Wikipedia:WikiProject Cricket/Quiz/archive41

Q801
In one of the best detailed explanations of the laws of the game, what was under scrutiny when the author said "while I know how to implement it... I can only say again: what a load of rubbish!" --Travis Basevi (talk) 23:23, 6 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I will take a shot ,is it to do with not being out,if the ball hits the glove and the glove is not holding the bat? Sumant81 (talk) 04:08, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * the revised no ball rule? --Roisterer (talk) 05:00, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * The relaxtion in the law which allows the bowler's arm to bend 15 degrees?Abeer.ag (talk) 07:10, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

It's a book from 15 years ago, which counts out the 15 degree thing (could anyone really know how to "implement" that anyway?). And it's put into practice more than a little less than the other two. --Travis Basevi (talk) 07:28, 7 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Is it to do with the rules around time off the field for bad light where play cannot resume immediately even if the sun suddenly comes out? BlackJack | talk page 09:15, 7 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Are we talking about a genuine Law, as opposed to a regulation? Also this clearly precedes the 2000 revision of the Laws. Are you willing to reveal whether the Law in question was modified in the later code? (Which if it was recognised as daft it might well have been.) JH (talk page) 09:51, 7 August 2008 (UTC)


 * And a shot in the dark. Could the reference have been to the ball not becoming dead if a fielder's throw hits the stumps, so that an accurate throw in an attempt to run someone out can result in four overthrows? JH (talk page) 09:51, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

None of these. Yes, it's a genuine law and was slightly amended in the 2000 code, but not in any way to reduce its overall pointlessness. If the umpires followed the letter of the law I'd say it would be regularly enforced, but as it is I'd wager none of us here have ever seen it happen. --Travis Basevi (talk) 10:31, 7 August 2008 (UTC)


 * 41.2 "A fielder may field the ball with any part of his person but if, while the ball is in play he wilfully fields it otherwise, (a) the ball shall become dead..." i.e. preventing him from throwing his cap/jumper towards the ball??! It was amended in 2000 to confirm the ball does not count as part of the over? –MDCollins (talk) 10:43, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

A couple of guesses :

(a) If the non-striker leaves the crease before the bowler delivers the ball, the umpires can call dead ball and call them back. But it is never ever enforced and I don't think it changed in 2000. (b) There is a very ridiculous situation that can come up if a batsman hits his wicket before the ball is delivered, and if the ball is to be considered valid. Shall explain if it is near the expected answer. There was some modification in it in 2000 code. Tintin 10:46, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Ignore (b). It is not something that can be regularly enforced :-) Tintin 10:58, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Still no. The author begins the section thus "... if ever a Law was ridiculous and virtually impossible to enforce, this is it." The 2000 revision has probably removed the "impossible to enforce" interpretation, but that hasn't made it any more commonplace. --Travis Basevi (talk) 11:04, 7 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Clarification : You said that the opportunities to enforce it occur regularly, right ? It is not something that happens once in a decade. Tintin 11:17, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I think I'm getting a little out of my depth with my knowledge of the laws with these clues. Let's just say it's happened about once every 5 5 to 10 years in First-Class cricket, but the opportunity for it to happen would be very much higher. --Travis Basevi (talk) 11:24, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Hmm, surprised it's taken this long, I hope I haven't led everyone into a dead end. To more or less give it away, it's a whole law, not a subsection. So only 42 to choose from. --Travis Basevi (talk) 13:17, 7 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Not something to do with law 31 (Timed out) is it? -AMBerry (t|c) 13:44, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * That's the one. The book was The Wisden Book of Cricket Laws by Don Oslear. His particular beef with the law was the word "wilfully" which meant a batsman could be 10 minutes late, and the fielding side had appealed for timed out, but if the batsman had a legitimate excuse (got lost in the long room, done a Bob Willis and forgot his bat) it wasn't wilful and so he has to be not out. That word has now been removed from the 2000 revision and the time has also been extended from 2 to 3 minutes (I initially thought the requirement for an appeal had also been removed, not realising it was covered by Law 27, apologies for any confusion) but it's still ridiculous - check out the MCC's Q&A for it and there's a load of hypothetical nonsense about umpires calling Time (after which the fielding side cannot appeal) to investigate the non-appearance of a batsman, and the captain nominating a batsman to be out, etc. --Travis Basevi (talk) 14:24, 7 August 2008 (UTC)


