Of 199s and 99s at Lord's
Unfortunate records at the home of cricket, a hundred and a five-for on debut, and more
Steven Lynch
15-Jul-2008
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Ian Bell recently got out on 199 - how many other players have got out for 199 in Tests?
Ian Bell was the seventh man overall - but the first Englishman - to be out for 199 in a Test, during the just-completed match at Lord's. The first to suffer this fate was Pakistan's Mudassar Nazar, against India in Faisalabad in 1984-85. He was followed by Mohammad Azharuddin, for India v Sri Lanka in Kanpur in 1986-87; Matthew Elliott, for Australia v England at Headingley in 1997; Sanath Jayasuriya, for Sri Lanka v India in Colombo in 1997-98 (in the previous match he'd scored 340); Steve Waugh, for Australia v West Indies in Bridgetown in 1998-99; and Younis Khan, for Pakistan v India in Lahore in 2005-06 (in the next match he scored 194. We must also mention Zimbabwe's Andy Flower, who was left stranded on 199 not out against South Africa in Harare in 2001-02.
Ian Bell was the seventh man overall - but the first Englishman - to be out for 199 in a Test, during the just-completed match at Lord's. The first to suffer this fate was Pakistan's Mudassar Nazar, against India in Faisalabad in 1984-85. He was followed by Mohammad Azharuddin, for India v Sri Lanka in Kanpur in 1986-87; Matthew Elliott, for Australia v England at Headingley in 1997; Sanath Jayasuriya, for Sri Lanka v India in Colombo in 1997-98 (in the previous match he'd scored 340); Steve Waugh, for Australia v West Indies in Bridgetown in 1998-99; and Younis Khan, for Pakistan v India in Lahore in 2005-06 (in the next match he scored 194. We must also mention Zimbabwe's Andy Flower, who was left stranded on 199 not out against South Africa in Harare in 2001-02.
Scoring a century at Lord's in a Test is a great achievement. Is there a list of players who made 99 in a Test at Lord's?asked Gareth Levey from South Africa
Six men have had the misfortune to miss out on a place on the Lord's batting honours board by just one run. The first was the great Australian Charles Macartney, who was caught behind for 99 against England in 1912. He was followed by England's Eddie Paynter, who was lbw against Australia in 1938; England's Mike Smith, who became the first part of the controversial Geoff Griffin's hat-trick for South Africa in 1960; Australia's Ross Edwards, lbw to Bob Woolmer (his first Test wicket) in 1975; Australia's Mark Waugh (bowled) in 1993, and, probably unluckiest of all, England's Mike Atherton - run out for 99 in that same 1993 Ashes Test. For a full list of players who have been out for 99 in a Test, click here.
Six men have had the misfortune to miss out on a place on the Lord's batting honours board by just one run. The first was the great Australian Charles Macartney, who was caught behind for 99 against England in 1912. He was followed by England's Eddie Paynter, who was lbw against Australia in 1938; England's Mike Smith, who became the first part of the controversial Geoff Griffin's hat-trick for South Africa in 1960; Australia's Ross Edwards, lbw to Bob Woolmer (his first Test wicket) in 1975; Australia's Mark Waugh (bowled) in 1993, and, probably unluckiest of all, England's Mike Atherton - run out for 99 in that same 1993 Ashes Test. For a full list of players who have been out for 99 in a Test, click here.
When England made 593 in the first innings at Lord's, did they set a record for a team put in by South Africa? asked Max Johns from New Zealand
Remarkably, England's total of 593 for 8 declared at Lord's exactly equalled the highest score by any side put in by South Africa in a Test. In Cape Town in April 2006, New Zealand also made 593 for 8 declared after Graeme Smith won the toss and decided to bowl first. His opposite number as captain, Stephen Fleming, made 262.
Remarkably, England's total of 593 for 8 declared at Lord's exactly equalled the highest score by any side put in by South Africa in a Test. In Cape Town in April 2006, New Zealand also made 593 for 8 declared after Graeme Smith won the toss and decided to bowl first. His opposite number as captain, Stephen Fleming, made 262.
Which player scored a hundred and took five wickets on his Test debut? asked Martin from Australia
The only person to do this in his first Test was the New Zealand allrounder Bruce Taylor, who made 105 (his maiden first-class century) and then took 5 for 86 against India at Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1964-65. For a full list of all the players to have achieved this all-round feat, click here.
The only person to do this in his first Test was the New Zealand allrounder Bruce Taylor, who made 105 (his maiden first-class century) and then took 5 for 86 against India at Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1964-65. For a full list of all the players to have achieved this all-round feat, click here.
What are the best bowling figures for any Test innings at Lord's? asked Barry Carpenter from Essex
Top of the list is the recently knighted Ian Botham, who took 8 for 34 (after scoring 108 earlier in the match) against Pakistan at Lord's in 1978. Australia's Glenn McGrath came very close to beating that with 8 for 38 against England in 1997. There have been seven instances of eight wickets in a Test innings at Lord's, two each by Botham and Australia's Bob Massie (in the same match in 1972). The others to achieve the feat, apart from McGrath, are the English left-armers Hedley Verity (8 for 43 against Australia in 1934) and Derek Underwood (8 for 51 against Pakistan in 1974).
Top of the list is the recently knighted Ian Botham, who took 8 for 34 (after scoring 108 earlier in the match) against Pakistan at Lord's in 1978. Australia's Glenn McGrath came very close to beating that with 8 for 38 against England in 1997. There have been seven instances of eight wickets in a Test innings at Lord's, two each by Botham and Australia's Bob Massie (in the same match in 1972). The others to achieve the feat, apart from McGrath, are the English left-armers Hedley Verity (8 for 43 against Australia in 1934) and Derek Underwood (8 for 51 against Pakistan in 1974).
Do you think South Africa's first-wicket Test record should stand, since it was only made against Bangladesh? asked Naved Patel from Chennai
That record of 415 was set by Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith in Chittagong earlier this year. The trouble with being selective about which records should count, though, is that it starts you on a problematic ride: if you say that that Chittagong game shouldn't be considered, what do you do about the previous match, in Mirpur, in which Bangladesh took a first-innings lead and might easily have won? And going further back, the previous first-wicket record of 413 was set by India's Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad in Madras (now Chennai) in 1955-56 - but it was made against New Zealand, who were fairly weak at the time and, indeed, had not at that stage ever won a Test match since they started playing them in 1929-30. There's a case for discounting that series, and lots played by several other countries early on in their development. So I think we'll have to leave the traditional list of Test matches as it is, and people will have to make up their own minds about the relative merits of the sides involved. For the record, here's a full list of the highest first-wicket stands in Tests.
That record of 415 was set by Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith in Chittagong earlier this year. The trouble with being selective about which records should count, though, is that it starts you on a problematic ride: if you say that that Chittagong game shouldn't be considered, what do you do about the previous match, in Mirpur, in which Bangladesh took a first-innings lead and might easily have won? And going further back, the previous first-wicket record of 413 was set by India's Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad in Madras (now Chennai) in 1955-56 - but it was made against New Zealand, who were fairly weak at the time and, indeed, had not at that stage ever won a Test match since they started playing them in 1929-30. There's a case for discounting that series, and lots played by several other countries early on in their development. So I think we'll have to leave the traditional list of Test matches as it is, and people will have to make up their own minds about the relative merits of the sides involved. For the record, here's a full list of the highest first-wicket stands in Tests.
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