The Ten: Cricket Dynasties | Waughs, Cowdreys, Graces, Pollocks The Ten: Cricket Dynasties Jo Harman , Ian Batch and Phil Walker doff AOC’s cap to cricket’s most legendary families. 10) The Waughs Dean Waugh First-Class Matches: 1 (1995) The Waugh twins were the heartbeat of the Australian middle order throughout the Nineties. Australia lost just seven of the 37 Test series the brothers played alongside each other, as Steve (gritty, dogged) and Mark (laconic, invariably mulleted) combined to great effect. Steve was the first to receive his baggy green, making his debut against India in 1985. Mark, the younger sibling by four minutes, and so fated to be known as Junior for the rest of his days, had to wait a further six years for his first taste of Test cricket. When Junior did eventually receive the call during the 1991 Ashes it was a bittersweet experience, as it came at the expense of Steve’s place in the side.

Another nickname – ‘Afghanistan’ (the forgotten war) – could finally be dropped as Mark made a stunning debut hundred. Steve went on to become the most successful captain and the second highest scoring batsman in Australia’s history while the mercurial Mark cemented his place at No.4 for the next decade but continued to thrill and frustrate in equal measure. Between them they defined modern Australian cricket – guts, drive, grit on the one hand; style, elegance, class on the other. Younger brother Dean also had a brief first-class career but if the opinion of ex-New South Wales paceman Richard Stobo is anything to go by, then he wasn’t quite in the same league as his more celebrated brothers. After beating Dean’s outside edge several times in succession during a Sydney grade game an exasperated Stobo exclaimed, “For Christ’s sake Dean, you must have been f**king adopted”.

9) The Hussains First-Class Matches: 334 (1987-2004) Tests: 96 (1990-2004) Jawad Hussain, or Joe as the lads who came to his famous Ilford Cricket School knew him, passed away in April 2008. He was 68. He left behind two cricketing sons of similar ability, and a legacy few can match. His eldest boy, Mel, played a single game for Worcestershire before moving successfully into the business world; the other, Nasser, you may have heard of. Joe himself played a single game for Madras in India before starting a new life in England, taking over the rickety old cricket school in Ilford and turning the building into a breeding ground for future Essex cricketers. Some of the other names to have passed through the doors include Graham Gooch, John Lever and Ravi Bopara , but it was more than just a finishing school for budding professionals; Joe’s place, stationed in a rough grey area, was a haven for cricket.

It gave young lads, many from the cricketing no-man’s-land of east London and its outskirts, a rare chance to swing a bat or spin a ball. It is true that without Joe’s drive and passion, without his deep understanding of the game and the role it can play in a young person’s life, cricket in this country would be a poorer thing. He gave us Nasser, and all that flowed from him. That is legacy enough. But for every Nasser, or Goochie, or Ravi, there were another hundred nippers who walked through those doors knowing nothing, and who walked out knowing so much more. 8) The Cowdreys Fabian Cowdrey First-Class Matches: 6 (2013-) It’s 1934 and the setting is a tennis court in Ootacamund – a small city located in the Niligiri Hills, south India. A cricket-mad father named Ernest is teaching his four-year-old son how to play with a straight bat. Ernest had aspirations as a cricketer himself but despite playing one first-class match he never made the grade and instead worked as a tea-planter.

Like so many parents with unfulfilled dreams, he ploughed his energies into his offspring. Ernest christened his son with the initials MCC. Thirty-four years later Ernest’s hard work had paid off. Colin Cowdrey strode out to bat at Edgbaston in his hundredth Test to face the old enemy in the third Test of the Ashes. Cowdrey was the first cricketer to reach the milestone and he celebrated in style with his 21st Test century and his first against the Australians. Cowdrey, a true gentleman of the game, played 114 Tests averaging 44 and it’s testament to his natural ability that despite such achievements Fred Trueman once described him as “a terrific talent who never fulfilled his potential”. Enter his two sons Chris and Graham. A little pressure you might say. Elder son Chris suffered particularly under the weight of his father’s reputation. A solid county allrounder for Kent and later Glamorgan, his moment came in 1988, when he was suddenly elevated to captain England against the rampant West Indians.

Nepotism was shouted from the rooftops and with his godfather Peter May as chairman of selectors and a modest county record behind him it was hard to argue. Cowdrey scored 0 and 5, the West Indies romped home by 10 wickets and he never played for his country again. Chris entitled his autobiography Good Enough?. That question mark speaks volumes. Younger brother Graham benefitted from entering the first-class game seven years later than his brother. With the memory of his father’s achievements not as fresh, he was allowed to forge a commendable first-class career at Kent in his own right as a hard-hitting middle-order batsman. The Van Morrison devotee (he once chauffeured the Irish jazzman on his tour of Britain) had a relaxed attitude to his cricket but there were high points – in 1995 he combined with Aravinda de Silva in a partnership of 368, which remains a Kent record for any wicket partnership. In 2013 the latest chapter in the Cowdrey story began as Chris’ son Fabian made his debuts for Kent.

7) The Huttons Oliver-Hutton First Class Matches: 1 (2004) Arguably the greatest batsman England has ever produced, none of Sir Leonard’s relations came close to matching his achievements but for sheer numbers and family connections the Huttons must rate as one of cricket’s most impressive dynasties. Len himself played 79 Tests for England and would have played many more but for the war. In 1938 the Yorkshire-born opening batsman surpassed Don Bradman’s world-record Test score, making 364 against the Australians at the Oval. During his career Len played county cricket alongside his brother-in-law, the fast bowler Frank Dennis, who had a long and successful spell with Yorkshire. And to continue the family connection, Frank’s nephew Simon played over 100 first-class matches during the Eighties for Yorkshire and Glamorgan. Len’s two sons John and Richard also went on to play first-class cricket. John played just one match for the MCC but older brother Richard had a more decorated career, spending 12 years at Yorkshire and playing five Test matches for England. But Richard’s career was blighted by constant comparisons to the illustrious career of his father.

In 1971 he was selected to play for the World XI that replaced the South African tourists in Australia. Alongside some of the greats of Test cricket he looked out of his depth and subsequently faded into international obscurity. The most recent generation of the Huttons are Len’s two grandsons Oliver and Ben. Younger brother Oliver represented Oxford University while Ben spent 10 moderately successful years at Middlesex, captaining the side for two seasons before retiring aged just 30 at the end of the 2007 season. As though Ben and Oliver’s cricketing heritage wasn’t extensive enough, their other grandfather was the late Ben Brocklehurst – a former Somerset captain and proprietor of The Cricketer magazine. Richard Hutton later edited the magazine. Keeping it in the family… 6) The Pollocks Test: 108 (1995-2008) A pair of Pollocks: Graeme and Peter Peter and Graeme Pollock were two of the very finest of the unlucky generation of South African cricketers to have their Test careers curtailed.

The South African tour to England in 1965 left observers in little doubt of their talent as the Pollock brothers’ astonishing performance in the victory at Trent Bridge led South Africa to a series win. But this was to be the pair’s only tour to England as South Africa’s ban from international cricket followed in 1971. The siblings had a considerable cricketing pedigree with their father Andrew keeping wicket for Orange Free State and their uncle Robert Howden representing Natal in the Thirties. And the family of professional cricketers kept growing as Graeme’s sons Andrew and Anthony both went on to represent Easterns, Transvaal and Leicestershire. But it was Peter’s son Shaun who was the star of the next Pollock generation. Shaun will be remembered as one of the modern game’s great allrounders and his 108-Test career must have offered some consolation to his father, whose own Test career was cut short after just 28 matches. 5) The Hadlees First-Class Matches: 342 (1971-90) Tests: 86 (1973-90) Cricket is something of a family business in New Zealand.

