Youngest five-for takers, and players with the most IPL games
Also: what is the record for most runs in a three-Test series without a hundred?
Steven Lynch
16-May-2017
Nasim-ul-Ghani took two Test five-fors at age 16 - and none thereafter • Getty Images
Who are the youngest and oldest bowlers to take a five-for in Tests and ODIs? asked Kartik Aggarwal from India
The youngest bowler to take five wickets in an innings in a Test remains Nasim-ul-Ghani, who was only 16 when his left-arm spin brought him 5 for 116 for Pakistan against West Indies in Georgetown in 1957-58. A fortnight later he added 6 for 67 in Port-of-Spain. Oddly, Nasim never managed another five-for, although his Test career lasted another 15 years. Second on the list is a rather quicker Pakistan left-armer, Mohammad Amir, who was only 17 when he took 5 for 79 against Australia in Melbourne in 2009-10. The oldest to take a Test five-for is another left-arm spinner, Bert "Dainty" Ironmonger, who was about two months shy of his 50th birthday when he claimed 5 for 6 and 6 for 18 for Australia against South Africa on a helpful pitch in Melbourne in 1931-32.
The youngest bowler to take five wickets in an innings in a Test remains Nasim-ul-Ghani, who was only 16 when his left-arm spin brought him 5 for 116 for Pakistan against West Indies in Georgetown in 1957-58. A fortnight later he added 6 for 67 in Port-of-Spain. Oddly, Nasim never managed another five-for, although his Test career lasted another 15 years. Second on the list is a rather quicker Pakistan left-armer, Mohammad Amir, who was only 17 when he took 5 for 79 against Australia in Melbourne in 2009-10. The oldest to take a Test five-for is another left-arm spinner, Bert "Dainty" Ironmonger, who was about two months shy of his 50th birthday when he claimed 5 for 6 and 6 for 18 for Australia against South Africa on a helpful pitch in Melbourne in 1931-32.
The record for the youngest to take a five-for in one-day internationals changed hands a few weeks ago, in March 2017, when the precocious Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan grabbed 6 for 43 against Ireland in Greater Noida, aged 18 years and six months. Rashid pinched the record previously held by Wasim Akram, who was about three months older when he took 5 for 21 in Melbourne in 1984-85 - the first five in the order, reducing the Aussies to 42 for 5. The oldest to do it in ODIs is Canada's Sunil Dhaniram, yet another slow left-armer, who was around four months short of his 40th birthday when he took 5 for 32 against Bermuda in King City in June 2008; the oldest from a Test-playing nation is Viv Richards, who was 37 when he claimed 6 for 41 against India in Delhi in 1989-90.
Misbah-ul-Haq scored 271 runs in the recent series in the West Indies. Was this a record for a three-Test series without a century? asked Andrew Gardam from England
Misbah-ul-Haq's haul in the West Indies was helped by his two innings of 99, a unique feat in the same series. But he still comes in surprisingly low on this particular list, which is headed by the great Garry Sobers. He collected 342 runs in West Indies' three-Test rubber in India in 1966-67, scoring 50 and 53 not out in Bombay, 70 in Calcutta, and 95 and 74 not out in Madras. David Steele scored 365 runs in three Tests for England against Australia in 1975, with a highest score of 92 at Headingley, but that was a four-match series (he was not called up until the second one). In all there have been 43 higher aggregates in three Tests of a series without a century.
Misbah-ul-Haq's haul in the West Indies was helped by his two innings of 99, a unique feat in the same series. But he still comes in surprisingly low on this particular list, which is headed by the great Garry Sobers. He collected 342 runs in West Indies' three-Test rubber in India in 1966-67, scoring 50 and 53 not out in Bombay, 70 in Calcutta, and 95 and 74 not out in Madras. David Steele scored 365 runs in three Tests for England against Australia in 1975, with a highest score of 92 at Headingley, but that was a four-match series (he was not called up until the second one). In all there have been 43 higher aggregates in three Tests of a series without a century.
