Ask the Spider #70

Has anyone ever been run-out in both innings’ on Test debut?

Yes, just one man. Australia’s “Jack” Ryder, playing against England in the BaggyGreen-wash series of 1920/21, was run-out in both innings of his debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

What is the highest score made in a ten-wicket victory in a ODI?

In 1991/92, playing Pakistan in the World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, West Indies made 221 for 0 to chase down Pakistan’s total (which was 220 for 2 – just the couple of wickets fell in the match). Brian Lara had retired hurt in this match though, so the highest total where the openers were unparted was in fact made at Kensington Oval in 1997, again by West Indies, this time against India – 200 for 0. Remarkably, India had recorded a ten-wicket victory of their own earlier that same series, at Queen’s Park Oval.

Since the 1930s when more Test-playing countries emerged, what is the most number of Tests in a complete career against the same opposition?

10, by West Indies’ “Manny” Martindale. Between 1933 and 1939 (his career span), West Indies still faced only England, in spite of there being four other teams theoretically available (Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and India; South Africa were never going to invite them to tour).

What is the smallest first-innings lead to result in an innings victory?

Astonishingly, just 46 – at Eden Park in 1954/55, England bowled New Zealand out for 26 in the match’s third-innings. This is still the lowest total ever recorded in Test cricket.

I remember Andrew Symonds ending up scoring an eight off one ball in a Test against New Zealand last season. Is it possible to know how many times a batsman has done ( been gifted) this?

Not quite, but it is possible to give some other instances – there are three in total that I am aware of with the Symonds one the most recent. For this I can thank the author Charles Wat, who in his book “Test Cricket Lists” has found two more. The first was at the MCG in 1928/29, where Patsy Hendren ran four at the massive ground before (somehow) then benefiting from four overthrows – from what must have been a very powerful throw or a mighty mess-up. The second was (perhaps unsurprisingly) at the same ground, in 1980/81, when John Wright did the same thing. There is one further instance of eight coming from one delivery, but not courtesy of an all-run four and four overthrows – Brian Lara scored a three in his 196 at his home ground (the considerably smaller Queen’s Park Oval) in which five extras were awarded to West Indies after wicketkeeper Mark Boucher’s throw hit a helmet on its return in. Under the old rules, Lara would have been credited with an eight, but the reorganisation of that law in the 2000 code meant three to him and five credited under “penalty” extras.

Who has played the most Test matches without ever being involved in a draw?

England’s George Lohmann played 18 Tests in his career, and his side won 15 and lost 3.

Is it true that the Chappell brothers made twin centuries in the same match?

Yes – at Basin Reserve in 1973/74, a very good Chappell match resulted. In Australia’s first-innings, Ian made 145 and Greg 247*; in their second, 121 and 133 respectively. Not surprisingly, the game was a very high-scoring draw.