Nourse's unique feat, and Afghanistan's winning start
A duck followed by a double, the highest total in a first international, and the most searched-for player on Cricinfo
Steven Lynch
26-May-2009
Ponting blows a kiss to his wife upon reaching a double-century in Adelaide; soon he would become one of only five to have scored a double and a duck in the same match • Mark Dadswell/Getty Images
Has any batsman gone for a duck in the first innings and scored more than 200 in the second? asked Prithvi from India
That particular combination has been managed only once in a Test match, by South Africa's Dudley Nourse, who made 0 and 231 against Australia in Johannesburg in 1935-36. A further four players have followed a double-century in the first innings with a duck in the second: Imtiaz Ahmed (209 and 0 for Pakistan v New Zealand in Lahore in 1955-56); Seymour Nurse (201 and 0 for West Indies v Australia in Bridgetown in 1964-65); Viv Richards (208 and 0 for West Indies v Australia in Melbourne in 1984-85); and Ricky Ponting (242 and 0 for Australia v India in Adelaide in 2003-04). Uniquely, Ponting ended up on the losing side (his 242 is the highest score by any player whose side ended up losing the Test). For a full list of players who have scored a century and a duck in the same Test, click here.
That particular combination has been managed only once in a Test match, by South Africa's Dudley Nourse, who made 0 and 231 against Australia in Johannesburg in 1935-36. A further four players have followed a double-century in the first innings with a duck in the second: Imtiaz Ahmed (209 and 0 for Pakistan v New Zealand in Lahore in 1955-56); Seymour Nurse (201 and 0 for West Indies v Australia in Bridgetown in 1964-65); Viv Richards (208 and 0 for West Indies v Australia in Melbourne in 1984-85); and Ricky Ponting (242 and 0 for Australia v India in Adelaide in 2003-04). Uniquely, Ponting ended up on the losing side (his 242 is the highest score by any player whose side ended up losing the Test). For a full list of players who have scored a century and a duck in the same Test, click here.
Afghanistan not only won their very first one-day international, but also scored 295 in it. Has anyone ever made a higher total in their first ODI, and how many countries won their first one? asked Pradeep Mukherjee from Delhi
Afghanistan did indeed win their first official one-day international, against Scotland in Benoni last month. The other first-time winners are Australia (v England in Melbourne in 1970-71), Bermuda (v Canada in Port-of-Spain in 2005-06), New Zealand (v Pakistan in Christchurch in 1972-73) and Zimbabwe (v Australia in Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup. The combined Africa XI, and the World XI, also won their first official ODIs. Afghanistan's first-up total of 295 has only been bettered by the World XI, which made 344 for 8 in their first official ODI, against Asia in the tsunami-appeal match in Melbourne in 2004-05. Not counting that one, the previous best by an individual country in their first one-day international was India's 265 against England at Headingley in 1974.
Afghanistan did indeed win their first official one-day international, against Scotland in Benoni last month. The other first-time winners are Australia (v England in Melbourne in 1970-71), Bermuda (v Canada in Port-of-Spain in 2005-06), New Zealand (v Pakistan in Christchurch in 1972-73) and Zimbabwe (v Australia in Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup. The combined Africa XI, and the World XI, also won their first official ODIs. Afghanistan's first-up total of 295 has only been bettered by the World XI, which made 344 for 8 in their first official ODI, against Asia in the tsunami-appeal match in Melbourne in 2004-05. Not counting that one, the previous best by an individual country in their first one-day international was India's 265 against England at Headingley in 1974.
A few years ago, a Queensland opener batted through the entire first session of a Sheffield Shield match without scoring a run. I think it was Daniel Payne, but my father says it was Brendan Nash (who now plays for West Indies). Could you settle this dispute? asked Jeff Bul from Australia
I think the match you're talking about is the Pura Cup game in Hobart in 2002-03, when Queensland went to lunch on the first day at 35 for 1. Opener Brendan Nash took 88 minutes to get off the mark, and was still on 1 not out at the interval (he eventually sprinted to 34 in 223 minutes, from 174 balls). So I'm afraid your father wins the bet - although Nash did manage to score that solitary single before lunch.