 * My memory (without checking) is that it changed from two minutes to cross the boundary rope, to three minutes to be ready to receive a ball, which would remove an obvious loophole. Stephen Turner (Talk) 18:09, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Q802
Reasonably easy one this. What links the following Test cricketers: Wilf Barber, A. N. Hornby, Bruce Murray, Rolland Beaumont, Mark Greatbatch, David Houghton, Imtiaz Ahmed, Xavier Marshall, Frank Mooney, Roger Prideaux, Qasim Umar and Tim Robinson? -AMBerry (t|c) 14:45, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * All of them have a best career bowling of 1/0? Ovshake (talk) 14:54, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Apparently not, though it's a major coincidence that the first three on the list do. Ovshake (talk) 14:55, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Bowled, but never conceded a run in Tests. Tintin 14:56, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Told you it was easy. -AMBerry (t|c) 15:00, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Q803
What is common between Basil Butcher, Christopher Heseltine, Albert Rose-Innes, Vivek Razdan and (as of now) Tim Southee ? Tintin 15:05, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * All of them have exactly five test wickets, and all wickets have come in the same innings. Ovshake (talk) 15:24, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Right. Tintin 15:26, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Q804
Which batsman supposedly sat with his partner beside a cricket pitch, waiting for his test hundred to happen? Ovshake (talk) 15:28, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Okay, it's someone whom you associate with centuries. Ovshake (talk) 00:22, 8 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Gavaskar and Anshuman Gaekwad ? Sumant81 (talk) 00:59, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Spot on, Sunny waited for his hundred on the final day at Bangalore 1983-84. This report explains the situation but doesn't tell us about Sunny sitting with Gaekwad beside the pitch waiting for Pakistan to reappear. Ovshake (talk) 03:28, 8 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Ovshake,I do not have any questions lined up at the moment,please go ahead and ask one Sumant81 (talk) 06:02, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Q805
What was unusual about the over Hashan Tillakaratne bowled in this match? Ovshake (talk) 15:18, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Anuthing to do with the fact that it was the 5th time he bowled just one over in an ODI/ it was the 9th time that he was called upon as the 6th bowler or below? Abeer.ag (talk) 17:08, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
 * No, nothing related to his career. Something happened during the over which isn't very common. Ovshake (talk) 17:50, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
 * It was a five ball over?? WillE (talk) 22:18, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
 * No, something much more unique. It was the manner in which the over was bowled. Ovshake (talk) 02:05, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Did he bowl left handed as opposed to right hand which was his normal arm? Sumant81 (talk) 02:35, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Well, I suppose if no one does better I'd give it to you, but I suppose you can be a bit MORE specific. Ovshake (talk) 04:25, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Bowled half over left handed and half Right Handed? Bharath (talk) 04:57, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

Exactly, he bowled the first three balls right-handed and the other three left-handed. Ovshake (talk) 11:31, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
 * err, i Should be jailed for Stealing the answer from Sumant81 :P, anyway Q806 coming up Bharath (talk) 11:47, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

Q806
What Unique incident happened in this match. . . .???Bharath (talk) 12:00, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
 * The father and son Bestwicks bowled at the father and son Quaifes during Warwickshire's sixth wicket partnership. Ovshake (talk) 12:12, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Correct Ovshake, Bytheway what does your name "Ovshake" means? does it have a meaning or is it a kind of Milkshake? :P Bharath (talk) 08:40, 10 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Try thinking phonetically about Indian names, mate. A good hint might be that I support Bengal. Ovshake (talk) 12:38, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

Q807
In this match Gavaskar replaced a bowler with another, and before he could start the over, he brought back the earlier bowler. Apparently he didn't do this whimsically - it was a well thought-out decision. Why did he do this? Ovshake (talk) 14:13, 10 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Well, I'm going to make a complete guess here ... a wicket fell at the end of the over; Gavaskar pretended to give the ball to a new bowler in order to make Pakistan change their mind about which batsman to send out next; once the batsman had crossed the rope, Gavaskar gave the ball back to the original bowler. Stephen Turner (Talk) 19:41, 10 August 2008 (UTC)
 * A good guess, but no. Ovshake (talk) 20:38, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

