Plus: most successive Tests since debut, and most 150-plus scores
Steven Lynch17-Nov-2015David Warner and Joe Burns had two partnerships of more than 150 at Brisbane. Has this ever happened before? asked Keith Lucas from England
David Warner and Joe Burns shared stands of 161 and 237 for Australia against New Zealand in Brisbane last week. It turns out that this is the first instance of two 150-plus stands by the openers in the same Test, and only the second time overall: for England against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1938-39, Paul Gibb (making his Test debut) and Eddie Paynter shared stands of 184 and 168 for the second wicket. Warner has now shared four successive century opening stands, another record – two in England with Chris Rogers, and these two with Burns at the Gabba. David Warner scored centuries in both innings against New Zealand in the recent Test. I think he has done it before as well. Who holds the record for doing it most often? asked Aakinchan Sharma from Finland
David Warner’s double against New Zealand in Brisbane – 163 in the first innings and 116 in the second – was actually the third time he had scored two centuries in the same Test. He also did against South Africa in Cape Town in 2013-14 (135 and 145) and India in Adelaide in 2014-15 (145 and 102). That gives him a share of the overall Test record: the only others to do it three times are Sunil Gavaskar (against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1970-71 and in Calcutta in 1978-79, and against Pakistan in Karachi earlier in 1978-79) and Ricky Ponting (all in 2005-06, against West Indies in Brisbane and against South Africa in Sydney and in Durban). Ten other batsmen have managed it twice. Warner’s Brisbane brace was the 80th time the feat had been achieved in Tests.Ishant Sharma took his 200th Test wicket a couple of months ago, in his 65th match. Was he the slowest to reach 200? asked Ray from India
Ishant Sharma did indeed take his 200th wicket (Angelo Mathews) in his 65th Test earlier this year, against Sri Lanka at the SSC in Colombo. Three players – all allrounders – took longer to reach 200 in terms of matches. Andrew Flintoff got there in his 69th match, and Garry Sobers in 80, while Jacques Kallis didn’t take his 200th wicket until his 102nd Test match. Ishant has the worst bowling average (36.51) of anyone at the end of the match in which they took their 200th wicket – next come the New Zealand pair of Daniel Vettori (34.74) and Chris Martin (34.69). Sobers took longest to reach 200 in terms of time – over 17 years from his debut in 1953-54. Next come Chris Cairns (around 13½ years) and Bhagwath Chandrasekhar (almost 13).There were only 694 runs scored in the recent Test at Mohali. Was this a record for a match in which all 40 wickets went down? asked Nair Ottappalam from India
India (201 and 200) beat South Africa (184 and 109) in the first Test in Mohali, a match aggregate of 694 runs. Rather surprisingly perhaps, there have been 24 Tests in which all 40 wickets fell for fewer runs, although most of these were long ago – only four were in the current century (most recently 693 runs in the match between West Indies and India in Kingston in June 2006). The lowest of all came way back in 1888, when Australia (116 and 60) beat England (53 and 62) on a rain-affected pitch at Lord’s in a match that produced a grand total of just 291 runs. Said Wisden: “There had been so much rain within a few hours of the start that it was impossible the ground should be in anything like condition for good cricket.” For the full list, click here.Jacques Kallis took his 200th Test in his 102nd match•AFPAB de Villiers played 98 successive Tests after his debut, but missed one recently. Who holds the record now? asked Kerrie Pillinger from South Africa
AB de Villiers, who made his Test debut against England in Port Elizabeth in 2004-05, had indeed played 98 successive Tests before he was rested from South Africa’s recent tour of Bangladesh. The previous record was 96, by Adam Gilchrist from his debut in 1999-2000, which remains the best for an entire career. But Gilchrist’s record – and that of de Villiers – is under serious threat: the Brisbane Test was Brendon McCullum’s 95th Test for New Zealand successively since his debut against South Africa in Hamilton in March 2004. For the full list of players with the most consecutive Tests (not just from debut), click here. Who holds the record for the most scores of 150 and above in Tests and ODIs? asked Davo Kissoondari from the West Indies
Sachin Tendulkar leads the way in Tests, which 20 separate innings of 150 or above during his 200 Test appearances. Brian Lara and Kumar Sangakkara made 19, and Don Bradman comes next with 18, from just 52 Tests. Both Bradman and Lara amassed 4066 runs in these innings (Sangakkara comes next, with 3997). Tendulkar also leads the way in one-day internationals, with five 150s; Chris Gayle and Sanath Jayasuriya made four. Aaron Finch, with 156 for Australia against England in Southampton in 2013, is the only man so far to reach 150 in T20Is.Send in your questions using our feedback form.
