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Hi Bill.
how many all rounders have had a higher batting average than bowling, also what is the best example of this? the widest difference between a players batting average and his bowling.
cheers
Laurie

Bill,

I noticed in this year's Wisden that, playing for Barisal against Sylhet in Bangladesh last year, Ariful Haque put on 238 with Raqibul Hasan for the 7th wicket. What caught my eye was the fact that Ariful was only 14 years and 123 days old. Is he the youngest first class centurion, and if not, who is?

Thanks...

Bill

Much has been said about England's preparations (or lack of) for away test series.
When was the last time we won the first test in an away series?
In the last 10 years what are England's away records for the first, second, third and later tests? Does excluding the likes of Zimbabwe and Bangledesh disort the above?

Hi Bill,

I remember reading a report of a women's
match featuring South Africa and Bermuda, whereby South Africa required only 4 balls to chase down the total posted by Bermuda. In all limited overs cricket, what's the quickest run-chase, in terms of number of balls delivered.

Thanks,
Bruce (Cambridge, UK)

Hello Bill

If the highest test score is 400 n.o. what is the lowest score yet to be achieved in a test? How many never achieved scores are there between it and 400.

Neil
England

I have to take issue with Bill here..... (but it's undoubtedly just a typo)

Bearders' Answer: No, the umpires must decide according to Law 38 (Run Out), (3 - Which Batsman is Out?).
It would depend on which wicket was broken and the decision would vary according to the number of runs taken. For example, if just one run was attempted by the striker, without the non-striker leaving his crease, and the wicket was broken at the non-striker's (bowler's) end with both batsmen in the crease, then the striker would be out.

If both batsmen are in the crease at the bowler's (non-striker's) end when that wicket is broken then nobody is run out. The fielding side would need to get the ball to the striker's end to effect a run out.

Hi.
My teammate recently took 37 balls to get off the mark. What is the record held for most balls faced to get off the mark by a batsman in test cricket?
Also, what is the most balls faced before a duck (once again in Test Cricket)

1. fattmann999 - taking 1000 runs and 100 wickets as the cut-off for qualification as an all-rounder, 16 have a higher batting average than bowling (out of a total of 51 who have achieved the double): Monty Noble (batting 30.25, bowling 25.00), Wilfred Rhodes (30.19, 26.96), Keith Miller (36.97, 22.97), Trevor Bailey (29.74, 29.21), Alan Davidson (24.59, 20.53), Garry Sobers (57.78, 34.03), Trevor Goddard (34.46, 26.22), Imran Khan (37.69, 22.81), Tony Greig (40.43, 32.20), Richard Hadlee (27.16, 22.29), Ian Botham (33.54, 28.40), Kapil Dev (31.05, 29.64), Chris Cairns (33.53, 29.40), Shaun Pollock (32.31, 23.11), Jacques Kallis (57.14, 31.30) and Andrew Flintoff (32.50, 32.02); the biggest difference belongs to Kallis, with 25.84. The biggest difference in the other direction, incidentally, is the 22.19 of Mohammad Rafique (batting average 18.57, bowling 40.76).

2. alcrisp - don't know. I've had a look at various others who started their careers at a young age - Mushtaq Mohammad, Javed Miandad, Sachin Tendulkar, Hasan Raza - but can't find any record of when they made their maiden centuries.

3. lout_from_the_lane - the last time England won the first Test of an away series was against South Africa in 2004-05; their record since then is one draw and four losses. Their overall record since 1998-99 is played 16, won 4, drawn 4, lost 8 in the first match of an away series; P16, W4, D8, L4 in the second; P15, W5, D3, L7 in the third; P6, W2, D1, L3 in the fourth; P5, W2, D1, L2 in the fifth (P58, W17, D17, L24 in total). Excluding the minnows makes very little difference as England have only played one series in Bangladesh in that period (P2 W2), and none in Zimbabwe.

4. bruce_a_r - it's supposedly zero balls - the story is that one team was bowled out for 0 and their opening bowler ended the match immediately with a wide. That might be apocryphal though!

5. snoopthebonedoc - the lowest score never made in a Test is 229, and it's one of 107 scores below 400 which haven't.

7. bigbenny123 - the longest Test duck, both in terms of balls received and time batted, was by Geoff Allott for New Zealand vs South Africa at Auckland in 1999. He batted for 101 minutes and faced 77 balls.

thank u very much chile, that was exactly what i was looking for.