Did it have anything to do with a rain break, or a decision to turn on the floodlights? --KingStrato (talk) 05:51, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Not quite. A possible hint is that he never actually wanted to change the bowler - he wanted the original bowler to bowl. Why did he call up the change bowler, then? Ovshake (talk) 06:12, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Was the original bowler injured and left the field during the intervening over, but then returned just in time to start his "next" over? BlackJack | talk page 06:34, 11 August 2008 (UTC)

Was there some strange provision in the rules at the time which made it necessary, or could the same thing happen today? Stephen Turner (Talk) 07:36, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Anuthing to with Siva's almost hat-trick? Or perhaps he brought on a spinner so that the batsman would take off his helmet, and then had a pacer bowl bouncers...BTW, is your name Abhishek... Abeer.ag (talk) 09:40, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * The same thing could have happened today. Nothing to do with Siva's hat-trick or helmets or injuries. The original bowler was Ravi Shastri. Gavaskar had decided to bring on Chetan Sharma, but changed his mind after Sharma took the ball. The names, I'm afraid won't be of much help. And my name is Abhishek. Ovshake (talk) 12:55, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Another hint can be that it happened towards the end of the innings, possibly around over 42 or 43 (I'm more or less sure of this, but quoting from memory 22-23 years back isn't easy). Ovshake (talk) 13:02, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Was he going to bring on the fast bowler (Sharma), noticed that the ball was misshapen, so asked Shastri to and yontinue in the hope of some wicked spin? –MDCollins (talk) 14:04, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * No, I repeat that he had never wanted a bowling change. The entire incident of asking Sharma to bowl was an eyewash. Combine that with the fact that it happened around over 42/43 and you should get it. Ovshake (talk) 14:41, 11 August 2008 (UTC)

Could Shastri have had to leave the field temporarily for an emergency "toilet break", returmning in the nick of time to bowl his next over? JH (talk page) 16:52, 11 August 2008 (UTC)

