for West Indies against India in Bangalore in 1974-75 (he ran slightly better in the second innings and made 107).

Charles Coventry now has the highest individual score in a losing cause in an ODI. Whose record did he break? asked Nandan Lokare from India
You're right: Charles Coventry's 194 not out against Bangladesh in Bulawayo last week not only equalled the highest score in all one-day internationals (194 by Saeed Anwar for Pakistan v India in Chennai in 1996-97) but was the highest by anyone who still finished on the losing side. The previous record was 181 not out, by Matthew Hayden for Australia against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2006-07.

Who has scored the most centuries in one-day internationals in matches his side ended up losing? asked Rasa Zaidi from the United States
Not surprisingly, I suppose, the leader here is also the overall leading one-day international centurymaker: Sachin Tendulkar has made an amazing 43 hundreds in ODIs, and 11 of them have come in matches that India lost. Second on the list is Chris Gayle of West Indies, who has made nine (out of 19) centuries in ODIs in which he ended up on the losing side.

Which bowler reached 200 wickets in Tests in the fewest matches? asked James Calori from London
The Australian legspinner Clarrie Grimmett was not only the first bowler ever to take 200 Test wickets, he got there in just 36 matches, which remains the record. Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis both got there in their 38th match, while Ian Botham and Stuart MacGill took 41 each.

Which international cricketer is also the drummer in a rock band? asked Arun from Bangalore
The former Australian offspinner Gavin Robertson, who played four Tests and 13 ODIs in the 1990s, is (or was) the drummer with the pop group Six and Out, which also included Brett Lee and his brother Shane, as well as the New South Wales players Richard Chee Quee and Brad McNamara. I suppose there may well be others: I have a feeling that the Bangladesh allrounder Mehrab Hossain junior is also a part-time drummer, but I can't find anything to back up my hunch.