With a population of a little over four million and just six first-class teams it would seem the right genetic make-up puts you on the fast-track to international recognition. Cairns, Crowe, Howarth, Bracewell and Harris have all been recurring names for the Black Caps, and in recent years the Marshalls, McCullums, Lathams, Rutherfords and Redmonds have kept the family tradition alive. But the honour of New Zealand’s undisputed cricketing royal family must surely go to the Hadlees. The legacy began with Walter Hadlee, a tall and elegant opening batsman who captained New Zealand on their tour of England in 1949. Still seeking their first Test match victory, he led the relative international newcomers to unprecedented success, drawing the four-Test series 0-0. Walter played 11 Tests and went on to play a key role in the administration of New Zealand cricket as a national selector, team manager and chairman of the board. But his most valuable contribution to New Zealand cricket was his offspring. The first to make the breakthrough was young tearaway fast-medium bowler Dayle, but even Hadlee senior wasn’t convinced.

“They got the wrong Hadlee,” declared his less than supportive father – believing the selectors should have opted for older brother Barry instead. Despite his old man’s protestations Dayle went on to have a respectable if unspectacular international career, taking 71 wickets in 26 Tests. Elder brother Barry did eventually make his international bow at the ripe old age of 33. An opening batsman in the mould of his father, he featured in two one-day internationals alongside his brothers Dayle and Richard. If Walter was the first king of New Zealand cricket then Richard was his undisputed heir to the throne. In an international career spanning 17 years, like his father before him, he took the national team to unprecedented heights. Affectionately known as Paddles, the clown-footed paceman became the first player to take 400 wickets in Test cricket and scored over 3,000 runs for good measure. 4) The Chappells Tests: 3 (1981) Chappell the Elder The win-at-all-costs and fearless attitude now so synonymous with Australian cricket can in large part be credited to the Chappell dynasty.

The grandfather of the Chappell triumvirate, Vic Richardson , was a fierce competitor and remarkable all-round sportsman. An exceptional fielder and destructive middle-order batsman, he played 19 Test matches for Australia between 1924-35, captaining his country on five occasions. Some of the old man’s talent rubbed off and his two eldest grandsons Ian and Greg will be remembered as two of the greatest players ever to represent their country. Famously described by John Arlott as “a cricketer of effect rather than the graces”, Ian was as tenacious and tempestuous as they come. Often acknowledged as the architect of sledging, ‘Chappelli’ was more than happy to put a few noses out of joint to aid the Australian cause. He later said: “As a captain of Australia my philosophy was simple: between 11am and 6pm there was no time to be a nice guy.

We didn’t deliberately set out to be a bunch of bastards but I’d much prefer to be described like that than a nice bunch of blokes on the field.” Ian’s younger brother Greg never reached the same heights as captain of the national side, but he was the superior Australian batsman of his generation by a distance. An elegant strokemaker with fearsome powers of concentration, he averaged 54 in his 87-Test career. Baby brother Trevor never fully stepped from the shadow of his brothers. Despite playing three Tests and 20 one-day internationals the bowling allrounder will be best remembered for his role in the infamous underarm incident, after older brother Greg instructed him to roll the ball along the ground to ensure victory. 3) The Headleys First-Class Matches: 139 (1991-99) Tests: 15 (1997-99) The Headley dynasty makes the record books by virtue of being the only family to have had three generations play Test cricket. The Headley story began with the Panama-born George, who became one of the greatest batsmen ever to play Test cricket.

But the dynasty could have been crushed before it had even begun but for a fateful intervention. George, who moved to Jamaica aged 10, had planned to pursue a career in dentistry in the USA. But while waiting for a delayed passport he was selected to play against a visiting English team. The gifted right-hander scored 78 and 211 in consecutive matches and the rest, as they say, is history. The man dubbed ‘the black Bradman’ went on to become the first great batsman to emerge from the Caribbean, scoring 176 on his Test debut against England in 1930, and in a career punctuated by the war Headley played 22 Tests and hit an astonishing 10 centuries at an average of over 60. His son Ron, although a talented player, never possessed the quality of his father and played the majority of his first-class cricket in England. “I recognised quite early that you can’t have two geniuses – father and son – in one family. I felt annoyance at other people as they would try and compare me with him,” Ron later said.

The elegant left-handed opener had 16 seasons at Worcestershire and was a key member of the side that won back-to-back Championships in 1964 and 1965. In the twilight of his career Ron received the call he thought would never come. He was drafted into the 1973 touring West Indies Test side to play England after an injury crisis. But in reality his time had been and gone and he played just two Test matches with little success. His son Dean enjoyed a more successful international career. After languishing in Middlesex seconds and struggling to make an impact after a move to Kent he finally announced himself on the county scene with three hat-tricks in the 1996 season. The following year he made his international debut for England in the Ashes at Manchester. The right-arm paceman gave the Aussie left-handers a torrid time with his bounce and reverse-swing and took eight wickets in the match. Deano repeated his feats in the 1998/99 Ashes series, taking 6-60 in the second innings at Melbourne to scoop the Man of the Match award and give England a famous victory.

But like his father he never fulfilled his potential in Test cricket as his career was curtailed after just 15 Tests when he was forced to retire in 1999 with persistent back problems. 2) The Mohammads First-Class Matches: 211 (1976-2002) Tests: 45 (1983-1995) No other dynasty has had such an impact on the shaping of a cricketing nation than that of the Mohammads of Pakistan. Following their introduction to Test cricket in 1952 the first 101 Tests played by Pakistan featured a member of the Mohammad family. The four brothers Wazir, Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq played a total of 170 Tests for Pakistan, and a fifth brother Raaes was told the night before a Test match that he was selected, only to be demoted to 12th man the following morning. Hanif was the star of the family. Renowned for his unparalleled powers of concentration he retains the record for the longest innings in Test history for his 337 in 970 minutes against the West Indies in 1958.

The following year he achieved the highest first-class innings to that point, scoring 499 for Karachi. His son Shoaib went on to enjoy a successful Test career, scoring seven centuries in 45 matches. Like his father he won’t be remembered as one of cricket’s more electrifying batsmen but he proved to be an essential brick wall as Pakistan made their mark on the world stage in the 1980s. 1) The Graces First-Class Matches: 3 (1920-27) The big man In the year 1848, in Downend, Bristol, Martha Grace gave birth to the third of four sons. She christened him William, William Gilbert. WG – or Gilbert as Martha called him – was born into cricket. His father Henry and his uncle Alfred were enthusiasts of this genteel Victorian pastime, but it was Martha, in the family’s back garden around the vegetable patch, who taught the game and techniques to her children, Henry, Frederick, Edward and our William Gilbert. All her boys showed aptitude, with WG showing particular promise. Most elite sportsmen don’t reach their optimal level without the commitment and support of their parents.

But some parents have such a profound input that any analysis would be incomplete without reference to their massive contribution, both emotional and technical. Tiger Woods was groomed by his father Earl from birth to such an extent that by the age of five he completed a par three course in level par. Another good, if less extreme, example would be Judy Murray, whose dedication and expertise has meant that her two sons Jamie and Andy have made it as tennis players in an era where the LTA have produced none, despite the millions invested. Martha was sport’s first pushy parent. In 1859, she wrote to George Parr, the England captain, with an audacious request: “I am writing to ask you to consider the inclusion of my son, EM Grace – a splendid hitter and most excellent catch – in your England XI. I am sure he would play very well and do the team much credit. It may interest you to learn that I have a younger son, now 12 years of age, who will in time be a much better player than his brother because his back stroke is sounder, and he always plays with a straight bat. His name is WG Grace.” It’s one of cricket’s most precious pieces of prose.

Martha’s zest for the game would spawn a total of 10 first-class cricketers crowding under the Grace family tree; Edward would indeed go on to play for England, as would young Fred, but the brothers would be usurped by their middle sibling. What is most revealing from the letter is the reference to her young son’s back foot technique and straight bat. Martha’s central concern with the development of WG Grace’s technique makes her in many ways the game’s most influential coach of all time; WG was later credited as the first player to play both off both front and back foot. From historical record she was no light touch either, reportedly lambasting her son after a bad shot: “How many times, Gilbert, have I told you how to play that ball?” CLR James, the great academic and cultural historian, asserts in Beyond a Boundary that WG Grace was a towering figure who was personally responsible for popularising the game, nothing less than the most famous and iconic Englishman of the Victorian era. CLR dismisses two famous historical and social books written about Victorian times for the sole reason that they failed to include anything about WG Grace.

By the same token, no mention of WG’s scope and influence should be made without a nod to the role played by his mother. Without her input, enthusiasm and expertise the game would not be what it is today. God bless Mother Cricket. Follow @JoHarmanAOC and @PhilWalkerAOC Tags: The brothers’ XI The brothers’ XI by satwikroy Editor's Pick 08 Apr 2012, 17:58 IST Last year during the 2nd T20 International Match between South Africa and Australia at the Wanderers, Mitchell Marsh made his debut. The match proved to be a special one for the Marsh family as both Shaun and brother Mitchell were representing Australia together for the first time, making them yet another brother pair to have walked into a cricket ground. This prompts us to take a look at eleven other such prominent brother pairs who have made a name for themselves in the game of Cricket and have donned their national colors. We can call it – The Brothers’ XI. 1. The Pollocks (Peter and Graeme) – One of the most well-known cricketing families of South Africa, the Pollocks made a distinguished contribution to the game of cricket in their country.

Primarily a fast bowler, Peter Pollock was also a more than useful lower order batsman, the proof of which is batting average of 21.67 in test matches and 22.58 in first-class cricket to go with top scores of 75* and 79 respectively. Peter was named Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1966. He then assumed the responsibility of convenor of selectors in the 1990s, as they were re-admitted into cricket. Graeme Pollock, nicknamed “Little Dog”, continues till date to be regarded as one of the best batsmen South Africa has ever produced. To which his test batting average of 60.97 and a top score of 274 bears a resounding testimony. 2. The Chappells (Ian, Greg and Trevor) - Another noted cricket family, the Chappells’ cricket legacy runs deep into their maternal roots. Their maternal grandfather, Vic Richardson was himself a distinguished cricketer leading the Australian team in the 1930s and his son-in-law, Martin Chappell (father of the three brothers) was a noted Adelaide grade cricketer.

Both Ian and Greg went on to make a distinguished name for themselves both as cricketers and leaders with Ian Chappell in particular being regarded as the best Australian skipper of all time. Though their 3rd brother Trevor didn’t have an international career over a longer stretch, he is more famous for his involvement in the unfortunate underarm incident of 1981 when elder brother Greg, the then Australian Captain told him to bowl underarm to batsman Brian Mckechnie as New Zealand needed a 6 off the last ball to tie the game. 3. The Amarnath Brothers (Mohinder and Surinder) - Second generation cricketers of a renowned cricketing family from India, Mohinder and Surinder were sons of the legendary Lala Amarnath. An aggressive left-hand batsman, Surinder Amarnath had a terrific track-record in domestic cricket but never got enough opportunities to channelize that talent at the test level. He ended up playing 10 test matches with a batting average of 30.55 and a career best score of 124.

Mohinder Amarnath on the other hand though didn’t have to face that kind of ordeal in making the cut to the Indian team and till date has been one of India’s best batsmen to have played the game. A tough nut to crack and always up to the challenge, he had earned the praises of Imran Khan and Malcom Marshall as in the 1982-83 season, he played 11 tests, 6 against Pakistan and 5 against West Indies and scored over a 1000 runs that season. 4. The Waugh Brothers (Steve and Mark) - Yet another legendary pair of brothers to have stepped onto the cricket field. Making his test debut in the 1985-86 season against India, Steve Waugh was later joined by his fraternal twin brother Mark Waugh in 1991 and the two played for Australia until 2002 when Mark retired. Distinguished batsmen in their own right, Mark and Steve were useful contributors with the ball as well and Steve went on to become one of the most successful Australian captains, leading the team from 1999 to 2004. 5.

The Flower Brothers (Andy and Grant) – A pair that played an instrumental role in lifting Zimbabwe’s standards as a cricket team, the Flower brothers were the backbone of the team’s top and middle order throughout the 90s and early 2000s. Andy, a genius of a left-handed batsman and a superb Wicket-keeper, is hailed as one of the greatest cricketers among his contemporaries. Grant on the other hand was a clean striker of the cricket ball in the top order and a more than useful contributor with the ball with his left-arm spin. 6. The Hussey Brothers (Micheal and David) – Going back to Australia and we find another remarkable pair of brothers to have contributed to Australian cricket . This time, it’s the Husseys. Micheal since his arrival has been the go-to man for the Aussies in crisis situations, with the man bailing his team out of trouble more often than not and also winning matches from near impossible situations. A superb striker of the ball, Micheal has time and again shown the ability to adopt according to the situation and turn the game on its head on his own.

While David hasn’t always been a regular feature in the Australian XI since his arrival, his good form off-late has made him an essential part of the line-up to go with his handy off-breaks that he chips in with. 7. The McCullum Brothers (Brendon and Nathan) – One of the more recent pairs to have made an international appearance together. A wicket-keeper and a quick-scoring opener, Brendon takes care of the top-order duties while younger brother Nathan adds strength to the Black Caps’ bowling unit with his off-spin bowling and substantial contribution with the bat lower down the order. 8. The Pathan Brothers (Irfan and Yusuf) – The second Indian pair of brothers to feature in this list. A sparkling start to his career in 2004 in the tour of Australia followed with another impressive show in Pakistan, Irfan became a household name overnight. However, Irfan for quiet some time now has been on and off the team due to some indifferent form coupled with injuries. Though he finally seems to be able to get back to grips and fit himself in as a bowling all-rounder.

Elder brother Yusuf who made International debut much later, also made his presence felt in the big stage with his powerful hitting, sometimes turning the course of the game single-handedly. Though off-late he too has found himself being juggled in and out of the team. 9. The Morkel Brothers (Albie and Morne) – A pair of second generation cricketers, as their father Albert Morkel played Provincial cricket in South Africa. While Albie has proved to be an important asset with his powerful hitting in the lower middle order and medium pace bowling in the limited overs’ format, brother Morne has been in-charge of the team’s pace battery in both the short and long versions of the game, forming a lethal combination with the likes of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander . The Morkels continue to be an integral part of South Africa’s cricketing scheme of things. 10. The Akmal Brothers (Kamran, Umar and Adnan) - Over the last few years, the Akmals have been a part of Pakistan’s line-ups in limited overs as well as tests.

However, more often than not, Kamran Akmal has been struck by bad form and poor wicket-keeping which has pushed him to the sidelines for now. However, poor form notwithstanding, he has played some crucial and important knocks for Pakistan throughout the batting order, from the top to the lower middle order, including a test century against India at Mohali batting at number 8, helping his team in securing a draw. Umar Akmal has risen through the ranks of the U-19 team and has made an impactful beginning to his international career and continues to shoulder responsibility in the Pakistan middle-order and often taking up the roll of a part-time Wicket-keeper. Adnan is the latest addition to the Akmal dynasty as he made his debut last year against England in Dubai playing as a Wicket-keeper batting in the lower-middle order. 11. The Obuya Brothers (Kennedy, Collins and David) – For nearly two decades, the Obuya family has served Kenyan Cricket. While Kennedy Otieno Obuya made his debut for Kenya in 1993 as a middle order batsman, brother Collins and David joined the Kenyan ranks in 2001.

Kennedy’s moment of glory came in 1997 when he scored a career-best 144 against Bangladesh sharing a the then record 225 run partnership with Deepak Chudasama. Collins started off as a leg spinner and gained reasonable success, however lack of match practice since joining a players’ strike in England, he lost his rhythm. When subsequent attempts could not help him regain his bowling form, he decided to focus more on his batting. In the 2011 World Cup played in the Indian sub-continent, he scored a superb 98* against Australia in Bangalore. David Obuya was a wicket-keeper batsman having batted both up and down the order and shared his debut with Collins. 12. (Twelfth Pair) The O’Brien Brothers (Niall and Kevin) – Hailing from a traditional sports family, the O’Brien brothers are an exciting pair of cricketers from Ireland. Born to a cricketer father Brendan O’Brien, the brothers have played an instrumental role In Ireland’s rise to significant prominence in World Cricket over the last few years.