I presume his intention was to confuse the batsmen in some way. Is that what we should be working out in terms of why he did it? BlackJack | talk page 19:00, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Okay, the decision actually backfired, and was taken at around the 43-over mark. You can guess what the match situation was like from the scorecard, and what might have prompted him to do so at that point of time. What's the significance of the 43-over or so mark? Ovshake (talk) 22:42, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * He was wasting time in order so Pakistan wouldn't be all out so early that India would have to bat before the dinner break? --Travis Basevi (talk) 23:17, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Spot on, over to you. The decision backfired, and for the only time in the tournament India failed to bowl out an opposition. Gavaskar mentions that when he called Chetan Sharma from the deep he expected him to stroll towards him, but unfortunately he ran towards him with all the exuberance of a kid. However, the Indians managed to spend the one and half minutes or so to go past the cut off, and then Shastri resumed. Sunny mentions this incident in his fourth book, One-Day Wonders. Ovshake (talk) 23:44, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Good question there, well done –MDCollins (talk) 00:06, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * The best example of that tactic backfiring that I've been witness to was this Aus v NZ match in 1994. NZ were 168/9 with plenty of time left due to so many overs coming from spinners. Warne bowls a tame over jam-packed with fielding change charades. Cue a 30 run last wicket partnership and NZ end up winning by 13 runs. Textbook hubris. --Travis Basevi (talk) 00:53, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Q808
Shane Bond, ________, Tony Dodemaide, Martin Snedden, Bruce Reid, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Irfan Pathan. Who's the missing name in this top 8 list of a particular record. I was going to phrase this question in an easier way until I realised the missing player's Wikipedia profile gives the game away, mainly due to him doing little else of note in his career. --Travis Basevi (talk) 00:53, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Dodemaide made me search ODI debuts, but couldn't find anything relevant for the others (though Snedden's debut led to the match where John Bracewell took four catches AS A SUBSTITUTE). Dodemaide also played his first four tests against four different countries, but I'm sure Pathan played his first two tests vs Australia. Dodemaide had also taken a 6-for and had scored a fifty in the same test, but Snedden has never taken six. So it's basically one dead end after another. :( Ovshake (talk) 01:56, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Are the names in sequence?Ovshake (talk) 01:58, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, Bond is the easy leader, followed by our man of mystery tied with Dodemaide, then Snedden and Reid tied, then the last three tied. You were sniffing around in the right area to begin with. --Travis Basevi (talk) 02:35, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Is the record the number of balls bowled on LOI debut before taking first wicket? I see it took Bond five balls before he dismissed Mark Waugh, no less. BlackJack | talk page 04:46, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * No, plenty of men have taken a wicket with the first ball they bowled, including the unlikely duo of Wavell Hinds and Sadagoppan Ramesh in the same match. And Snedden was wicketless on debut. Ovshake (talk) 04:51, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * While checking debuts, just realised that Ajit Agarkar took a six-for in Pathan's debut test AND debut ODI. Surely not the answer, but I'm not sure whether it's a common occurrence. Ovshake (talk) 04:55, 12 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I think the answer is Simon Davis who made his debut in 1985/86 Benson and Hedges tournament and finished with 18 wickets.The connection is Leading wicket takers in the Australian Tri Series for players who made their debut in that tournament . Shane Bond -21, Simon Davis-18, Tony Dodemaide-18, Martin Snedden-17, Bruce Reid-17, Glenn McGrath-16, Brett Lee-16, Irfan Pathan-16 Sumant81 (talk) 06:21, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I'll give that to you. The answer I had in mind was the most wickets on debut in any ODI series or tournament, but the top 13 are all from the Australian tri-series. You don't get others until you get to 13 wickets for Shaun Pollock (v Eng 95/96) and Tim Southee (v Eng earlier this year) and 12 wickets for Abdul Qadir in the 1983 World Cup. A table with a few unexpected names - Stuart Gillespie anyone? Well done to Sumant, over to you. --Travis Basevi (talk) 11:22, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

[Grrr...] Ovshake (talk) 04:56, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Q809
What is the common link for these players Khanmohammad Ibrahim,Sunil Gavaskar,Ashok Mankad,Sanjay Manjrekar ? Sumant81 (talk) 17:26, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * A technically correct answer, but not what you're looking for I know... they're all Indian. :) -AMBerry (t|c) 20:54, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Damn. Beaten by an edit confl....

All averaged over 50 in Indian Domestic cricket? WillE (talk) 20:55, 12 August 2008 (UTC)


 * You are on right track with respect to Domestic cricket.So to make matters clear...This is an exhaustive list.So things like averaging over 50 ,scoring more than n runs do not fit in.There are only '4' of them. Sumant81 (talk) 21:05, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * All of them were Mumbai captains. Were they the only Mumbai captains to lose Ranji finals (given that Mumbai has lost exactly four finals)? (blind guess, without checking, I somehow vaguely recall that Vengsarkar led them in the epic final of 1990-91) Ovshake (talk) 21:16, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Well, just checked, it wasn't the Colonel in 1990-91, it was Manjrekar, so I believe they were the unfortunate four. Ovshake (talk) 21:19, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Got em,the colonel was infact the hero but not the captain.Thats the one.The captains when Mumbai have lost the Ranji Trophy finals.They have won an incredible 37 of their 41 appearances. Sumant81 (talk) 21:25, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Q810
What unusual incident happened on the first day of this test? Ovshake (talk) 21:50, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Sandeep Patil was flown in by "special plane" which landed after play had begun. Johnlp (talk) 21:55, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Five minutes. :-( Grrrr, should've checked the Almanack report first! He actually landed towards the end of day 1. Over to you. Ovshake (talk) 21:59, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Q811
Under what circumstances was a Test cricketer presented with a cup by the Duke of Gloucester? Johnlp (talk) 22:04, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I see that the last Duke of Gloucester was President of The Football Association from 1957 to 1963. As such, he may on occasion have present the FA Cup and/or FA Amateur Cup to the winning captain. Wimbledon won the Amateur Cup in 1963, and Mickey Stewart played for them, though I don't know the dates or whether he was ever captain. Could he be the Test cricketer in question? JH (talk page) 09:36, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

