Ask The Spider #59

Which Test wicketkeeper has waited longest before making a stumping?

South Africa’s Billy Wade debuted in January 1939 – a rather unfortunate time, given that the outbreak of a World War was only months away – and it was not until March 1949 that he first recorded a stumping. This meant he waited 10 years and 48 days.

Who has gone longest in a Test career without bowling, in terms of matches?

West Indian opener Desmond Haynes was no great bowler (though he did take a Test wicket), and in his last 95 matches he did not send down a single delivery. He had bowled – a single over only – in 3 of his first 21.

Has anyone ever made a pair in their only Test?

Yes, several: South Africa’s Percy Twentyman-Jones, “Plum” Lewis, Clarence Wimble and Cec Dixon; GF Grace and Gavin Hamilton of England; Rashid Patel of India; and New Zealand’s Gordon Rowe and Len Butterfield (in the same match).

Who has Umpired the most international cricket – that is, Twenty20 Internationals, ODIs and Tests?

Steve Bucknor currently stands atop this list, with 309 matches, but he is unlikely to remain there for long after its publication having now retired – Rudi Koertzen, with 299, is closing-in fast.

And who are currently the leading Umpires from non-Test-playing teams?

Bermuda’s Roger Dill heads this table currently – he has stood in 25 ODIs. Kenya’s Subhash Modi (17 ODIs and 3 T2Is) shares second place with Paul Baldwin, officially listed as German but born in the UK with an Anglo name. There are 10 others from associate countries who have stood in either ODIs or T2Is at some point.

What is India’s run-rate in Test cricket over their – as things stand – 430-Test history?

India have so far made 430450 runs from 920711 deliveries in Test cricket. This gives them an average runs-per-six-balls of 2.8.

And what about Pakistan?

Pakistan’s 337 games have produced 325706 from 676384 – a run-rate of 2.88-per-six-balls.