The highest Test average, and hat-trick men

Ian Bell currently has a Test average of 297. Has anyone ever had a higher one, at any stage of their career? asked Neil Bright from Stratford-upon-Avon

After three innings - 70 against West Indies, and 65 not out and 162 not out against Bangladesh - Ian Bell does indeed have a Test batting average of 297. This has only been bettered by four people in Test history: South Africa's Jacques Rudolph started with 222 not out and 71 (against Bangladesh) and 10 (against England) in 2003, giving him an average of 303.00 the ball before he was dismissed for the second time. In 1903-04 RE "Tip" Foster of England began his career with 287 against Australia at Sydney, and made 19 in his next innings, at Melbourne - so his average the ball before he was dismissed there was 306.00. Next comes David Lloyd, the Lancashire batsman turned coach and commentator: he began against India in 1974 with 46, 214 not out and 48, so boasted an average of 308.00 the instant before he was out for the second time. But the record-holder is the West Indian Lawrence Rowe, who began his Test career, against New Zealand in 1971-72, with 214, 100 not out and 22 - giving him an average of 336.00 the ball before his second dismissal. So Bell needs to score 40 in his first innings of the Ashes series to break this record.

What is the longest period that one side has held the Ashes? asked Tom Wall from Yorkshire

The longest period to date is 19 years - Australia won back the Ashes in 1934, and didn't surrender them until 1953. Because of the Second World War, however, there were only five series played in that period (excluding the 1934 and '53 ones). The Ashes changed hands most recently in 1989, so England have to reclaim them either in this series or the next one, scheduled in Australia in 2006-07, if that record is not to be broken.

Which bowler has taken the most hat-tricks in first-class cricket? asked Sakya from the United States

The record in all first-class cricket is seven, by Doug Wright, who took six for Kent, and another one on tour in South Africa in 1938-39. A brisk legspinner with an eccentric, bounding run-up and delivery, Wright took 108 wickets in 34 Tests either side of the Second World War. He died in Canterbury in 1998, aged 84. Two Gloucestershire and England spinners come next, with six apiece: Charlie Parker and Tom Goddard. For a list of Test (not first-class) hat-tricks, click here.

Who has taken the most wickets in one-day internationals? asked David Weller from Middlesbrough

The leader, by quite a long way, is Wasim Akram of Pakistan. He took 502 wickets in 356 one-day internationals before retiring after the 2003 World Cup. In second place is his long-time opening partner, Waqar Younis, with 416 wickets. The leading current bowlers are Muttiah Muralitharan (369) and Anil Kumble (325). For a full list of ODI wicket-takers, click here.

Where was the first triple-century scored in Tests? asked Brian Marshall from Brisbane

The first man to pass the 300 barrier in a Test was Andy Sandham, the Surrey and England opener, with 325 against West Indies at Kingston in 1929-30. Sandham was 39 at the time, and this turned out to be his last Test appearance. Within three months his record had been broken by Don Bradman, who made 334 for Australia against England at Headingley in 1930. There have now been 19 triple-centuries - and one quadruple - in Test cricket. Click here for the full list.

Can you give the scorecard of the one-day game in which Alistair Brown hit 268? asked Arjun Khetterun from Rajkot

This came in the course of an amazing Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy match at The Oval in 2002. Surrey amassed 438 for 5 in their 50 overs, with Alistair Brown smashing 268, with 30 fours and no fewer than 12 sixes. But, remarkably, Surrey nearly lost - Glamorgan made 429 in reply, to go down by just nine runs. For a list of the highest scores in all major limited-overs matches, click here.