And who made the fewest runs with one?
Steven Lynch26-Feb-2019Was Kusal Perera’s match-winning knock the highest in the fourth innings of a Test? asked Ashley Silva from Sri Lanka
Kusal Perera’s unbeaten 153 in Sri Lanka’s sensational victory over South Africa in Durban earlier this month equalled the ninth-highest score in a winning cause in the fourth innings of a Test. He went level with Brian Lara, who also hit 153 not out for West Indies against Australia in Bridgetown in 1998-99. The highest in a win – and the only double-century – was Gordon Greenidge’s 214 not out for West Indies against England at Lord’s in 1984.In all, there have been 11 scores of 150 or more in wins, four in defeats (the highest 222 by Nathan Astle for New Zealand v England in Christchurch in 2001-02), and eight in draws – including the highest score by anyone in the fourth innings of a Test, George Headley’s 223 for West Indies v England in Kingston in 1929-30.Is it true that Sri Lanka have become the first Asian nation to win a Test series in South Africa? asked Gamini Wijesinha from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s stunning 2-0 victory, which they completed in Port Elizabeth at the weekend, was indeed the first time South Africa had lost a Test series at home to an Asian side. It was Sri Lanka’s sixth Test-playing visit; South Africa claimed the other five series, with Sri Lanka winning only one previous Test (in Durban in December 2011). India have contested seven Test series in South Africa, losing six and drawing in 2010-11; Pakistan six, losing five and drawing in 1997-98; and Bangladesh three, losing all of them – they have lost all their six Tests there.More than that, though, Sri Lanka are the first country other than England or Australia to win a Test series in South Africa. New Zealand (eight attempts – seven defeats and a draw), West Indies (four, all lost) and Zimbabwe (four Tests, all lost, spread over three visits) have never done it.Who scored the most runs in Tests without a double-century, and who made the fewest runs with one? asked Mike Neill from England
The most runs in Tests without ever making a double-century is 8463, by England’s Alec Stewart: his highest score was 190, against Pakistan at Edgbaston in 1992. Five other men made more than 7000 runs without the aid of a double: Mark Waugh (8029), Mike Atherton (7728), Colin Cowdrey (7624), Desmond Haynes (7487) and Andrew Strauss (7037).At the other end of the scale, there are 13 batsmen who made fewer than 1000 Test runs, but did manage a double-century. Least of all is Sri Lanka’s Brendon Kuruppu, whose grand total of 320 runs included 201 not out on debut, against New Zealand in Colombo in 1987. Next comes Karun Nair of India, who has scored 374 Test runs so far – but that includes a triple-century, against England in Chennai in 2016-17. There are nine other men whose one and only Test century was a double: “Tip” Foster, Rob Key and David Lloyd of England, Jason Gillespie and Brad Hodge of Australia, Denis Atkinson and Faoud Bacchus of West Indies, Martin Donnelly of New Zealand, and Taslim Arif of Pakistan.The closest Alec Stewart got to a double-century in his 133 Tests was his 190 against Pakistan at Edgbaston•Clive Mason/Getty ImagesNow that Aaron Finch has played in a Test, who has taken over his record for having the most ODI centuries without appearing in a Test? asked Brian Williams from Australia
Aaron Finch scored 11 one-day international centuries for Australia – and two in T20Is – before finally winning his first Test cap late last year. The new mark is seven, shared by two players who have not yet appeared in Tests. Calum MacLeod’s unbeaten 140, which helped Scotland upset England in Edinburgh last June, was his seventh century in ODIs; and Jason Roy joined him with his own seventh, in England’s first ODI against West Indies in Bridgetown last week.Has anyone scored more runs than Babar Azam since he made his debut in ODIs and T20Is? asked Asim Kayani from Pakistan
Babar Azam made his T20I debut for Pakistan on September 7, 2016. Since then he has scored 1182 runs in the format, which is indeed more than anyone else in that time: Rohit Sharma is next with 967, then the New Zealander Colin Munro with 911, Shikhar Dhawan 880, and Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik 775.Babar made his one-day international debut a little earlier, on May 31, 2015. Since then he has scored 2,462 runs in ODIs, which puts him 12th overall; 16 men have made than 2000 runs in that time. Top of the list is Virat Kohli, with 3996 at an average just under 80. Rohit is second with 3588, ahead of Joe Root (3282 after the second one-dayer in the West Indies), Kane Williamson (2868) and Eoin Morgan (2754).Just to complete the set, Babar made his Test debut on October 13, 2016, and has now scored 1235 runs. That puts him 31st in that period: Kohli is top with 3059, ahead of Root (2680) and Cheteshwar Pujara (2571). In all three formats since his international debut in May 2015, Babar has amassed 4879 runs, which puts him 13th overall. Kohli (9257), Root (8298) and Williamson (6599) lead the way.Use our feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions
