The worst starts, and the best records against Australia

I know the embarrassing fact that India were once 0 for 4 in a Test match. But what were the lowest scores at which the later wickets fell? Does New Zealand's 26 all out feature highly? asked Aashish Patel from Delhi
Slightly surprisingly perhaps, New Zealand's 26 all out against England in Auckland in 1954-55 - the lowest Test total of all - features only once on this particular list. It is, fairly obviously, the lowest score at which the 10th wicket fell in a Test. The other records are as follows: India were 6 for 5 against England at The Oval in 1952 (this was later in the series in which they had uniquely been 0 for 4 at Headingley); Australia were 7 for 6 in their follow-on against England at Old Trafford in 1888; and Australia were 14 for 7, 19 for 8 and 25 for 9 (all record lows) against England at The Oval in 1896 - they were chasing only 111 to win, but were all out for 44.

Since the 1990s, which batsman has the best combined batting record in Tests and ODIs against Australia? asked Dr Nandar Bichu from the United Arab Emirates
Two Indian batsmen lead the way in international matches against Australia since 1990. Top of the list, given a minimum of 500 runs, is VVS Laxman, who averages 52.55 overall against Australia (55.10 in Tests, 46.18 in ODIs). He's just ahead of Sachin Tendulkar, who has 50.17. A rather more surprising Indian name in fourth place is Ajay Jadeja with 48.45. The only other man to average over 50 against Australia is the South African newcomer Jean-Paul Duminy (50.17).

Who has been involved in the most 300-run partnerships in Tests? I'm assuming it might be Don Bradman, with Rahul Dravid next. Is there anyone else? asked Ravi Agolla from the United States
You're pretty close: Don Bradman does indeed lead the way, having shared in five partnerships of 300 or more in Tests, while Rahul Dravid is joint second with four (he took part in his fourth one against England in Mohali last December). The other two players with four are the South African pair of Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith: three of their 300-run stands were with each other.

We quite often see figures quoted about the highest score by someone on the losing side - but who has the best bowling figures in ODIs in a lost match? asked Sudhir Garimalla from India
The best bowling analysis in a losing cause in a one-day international was recorded by Pakistan's Imran Khan, who had the superb figures of 10-2-14-6 against India in Sharjah in 1984-85. That contributed to India's being bowled out for 125 - but they then skittled Pakistan for 87 to win by 38 runs. Second on the list is New Zealand's Shane Bond, who took 6 for 23 in vain against Australia in Port Elizabeth during the 2003 World Cup.

Which batsman has been out for 0 most often in one-day internationals? asked Jim Lucas from Liverpool
Leading the way on this unwanted list is Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, who has been dismissed without scoring 33 times in one-day internationals now. For a full list, click here. Wasim Akram of Pakistan lies second with 28, ahead of three Sri Lankans - Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas both currently have 25 ducks, while Jayasuriya's long-time opening partner Romesh Kaluwitharana had 24.

I remember Daniel Vettori once opening the innings in a one-day international, and also I remember him batting at No. 11 in some other ODI. Can you please tell me whether there is any other player who has this unique distinction of playing at No. 1 and No. 11? asked Vivek Rahul Gunti from the United States
Well, a total of 12 players have opened and also gone in last in a one-day international - the snag is that Daniel Vettori isn't one of them, as he has never gone in at No. 11 in an ODI, although he did do so in a couple of his early Tests. The full list of the dozen who have done it is: Abdul Razzaq, Asif Mujtaba and Salim Malik of Pakistan, the New Zealand pair of Chris Harris and Martin Snedden, Dave Brain and Paul Strang of Zimbabwe, Bangladesh's Mohammad Rafique, Thilan Samaraweera of Sri Lanka, Scotland's Paul Hoffmann, Edgar Schiferli of the Netherlands, and George O'Brien of Bermuda (quite an achievement by him as he has only played nine matches!). Razzaq is the only man to have gone it at every position from opener to No. 11 in one-day internationals.

And there's an update on last week's question about wicketkeepers taking a catch off their first ball in a one-day international, from Mohandas Menon
"Regarding the answer given, Lee Germon of New Zealand actually took a catch off the second delivery of his debut match in Bloemfontein - the first ball was a wide!"