And how many people have been stranded on 99 not out overnight in a Test?
Steven Lynch11-Jan-2022How many people have been stranded on 99 not out overnight in a Test, as Devon Conway was at Hagley Oval? asked Kurtis Woods from New Zealand
That near-miss by Devon Conway for New Zealand against Bangladesh in Christchurch at the weekend was the 17th time a man had been stuck one short of three figures at close of play in a Test. The most recent previous instance came early last year, when it happened to the West Indian opener Kraigg Brathwaite against Sri Lanka in Antigua in March, while the first was by England’s Jack Hobbs, against Australia in Adelaide back in 1924-25.Conway was the second New Zealander to suffer a potentially sleepless night. Glenn Turner was in the same situation against Pakistan in Dhaka in 1969-70 (he completed his maiden Test century the next morning), and repeated the feat against Australia in Christchurch in 1973-74 (he ended another day with 85, and completed his second century of the match the next morning). The only other man to do this twice was Pakistan’s Mudassar Nazar, both against India, in Bangalore in 1979-80 and in Lahore in 1982-83.Like Conway, all the others safely completed their centuries when play resumed. However, perhaps the most famous 99 not out in Tests is not among the 17: England’s Alex Tudor came in as a nightwatchman against New Zealand at Edgbaston in 1999, and had reached 95 when England levelled the scores at the end of the game, midway through the third day. He needed to hit a six to reach his century – but managed only a four, and so was marooned on 99 not out when the match ended. Tudor never did make a hundred in a Test. “When I got to the middle, I asked Alex whether he wanted to get a hundred, and he told me not to worry about it,” said Graham Thorpe. “But I shouldn’t have listened.”Ollie Pope took four catches as a substitute in Sydney. Was this a record? asked Michael Barker from England
Those catches by Ollie Pope in Australia’s second innings in Sydney at the weekend made him only the third substitute to take four in an innings in a Test. The first to do it – and the only one who wasn’t standing in as wicketkeeper – was Younis Khan, for Pakistan against Bangladesh in Multan in August 2001. The record was equalled early last year by Wriddhiman Saha, for India against Australia, also in Sydney.There have been seven instances of three substitute catches in a Test innings.Were Ebadot Hossain’s figures in New Zealand the best in Tests by a Bangladesh fast bowler? asked Maqsoodul Hasan from Bangladesh
Ebadot Hossain finished with 6 for 46 to set up that superb win over world Test champions New Zealand in Mount Maunganui last week. The only better figures by a Bangladesh seamer are 6 for 27, by Shahadat Hossain against South Africa in Mirpur in 2007-08.Ebadot did improve the away best for a Bangladesh seamer, which was 6 for 71 by Robiul Islam against Zimbabwe in Harare in April 2013. For the list of Test five-fors by Bangladesh pace bowlers, click here.Brian Lara had 8916 runs after 100 Tests; Kumar Sangakkara is next on the list, with 8651•Getty ImagesWith Virat Kohli approaching his 100th Test match, I wondered who had scored the most runs after their 100th? asked Himanshu from Canada
That untimely injury to Virat Kohli, which ruled him out of the recent match in Johannesburg, means he won’t celebrate his 100th Test appearance until later this year: he currently has 98 caps. Before the decider in Cape Town, which starts today, Kohli had scored 7854 runs.The most by a player at the end of his 100th Test is 8916, by Brian Lara; not far behind come Kumar Sangakkara with 8651, Younis Khan with 8640 and Rahul Dravid with 8553. Seventeen players had more runs after 100 matches than Kohli has after 98. Realistically, it’s unlikely he will threaten the top of the list, but a good couple of matches could see him into the top ten: Sunil Gavaskar is currently eighth with 8479 runs, Sachin Tendulkar ninth with 8405, and Ricky Ponting tenth with 8253.Charles Bannerman famously holds the record for the highest percentage of a team’s score in a Test innings, set in the very first match. Who holds the corresponding record for bowlers – runs conceded as a percentage of the total? asked Tom Liu from Australia
I have a vague memory of answering this before, but it was a while ago and might conceivably have changed, so there’s no harm in doing it again. As it turns out, the record (considering only all-out or declared innings) has stood since 1895-96, when England bowled South Africa out for 30 in Johannesburg, and the left-arm seamer Hugh Bromley-Davenport conceded 23 of the runs, or 76.66% of the total. He took one wicket, while at the other end George Lohmann reaped 8 for 7, which probably made up for being dismissed for a pair.Later in 1896, England’s Tom Richardson took 6 for 39 in Australia’s total of 53 (73.58%) on the opening day of the first Ashes Test at Lord’s.The highest percentage since 1900 came when England’s Trevor Bailey took 4 for 22 in Australia’s 32 for 7 declared (68.75%) on a rain-affected pitch in Brisbane in 1950-51. The highest in an all-out innings was by Kapil Dev, with 5 for 70 in England’s total of 102 (68.63%) in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1981-82.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions
