Highest totals without a century, and dream ODI debuts
Also: the most team changes made by a country in successive one-day internationals, and highest individual Test scores in the second innings
Steven Lynch
30-Jun-2015
Like Mustafizur, another left-arm seamer, Zimbabwe's Brian Vitori, took five-fors in his first two ODIs • Associated Press
I noticed that Brendon McCullum's two highest Test scores have come in the second innings of the match. What's the record in this regard? asked Murtaza from Canada
It's true that Brendon McCullum's two highest Test scores - 302 against India in Wellington in 2013-14, and 225 against India in Hyderabad in 2010-11 - both came in New Zealand's second innings. His next-highest of 224 - also against India - was in the first innings at Auckland in 2013-14, a week before that triple-century. The batsman who enjoyed the second innings the most turns out to be Bangladesh's Al Sahariar, whose seven highest scores - ranging from 71 down to 34 - all came at the second attempt. Six batsmen - Ali Bacher (South Africa), Hanson Carter (Australia), Harry Cave (New Zealand), Junaid Siddique (Bangladesh), Pommie Mbangwa (Zimbabwe) and Shane Shillingford (West Indies) - all recorded their five highest scores in the second innings. Of that group, Junaid was the only one to make a century (106 against England in Chittagong in 2009-10), while Mbangwa's scores ranged from 8 to 3. His highest first-innings score was 2 not out. In all Mbangwa collected nine ducks (and eight no-outs) in 25 Test innings.
It's true that Brendon McCullum's two highest Test scores - 302 against India in Wellington in 2013-14, and 225 against India in Hyderabad in 2010-11 - both came in New Zealand's second innings. His next-highest of 224 - also against India - was in the first innings at Auckland in 2013-14, a week before that triple-century. The batsman who enjoyed the second innings the most turns out to be Bangladesh's Al Sahariar, whose seven highest scores - ranging from 71 down to 34 - all came at the second attempt. Six batsmen - Ali Bacher (South Africa), Hanson Carter (Australia), Harry Cave (New Zealand), Junaid Siddique (Bangladesh), Pommie Mbangwa (Zimbabwe) and Shane Shillingford (West Indies) - all recorded their five highest scores in the second innings. Of that group, Junaid was the only one to make a century (106 against England in Chittagong in 2009-10), while Mbangwa's scores ranged from 8 to 3. His highest first-innings score was 2 not out. In all Mbangwa collected nine ducks (and eight no-outs) in 25 Test innings.
Moving to the reverse stat - highest scores in the first innings of a match - the leader is something of a surprise. For much of his career, Tom Graveney seemed to be labelled as having a suspect temperament … but his 23 highest Test scores all came in the first innings. Joel Garner comes next with 20, ahead of his fellow West Indian Brian Lara - whose epic 153 not out to seal a one-wicket victory over Australia in Bridgetown in 1998-99 was his highest second-innings score in Tests, but his 16th-highest overall. The other first-up specialists, with their 15 highest scores all coming in their teams' first innings, are Marvan Atapattu, Michael Clarke (to date) and Steve Waugh.
Mustafizur Rahman took five wickets in both his first two one-day internationals. Has anyone done this before? asked Mukhtar Hossain from Bangladesh
The 19-year-old fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman began his one-day international career with 5 for 50 against India in Mirpur, and added 6 for 43 in his second match, also in Mirpur. The only other bowler to start his ODI career with five-fors in his first two matches is another left-arm paceman - Brian Vitori of Zimbabwe, who took 5 for 30 on debut, against Bangladesh in Harare in August 2011, and added 5 for 20, also at Bangladesh's expense at Harare, two days later. Mustafizur has 13 wickets after three ODIs, edging out Vitori, Ryan Harris, Imran Tahir and South Africa's Juan "Rusty" Theron (11 each).
The 19-year-old fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman began his one-day international career with 5 for 50 against India in Mirpur, and added 6 for 43 in his second match, also in Mirpur. The only other bowler to start his ODI career with five-fors in his first two matches is another left-arm paceman - Brian Vitori of Zimbabwe, who took 5 for 30 on debut, against Bangladesh in Harare in August 2011, and added 5 for 20, also at Bangladesh's expense at Harare, two days later. Mustafizur has 13 wickets after three ODIs, edging out Vitori, Ryan Harris, Imran Tahir and South Africa's Juan "Rusty" Theron (11 each).
Who has scored the most centuries in one-day internationals while chasing? asked Mohit Yadav from India
Unsurprisingly perhaps, the man leading the way here is Sachin Tendulkar: 17 of his record number of 49 one-day international centuries came in the second innings of a match. He might be overhauled fairly soon, though: Virat Kohli already has 14 hundreds while chasing. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chris Gayle are a bit further behind with 11, while Sanath Jayasuriya and Saeed Anwar both made 10. If you restrict it to successful run-chases, it's even closer: Tendulkar scored 14 centuries in matches India won while batting second, while Kohli has 13 so far. Dilshan, Jayasuriya and Saeed Anwar made nine.
Unsurprisingly perhaps, the man leading the way here is Sachin Tendulkar: 17 of his record number of 49 one-day international centuries came in the second innings of a match. He might be overhauled fairly soon, though: Virat Kohli already has 14 hundreds while chasing. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chris Gayle are a bit further behind with 11, while Sanath Jayasuriya and Saeed Anwar both made 10. If you restrict it to successful run-chases, it's even closer: Tendulkar scored 14 centuries in matches India won while batting second, while Kohli has 13 so far. Dilshan, Jayasuriya and Saeed Anwar made nine.
New Zealand's Andrew Mathieson took a wicket with his first ball in one-day internationals. How many others have done this? asked Keith Ellis from England
The Central Districts seamer Andrew Mathieson became the 20th bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in one-day internationals when he had Jason Roy caught at point during the final match against England at Chester-le-Street last week. The only other New Zealander on the list is Shane Thomson, who dismissed India's Mohammad Azharuddin with his first delivery in Dunedin in 1989-90. The first to do it was England's Geoff Arnold, against Australia at Old Trafford in 1972. For the full list, click here.
The Central Districts seamer Andrew Mathieson became the 20th bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in one-day internationals when he had Jason Roy caught at point during the final match against England at Chester-le-Street last week. The only other New Zealander on the list is Shane Thomson, who dismissed India's Mohammad Azharuddin with his first delivery in Dunedin in 1989-90. The first to do it was England's Geoff Arnold, against Australia at Old Trafford in 1972. For the full list, click here.
What's the highest ODI total that doesn't feature a century? And what's the Test record? asked Danish Syed from the United States
The highest total in a one-day international without a century is South Africa's 392 for 6 against Pakistan in Centurion in 2006-07, when the highest individual score was Jacques Kallis's 88 not out. Next comes England's 365 for 9 against New Zealand at The Oval earlier this month, when the highest individual contribution was 88 by Eoin Morgan. The Test record is India's 524 for 9 declared against New Zealand in Kanpur in 1976-77, when the highest individual score was just 70, by Mohinder Amarnath, one of six half-centuries in the innings. That record almost went in Perth in December 2009, when the highest score in Australia's 520 for 7 declared against West Indies was Simon Katich's 99.
The highest total in a one-day international without a century is South Africa's 392 for 6 against Pakistan in Centurion in 2006-07, when the highest individual score was Jacques Kallis's 88 not out. Next comes England's 365 for 9 against New Zealand at The Oval earlier this month, when the highest individual contribution was 88 by Eoin Morgan. The Test record is India's 524 for 9 declared against New Zealand in Kanpur in 1976-77, when the highest individual score was just 70, by Mohinder Amarnath, one of six half-centuries in the innings. That record almost went in Perth in December 2009, when the highest score in Australia's 520 for 7 declared against West Indies was Simon Katich's 99.
What's the most team changes made by a country in successive one-day internationals? Has anyone gone out with a completely new team? asked Gurjit Singh from India
The only cases of a team fielding an entirely new team in what were successive one-day internationals for them came about because of a big gap between fixtures - Canada didn't play any official ODIs between the 1979 World Cup and the 2003 one, so understandably their teams were entirely different. The same happened for the UAE, between the 1996 World Cup and their inclusion in the 2004 Asia Cup.
The only cases of a team fielding an entirely new team in what were successive one-day internationals for them came about because of a big gap between fixtures - Canada didn't play any official ODIs between the 1979 World Cup and the 2003 one, so understandably their teams were entirely different. The same happened for the UAE, between the 1996 World Cup and their inclusion in the 2004 Asia Cup.
There have been three cases of a team showing ten changes from the previous ODI, and again there were reasons. Australia's team for their first ODI against West Indies in St John's in 1977-78 showed ten changes from their previous one, against England at The Oval in 1977, as most of the players from that one were unavailable after signing up for Kerry Packer. Something similar happened in reverse for West Indies: most of their team for the final match of that 1977-78 Australian series, at Castries, were replacements for Packer players - who were back for their next ODIs, in the 1979 World Cup. Then in 2009 a contracts dispute meant West Indies had to make ten changes for successive ODIs, against India in Gros Islet on July 5, and Bangladesh in Roseau on July 26. England's team against Ireland earlier this season showed nine changes from the one that competed at the World Cup, against Afghanistan in Sydney in March.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2014. Ask Steven is now on Facebook