Ask The Spider #85

Which batsmen has scored most Test fifties in the fourth innings of a match?

The most of this kind of “pressure” innings is shared by two batsmen, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sunil Gavaskar, who both have twelve such innings. However Gavaskar, with his four centuries in such circumstances, has the most total runs from scores over fifty, with 1118. Two other batsmen also have four fourth innings centuries, Ricky Ponting and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Ponting’s average in fourth innings fifties is an amazing 392.00, but surprisingly six other batsmen have fourth innings fifties averages over 300 – Allan Knott, Graham Thorpe, Arthur Morris, Allan Border, Garry Sobers and Sourav Ganguly.

So who has the most fifties in all Test innings?

That distinction is held by the great Sachin Tendulkar, with 95 Test scores of over fifty. He is followed by Allan Border (90), Ricky Ponting (86), Rahul Dravid (83), then three players on 82, Jacques Kallis, Brian Lara and Steve Waugh. Tendulkar also has most score over a ton, with 42.

And who has most Test double-centuries?

No surprises here – Donald Bradman has twelve scores over 200, followed by Lara on nine and Walter Hammond on seven. Three players have six Test doubles, Marvan Atapattu, Javed Miandad and Kumar Sangakkara.

And Test triples – presumably that’s Bradman too?

Yes, but he shares the distinction of two Test triples with Brian Lara and Virender Sehwag.

Who has most ODI fifties?

Again Tendulkar is ahead and by a huge margin – he has 135 ODI scores over fifty, and the next man Ricky Ponting on 100.

How about centuries in ODIs?

Again Tendulkar is top with a substantial lead – he has 44 ODI centuries, 16 more than Sanath Jayasuriya and Ricky Ponting with 28 each.

Who has most ODI fifties in chasing innings?

Once again, Tendulkar has a large lead over the rest with 65 second innings fifties, followed by Ganguly and Kallis with 44.

Who has scored most fifties in all internationals, i.e. Tests, ODIs and T20?

Once more, Tendulkar is way out in front – he has 230 international fifties, as compared with next-place Ricky Ponting on 188.

Presumably Tendulkar also has the most ever international centuries?

Indeed he does and again by a long way – Tendulkar’s 86 international centuries is 30% more than the next-ranked batsman, Ricky Ponting on 66.