Catch-less Amir, and the Florida biggie
Also: playing for three countries, winning from 26 for 5, and players born in the Middle East
Steven Lynch
30-Aug-2016
Mohammad Amir now holds the record for going catch-less for most Test matches since the start of a career • Getty Images
Sri Lanka were 26 for 5 in their first innings against Australia in Colombo, but went on to win. Has any side ever come back from a worse position in a Test? asked Sam Clough from Australia
Sri Lanka were 26 for 5 early in the third Test against Australia at the SSC in Colombo earlier this month, but then came a stand of 211 between Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva. Sri Lanka finished with 355 - and went on to win comfortably, by 163 runs. There have been four worse starts in Tests by sides that eventually won the match. In Sydney in 1886-87 England were 13 for 5 (and soon 45 all out), but ended up winning a low-scoring game by 13 runs. The other recoveries are a Pakistan specialty: much more recently, in 2011-12, they were 21 for 5 against England in Dubai, but managed to win by 71 runs. Pakistan were 22 for 5 against West Indies in Dacca (now Dhaka) in 1958-59, but won by 41 runs; and against India in Kolkata in 1998-99 they recovered from 25 for 5 (and soon 26 for 6) to win by 46 runs. In Delhi in 1987-88, West Indies were 25 for 5 in their first innings yet went on to beat India by five wickets, but that was the second innings of the match. There are five further instances of a side managing to win after being 25 for 5 or worse in their second innings (the third of the match), most recently by New Zealand against India in Auckland in 2013-14. New Zealand held a first-innings lead of 301 in that match.
Sri Lanka were 26 for 5 early in the third Test against Australia at the SSC in Colombo earlier this month, but then came a stand of 211 between Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva. Sri Lanka finished with 355 - and went on to win comfortably, by 163 runs. There have been four worse starts in Tests by sides that eventually won the match. In Sydney in 1886-87 England were 13 for 5 (and soon 45 all out), but ended up winning a low-scoring game by 13 runs. The other recoveries are a Pakistan specialty: much more recently, in 2011-12, they were 21 for 5 against England in Dubai, but managed to win by 71 runs. Pakistan were 22 for 5 against West Indies in Dacca (now Dhaka) in 1958-59, but won by 41 runs; and against India in Kolkata in 1998-99 they recovered from 25 for 5 (and soon 26 for 6) to win by 46 runs. In Delhi in 1987-88, West Indies were 25 for 5 in their first innings yet went on to beat India by five wickets, but that was the second innings of the match. There are five further instances of a side managing to win after being 25 for 5 or worse in their second innings (the third of the match), most recently by New Zealand against India in Auckland in 2013-14. New Zealand held a first-innings lead of 301 in that match.
Mohammad Amir has now played 18 Tests without taking a catch. Is this a record? asked Zara from Italy
That's a good spot, as it turns out that during the English summer Mohammad Amir broke the record for the most Tests without a catch from the start of a career. The previous shy and retiring fielder was the England opener Geoff Pullar, who played 16 matches from his debut in 1959 without taking a catch, before finally hanging on to Mushtaq Mohammad in Lahore in 1961-62. The record for the most Tests played in succession without a catch in mid-career also changed hands recently. Since catching Rangana Herath in Sydney in January 2013, the Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle has now played 24 more matches without managing another one. Another England opener, Peter Richardson, caught Australia's captain Ian Johnson in his third Test, at Headingley in 1956, then didn't take another one for 23 matches, over more than five years, before he caught India's Ramakant Desai in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1961-62. Just to show off, he held another catch in the second innings, and two more in the next game. The most Tests played in a complete career without ever taking a catch is ten, by Australia's 1930s left-arm spinner "Chuck" Fleetwood-Smith, and two more recent bowlers in Sri Lanka's Jayananda Warnaweera and Abey Kuruvilla of India.
That's a good spot, as it turns out that during the English summer Mohammad Amir broke the record for the most Tests without a catch from the start of a career. The previous shy and retiring fielder was the England opener Geoff Pullar, who played 16 matches from his debut in 1959 without taking a catch, before finally hanging on to Mushtaq Mohammad in Lahore in 1961-62. The record for the most Tests played in succession without a catch in mid-career also changed hands recently. Since catching Rangana Herath in Sydney in January 2013, the Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle has now played 24 more matches without managing another one. Another England opener, Peter Richardson, caught Australia's captain Ian Johnson in his third Test, at Headingley in 1956, then didn't take another one for 23 matches, over more than five years, before he caught India's Ramakant Desai in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1961-62. Just to show off, he held another catch in the second innings, and two more in the next game. The most Tests played in a complete career without ever taking a catch is ten, by Australia's 1930s left-arm spinner "Chuck" Fleetwood-Smith, and two more recent bowlers in Sri Lanka's Jayananda Warnaweera and Abey Kuruvilla of India.
Tillakaratne Dilshan opened the batting and the bowling in Sri Lanka's ODI against Australia in Colombo the other day. How many people have done this? asked Sampath de Silva from Sri Lanka
That double by Tillakaratne Dilshan at the Premadasa in Colombo last week was actually the 13th time he had opened both the batting and bowling in a one-day international, all since 2010-11. The only others to have done this for Sri Lanka are Chandika Hathurusingha and Ravi Ratnayeke (twice each). The first man to do it was Frasat Ali, in all three of East Africa's matches at the inaugural World Cup in England in 1975. The person who managed it most often was India's Manoj Prabhakar - 45 times - while Neil Johnson of Zimbabwe did it on 25 occasions. Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan has also done both jobs 13 times.
