KL Rahul’s short-lived record

For a short time between the second and third Tests in the current series, KL Rahul shared an obscure Test record with Ravi Bopara-they were the only batsmen to make 3 Test centuries with no fifty (i.e. no score between 50 and 99). As Rahul got out on 50, the record now goes back to Bopara. More details in my earlier post: https://wordpress.com/post/abn397.wordpress.com/2052

As we see, there are numerous players who scored one century and no fifty (including Agarkar and Ratra from India in recent years). A small number made two centuries and no fifties.

No one has scored 4 or more centuries with no fifties. The least number of fifties for the 4-century men is 3, shared by several including Shikhar  Dhawan, Kambli and  current players Dean Elgar and Usman Khawaja:

Four centuries

There is another statistical quirk which shows up whenever someone makes 163 or more runs on his debut (including both innings). The long-term record for the most runs in an one-Test career belongs to RE Redmond who made 107 + 56 = 163 in early 1973. Since then, over 20 players had scored over 163 runs on their debut and this held the record for the most runs in an one-test career (but only until they played their second Test). Another Kiwi JD Neesham was the last to hold this record, making 33 and 137* (170) on his debut against India in early 2014. But he soon played more Tests. Before that there was Rohit Sharma with 177 and Shikhar Dhawan with 187. Here is a list of the temporary record-holders who equalled or bettered Redmond’s record since 1973:

Redmond record

A few of these players, notably those from Pakistan, vanished from the scene almost as quickly as the hapless Rodney Redmond did. At least he had the satisfaction of seeing his son Aaron play 8 Tests, with two fifties and a top score of 81.

Cricket odds and ends-3

First, my thanks to whoever is reading this. According to alexa.com, this blog now ranks among the top million in the world and among the top 50,000 in India-not too bad in 8 months.

This is a follow-up to:

https://abn397.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/cricket-odds-and-ends-1/                     and

https://abn397.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/cricket-odds-and-ends-2/

We now explore some other odds and ends. Today we look at the worst career averages by those who scored triple centuries and so on, and the best career averages by those who never got into double figures.

These figures do not include the current Test at Galle and the ICC XI-Aus Test in 2005.

Batting averages are listed only for those who batted for a minimum of 20 innings.

Highest averages for those who never made a triple century:

60.97 RG Pollock (highest 274)

60.83 GA Headley (270*)

60.73 H Sutclife (194)

Highest averages for those who never made a double century:

60.73 H Sutcliffe (194)

56.00 Mominul Haque (181)-current player

55.00 GE Tyldesley (122)

Highest averages for those who never made a century:

37.73 Asim Kamal (99)-which he scored on debut

35.28 BM Laird (92)-also on debut

33.48 KD Mackay (89)

Highest averages for those who never made a fifty:

18.38 JC White (29)

17.66 Tauseef Ahmed (35*)

17.65 MN Hart (45)

Highest averages for those who never got into double figures:

3.11 CN McCarthy (5)

2.00 M Mbangwa (8)

(No one else has played 20 or more innings without getting into double figures.)

Now for the converse cases:

Lowest averages for those who scored triple centuries:

38.76 BB McCullum (302)-current player

40.07 S Jayasuriya (340)

42.18 CH Gayle (333)-current (?) player

Lowest averages for those who scored double centuries:

18.73 JN Gillespie (201*)-his only century came as a night watchman in his last Test.

22.64 Wasim Akram (257*)

24.53 SE Gregory (201)

Lowest averages for those who scored centuries:

13.64 JE Taylor (106)-current player

14.48 Saqlain Mushtaq (101*)

16.60 Nasim-ul-Ghani (101)

Lowest averages for those who scored fifties

6.75 RW Blair (64*)

7.51 GD McGrath (61)

8.72 Ghulam Ahmed (50)

Lowest averages for those who got into double figures

2.29 JV Saunders (11*)

2.36 CS Martin (12*)

2.62 H Ironmonger (12)

In the next instalment, we take up a similar study of bowling averages.