Has anyone ever been out for 99 in their first Test match? asked Richard Billington from England
Three men have suffered the disappointment of making 99 on their Test debut. The first was the Australian Arthur Chipperfield, at Trent Bridge in 1934: he went to lunch on the second day with 99 not out but was dismissed by the third ball afterwards. "I think that everyone was genuinely sorry," wrote the watching Jack Hobbs. Next to do it was the Guyanese batsman Robert Christiani, for West Indies against England in Bridgetown in 1947-48, and then Asim Kamal, for Pakistan v South Africa in Lahore in 2003-04. Chipperfield and Christiani did later reach three figures in Tests, but poor Asim never did, although he reached 50 seven times in 11 more appearances.
Three men have suffered the disappointment of making 99 on their Test debut. The first was the Australian Arthur Chipperfield, at Trent Bridge in 1934: he went to lunch on the second day with 99 not out but was dismissed by the third ball afterwards. "I think that everyone was genuinely sorry," wrote the watching Jack Hobbs. Next to do it was the Guyanese batsman Robert Christiani, for West Indies against England in Bridgetown in 1947-48, and then Asim Kamal, for Pakistan v South Africa in Lahore in 2003-04. Chipperfield and Christiani did later reach three figures in Tests, but poor Asim never did, although he reached 50 seven times in 11 more appearances.
Has anyone ever taken five wickets for no runs in a Test? asked Kevin Edmondson from England
No one has finished with figures of 5 for 0 in a Test innings, if that's what you mean - the best in that regard is 5 for 2, by Australia's Ernie Toshack against India in Brisbane in 1947-48. But according to the indefatigable Melbourne statistician Charles Davis, seven bowlers are known to have produced spells in which they took five wickets for no runs. The first was the South African offspinner Hugh Tayfield (who finished with 6 for 13) against New Zealand in Johannesburg in 1953-54, and the most recent was England's Stuart Broad, in 16 balls during his 6 for 46 against India at Trent Bridge in 2011, a spell that also included a hat-trick. There might be some earlier instances, for which we don't have the ball-by-ball data.
No one has finished with figures of 5 for 0 in a Test innings, if that's what you mean - the best in that regard is 5 for 2, by Australia's Ernie Toshack against India in Brisbane in 1947-48. But according to the indefatigable Melbourne statistician Charles Davis, seven bowlers are known to have produced spells in which they took five wickets for no runs. The first was the South African offspinner Hugh Tayfield (who finished with 6 for 13) against New Zealand in Johannesburg in 1953-54, and the most recent was England's Stuart Broad, in 16 balls during his 6 for 46 against India at Trent Bridge in 2011, a spell that also included a hat-trick. There might be some earlier instances, for which we don't have the ball-by-ball data.
Virat Kohli has now played 149 matches in the IPL. Has anyone reached 150? asked Amit Mukhtar from India
Royal Challengers Bangalore's failure to progress from the group stages of IPL 10 has left Virat Kohli stranded on 149 matches so far. Four players have reached 150 already: before this year's knockout phase, Dinesh Karthik had played 152 IPL games, Rohit Sharma 156 and MS Dhoni 157, while Suresh Raina led the way with 161. Yusuf Pathan (148), Robin Uthappa (147) and Gautam Gambhir (146) were also close to the 150 mark. The leading overseas player is AB de Villiers, with 129 appearances. For the full list, click here
Royal Challengers Bangalore's failure to progress from the group stages of IPL 10 has left Virat Kohli stranded on 149 matches so far. Four players have reached 150 already: before this year's knockout phase, Dinesh Karthik had played 152 IPL games, Rohit Sharma 156 and MS Dhoni 157, while Suresh Raina led the way with 161. Yusuf Pathan (148), Robin Uthappa (147) and Gautam Gambhir (146) were also close to the 150 mark. The leading overseas player is AB de Villiers, with 129 appearances. For the full list, click here
Leave your questions in the comments below
Nasim-ul-GhaniMohammad AmirBert IronmongerRashid KhanWasim AkramSunil DhaniramViv RichardsMisbah-ul-HaqDavid SteeleArthur ChipperfieldRobert ChristianiAsim KamalErnie ToshackHugh TayfieldStuart BroadVirat KohliDinesh KarthikRohit SharmaMS DhoniSuresh RainaAfghanistanIndiaWest IndiesEnglandAustraliaPakistan
Steven Lynch is the editor of the updated edition of Wisden on the Ashes