I think the match you're talking about is the Pura Cup game in Hobart in 2002-03, when Queensland went to lunch on the first day at 35 for 1. Opener Brendan Nash took 88 minutes to get off the mark, and was still on 1 not out at the interval (he eventually sprinted to 34 in 223 minutes, from 174 balls). So I'm afraid your father wins the bet - although Nash did manage to score that solitary single before lunch.
Which country has hosted the highest number of one-day internationals? Is it India? And what about Tests (I'm guessing either Australia or England as they have played the longest)? asked Andy Kris from the United Arab Emirates
The clear leader when it comes to hosting one-day internationals is Australia, where no fewer than 509 have been played - this is mainly down to the long triangular series that were a feature of summers Down Under from 1979-80 right up until last year. India are second with 320, then come England (296), South Africa (253), New Zealand (228), West Indies (215), the United Arab Emirates (211, 198 of them at Sharjah as mentioned last week), 206 in Pakistan and 198 in Sri Lanka. Your guess is right regarding Test matches: England have hosted 452 and Australia 366, with India next on 219.
The clear leader when it comes to hosting one-day internationals is Australia, where no fewer than 509 have been played - this is mainly down to the long triangular series that were a feature of summers Down Under from 1979-80 right up until last year. India are second with 320, then come England (296), South Africa (253), New Zealand (228), West Indies (215), the United Arab Emirates (211, 198 of them at Sharjah as mentioned last week), 206 in Pakistan and 198 in Sri Lanka. Your guess is right regarding Test matches: England have hosted 452 and Australia 366, with India next on 219.
How many times did the famed Indian spin quartet of Bedi, Chandrasekhar, Prasanna and Venkataraghavan play together in the same XI? asked Dhruva from the United States
India's four great spinners of the 1960s and 1970s - Bishan Bedi, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan - actually played together in only one Test, against England at Edgbaston in 1967. Prasanna came out with seven wickets, and Chandra six. I suppose it's not really that surprising that they didn't play in the same side more often, as Prasanna and Venkat were both offspinners, and usually only one of them was chosen. Selecting all four also meant that the tail became pretty long.
India's four great spinners of the 1960s and 1970s - Bishan Bedi, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan - actually played together in only one Test, against England at Edgbaston in 1967. Prasanna came out with seven wickets, and Chandra six. I suppose it's not really that surprising that they didn't play in the same side more often, as Prasanna and Venkat were both offspinners, and usually only one of them was chosen. Selecting all four also meant that the tail became pretty long.
I often use the search at the bottom of Cricinfo's pages to look at players. I noticed that the top five searches almost always include Sachin Tendulkar's name. Who are the most-searched players on Cricinfo over the years? asked Rohit Sinha from the United States
I asked Jonathan Hungin, one of Cricinfo's technical wizards, for the answer, and he told me that the 10 names most frequently entered in the player-search box over the last few years have been: "1. Sachin Tendulkar. 2. Tendulkar. 3. Sachin. 4. Any of the first three spelt incorrectly. 5. Dhoni. 6. Ponting. 7. Dravid. 8. Ganguly. 9. Afridi. 10. Imran Khan." So there you have it: Tendulkar the clear winner!
I asked Jonathan Hungin, one of Cricinfo's technical wizards, for the answer, and he told me that the 10 names most frequently entered in the player-search box over the last few years have been: "1. Sachin Tendulkar. 2. Tendulkar. 3. Sachin. 4. Any of the first three spelt incorrectly. 5. Dhoni. 6. Ponting. 7. Dravid. 8. Ganguly. 9. Afridi. 10. Imran Khan." So there you have it: Tendulkar the clear winner!
And there's an update on last week's question about vegetable-themed cricketers, from Lionel Birkan, among others
"Not a Test player, but Abhijit Kale [kale is a type of cabbage] played one one-day international for India, in Dhaka in 2002-03. Not a vegetable, but a fruit: Bob Berry, who played two Tests for England in 1950." And Nottinghamshire's George Bean played three Tests for England in 1891-92.
"Not a Test player, but Abhijit Kale [kale is a type of cabbage] played one one-day international for India, in Dhaka in 2002-03. Not a vegetable, but a fruit: Bob Berry, who played two Tests for England in 1950." And Nottinghamshire's George Bean played three Tests for England in 1891-92.
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