Hi Bill,

Could you tell me what are the highest and lowest Test/ODI grounds in the world.
Secondly, which is the highest ground in the world that regularly holds international fixtures between teams other than the Test playing nations and ODI playing nations?

Thank you,

Miles in Hong Kong

Bill,

There's been a lot of discussion of Steve Harmison's form recently.

I was wondering how his test match bowling figures compare in matches when his friend Andrew Flintoff played, to his figures in games where Flintoff did not play?

Jules, UK

Hello Bill,

Whilst at school I used to do the gardening for an old English cricketer and footballer who lived in Oundle, Northants. I think he only played one test for England on tour in South Africa in the late forties. He also played professional football and played in one FA cup final - perhaps for west brom. Unfortunately this is all I can remember of him - any ideas as to his name and cricketing record?

Thanks,

Will (Moscow)

Your answer in Beaders #168 regarding the worst Test bowling analysis prompts me to report that Khan Mohammed is alive and well and living in Ealing, West London. I was fortunate enough to have an interesting cricket conversation with him last summer when he popped into my club, although I was careful not to mention his 'record'.

Hi Bill,

In one of my clubs games last season one of my teammates took 5 catches in one innings in outfield positions. What's the highest number taken by a single outfielder in First class and test cricket?

IanPulsofrd is correct: when both batsmen are at the same end and the wicket at that end is broken, neither is run out. In BF's example the striker would be out, run out if the wicket at the 'keeper's end were broken, even though he has joined the non-striker in the latter's ground.

I never thought I'd say this, but Bearders' answer on thr un out is wrong (Ian Pulsford is correct).

If both batsmen are in the same crease (e.g. at the bowler's end) when that wicket is broken the non-striker is not out because he's in his ground and the striker is not out because his ground is at the keeper's end where the wicket is still intact.

In this situation, to effect a run out, the fielding team would have to then break the wicket at the keeper's end.

If both batsmen are out of their ground, the batsman who is dismissed is the one nearest to the wicket that is broken when that action occurs.

Commencement of an Innings:
Whilst I don't doubt the accuracy of the answer. Can you still be timed -out. If so the innings must "start" before the batsman sets foot on the field. Unless they can be out before thier innings commences!!!

Hi Bill

I remember many years ago in the early 1970's Rodney Redmond being selected for his debut for New Zealand to play against Pakistan in the last test of the series. He scored a century in the first innings and a fifty in the second. He never played another test.

Are there any other good examples of "one test wonders", and why did they never get to play again?

Thanks
Nick

I agree

many players are consided quick scores but which cricket player has the highest stike rate in each form of cricket (first class, od, test, odi)

Hi Bill,

As a keeper, when can you legitimately carry out a stumping after receiving the ball?

For example, if a batsman plays a forward defensive and misses and the keeper receives the ball, can he then break the wicket if, after a pause of say 2 or 3 seconds, the batsman topples forward out of his ground?

I've seen several occurances of keepers hovering over the stumps hoping a batsman might lose their balance; when is the ball 'dead'?

Thanks!

Mark

Re: Question 21

This is covered in Law 23 Dead Ball. Particularly Law 23.1 (b) "The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the umpire at the bowler's end that the fielding side and both batsmen at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play."

And, Law 23.2 Ball finally settled. "Whether the ball is finally settled or not is a matter for the umpire alone to decide."

In other words, as you rightly say, if the batsman wobbles a bit with his back foot the keeper is perfectly correct to wait and see if he unbalances from his crease. Once it is obvious that he won't and the batsmen have no intention to take a run then the ball will be deemed to be dead.

Hope that helps

Hope to help with Question 17 - Timed Out.

Again you are quite right that a batsman must commence his innings by crossing the boundary, to be given, on appeal, Timed Out. This is covered in Law 31.1.(b).

However, if no batsmen appears at all then
Law 21.3.(a) (ii) Refusal to play applies.

Law 21.3.(b) states:

"If an umpire considers that an action by any player or players might constitute a refusal to play then the umpires together shall ascertain the cause of the action. If they then decide together that this action does constitute a refusal to play by one side, they shall so inform the captain of that side. If the captain persists in the action the umpires shall award the match in accordance with (a) (ii) above."

