Ask the Spider #57

Who has played the most Tests without captaining one?

Mark Waugh played 128, and though his twin brother took the armband, he never did.

Who has played the most innings’ in Tests and not scored a double-century?

Alec Stewart (though he made twin centuries against West Indies at Kensington in 1994, almost certainly a far more notable achievement) never made a double-century in his 235 innings’. His regular team-mate and close companion Michael Atherton is not far behind, with 217. Stewart’s best was 190; Atherton’s 185*.

Who batted the most (i.e., played the most innings’) in Test cricket without being run-out?

Kapil Dev’s 184 trips to the crease did not once see him walking back having been run-out. He is well clear of his nearest rival, Pakistan’s Mudassar Nazar.

Which spinner has taken the most Test wickets including no stumpings?

England all-rounder (and now chief selector) Geoff Miller took 60, and not a single one was stumped.

Who captained the most Tests and lost the toss in all games?

England captain Rony Stanyforth (a token leader in every sense – he had never played a First-Class match for a county when he led England to South Africa and was picked purely because of the ambassadorial requirements for captains in his day) made four tosses and lost every one.

Which fielder went longest between taking a catch?

England’s opening batsman Peter Richardson took his maiden Test catch in his 3rd Test in 1956. He then went 23 without taking a single one, and when he did (in 1961/62) he promptly took another in the same game!

Of those who have had two (or more) spells as captains, who went the longest between them in terms of time?

England seam bowler Gubby Allen, who led his side in Australia in 1936/37 (winning many plaudits for repairing some of the wounds opened-up by the Bodyline series in 1932/33), lost the captaincy upon returning home but did eventually lead England again. It was not, however, until 1948 – a gap of just a few days short of 11 years (10 years 345 days).