You are absolutely in the right area with the right duke, but the wrong dates. This event happened before the Duke of Gloucester became the Duke of Gloucester, if that helps. Johnlp (talk) 09:41, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Trevor Bailey played for Walthamstow Avenue when they won the FA Amatyeur cup in 1951-2. I didn't think that he was captain, but could it be him? I think that Denis Compton was in an FA Cup winning side with Arsenal, but again I did not think that he was captain. JH (talk page) 09:48, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

The FA Cup is a better choice. Johnlp (talk) 10:04, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
 * It was Andy Ducat, who captained Villa in the 1920 FA Cup Final when they beat Huddersfield. The Duke was called Prince Henry at that time and he became Duke in 1928.  BlackJack | talk page 11:12, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

That's the one. Well done. Over to you. Johnlp (talk) 11:28, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Q812
A two-parter. In an article in The Times, who wrote in response to which book: "Does he engage himself day in and day out to play from 1 May to 31 August? If he does he is a professional."? BlackJack | talk page 13:28, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Was the book being referred to by any chance one of the "autobiographies" of WG? JH (talk page) 19:13, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
 * No, although the author no doubt had WG very much in mind when he wrote about "so-termed amateurs" who are "more heavily remunerated" than accredited professionals. BlackJack | talk page 05:39, 14 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Lord Harris? WillE (talk) 22:00, 14 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Trevor Bailey ?? Sumant81 (talk) 22:19, 14 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Lord Harris was the Times article writer. Writing in 1909, he attempted a typically biased and narrow-minded defence of "shamateurism" in answer to criticisms raised in the new book.  First part awarded to WillE.  A clue about the book is that, unlike Harris, CB Fry greatly admired it!  BlackJack | talk page 05:23, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Would that then point to The Jubilee Book of Cricket by Ranji? WillE (talk) 11:56, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

No. The book's author was an English professional who had formerly played Test cricket. He published his book in 1906. BlackJack | talk page 15:30, 15 August 2008 (UTC)


 * A. E. Knight's book came out in 1906 and caused a bit of fuss. Johnlp (talk) 15:42, 15 August 2008 (UTC)


 * That's the one. The Complete Cricketer, it was called.  Oh, dear.  Who's won?  BlackJack | talk page 15:45, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I craved that book as a youngster. There are currently 3 copies of it on Amazon.co.uk. Birthday prezzie here I come! WillE (talk) 20:25, 15 August 2008 (UTC)


 * WillE did the hard work. Over to him. Johnlp (talk) 15:49, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

Q813
Do we do half points?

Anyway... Whose mistaking a "y" for a "u" led to a brief but unremarkable international career, and for whom? (Allegedly!) WillE (talk) 18:01, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
 * The story goes that, when Gatting was the England captain, at an ODI selection meeting he thought that the suggestion was "lunch" and heartly approved, only to find that he had agreed to the selection of Monte Lynch. Though he was not a success in the three matches he played, as a Surrey supporter I must point out that worse cricketers have played for England. :) JH (talk page) 18:32, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Is this true? Or just an urban legend? This is really too good to be true! :-D Ovshake (talk) 19:37, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Just an urban legend, I think, begun by someone being funny at Gatting's expense. JH (talk page) 20:20, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
 * That's the one. Thought it was cryptic enough to least at least an hour! WillE (talk) 20:22, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

Q814
His innings did not even reach double figures, but at least one spectator thought that it was the finest innings that he ever played. Who was the player and who was the spectator? JH (talk page) 20:52, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Do I count? If yes, then Ashok Malhotra and myself in this match. I've hardly ever watched a more tensed match (the team with more runs per wicket won if a first innings lead was not obtained somehow). His wicket would have meant our defeat (and would have prevented us in winning the tournament for the second and last time till date). Ovshake (talk) 21:21, 15 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Is this Neville Cardus describing Archie MacLaren on that 1921 tour .If so this is similar to Q738 question by Ovshake above - Here it talks about him describing a first ball duck Sumant81 (talk) 21:54, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I don't have The Autobiography with me, but as far as I remember, though Cardus wrote at lengths about the match he hardly said a word about MacLaren's INNINGS. Actually he might have, but he has surely not mentioned it as the finest innings he ever played. Ovshake (talk) 01:49, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Bill Johnston and Don Bradman in this match? Ovshake (talk) 01:56, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Alec stewart's 9* was Really brave Bharath (talk) 06:39, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

I know this isn't the answer but I recall a Test back in the 1980s when England were reeling as usual against Malcolm Marshall & Co. and Pat Pocock held out for a long time without scoring. When he finally was dismissed and returned to the dressing room, Paul Downton said to him: "Percy, that was the greatest duck I've ever seen!" BlackJack | talk page 07:04, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

So far, nobody is even warm. As a hint, don't think Cardus but rather another notable cricket writer. The writer did not see the innings himself, but was told about it by a blood relative, who was the spectator in question. JH (talk page) 08:53, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Is the relative, er, someone that we know? Ovshake (talk) 12:15, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
 * A guess. Is John Arlott the writer?  BlackJack | talk page 12:40, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

No, to both of those. I'll make it easier, and tell you that the spectator was the writer's Uncle Walter. Having told you that, rather than the player and the spectator I'd now like you to name the player and the writer. JH (talk page) 16:38, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Were Uncle Walter and the writer both players themselves? BlackJack | talk page 19:23, 16 August 2008 (UTC)


 * No, neither were players. I'll narrow it down a little further, and reveal that the innings in question was played before World War One. JH (talk page) 19:59, 16 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I wonder whether one of the Dick Barlow's marathon stonewalling efforts might have been deemed worthy of such praise. Didn't he once carry his bat for 5 in a Lancashire innings that reached 69? Johnlp (talk) 20:18, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
 * How about Wilfred Rhodes's 6 Not Out in the "get' em in singles" game?And Maybe WG? WillE (talk) 20:27, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

No to all of the above. It looks like it's time for another clue. The innings in question was played for Yorkshire. JH (talk page) 21:08, 16 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Just to recap. We've got a single figure innings played for Yorkshire before World War One.  A famous writer says that his Uncle Walter saw it and described it as one of that player's finest innings, despite his low score.  Was the writer active at a later date sometime after WWI or was he contemporary with the player in qustion?  And would it actually help us if we could identify Uncle Walter: is he famous too?  BlackJack | talk page 05:36, 17 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Though the writer's memories of cricket extended to before WW1, he did not turn to writing about the game till after WW2. Apart from the writer's references to his uncle, Walter has no claim to fame that I'm aware of. A bit more about the player. He is one of the least well-known of the Yorkshire players of his era, and is chiefly remembered for this innings, which enabled his side to win a low-scoring game by 5 wickets. JH (talk page) 08:57, 17 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Is the writer A. A. Thomson ? Wasn't it with Uncle Walter's copy of Pilgrim's Progress and a rubber ball that a young Thomson used to conduct Ashes Test matches in front of his fireplace ? Tintin 12:56, 17 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Correct. Now all we need is to identify the player. JH (talk page) 13:07, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Irving Washington|? WillE (talk) 18:29, 17 August 2008 (UTC)

Correct. Irving Washington it is. His innings of 9* enabled Yorkshire to record a 5 wicket victory over the Australians in 1902. You will find the story in at least one of Thomson's books, as will as in an essay he wrote for the 1967 Wisden entitled "My Favourite Summer". If you are signed up to the Cricinfo Wisden archive (which is free), you can find the piece here:. JH (talk page) 18:54, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Blimey. I've actually got one right as the result of research from scratch rather than guess work! WillE (talk) 22:28, 17 August 2008 (UTC)