Hope that helps again :-)

#20 concerning quick scoring batsmen

For ODI, if the minimum no of career runs is 100 then Dmitri Mascarenhas has scored 127 off 96 balls - strike rate of 132.29. If the minimum runs is 500, then LOB Cann (Bermuda) has 543 off 454 (SR=119.6). But the outstanding fast scorer (over 1000 career runs) is Shahid Afridi with 5413 off 4864 (SR=111.28)

For tests, it is not quite so clear as records in the past do not necessarily record the number of balls faced. However, in more modern times the winner is ... Shahid Afridi!! ... with 1683 off 1954 (sr=86.13).

No idea about first class matches.

Nick

#18: Wikipedia says, up to September 2006, there were 377 鈥渙ne test wonders鈥� (they list over 100). Apart from Rodney Redmond, only Andy Ganteaume scored a century (for WI in 1948). Some are stopgaps for the home side. But other than that, it is probably pointless to ask 鈥渨hy鈥� the selectors kept picking someone else. Like: why did we keep electing Thatcher (or Blair), and why do we always go to the same grotty resort for our holidays?

Has any player ever been given out all ten ways (bowled, caught, lbw, stumped, run out, hit wicket, handled the ball, obstructing the field, timed out, hitting ball twice) in his Test career? If not who has been given out the most different kinds of way?

Bill -
Two questions:
1) Which Test Grounds have the highest and lowest averages for batting and bowling?
2) (If possible) Which batsman has faced the highest percentage of balls in a completed innings?

Jules-

In the 39 matches he has played alongside Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison has taken 142 wickets at an average of 32.02 and a strike rate of 60.2

This compares to his entire test career of 57 matches, 212 wickets at an average of 31.39 with a strike rate of 58.5

What is the Carrom Ball and how did this term originate? A friend of mine says new Sri Lankan spinning sensation Ajantha Mendis bowls this type of ball and was told that leading cricket analysts such as Rob M Steen and Tim de Lisle are intrigued by the term. I reckon this is the latest cricketing term since reverse awing and doosra.

#29 - I think there is a game called Carrom (played in Sri Lanka, India and elsewhere) which involves flicking discs with the finger. I gather the carrom ball in cricket uses a flicking motion, so perhaps that is where the name comes from.

Run Out

Have to agree with Ianpulsford that the wicket at the striker's end would have to be broken. Confirm please MR. Frindall

Bill

Enjoy your column, you have a fantastic job!

It looks like the new Australian wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, will make his test debut in the West Indies next month. How many test players have played in test matches overseas but never in their home country?

Giarcy

Malaysia

Re #27
I'm fairly sure no-one has been timed out in test matches. I don't remember anyone being given out obsructed the field or hit the bll twice either but they may have happened.

question 26 - stu-d-apples

no test player has ever been given out in two of the 10 ways, TIMED OUT or HIT BALL TWICE

the only player gievn out in tests OBSTRUCTING FIELD was len hutton, however he was never given out HANDLED BALL, but 7 others were (gooch, vaughan, s waugh, haynes, m khan, hilditch and endean)

of these HUTTON, HAYNES and WAUGH were also out HIT WICKET, so they are the joint record holders with 7

i'd also like to point out that 2 batsman have been out another way in tests-RETIRED OUT (different from retired hurt, which is not out) Attapattu and Jayawardene, both in the same test vs Bangladesh in 2001, but as neither have ever been out hit wkt then they don't have 7 types

sorry i should clarify the BATSMAN RETIRE OUT (before the questions start)

from LAW 2. Point 9 (my CAPS)

A batsman may retire at any time during his innings. The umpires... shall be informed of the reason for a batsman retiring.
(a) If a batsman retires because of ... unavoidable cause, he is entitled to resume his innings ... If for any reason he does not do so, his innings is to be recorded as -Retired 'not out'.
(b) If a batsman retires for any reason other than as in (a) above, he may only resume his innings with the consent of the opposing captain. IF FOR ANY REASON HE DOES NOT RESUME HIS INNINGS IT IS TO BE RECORDED AS RETIRED "OUT"
...

I'm an American who has become fascinated by cricket over the past several years, and by its many contrasts with baseball. Has there ever been a major league baseball player who tried to make the transition to cricket, or a first-class cricket player who did the same to baseball? With what success?

#36: Taiho

Not sure if there has ever been anyone playing both cricket and baseball at any reasonable standard. But if you're interested, you may want to read "Playing Hard Ball" by Ed Smith, who plays for Kent and has played 3 tests for England. The book is about his interest in baseball and comparisons with cricket. I believe he has tried out a bit of baseball, but I can't remember at waht sort of standard.

Nick

"23. At 1:46 pm on 23 Apr 2008, UmpinCumbria wrote:
Hope to help with Question 17 - Timed Out.

Again you are quite right that a batsman must commence his innings by crossing the boundary, to be given, on appeal, Timed Out. This is covered in Law 31.1.(b).

However, if no batsmen appears at all then
Law 21.3.(a) (ii) Refusal to play applies.

Law 21.3.(b) states:

"If an umpire considers that an action by any player or players might constitute a refusal to play then the umpires together shall ascertain the cause of the action. If they then decide together that this action does constitute a refusal to play by one side, they shall so inform the captain of that side. If the captain persists in the action the umpires shall award the match in accordance with (a) (ii) above."

Hope that helps again :-)"

Thanks for trying but I was asking if anyone had ever been given out all ten ways in his career.

Sachin Tendulkar, who made his debut in 1989, is about 19 months shy of entering into the fourth decade of his illustrious career. Has anybody ever played in four decades of continuous international cricket before? And what's the longest continuous Test career in terms of number of years?

Beburg Zehri, Oakville, Canada

When I was at school in Cape Town in the 1950's, we had a coach whose surname was Newman. I understood he had played County cricket in England, and struck me as being fairly old. Did he play, and if so for whom?

Hello Bill,

I was wondering what is the highest number of runs scored by a chasing side in the final over, fourth innings of a test match, and the same for the final over of any first class match? Who were the batsmen, and did the batting sides go on to win?

Thank you,
Haris, London.

Hi Bill

In a club cricket match last season our overseas player was given out "stumped". The situation was the ball had brushed his shoulder and after half an appeal for caught behind the umpire gave him not out. Probably about 5 seconds later he moved out of his crease to do some "gardening". The wicket keeper, still having the ball in his hand threw down the stumps and appealed for stumped. The square leg umpire giving him out.

A crucial decision in the game, which we went on to narrowly lose.

Was the umpire correct in giving him out? Surely this is not in the spirit of the game. What do you think?

Bill, I bought a commemerative cricket ball at auction in Liverpool. It was presented to A.D. Milne for taking all 10 wickets in a match between Huyton CC and Birkenhead CC on April 25, 1936. Do you have any information on A.D. Milne?

Thanks

Mike from Pennsylvania, USA

Bill,

Following Marcus Trescothick's recent retirement from Test and ODI cricket, it got me thinking "was he englands best batsman of the modern era". This prompted my question for you Bill, "who hs scored the most runs for England since the turn of the century?"

Regards
Jonathan Entwistle

Hello Bill, great column always good for half an hours clandestine skiving...

At Hove last week for the championship game with Kent, all our party agreed that the visiting no.11 batsman, Yasir Arafat, was clearly a more accomplished player than one of his team's opening batsman, James Tredwell. Playfair confirmed that this was borne out in their respective career averages. Admittedly Yasir was down as no.10, demoted after the deployment of a nightwatchman, but all the same, it got me wondering if there were many (any?) famous cases of number 11's being better bats than their own openers?

Re #42 - It's impossible to comment on a specific umpiring decision without having been there, and seen the full details. The Laws say that the ball is dead when "finally settled" in the hands of the 'keeper or bowler, and that this is a matter for the umpire alone to decide.

Evidently in your game the umpire felt that the ball was not "finally settled", and thus when the wicket was broken with the bastman out of his ground, a decision for a stumping was the correct one.

Hi Bill.

In Nottinghamshire's current County Championship match against Kent all of Nottinghamshire's batsmen were out caught in their first innings. Whilst i'm fairly sure that this won't be the first occurence, is it a regular event and how many, if any times have an entire side been all bowled or all LBW?

Cheers,

Rob.

Hi Bill,

How many times has a one-day match finished wicketless? That is, both pairs of openning batsmen batting through the whole 50overs? Has it ever happened in an ODI?

Mar, Battersea