Does Chris Gayle still lead the way for sixes in the IPL? asked Mahesh Thurulingam from India
You’re right that Chris Gayle remains the top six-hitter in the IPL – he hit 357 between 2007 and 2021 – but two current players are closing the gap: as I write, Rohit Sharma has 310 sixes and Virat Kohli 306. Watch out for Sanju Samson, who’s only 31 and has already cleared the ropes 234 times.
In all T20 matches, Gayle is still well clear at the top with 1056 sixes. Three other seasoned West Indians come next – Kieron Pollard with 982, some way ahead of Andre Russell (784) and Nicholas Pooran (714). Next is the leading non-West Indian, Jos Buttler, with 608.
In the space of three days last week, the Kingsmen were all out for 80 and then scored 244. Were either of these records for the PSL? asked Niaz Siddiqui from Pakistan
On April 24, Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 80 by Islamabad United in Karachi. This was the fifth-lowest all-out total in any Pakistan Super League match – but the smallest by anyone other than Lahore Qalandars, who were responsible for the four lowest scores – the nadir was their 59 all out against Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai in 2017.
Turning to the PSL’s highest totals, Kingsmen’s 244 for 6 against Rawalpindiz in Karachi on April 26 was their own highest, beating 225 for 5 against Multan Sultans in Lahore a few weeks ago. It should be borne in mind that this is Hyderabad Kingsmen’s first season in the tournament.
Their total equalled the ninth-highest in the history of the PSL: the biggest of all so far is Quetta Gladiators’ 263 for 3 against Islamabad United in Rawalpindi in 2025.
Which bowler was the fastest to reach 100 Test wickets (and 200, 300 etc)? asked Henry Pocock from England
The fastest to 100 Test wickets, in terms of matches, is the 19th-century England bowler George Lohmann, who got there in just 16 games, one more than the Australians Charles “Terror” Turner and Clarrie Grimmett, England’s SF Barnes, Yasir Shah of Pakistan, and Prabath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka, who reached 100 in November 2024.
The fastest to 200 was Yasir Shah, in 33 matches, three quicker than Grimmett, while the quickest to 300 was R Ashwin, in 54 Tests, two faster than Dennis Lillee.
Now Muthiah Muralidaran takes over. He was the fastest to 400 wickets, in 72 Tests (Ashwin is second, with 77; Dale Steyn and Richard Hadlee took 80), reached 500 in 87 (Ashwin 98, Anil Kumble 105), 600 in 101 Tests (Kumble 124, Shane Warne 126), and 700 in 113 Tests (Warne 144, Jimmy Anderson 187). Finally Murali rounded off his career with an unmatched 800th wicket, in his 133rd Test, against India in Galle in July 2010.
Who’s got the most wickets in Tests and ODIs without ever taking a five-for? asked Simon Campbell from England
The leader in Tests is the former England fast bowler Mike Hendrick, who took 87 wickets with a best of 4 for 28 against India at Edgbaston in 1974: he never took five in an innings, but did manage five four-fors.
Next comes the Bangladesh seamer Mashrafe Mortaza, with 75 wickets, ahead of South Africa’s Brian McMillan (75 wickets), Dayle Hadlee of New Zealand (71) and England’s Barry Knight (70).
The ODI list is headed by Australia’s Steve Waugh, who finished with 195 one-day wickets but a best of 4 for 33 against Sri Lanka in Sydney in 1988. He’s a whisker ahead of Carl Hooper of the West Indies, who took 193 wickets in ODIs with a best of 4 for 34 against Pakistan in Karachi in 1991. In all, 33 bowlers have so far taken 100 or more wickets in ODIs without a five-for.
The record in men’s Twenty20 internationals is currently held by New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi, with 164 and a best of 4 for 12, although he’s just one ahead of another legspinner, England’s Adil Rashid, who has 163, with a best of 4 for 2 against West Indies in Dubai during the 2019 T20 World Cup.
The leader in women’s Tests is the Australian slow left-armer Lyn Fullston, with 41 wickets and a best of 4 for 53. In ODIs, Stafanie Taylor has taken 157 wickets with a best of 4 for 17; another West Indian, Hayley Matthews, lies second with 135. And in women’s T20 internationals, England’s Sophie Ecclestone has 142 wickets with a best of 4 for 18; she’s three ahead of the Uganda offspinner Concy Aweko (139).
A recent question here asked about Test cricketers born in Brazil and Peru. Are there any other countries that have produced just one Test player? asked Susan Jacobs from England
I think there have been 12 countries which have had a single official Test cricketer born within their borders. Charles Hime, who was born in Bermuda, won a solitary cap for South Africa in 1896; Molly Hide, born in China, started her England career in 1934; Amjad Khan (born in Denmark) played one Test for England in 2009; Frederick Cook, who represented South Africa in the same game as Hime in 1896, was born in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia); John Traicos, who played for both South Africa and Zimbabwe, was born in Egypt in 1947; and Ted Dexter, born in Italy, won the first of his 62 England caps in 1958.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, England’s current women’s captain, was born in Japan; David Ironside (three Tests for South Africa in 1953-54) in Mozambique; the former South African captain Eiulf “Buster” Nupen in Norway; the great West Indian batter George Headley in Panama; recent England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones in Papua New Guinea; and Lawrence “Fish” Markham (one Test for South Africa in February 1949) in Swaziland (now Eswatini).
Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions
