Most ducks, the cheapest seven-for, and "Paddles"
Hundreds by the top four in an innings, the most stumpings in ODIs, and the city with six international venues
Steven Lynch
29-Sep-2009
Chris Gayle was one of 11 men to fall for zero in the Kandy Test in 2001-02 • Sena Vidanagama/AFP
The first Test between West Indies and Australia in 1998-99 witnessed a total of 11 ducks in the match. Is this a record for Tests? And what is the most in a one-day international? asked Murthy Vaddadi from India
That match in Port-of-Spain was the seventh in which 11 batsmen were dismissed for a duck in the same Test, and there have been three more instances since - including West Indies' Test against Zimbabwe in Port-of-Spain exactly a year later, in March 2000. The most recent occurrence was in the match between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Kandy in 2001-02. For the list of most ducks in a Test match, click here, and for ODIs, click here. The ODI record is eight ducks in a match, which has happened just once - in the World Cup final between England and West Indies at Lord's in 1979.
That match in Port-of-Spain was the seventh in which 11 batsmen were dismissed for a duck in the same Test, and there have been three more instances since - including West Indies' Test against Zimbabwe in Port-of-Spain exactly a year later, in March 2000. The most recent occurrence was in the match between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Kandy in 2001-02. For the list of most ducks in a Test match, click here, and for ODIs, click here. The ODI record is eight ducks in a match, which has happened just once - in the World Cup final between England and West Indies at Lord's in 1979.
I noticed from Bishan Bedi's player page that his best bowling figures were seven wickets for just five runs. In which match did he record these figures, and has anyone ever taken a cheaper seven-for in first-class cricket? asked John Mortimer
The great Indian slow left-armer Bishan Bedi took 7 for 5 for Delhi against Jammu and Kashmir in a Ranji Trophy match in Delhi in 1974-75. His full innings figures were 17.5-11-5-7. He did pretty well in the first innings too: 6 for 29 from 22.5 overs, for an overall return of 40.1-21-34-13. But the cheapest seven-for in first-class history was recorded by another Test slow left-armer, Zimbabwe's Keith Dabengwa, who took 7 for 1 in 4.4 overs for Westerns against Northerns in Harare in 2006-07.
The great Indian slow left-armer Bishan Bedi took 7 for 5 for Delhi against Jammu and Kashmir in a Ranji Trophy match in Delhi in 1974-75. His full innings figures were 17.5-11-5-7. He did pretty well in the first innings too: 6 for 29 from 22.5 overs, for an overall return of 40.1-21-34-13. But the cheapest seven-for in first-class history was recorded by another Test slow left-armer, Zimbabwe's Keith Dabengwa, who took 7 for 1 in 4.4 overs for Westerns against Northerns in Harare in 2006-07.
Which Test player was nicknamed "Paddles"? asked Michael Browne from London
This was the great New Zealand fast bowler Sir Richard Hadlee, who was Test cricket's leading wicket-taker at the time of his retirement in 1990, with 431 victims. I believe that the name arose partly because it sounded rather like his surname and partly because his feet were impressively large.
This was the great New Zealand fast bowler Sir Richard Hadlee, who was Test cricket's leading wicket-taker at the time of his retirement in 1990, with 431 victims. I believe that the name arose partly because it sounded rather like his surname and partly because his feet were impressively large.
Who holds the ODI record for most stumpings? asked Syed Mohammad Ali from Pakistan
I wasn't quite sure whether you meant most stumpings in a career or in a single innings - so we'll look at both. There have been 13 instances of a wicketkeeper making three stumpings in a single one-day international innings - the two most recent ones both by India's MS Dhoni. For a full list, click here. The overall record for a career is held by Sri Lanka's Romesh Kaluwitharana, with 75, just ahead of Moin Khan of Pakistan (73). Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara currently has 64 stumpings in ODIs. For that list, click here.
I wasn't quite sure whether you meant most stumpings in a career or in a single innings - so we'll look at both. There have been 13 instances of a wicketkeeper making three stumpings in a single one-day international innings - the two most recent ones both by India's MS Dhoni. For a full list, click here. The overall record for a career is held by Sri Lanka's Romesh Kaluwitharana, with 75, just ahead of Moin Khan of Pakistan (73). Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara currently has 64 stumpings in ODIs. For that list, click here.
If Mark Waugh had made one more run in the second Ashes Test in 1993, would it have been the only occasion where the top four have all scored centuries? asked Dave from Australia
Had Mark Waugh managed one more run in that innings at Lord's in 1993 - he was bowled by Phil Tufnell for 99 - it would indeed have been the first occasion in Test history that the top four batsmen all scored centuries. It has happened since, though: against Bangladesh in Mirpur in May 2007 each of India's top four batsmen reached three figures. For the list of most centuries in a Test innings, click here.
Had Mark Waugh managed one more run in that innings at Lord's in 1993 - he was bowled by Phil Tufnell for 99 - it would indeed have been the first occasion in Test history that the top four batsmen all scored centuries. It has happened since, though: against Bangladesh in Mirpur in May 2007 each of India's top four batsmen reached three figures. For the list of most centuries in a Test innings, click here.
Nairobi has six grounds that have hosted at least one one-day international. Does any other city have more grounds? asked Anil from India
It's true that Kenya's capital has staged one-day internationals on six different grounds - the Gymkhana Club, which has now hosted 57 ODIs, the Jaffery and Ruaraka Sports Club grounds (five each), the Aga Khan Sports Club (four), and the Nairobi Club and the Simba Union ground (one each). The only city that comes close is Colombo in Sri Lanka, which has four grounds that have staged Tests or ODIs - the Premadasa Stadium (six Tests and 94 ODIs), the Sinhalese Sports Club (33 Tests, 56 ODIs), the ground now known as the P Sara Oval (14 Tests, 12 ODIs) and the Colombo Cricket Club (three Tests). Four further grounds in Colombo have staged women's or youth international matches, while Moratuwa, the home of the Tyronne Fernando Stadium (four Tests and six ODIs), lies about 10 miles south of Colombo.
It's true that Kenya's capital has staged one-day internationals on six different grounds - the Gymkhana Club, which has now hosted 57 ODIs, the Jaffery and Ruaraka Sports Club grounds (five each), the Aga Khan Sports Club (four), and the Nairobi Club and the Simba Union ground (one each). The only city that comes close is Colombo in Sri Lanka, which has four grounds that have staged Tests or ODIs - the Premadasa Stadium (six Tests and 94 ODIs), the Sinhalese Sports Club (33 Tests, 56 ODIs), the ground now known as the P Sara Oval (14 Tests, 12 ODIs) and the Colombo Cricket Club (three Tests). Four further grounds in Colombo have staged women's or youth international matches, while Moratuwa, the home of the Tyronne Fernando Stadium (four Tests and six ODIs), lies about 10 miles south of Colombo.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket (reviewed here). If you want to ask Steven a question, use our feedback form. The most interesting questions will be answered here each week