A wicket-keeper batsman batting in the middle order, Niall has been the backbone of the Irish team both in front and behind the stumps. Kevin on the other hand has played the more aggressive role with the bat. His most noted contribution being the fastest ever century in a World Cup, scoring off just 50 balls against England in the 2011 World Cup, helping his team to an unbelievable victory. Other XIs you might like BBC | Radio Five Live Sports Extra | Test Match Special blog Blog Editor 9 Aug 07, 08:13 AM Welcome to the latest instalment of Ask Bearders, where you get the chance to pose a question to Test Match Special statistician Bill "The Bearded Wonder" Frindall. What follows here is Bill's responses to some of the questions posed at the end of his last column , and if you want a question answered, leave at the end of this blog entry and Bill might answer it in his next piece. Bill isn’t able to answer all of your questions, however. BBC Sport staff will choose a selection of them and send them to Bearders for him to answer.

Q: There have been plenty of fathers and sons who have both played Test cricket, but how many Australian pairings have there been? Tom Robertson Bearders’ answer: Australia has produced only one father and son pairing – E.J. (Ted) and S.E. (Syd) Gregory. They can also claim a grandfather (Vic Richardson) and his three grandsons (Ian, Greg and Trevor Chappell), plus ten braces of brothers (Archer, Bannerman, Benaud, Giffen, D.W. and E.J. Gregory, Harvey, McLeod, Trott, Trumble and the twin Waughs). Q: What's the highest Test innings total with no batsman getting a century? India’s was 481 at Trent Bridge but there must be one higher than that. Huw Morris Bearders’ answer: The highest is India’s 524 for 9 declared against New Zealand at Kanpur in 1976-77. The highest all out total without a century is 517 by South Africa against Australia at Adelaide in 1997-98. India’s recent 481 is the seventh highest.

Q: In a recent County Championship match at the Riverside (Durham v Hampshire), Michael Brown watched 19 wickets fall at the other end whilst batting for Hampshire. Is this a record in first-class cricket or has anyone carried their bat in both innings of the same match? Robert Carr Bearders’ answer: There have been at least six instances of batsmen carrying their bats throughout both completed innings of a first-class match, four of them in the County Championship:- H.Jupp, Surrey v Yorkshire, The Oval, 1874 S.Kinneir, Warwicks v Leics, Leicester, 1907 C.J.B.Wood, Leics v Yorkshire, Bradford, 1911 V.M.Merchant, Indians v Lancs, Liverpool, 1936 S.J.Cook, Somerset v Notts, Nottingham, 1989 D.Sudhakar Reddy, Andhra v Kerala, Calicut, 1991-92 Q: In the recent Test match at Trent Bridge between England and India, Ryan Sidebottom took his Test batting average to 26.50, greater than his highest score of 26*.

Are there any other instances of a Test player having a greater batting average than highest score? David Bearders’ answer: Given qualifications of eight innings (the same as Sidebottom has played to the start of The Oval Test) and an average of 10.00, there have been only two other batsmen whose average exceeds their highest score. Antao D’Souza (Pakistan) was dismissed only twice in 10 innings and averaged 38.00 with a highest score of 23 not out. S.G.Shinde of India was dismissed six times in 11 innings and averaged 14.17 with a best of 14. Q: Has any batsman ever scored a century in both innings in his first Test match? I know that Paul Gibb of Yorkshire nearly did it by scoring 93 and 106 against South Africa in 1938.

