Ask The Spider #56

Which batsman reached 1,000 Test runs in the shortest time?

In terms of fewest innings, this is shared by Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes who both required only 12 innings, however Bradman took fewer matches, taking only seven matches but requiring 13 innings.

Which player has the highest final innings in Tests?

West Indies Seymour Nurse scored 258 in his final innings, against New Zealand at Christchurch in 1968-69.

Did any of the players who achieved 1,000 in May in the English domestic season include a duck?

Surprisingly yes – Bill Edrich’s sequence in 1938 included a duck, and was also unique in that all of his runs were made at Lord’s.

Who were the non-strikers when Sobers, Shastri, Gibbs and Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes in an over?

John Parkin, Ghulam Parkar, Jacques Kallis, MS Dhoni.

Is Ottis Gibson the oldest, at 38, ever to take 10 wickets in an innings?

No, there have actually been ten occurrences with bowlers over 40! Bill Bestwick was the eldest, taking 10 for 40 for Derbyshire against Glamorgan in 1921 when aged 46.

What’s the lowest team total above 100 which has not been achieved in a Test match?

525.

What’s the most number of dismissals in a Test which didn’t involve the WK?

39, in this match between Australia and England at Sydney in January 1887.