Which captains have been dismissed by his opposite number on most occasions in Tests?

Which captains have been dismissed by his opposite number on most occasions in Test cricket? – K Satish on Twitter 

West Indian captain Clive Lloyd seems to hold this rather dubious record against his name. He has been dismissed by his opponent captains on nine occasions during his career as a Test captain. Following Lloyd is Sunil Gavaskar, who has been dismissed by his opposite number on seven occasions. The details are given hereunder:

How many batsmen have made double centuries as their only three-figure score in Tests? – Srikant on Twitter

Eleven players have achieved this in Test cricket, of which one has even gone on to make a triple century and then never managed to make a three-figure score so far in his career. India’s Karun Nair currently holds that record having made the unbeaten 303 against England at Chennai in December 2016. However, Nair can still appear in Tests for India, which would give him an opportunity to make another Test score of 100-plus. Following him is England’s Reg Foster who made 287 at Sydney in Dec 1903, which was on his Test debut. 

The remaining batsmen who made their lone Test centuries as a double are West Indian Faoud Bacchus (250 in 1979), Englishman Robert Key (221 in 2004), West Indies’ Denis Atkinson (219 in 1955), England’s David Lloyd (214*in 1974), Pakistani Taslim Arif (210* in 1980), New Zealander Martin Donnelly (206 in 1949), Australian Brad Hodge (203* in 2005), Sri Lankan Brendon Kuruppu (201* in 1987 – on debut!) and Aussie Jason Gillespie (201* in 2006 – in his final Test!). 

Incidentally, for Nair, Lloyd and Kuruppu these were the only 50-plus scores of their Test career. 

Among Test batsmen who have made centuries on debut, who have later managed to hit most Test 100s in their career – Biswajit Saha on Facebook

A total of 106 players have the distinction of registering a three-figure score in their Test debut. And among these batsmen Pakistani Younis Khan has the honour of making the maximum 100+ scores (34) in his career. Englishman Alastair Cook and Aussie Michael Clarke follow him with 33 and 28 centuries respectively.  The full list of all such batsmen with most centuries:

Ajit Agarkar’s only Test century came at Lord’s. Has anyone else made their only Test century at this hallowed ground? – Ajay Vartak on Facebook

In all, 40 players have made their maiden Test century at Lord’s, of which 18 have had the misfortune of not registering another century during their entire career. Also included in this list are current Englishmen Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes. Incidentally, Pakistani Nasim-ul-Ghani (101 in June 1962) and Indian Ajit Agarkar (109* in July 2002) are the only Asians to make a century at Lord’s without making another one in their career. 

Australian Harry Trott in June 1896, became the first batsman to make his maiden and the only Test century at Lord’s. This list includes two double centurions – New Zealander Martin Donnelly – 206 in June 1949 and Englishman Robert Key – 221 against West Indies in July 2004. Overall, this list has nine players from England, three from New Zealand, two from Australia and one each from South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies and India. 

I recently read that Graham Gooch has the most runs and centuries in Tests among players who were dismissed twice for ducks in their debut Test match. Who are the other players behind Gooch? – Anil Doshi on Twitter

In all 44 players have this dubious distinction of being dismissed on a pair (i.e. ducks in each innings of a match) on their Test debut. However, only six players have managed to aggregate 1000 or more runs despite beginning their career on a disastrous note. The full list:

How has Ishant Sharma performed as a Test night-watchman? – Manish Rana on Twitter

Ishant Sharma has been sent in as a night-watchman on 12 occasions in his Test career. The first occasion came in the Mohali Test match in October 2008 against Australia when he was sent in at #7 on the opening day and was 2 not out at close. He played his part well by making 9 in 33 balls. The last occasion he was sent in as such was at Galle in August 2015 at #3 on the third day of the match. He was unbeaten on 5 at close and went on to make a useful 10 in 23 balls the next day!

Overall, in this role he has so far aggregated 105 runs (ave 8.75) in 345 balls (S/R 30.43) and 465 minutes (with 12 fours) from batting positions #3 to #7. His highest score as a night-watchman was the 26 (in 50 balls) that he made against New Zealand at Wellington in Feb 2014. He was sent in at #4 on the opening day and was 3 not out at close. Incidentally, just before he was sent in as a night-watchman, he managed to take six wickets (6/51) with the ball. The Test was drawn. 

In his career as a night-watchman he on an average faced 29 balls, while staying at the crease an average 39 mins! He has been dismissed on a duck on two occasions and on four occasions out of the 12 innings he was dismissed on the same day he was sent in to perform this role. He has been dismissed caught on 9 occasions, twice been LBW and once bowled!

All records mentioned above are updated as on 2 August 2020 

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