David Backhouse Bearders’ answer: Two batsmen have scored hundreds in each innings on Test debut: Lawrence Rowe scored 214 and 100 not out for West Indies v New Zealand at Kingston, Jamaica, in 1971-72, and Yasir Hamid made 170 and 105 for Pakistan v Bangladesh at Karachi in 2003-04. Q: What is the highest Test match score made without boundaries? I have some cloudy memory about Graham Thorpe scoring a century with just one 4. I was wondering if that had been bettered? Mark Webb Bearders’ answer: The highest Test innings without a boundary is 77 by Geoffrey Boycott for England v Australia at Perth in 1978-79. I scored it and noted that although his innings included one four, it was all-run and included two runs from an overthrow. He batted for 454 minutes and faced 337 balls. Former Australian captain Lindsay Hassett remarked on air that it “was an exceptional innings by someone who could not find the middle of the bat”.

Thorpe’s century against Pakistan at Lahore in 2000-01 was indeed composed of one four, seven threes, 12 twos and 51 singles and provides the only instance of a Test hundred with just one boundary. Q: To carry on with your ‘who was born where’ questions started by our Devon friend (AB #151), have any Test cricketers come from Norfolk? Darren Wiseman Bearders’ answer: Four Test cricketers were born in Norfolk (place and date of birth in brackets): J.J. (John) Edrich (Blofield 21 Jun 1937); his cousin W.J. (‘Bill’) Edrich (Lingwood 26 Mar 1916); P.H. (Peter) Parfitt (Billingford 8 Dec 1936); and M.J. (Martin) Saggers (King’s Lynn 23 May 1972). Q: After seeing the O'Brien brothers playing for Ireland in the World Cup, I was wondering which family holds the record for providing the most players for a Test match?

Tom Murphy Bearders’ answer: The record of three brothers appearing together in a Test is shared between the Grace (E.M., G.F. and W.G., England v Australia, The Oval, 1880), Hearne (F. – South Africa – A. and G.G. – England – South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1891-92) and Mohammed families (Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, 1969-70). Q: When last was a century scored before lunch on the opening day of a Test? Brett Bearders’ answer: On 30 October 1976, when Majid Khan completed his hundred off 74 balls in 113 minutes for Pakistan against New Zealand at Karachi. He was 108 not out at lunch and added just four more runs before being dismissed. Q: What is the highest score by Indian batsman in an English domestic match? Samraj Kundi Bearders’ answer: Curious question! How about 333 by K.S.Duleepsinhji for Sussex v Northamptonshire at Hove in 1930?

Q: In #151 you discuss a Test cricketer from Egypt, Athanasios John Traicos, who played for South Africa in 1967-1970 and then for Zimbabwe in 1992-1993. How old was he when he played for Zimbabwe and who is the oldest player ever to play Test cricket? What is the longest spell of absence anyone has had between playing Test matches? Mr Traicos seems to have waited 22 years? Chris Smith Bearders’ answer: John Traicos was born on 17 May 1947 and was 45 years 304 days on his final day of Test cricket. That puts him in 13th place on the list of oldest Test cricketers. The oldest was Wilfred Rhodes, who ended his record longest career (30 years 315 days) when he was 52 years 165 days. Traicos waited 22 years 222 days between appearances, almost five years longer than his nearest rival for that record, George Gunn (17 years 316 days).

Q: I play my club cricket for Chesterfield CC at Queen's Park, Derbyshire's second home. I just wondered if you had spent any time there watching county cricket and if so, do you have any particular memories of the place? Joey Bearders’ answer: I scored two matches on that lovely ground, one for BBC radio when Sussex were Derbyshire’s opponents in their 1969 Gillette Cup semi-final. The other was a Sunday league match that I scored for BBC2 TV. The semi-final was a memorable match played on a rain-affected pitch on a wonderfully sunny day, before 11,000 spectators who filled the Park. Derbyshire mustered only 136 but bowled Sussex out for 49, with Peter Eyre taking 6 for 18. Bookmark with:

Question: The three Chappell brothers, who played test cricket for Australia, were the grandsons of which Australian test cricketer, who captained his country in the 1930's?
Answer: VIC RICHARDSON