Q815
Who was awarded "one and a half runs and and the match"? WillE (talk) 22:28, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
 * It involved a fictitious overseas 'player'. WillE (talk) 22:18, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I'm still not getting any ideas. JH (talk page) 08:09, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Sounds like the kind of thing you'd get in Billy Bunter books or Just William or such like... Johnlp (talk) 08:46, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Is it anything to do with a penguin? Or is it a 'player' as opposed to a 'gentleman'?–MDCollins (talk) 10:09, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * It involved a school match, and the entity concerned was partnered by a young man called Brown. A further marmalade sandwich clue tonight if no-one has bitten...WillE (talk) 11:47, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

I'd read Tom Brown's School Days ages back, and can't recall 1½ runs being awarded or the existence of a foreigner. But then, it's been at least fifteen years since I've last read it. Ovshake (talk) 14:02, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * The "overseas player" at Greyfriars was Hurree Ramset Jam Singh, or some such. Dreadful stereotyping! Johnlp (talk) 14:37, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

Was it Peru's finest bear, Paddington? Partnered by Jonathan Brown? I'm guessing he played a match for Jonathan's school once--Roberry (talk) 15:16, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I duly award a marmalade sandwich to Roberry. You lot might know bucket loads about cricket, but shame on you for not knowing your Paddington Bear! WillE (talk) 18:53, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I would have got it from the marmalade clue, but was too late. I only know of three people who were born in Peru: Paddington, Freddie Brown and Michael Bentine. I wonder if Freddie could be any relation to Paddington Bear's Browns? :) JH (talk page) 19:57, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * A common misconception, sir. It may not be generally known, but Paddington was adopted, and so a relationship between him Old Freddie is thus unlikely. WillE (talk) 09:51, 20 August 2008 (UTC)

Q816
What related Test records are held by Fred Titmus, Hashan Tillakaratne, Alec Stewart, and Brian Lara? --Roberry (talk) 21:00, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * You mean exactly the four of them hold multiple records? Ovshake (talk) 22:06, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

The records are variants of the same record with different criteria --Roberry (talk) 22:56, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Somewhat clueless. Anything to do with performances in lost matches? Do the latter three have all their toes intact? Ovshake (talk) 16:52, 20 August 2008 (UTC)

The records relate to their entire Test careers, and the criteria relate to something they never achieved - --Roberry (talk) 18:13, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Was it something desirable to achieve, or undesirable? JH (talk page) 19:57, 20 August 2008 (UTC)

I would say it is desirable --Roberry (talk) 21:10, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Failure to get a test 100, 150, 200 and 401? Coat! WillE (talk) 22:33, 20 August 2008 (UTC)

Why would that be the record? - many players have failed to get a test 100, 150, 200, etc --Roberry (talk) 01:41, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Tillakaratne had a 204* in the 2001-02 season when he scored that phenomenal 645 runs being dismissed only once (338, then got out, then 307 more before his next dismissal). Ovshake (talk) 01:57, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Does it involve being dismissed Stumped in Tests Stewart was dismissed
 * in his 154th Test inning stumped for the 1st time &mdash;Wattmaster (talk) 12:25, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Nothing to do with stumpings - I will try to think of a clue --Roberry (talk) 15:01, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

OK - no guesses? - we know these players have never achieving a certain something. To try to help, the obverse of the records are held by Merv Harvey, Ajay Ratra, Clairmonte Depeiaza, Sid Barnes, Roshan Mahanama, and Kumar Sangakkara - and why are there 6 names now rather than 4? --Roberry (talk) 12:00, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
 * The first four suffer from "not too many tests" syndrome (Barnes especially - I'm amazed he only played a baker's dozen!) Is that relevant in any way? 164.36.38.241 (talk) 12:50, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

It might help - fewer tests would make it easier to see what the second group achieved that the first didn't --Roberry (talk) 14:23, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

