Most wickets on debut, and most runs conceded
The best Test records in India, unlucky 87, and lots and lots of Jason Krejza
Steven Lynch
18-Nov-2008
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Were Jason Krejza's bowling figures the best on debut for Australia? Or for anyone? asked Brett Johnson from Melbourne
In the recent Test in Nagpur the offspinner Jason Krejza became only the sixth bowler - the third from Australia - to take eight wickets in an innings on his Test debut. The best first-up figures are 8 for 43, by Australia's Albert Trott against England in Adelaide in 1894-95. Next comes another Australian, Bob Massie, with 8 for 53 at Lord's in 1972 (that was in the second innings, after he'd taken 8 for 84 in the first). The Indian legspinner Narendra Hirwani took 8 for 61 against West Indies in Madras (now Chennai) in 1987-88, and added 8 for 75 in the second innings. Lance Klusener of South Africa claimed 8 for 64 on debut against India in Kolkata in 1996-97, while the West Indian slow left-armer Alf Valentine collected 8 for 104 - uniquely, the first eight wickets to fall - in his first Test, against England at Old Trafford in 1950. For a full list of the best bowling figures on Test debut, click here. Krejza's overall match figures of 12 for 358 have been bettered in a player's first Test only by Hirwani, Massie and England's Fred "Nutty" Martin, who took 12 for 102 against Australia at The Oval in 1890.
In the recent Test in Nagpur the offspinner Jason Krejza became only the sixth bowler - the third from Australia - to take eight wickets in an innings on his Test debut. The best first-up figures are 8 for 43, by Australia's Albert Trott against England in Adelaide in 1894-95. Next comes another Australian, Bob Massie, with 8 for 53 at Lord's in 1972 (that was in the second innings, after he'd taken 8 for 84 in the first). The Indian legspinner Narendra Hirwani took 8 for 61 against West Indies in Madras (now Chennai) in 1987-88, and added 8 for 75 in the second innings. Lance Klusener of South Africa claimed 8 for 64 on debut against India in Kolkata in 1996-97, while the West Indian slow left-armer Alf Valentine collected 8 for 104 - uniquely, the first eight wickets to fall - in his first Test, against England at Old Trafford in 1950. For a full list of the best bowling figures on Test debut, click here. Krejza's overall match figures of 12 for 358 have been bettered in a player's first Test only by Hirwani, Massie and England's Fred "Nutty" Martin, who took 12 for 102 against Australia at The Oval in 1890.
Jason Krejza conceded 358 runs in the match at Nagpur. Was this a record for someone making their debut? asked Damien Barrett from Adelaide
It's easily a record by a bowler making his Test debut, yes. The previous mark was 282 runs, by the Kent legspinner Douglas Carr, for England against Australia at The Oval in 1909. Carr took 5 for 146 and 2 for 136 in what turned out to be his only Test appearance. Only one bowler has ever conceded more runs in a Test than Jason Krejza: in the timeless match in Kingston in 1929-30 - it actually lasted for nine days before it had to be left drawn when the England team needed to sail home - the West Indian legspinner Tommy Scott followed 5 for 266 in a total of 849 with 4 for 108 when England batted again (they didn't enforce the follow-on despite a handy first-innings lead of 563). Scott had warmed up for this marathon by taking 10 for 256 in 75 overs for Jamaica in the preceding tour match. Apart from the instances involving Scott and Krejza there have been only two other occasions when a bowler has conceded more than 300 runs in a Test, both by the extravagant Australian legspinner Arthur Mailey against England: he took 7 for 308 in Sydney in 1924-25, and 10 for 302 in Adelaide in 1920-21. For a full list of the most runs conceded in a match, click here.
It's easily a record by a bowler making his Test debut, yes. The previous mark was 282 runs, by the Kent legspinner Douglas Carr, for England against Australia at The Oval in 1909. Carr took 5 for 146 and 2 for 136 in what turned out to be his only Test appearance. Only one bowler has ever conceded more runs in a Test than Jason Krejza: in the timeless match in Kingston in 1929-30 - it actually lasted for nine days before it had to be left drawn when the England team needed to sail home - the West Indian legspinner Tommy Scott followed 5 for 266 in a total of 849 with 4 for 108 when England batted again (they didn't enforce the follow-on despite a handy first-innings lead of 563). Scott had warmed up for this marathon by taking 10 for 256 in 75 overs for Jamaica in the preceding tour match. Apart from the instances involving Scott and Krejza there have been only two other occasions when a bowler has conceded more than 300 runs in a Test, both by the extravagant Australian legspinner Arthur Mailey against England: he took 7 for 308 in Sydney in 1924-25, and 10 for 302 in Adelaide in 1920-21. For a full list of the most runs conceded in a match, click here.
