Ask the Spider #54

Of those who scored Test double-centuries, who went longest without one?

Mark Taylor went 159 innings’ between scoring 219 at Trent Bridge in 1989 and 334* at Peshawar in 1998/99. He beat Allan Border and Carl Hooper’s marks by the narrowest of margins – a single innings.

Who has the most Tests in a full career entirely at home?

Stanley Jackson played 20 Tests, all of which came in his own country, England.

Who has scored the most runs in First-Class cricket without playing a Test?

This record is held by the unfortunate Alan Jones of Glamorgan, who did appear for England against the World XI which played a series against England in 1970. The series was even recognised, at the time, as a Test series, but the status was stripped after the event. In his career, including that match, he scored 36,049 runs.

Which wicketkeeper took most catches between making a stumping?

David Richardson, who kept to South Africa’s seam-orientated attacks in the early 1990s, played 33 Tests and took a remarkable 119 catches before making his maiden stumping, which came against India in 1996/97. Even then it was a throwaway wicket at the end of the innings, as Venkatesh Prasad lost his wicket to Paul Adams to end the match in a thumping South African win.

Which captain has lost the toss the most times in a row?

Nasser Hussain lost a remarkable 10 in a row between 2000/01 and 2001/02. He did miss games in which England won the toss during this run, however.

Who played the most number of consecutive Tests without taking a wicket?

Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad took 17 wickets in his first 21 games, but played another 103 without taking another. Perhaps not surprisingly, he bowled progressively lesser as his career went on.

Who bowled the most wicketless overs (six-ball) in a Test?

Maurice Tate was known as an indefatigable performer, and he needed to be in Australia in 1928/29. And especially in the Third Test at The MCG, as he sent down 100 overs (conceding just 184 runs) without a wicket. This puts him comfortably ahead of the next man, though incredibly it came in the same series, this time at The SCG. Jack White also appeared for England as well.