One last chance - Harvey only played one Test - so what did he manage in that match? What is Depeiaza's most famous achievement? What have Barnes, Mahanama and Sangakkara all achieved - one last big clue - none of them would have managed this without the help of others --Roberry (talk) 13:15, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Harvey was bowled in both innings. DePeiaza is most famous for his partnership? Hang on, Morris partnered someone who scored twin tons... Arthur Morris. Is that a clue? Does the second list consist of people who have been at the crease in each innings when someone scoring twin tons started his innings? Ovshake (talk) 13:46, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Nothing so convoluted - the original list featured players who scored the most runs in their careers while never managing to do a certain something. The 2nd list was supposed to help - it features the players with the fewest career runs that did manage to do that certain something. All I need now is what was the something --Roberry (talk) 16:43, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
 * So it must be most runs while never scoring a 100, 200, 300, 400 partnership. Stephen Turner (Talk) 16:54, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Of course, Lara never had a 500 or 600 partnership either, that's why there are only four names on the first list. Stephen Turner (Talk) 16:55, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Thats it - next question is yours --Roberry (talk) 19:05, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Well, I only got it after it became very easy, but I haven't asked a question for a very long time, so I'll take it! Try this one... Stephen Turner (Talk) 21:10, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Q817
Who is next in this sequence? Umar Gul, Brian McMillan, Anil Kumble, Iqbal Qasim, Craig McDermott, ... Stephen Turner (Talk) 21:10, 23 August 2008 (UTC)


 * OK, time for a clue. They're all bowlers, but the question is really to do with a sequence of batsmen who were dismissed by these bowlers. Stephen Turner (Talk) 13:40, 24 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I can see this needs a big clue. The batsmen concerned are Brian Lara, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, ... Stephen Turner (Talk) 10:38, 25 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Kapil Dev? WillE (talk) 11:38, 25 August 2008 (UTC)


 * No. Stephen Turner (Talk) 12:15, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

Well, apparently it's the bowlers who have dismissed the highest run-scorers in the last "announced" innings of their test careers. Since Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis have not announced their retirement(s) as yet, they don't feature on the list. So the next man shall be David Brain, who dismissed Javed Miandad in his last test innings. Ovshake (talk) 12:21, 25 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Edit conflict beat me. I had written this: The batsmen are all among the top ten career runscorers in Test cricket although the sequence does not seem to be chronological.  However, they are in sequence as the leading retired runscorers  and that would suggest Javed Miandad is the next one.  Is it around the number of times the bowler took his opposite's wicket?  In other words, are we looking for the bowler who dismissed Miandad most times?  BlackJack | talk page 12:30, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I shall not be around for the next 2-3 days. If I'm correct will someone else post a new question? Ovshake (talk) 14:53, 25 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Ovshake is correct! Stephen Turner (Talk) 18:50, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

Q818
Let's see if I can shift some inertia. What record in this match was (relatively) nearly beaten recently? --Travis Basevi (talk) 15:17, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Fewest batsmen in double figures in an ODI innings with only 1, with this match nearly beating it with 3, but 2 of them on 10? The-Pope (talk) 16:48, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
 * This match and this one have all 11 not making double figures though. You're not a million miles away where you're looking though. --Travis Basevi (talk) 19:11, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Lowest total with no one making a duck? Johnlp (talk) 21:24, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
 * That's it. 29 runs the difference but the South African effort still slots into second place for that record. --Travis Basevi (talk) 21:56, 27 August 2008 (UTC)

Well, that answers the question that occured to me earlier this week. I did wonder if it was the lowest ever total without a duck. --KingStrato (talk) 10:21, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

Q819
Why was play halted for a period mid-session during the Gentlemen v Players match in 1912? Johnlp (talk) 22:14, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Was that when news was received of the death of Tom Richardson? JH (talk page) 09:10, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

That's close enough. It was apparently the day of his funeral, and the flags were put at half-mast and play was suspended in the match, which was at The Oval. Well done and over to you. Johnlp (talk) 11:09, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

Q820
When this batsman scored 107, the uncharitable might have described it as being a failure in view of the batsman's previous performances in this fixture. Who was the batsman and what was the fixture? JH (talk page) 17:24, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
 * The Don. Only he could "fail" with 107.  :-)  BlackJack | talk page 18:03, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
 * That was the easy part. :) Now what was the fixture? JH (talk page) 18:32, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Usually the first first-class match of tours of England -- the games against Worcestershire. 1948 was the first time he failed to get a double century. Johnlp (talk) 20:41, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

Correct. Over to you. I thought it would be appropriate to have a Bradman question. JH (talk page) 21:10, 28 August 2008 (UTC)