That double by Tillakaratne Dilshan at the Premadasa in Colombo last week was actually the 13th time he had opened both the batting and bowling in a one-day international, all since 2010-11. The only others to have done this for Sri Lanka are Chandika Hathurusingha and Ravi Ratnayeke (twice each). The first man to do it was Frasat Ali, in all three of East Africa's matches at the inaugural World Cup in England in 1975. The person who managed it most often was India's Manoj Prabhakar - 45 times - while Neil Johnson of Zimbabwe did it on 25 occasions. Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan has also done both jobs 13 times.
Was the game in Florida the other day the highest-scoring T20I of all? asked Mukul Rakesh from India
That run-soaked match in Lauderhill at the weekend - where India fell just one short of West Indies' huge total of 245 - did indeed establish a new aggregate record for a T20 international. A total of 489 runs were scored, at more than 12 runs per over throughout. (I hope no watching Americans dared say that cricket is boring after that!) The previous highest of 467 came in the game in Johannesburg in January 2015 in which West Indies (236 for 6) overhauled South Africa's 231 with four balls to spare. There have so far been 14 other T20Is that have featured 400 or more runs.
That run-soaked match in Lauderhill at the weekend - where India fell just one short of West Indies' huge total of 245 - did indeed establish a new aggregate record for a T20 international. A total of 489 runs were scored, at more than 12 runs per over throughout. (I hope no watching Americans dared say that cricket is boring after that!) The previous highest of 467 came in the game in Johannesburg in January 2015 in which West Indies (236 for 6) overhauled South Africa's 231 with four balls to spare. There have so far been 14 other T20Is that have featured 400 or more runs.
Pakistan's opener Shan Masood was born in Kuwait. Is he the only Test cricketer who was born in the Middle East? asked Riazuddin from Afghanistan
Shan Masood was actually the third Test cricketer to have been born in Kuwait, following slow left-armer Shakil Ahmed, who played once for Pakistan against Australia in Lahore in 1998-99 (he took four wickets, including both Waugh twins, in a draw), and Tanvir Ahmed, who collected 17 wickets in five Tests for them between 2010-11 and 2012-13. Tanvir took 6 for 120 - including the first four wickets of the match - on debut against South Africa in Abu Dhabi in November 2010. The only other Test player born in a region usually thought of as the Middle East is the offspinner John Traicos who, although he played for South Africa and Zimbabwe, was actually born in Egypt.
Shan Masood was actually the third Test cricketer to have been born in Kuwait, following slow left-armer Shakil Ahmed, who played once for Pakistan against Australia in Lahore in 1998-99 (he took four wickets, including both Waugh twins, in a draw), and Tanvir Ahmed, who collected 17 wickets in five Tests for them between 2010-11 and 2012-13. Tanvir took 6 for 120 - including the first four wickets of the match - on debut against South Africa in Abu Dhabi in November 2010. The only other Test player born in a region usually thought of as the Middle East is the offspinner John Traicos who, although he played for South Africa and Zimbabwe, was actually born in Egypt.
Apparently there's a man who played for England, New Zealand and West Indies. Who was this? asked Terry Knight from England
No one has played for three countries in official international cricket. The Trinidad-born wicketkeeper Sammy Guillen did play Tests for West Indies and New Zealand, but never for England. I suspect your question is referring to someone who played for representative teams in those three countries, but not in official internationals - and there is a man who fits the bill. Sydney Smith, an allrounder who was also born in Trinidad, represented West Indies in pre-Test days - he was a star of their tour of England in 1906, which led to an offer to play for Northamptonshire. During a successful stint there, he played for an England XI against the 1912 Australian tourists, and also played for the Gentlemen of England. Had there been more Tests played around this time, Smith might have come into consideration for an England place. After the First World War, Smith moved to New Zealand, where he did well for Auckland. In 1920-21 he played two matches for New Zealand against an Australian representative side, and two years later played for New Zealand against an MCC touring team. Unfortunately for Smith, though, neither West Indies nor New Zealand had Test status when he was at his peak.
No one has played for three countries in official international cricket. The Trinidad-born wicketkeeper Sammy Guillen did play Tests for West Indies and New Zealand, but never for England. I suspect your question is referring to someone who played for representative teams in those three countries, but not in official internationals - and there is a man who fits the bill. Sydney Smith, an allrounder who was also born in Trinidad, represented West Indies in pre-Test days - he was a star of their tour of England in 1906, which led to an offer to play for Northamptonshire. During a successful stint there, he played for an England XI against the 1912 Australian tourists, and also played for the Gentlemen of England. Had there been more Tests played around this time, Smith might have come into consideration for an England place. After the First World War, Smith moved to New Zealand, where he did well for Auckland. In 1920-21 he played two matches for New Zealand against an Australian representative side, and two years later played for New Zealand against an MCC touring team. Unfortunately for Smith, though, neither West Indies nor New Zealand had Test status when he was at his peak.
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Steven Lynch is the editor of the updated edition of Wisden on the Ashes