What are the best match figures by a bowler who ended up losing the Test? asked Amit Parekh from Mumbai
Our man Jason Krejza was the ninth bowler to take 12 wickets in a match his side ended up losing, the most recent one being New Zealand's Daniel Vettori, who took 12 for 149 against Australia in Auckland in 1999-2000. But four other players have taken 13 wickets in a Test and still finished on the losing side: Javagal Srinath took 13 for 102 for India against Pakistan in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1998-99; Sydney Barnes took 13 for 163 for England v Australia in Melbourne in 1901-02; Merv Hughes took 13 for 217 for Australia v West Indies in Perth in 1988-89; and Tom Richardson took 13 for 244 for England v Australia at Old Trafford in 1896.
Our man Jason Krejza was the ninth bowler to take 12 wickets in a match his side ended up losing, the most recent one being New Zealand's Daniel Vettori, who took 12 for 149 against Australia in Auckland in 1999-2000. But four other players have taken 13 wickets in a Test and still finished on the losing side: Javagal Srinath took 13 for 102 for India against Pakistan in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1998-99; Sydney Barnes took 13 for 163 for England v Australia in Melbourne in 1901-02; Merv Hughes took 13 for 217 for Australia v West Indies in Perth in 1988-89; and Tom Richardson took 13 for 244 for England v Australia at Old Trafford in 1896.
Which visiting batsman has the best record in Tests in India? asked Balaji from Chennai
Three visiting players have scored more than 1000 runs in Tests in India: Clive Lloyd made 1359 and Gordon Greenidge 1042 for West Indies (both in 14 matches), while Australia's Matthew Hayden passed 1000 during the recent series and now has 1027 runs from 11 matches. Of those who have scored more than 500 Test runs in India, three batsmen have an average of over 100: Jimmy Adams of West Indies managed a lofty 173.33, Zimbabwe's Andy Flower averaged 117.14, and another West Indian, Everton Weekes, 111.28. Garry Sobers just missed out, averaging 99.88 in India.
Three visiting players have scored more than 1000 runs in Tests in India: Clive Lloyd made 1359 and Gordon Greenidge 1042 for West Indies (both in 14 matches), while Australia's Matthew Hayden passed 1000 during the recent series and now has 1027 runs from 11 matches. Of those who have scored more than 500 Test runs in India, three batsmen have an average of over 100: Jimmy Adams of West Indies managed a lofty 173.33, Zimbabwe's Andy Flower averaged 117.14, and another West Indian, Everton Weekes, 111.28. Garry Sobers just missed out, averaging 99.88 in India.
I was surprised to read here last week that only 13 Australians had been out in a Test for the so-called unlucky number of 87. Is "Nelson" unluckier? asked Bill Green from Manchester
Nelson is marginally less unlucky than 87 for Australian batsmen - there have been a round dozen dismissals for 111 for them in Tests, including two apiece by Arthur Morris, Mark Waugh and Graeme Wood. Eighty-seven turns out to have been much unluckier for the Poms: 16 Englishmen have fallen for that score in Tests, including Alec Stewart twice and his father Micky once (it remained his highest score), while 111 has claimed only nine English victims in Tests.
Nelson is marginally less unlucky than 87 for Australian batsmen - there have been a round dozen dismissals for 111 for them in Tests, including two apiece by Arthur Morris, Mark Waugh and Graeme Wood. Eighty-seven turns out to have been much unluckier for the Poms: 16 Englishmen have fallen for that score in Tests, including Alec Stewart twice and his father Micky once (it remained his highest score), while 111 has claimed only nine English victims in Tests.
Which team has won a Test while losing the fewest wickets themselves? asked Sreevatsa from India
There have been four instances of a team winning a Test while losing only two wickets. The first three were all by England at home, the victims being South Africa at Lord's in 1924, New Zealand at Headingley in 1958, and India at Edgbaston in 1974. The fourth and most recent occasion was by South Africa, who scored 470 for 2 dec to beat Bangladesh (173 and 237) in Chittagong in 2002-03. For a full list, click here.
There have been four instances of a team winning a Test while losing only two wickets. The first three were all by England at home, the victims being South Africa at Lord's in 1924, New Zealand at Headingley in 1958, and India at Edgbaston in 1974. The fourth and most recent occasion was by South Africa, who scored 470 for 2 dec to beat Bangladesh (173 and 237) in Chittagong in 2002-03. For a full list, click here.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket