The slowest IPL century, and all-new XIs
Also: the oldest maiden Test centurions, most Test matches missed, and keeper-captains' double-hundreds
Steven Lynch
03-May-2016
Anil Kumble became the oldest Indian to score a maiden Test hundred when he reached the milestone at The Oval in 2007 • Getty Images
Who missed the most Test matches during his entire career (I don't mean between successive appearances, but overall between debut and final cap)? asked Steve Wilson from England
Three Englishmen top this particular list. Brian Close made his Test debut in July 1949, and his last appearance in July 1976. In that time, England played 244 Test matches - and Closey appeared in only 22 of them, so missed 222 in all. Next comes Pat Pocock, who missed 145 Tests during a career that stretched from 1967-78 to 1984-85. Pocock had an eight-year break from Test cricket between 1976 and 1984, and Fred Titmus had something similar: he did not feature between 1967 and 1968 (and the accident that cost him several toes) and a brief comeback in 1974-75. In all, Titmus missed 132 Tests during a career that had started in 1955. The first non-Englishman on this list is still playing in the IPL: Brad Hogg won only seven Test caps, between 1996-97 and 2007-08, during which time Australia played 129 Tests without him.
Three Englishmen top this particular list. Brian Close made his Test debut in July 1949, and his last appearance in July 1976. In that time, England played 244 Test matches - and Closey appeared in only 22 of them, so missed 222 in all. Next comes Pat Pocock, who missed 145 Tests during a career that stretched from 1967-78 to 1984-85. Pocock had an eight-year break from Test cricket between 1976 and 1984, and Fred Titmus had something similar: he did not feature between 1967 and 1968 (and the accident that cost him several toes) and a brief comeback in 1974-75. In all, Titmus missed 132 Tests during a career that had started in 1955. The first non-Englishman on this list is still playing in the IPL: Brad Hogg won only seven Test caps, between 1996-97 and 2007-08, during which time Australia played 129 Tests without him.
Has any country ever changed all 11 players in their side for successive Test matches? asked Peter Samuels from Scotland
This has happened only once during a Test series. In the 1884-85 Ashes, Australia fielded an entirely different side for the second Test in Melbourne, after the players from the first Test in Adelaide insisted on better pay. Peace broke out in time for most of the original side to return for the third Test, in Sydney, which Australia won narrowly. Something similar happened to West Indies in 2009, after another player dispute: the side for the first Test against Bangladesh in St Vincent in July was entirely different to the team which had faced England in Chester-le-Street in May. Not surprisingly, South Africa's team against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1991-92 was entirely different from their previous Test side, against Australia in Port Elizabeth 22 years earlier. There are a few other instances of a side changing entirely between series, all of them involving long-ago England teams.
This has happened only once during a Test series. In the 1884-85 Ashes, Australia fielded an entirely different side for the second Test in Melbourne, after the players from the first Test in Adelaide insisted on better pay. Peace broke out in time for most of the original side to return for the third Test, in Sydney, which Australia won narrowly. Something similar happened to West Indies in 2009, after another player dispute: the side for the first Test against Bangladesh in St Vincent in July was entirely different to the team which had faced England in Chester-le-Street in May. Not surprisingly, South Africa's team against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1991-92 was entirely different from their previous Test side, against Australia in Port Elizabeth 22 years earlier. There are a few other instances of a side changing entirely between series, all of them involving long-ago England teams.
Manish Pandey holds the record for the slowest IPL century, in 67 balls. Is it the slowest in all Twenty20 cricket? asked Shubham Singh from India
Manish Pandey's 67-ball hundred for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Deccan Chargers in Centurion in May 2009 remains the slowest in the IPL, despite a near-miss by David Warner, who needed 66 balls to reach three figures for Delhi Daredevils against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Feroz Shah Kotla in March 2010. The slowest hundreds in all senior T20 cricket have both taken 74 balls. In the first one, Misbah-ul-Haq rescued Pakistan A from 9 for 2 against New Zealand A during a quadrangular competition in Darwin in July 2006, while Scotland's Calum MacLeod also reached his hundred from 74 deliveries in the World T20 Qualifier against Oman in Sharjah in July 2012. Both Misbah and MacLeod faced 76 balls in all: the only man to face more in any T20 innings is Zubair Ahmed, whose unbeaten 111 in Quetta Bears' ten-wicket victory over Larkana Bulls in Karachi in September 2014 lasted 77 deliveries.
Manish Pandey's 67-ball hundred for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Deccan Chargers in Centurion in May 2009 remains the slowest in the IPL, despite a near-miss by David Warner, who needed 66 balls to reach three figures for Delhi Daredevils against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Feroz Shah Kotla in March 2010. The slowest hundreds in all senior T20 cricket have both taken 74 balls. In the first one, Misbah-ul-Haq rescued Pakistan A from 9 for 2 against New Zealand A during a quadrangular competition in Darwin in July 2006, while Scotland's Calum MacLeod also reached his hundred from 74 deliveries in the World T20 Qualifier against Oman in Sharjah in July 2012. Both Misbah and MacLeod faced 76 balls in all: the only man to face more in any T20 innings is Zubair Ahmed, whose unbeaten 111 in Quetta Bears' ten-wicket victory over Larkana Bulls in Karachi in September 2014 lasted 77 deliveries.
Who is the only keeper-captain to score a double-hundred in a Test? asked Ibrahim Kamara from Sierra Leone
Only eight men have made a double-century in a Test in which they were also the designated wicketkeeper, with Andy Flower's unbeaten 232 for Zimbabwe against India in Nagpur in 2000-01 the highest score among them. Six of the eight players concerned captained their country at some point, and two of them scored their double-hundreds during matches in which they were in charge. Both happened in the space of a few days in 2013: first MS Dhoni made 224 for India against Australia in Chennai in February, then - early in March - Mushfiqur Rahim hit a round 200 for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Only eight men have made a double-century in a Test in which they were also the designated wicketkeeper, with Andy Flower's unbeaten 232 for Zimbabwe against India in Nagpur in 2000-01 the highest score among them. Six of the eight players concerned captained their country at some point, and two of them scored their double-hundreds during matches in which they were in charge. Both happened in the space of a few days in 2013: first MS Dhoni made 224 for India against Australia in Chennai in February, then - early in March - Mushfiqur Rahim hit a round 200 for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka in Galle.
What is the lowest individual score that has yet to be made in a T20 international? asked Joshwin Maharaj from South Africa
No one has yet finished with a score of 92 in men's T20Is. No one has made 95 either: these are the only two numbers under 100 that haven't been recorded yet. Charlotte Edwards did compile 92 not out for England Women against Australia in Hobart in January 2014. The corresponding record for men's one-day internationals is 155 (there have been three 154s, and five 156s), while in Tests the lowest individual score not yet made is 229; that and 238 are the only ones under 250 which have not yet happened.
No one has yet finished with a score of 92 in men's T20Is. No one has made 95 either: these are the only two numbers under 100 that haven't been recorded yet. Charlotte Edwards did compile 92 not out for England Women against Australia in Hobart in January 2014. The corresponding record for men's one-day internationals is 155 (there have been three 154s, and five 156s), while in Tests the lowest individual score not yet made is 229; that and 238 are the only ones under 250 which have not yet happened.
Who's the oldest player to make his Test debut for India, and who's the oldest to score a maiden Test hundred? asked Shalin Shah from India
India's oldest debutant is the slow left-armer Rustomji Jamshedji, who was 27 days past his 41st birthday when he played against England in Bombay in 1933-34. He took three wickets, including England's top scorer, Bryan Valentine (136). India fielded another 40-year-old newcomer, Cotar Ramaswami, against England at Old Trafford in 1936. India's oldest debutant in the last 60 years is Robin Singh - he was 35 when he played his only Test (to go with 136 one-day internationals) against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1998-99. For the overall list of the oldest Test debutants, click here. The oldest player from anywhere to score a maiden Test century was the South African Dave Nourse, who was 42 when he made 111 against Australia in Johannesburg in 1921-22. If you mean the oldest Indian to score a maiden hundred, that was 36-year-old Anil Kumble, against England at The Oval in 2007.
India's oldest debutant is the slow left-armer Rustomji Jamshedji, who was 27 days past his 41st birthday when he played against England in Bombay in 1933-34. He took three wickets, including England's top scorer, Bryan Valentine (136). India fielded another 40-year-old newcomer, Cotar Ramaswami, against England at Old Trafford in 1936. India's oldest debutant in the last 60 years is Robin Singh - he was 35 when he played his only Test (to go with 136 one-day internationals) against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1998-99. For the overall list of the oldest Test debutants, click here. The oldest player from anywhere to score a maiden Test century was the South African Dave Nourse, who was 42 when he made 111 against Australia in Johannesburg in 1921-22. If you mean the oldest Indian to score a maiden hundred, that was 36-year-old Anil Kumble, against England at The Oval in 2007.
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Steven Lynch is the editor of the updated edition of Wisden on the Ashes