Who were the first to reach 3000 runs in Test and ODI cricket?

How often has the Pandya brothers – Hardik and Krunal – played together for India? And how often they have taken catches of each other’s bowling? Vijay Shah on Twitter

In the eight internationals the brothers - Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya - have played together they are yet to take any catch of each other’s bowling. The table below has the details (with results) of the eight international matches they have played together for India.  

I noticed that in the final ODI at Pune seven of the English bowlers managed to claim a wicket in India’s first innings. Is this a rare occurrence? K Satish on Twitter

In the 4285-odd ODI matches, this has occurred only on five occasions as listed in the table below. 

** At Auckland, New Zealand used eight bowlers, with only their opening bowler Richard Collinge (0/19) going wicketless.

** At Edinburgh, Australia used eight bowlers, with only their seventh bowler Adam Voges (0/18) going wicketless. 

** England at Pune is the only bowling side (listed above) to lose the game.

Is Sam Curran’s unbeaten 95 in the 3rd ODI at Pune the highest by a number eight in a chase? Parag Joshi on Twitter.    

Sam Curran’s unbeaten 95 at Pune equals the identical score by another Englishman Chris Woakes against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge in 2016, which is the highest by any #8 in ODI history. The table below lists the highest individual scores in batting positions from 8 to 11 in an ODI run chase.

** Sammy’s knock came at number 9.

** Woakes’ knock came in a tied game. 

** Rest of the above instances came in lost causes.

** For the record, the highest score by a batsman from batting positions from 8 to 11 in a winning cause while chasing is the unbeaten 79 by Zimbabwean Heath Streak against New Zealand at Auckland on 7 Jan 2001. Incidentally, Steak was also the captain!

How often has India managed to win a Test series after losing the first match? Bharat Sundar on Facebook

India has now achieved this on six occasions, with the last four instances coming in the last five years, of which on two occasions India were successful in away series – in Sri Lanka in 2015 and the recent one in Australia. The last series against England was their first series victory by a margin of two Tests, after losing the opening Test. Also, for the first time, India have achieved this in a back-to-back Test series! The table below has the details.

Does it happen often for a bowler to claim his maiden ODI wicket via a catch from a substitute fielder? Ajay Kanwal on Twitter

After the recent ODI series against England in India, there have been in all 30 bowlers who have managed to claim their maiden ODI wicket thanks to a catch by a teammate who is not appearing in the playing XI, i.e. by a substitute fielder. However, the following four Indian bowlers have done this in ODI cricket.

Recently Virat Kohli became the first to reach 3000 runs in T20I cricket. Who were the first to reach 3000 runs in Test and ODI cricket? - Faisal Rizwan on Twitter

Australian Clem Hill was the first to reach 3000 runs in Test cricket. He did so on 12 January 1911, more than 110 years ago in the Adelaide Test match against South Africa during his knock of 55 in the second innings. The Aussies who were then chasing a target of 378 runs, managed to make 339 in the fourth innings to lose by 38 runs. As of date, 198 batsmen have managed to aggregate 3000 runs in Test cricket.

The distinction of being the first batsman to reach 3000 runs in ODI cricket goes to the master batsman from the Caribbean – Viv Richards on 31 May 1984. He did so against England during his famous unbeaten knock of 189 at the Old Trafford. It was then the highest individual score in ODIs. He held this record until 21 May 1997 when Saeed Anwar made 194 at Chennai against India. 

Incidentally, Richards was also the first to 1000 runs (on 22 January 1980), 4000 runs (on 14 April 1985), 5000 runs (on 30 January 1987) and 6000 runs (on 7 January 1989) in ODI cricket. [For the record, the first to reach 2000 run in ODIs was Australian Greg Chappell on 13 February 1982, while Richards was the second on 15 June 1983]. As of date, 158 batsmen have managed to aggregate 3000 runs in ODI cricket.