The Battle To Be The World's Number One

THE BATTLE TO BE WORLD'S NO.1 England v. S. Africa Table mountain South Africa Londopi City- England Win by 1 Match FOR SOUTH AFRICA TO BE CROWNED WORLD CHAMPS Current Table New Table if South Africa win by one Game Matches Points Rating Team. Matches Points Rating Diff Team 1 ENGLAND 2 AUSTRALIA 3 SOUTH AFRICA 21 4 PAKISTAN 5 INDIA 6 SRI LANKA 3893 3952 2364 29 1 SOUTH AFRICA 25 2 ENGLAND 3 AUSTRALIA 4 PAKISTAN 5 INDIA 6 SRI LANKA 32 122 116 113 109 104 98 2952 36 4245 34 3952 29 3148 29 3004 29 2834 118 118 +5 34 -4 116 109 104 98 3148 29 3004 29 2834 IF SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY ONE MATCH THEY WILL RANK NUMBER 1 BY A DECIMAL POINT. Test World Rankings History 6.4. 1. 12. YEARS 7 MONTHS YEAR 8 MONTHS MONTHS MONTHS • DEC 2009 TO JUL 2011 India JAN 2003 TO JULY 2009 AUG 2009 TO NOV 2009 AUG 2011 TO JUL 2012 Australia South Africa England Head 2 Head Bowlers 30.05 3.14 57.2 267 24 BOWLING AVERAGE ECONOMY RATE STRIKE RATE TOTAL NUMBER OF WICKETS MOST WICKETS IN A SERIES 7/43 BEST BOWLING FIGURES(INNINGS) 7/51 5 WICKETS IN AN INNINGS 10 WICKETS INA MATCH TEST MATCHES PLAYED 23.18 3.39 40.9 272 21 12 1 James Anderson 70 17 4 54 Dale Steyn 26.09 2.82 54.6 55.3 16 BOWLING AVERAGE ECONOMY RATE STRIKE RATE TOTAL NUMBER OF WICKETS MOST WICKETS IN A SERIES 8/141 BEST BOWLING FIGURES(INNINGS) 6/44 5 WICKETS IN AN INNINGS 10 WICKETS INA MATCH TEST MATCHES PLAYED 14.15 3.17 26.7 51 21 6 2 7 vernon Philander 1 Tim Bresnan 14 30,42 2.99 61.0 161 25 BOWLING AVERAGE ECONOMY RATE STRIKE RATE TOTAL NUMBER OF WICKETS MOST WICKETS IN A SERIES 7/72 BEST BOWLING FIGURES(INNINGS) 6/23 5 WICKETS IN AN INNINGS 10 WICKETS INA MATCH TEST MATCHES PLAYED 30,02 3.31 54.3 139 19 1 Stuart Broad 47 39 Morne Morkel Bowler Analysis ENGLAND AND SOUTH AFRICA'S FAST BOWLING ATTACKS ARE ALMOST A MIRROR IMAGE OF EACH OTHER, BOTH TEAMS POSSESS TALL HIT THE DECK BOWLERS, LINE AND LENGTH SEAM BOWLING AND THE TRUMP CARDS IN OUTSTANDING SWING BOWLERS - DALE STEYN AND JAMES ANDERSON RESPECTIVELY. STEYN IS CURRENTLY RANKED NUMBER 1 IN THE LATEST ICC TEST BOWLER RANKINGS, WITH ANDERSON HOT ON HIS HEELS IN THIRD PLACE, WITH PREVAILING CONDITIONS CONTINUING TO BE OVERCAST AND HUMID, THEIR BRAND OF SWING BOWLING IS LIKELY TO SEVERELY TEST BATSMEN'S TECHNIQUES ON BOTH SIDES, ALSO LOOK OUT FOR VERNON PHILANDER WHO ARRIVES HAVING REACHED 50 TEST MATCH WICKETS IN DOUBLE QUICK TIME, BUT HAS LOOKED OFF THE PACE IN THE WARM UP GAMES AND HIS BRIEF STINT AT SOMĖRSET EARLIER IN THE SUMMER, WHETHER HE CAN MAKE A MOCKERY OF ENGLAND'S BATTING LINE UP LIKE HE HAS DONE TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND PREVIOUSLY COULD GO A LONG WAY TO DETERMINING THE FATE OF THE SERIES. Batsmen 41.74 49.09 6930 177 21 27 Andrew Strauss 97 BATTING AVERAGE STRIKE RATE NUMBER OF RUNS SCORED HIGHEST SCORE NUMBER OF CENTURIES NUMBER OF HALF CENTURIES TEST MATCHES PLAYED 49.64 60.39 8042 277 24 32 99 Graeme Smith 48.54 48.28 6360 294 19 29 Alastair Cook 80 BATTING AVERAGE STRIKE RATE NUMBER OF RUNS SCORED HIGHEST SCORE NUMBER OF CENTURIES NUMBER OF HALF CENTURIES TEST MATCHES PLAYED 46.98 50.96 4464 253 14 23 Hashim Amla 59 51.22 47.89 2459 226 7 10 Jonathon TrotH 31 BATTING AVERAGE STRIKE RATE NUMBER OF RUNS SCORED HIGHEST SCORE NUMBER OF CENTURIES NUMBER OF HALF CENTURIES TEST MATCHES PLAYED 56.78 45,59 12379 224 42 55 152 Jacques kallis 49.33 63,05 6857 227 20 27 kevin Pietersen 86 BATTING AVERAGE STRIKE RATE NUMBER OF RUNS SCORED HIGHEST SCORE NUMBER OF CENTURIES NUMBER OF HALF CENTURIES TEST MATCHES PLAYED 49.16 54.95 5457 278 13 29 74 AB de villiers Batsmen Analyjsis ON THE FACE OF IT, THERE IS NOTHING MUCH TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE POWERHOUSE BATTING LINE UPS OF ENGLAND AND SOUTH AFRICA, ENGLAND BATSMEN HAVE PROVEN TO BE MASTERS OF THEIR OWN CONDITIONS IN THEIR IMPRESSIVE ASCENT TO THE TOP OF THE ICC TEST RANKINGS, AND WITH CAPTAIN ANDREW STRAUSS NOW BACK IN FINE FORM (2 CENTURIES IN HIS LAST 3 TEST MATCHES) WHAT WAS POTENTIALLY ENGLAND'S WEAKEST LINK IS NOW LOOKING VERY STRONG. FOR SOUTH AFRICA, CAPTAIN GRAEME SMITH HAS A FORMIDABLE RECORD IN ENGLAND, WITH SEVERAL HUNDREDS AND DOUBLE HUNDREDS TO HIS NAME IN ENGLISH CONDITIONS. AB DE VILLIERS ALSO PLAYED A MATCH WINNING KNOCK ON HIS LAST TRIP TO ENGLAND. THIS IS LIKELY TO BE JAQUES KALLIS' LAST TOUR OF ENGLAND, AND HE WILL DESPERATE TO FINISH ON A HIGH AFTER STRUGGLING LAST TIME OUT, ESPÉCIALLY AFTER BEING OUT IN EMBARRASSING CIRCUMSTANCES TO A STRĂIGHT FULL TOSS TO ANDREW FLINTOFF WHERE HE ALLEGED HE COULDN'T SIGHT THE BALL BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SIGHTSCREEN. England v SouthiAfrica (Tests all time) 1 1 Period Matches Won Lost Tied Draus Ave RPO HOME AWAY 1907-2008 1889-2010 61 138 11 29 23 53 2.45 1.93 33.49 31.71 27 604 654 76 England v South Africa (Tests 2007 - 2012) Period Matches Won Lost Tied Drau Ave RPO HS LS HOME AWAY 2007-2011 2007-2010 0,50 1.00 35,98 30.98 3.48 3.01 593 574 203 169 1 England Highest Score v South Africa Highest Totals Overs RR Inns Ground Mateh Date Scorecard 1 НОМЕ AWAY 604/9D 654/5 162.0 162.0 4 SEPT 2003 13 MARCH 1939 THE OVAL 3.72 2.24 DURBAN TEST #1659 TEST #271 4 South Africa Highest Score v England Highest Totals Overs RR Inns Ground Match Date Scorecard НОМE AWAY 513/8D 682/6D 192,0 177,0 CAPE TOWN LORDS 1 JAN 1931 31 JULY 2003 TEST #202 TEST #1653 2,67 1 3.85 Gatting go Home! Ban racist tours! Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook The Rebel Tours STRAUSS AND COOK ACHIEVED THE MILESTONE OF 5,000 RUNS TOGETHER ON 28TH OF MAY 2012, THE TEST AGAINST THE WEST INDIES WAS THEIR 124TH TOGETHER, THE HIGHEST COMBINED SCORE ACHIEVED BY ANY PAIR OF ENGLISH BATSMEN, THE HIGH SCORE IS MORE OF A REFLECTION ON THE AMOUNT OF TEST CRICKET IN RECENT YEARS. 1990 SAW THE LAST AND PROBABLY THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL REBEL CRICKET TOUR TO SOUTH AFRICA, THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN MIKE GATTING, INTERESTINGLY ONLY SUFFERED A SHORT BAN FROM TEST CRICKET FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT. THE PREVIOUS SIX TOURS BETWEEN 1982 AND 1987 WERE ALSO REPREHENSIBLE WHICH INCLUDED AUSTRALIA, THE WEST INDIES, ENGLAND AND SRI LANKA, HOWEVER COOK AND STRAUSS ARE LEADING A LIST FOR THE HIGHEST SCORING OPENING PAIRINGS IN ENGLISH HISTORY. IMPRESSIVE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS LIST ALSO INCLUDES, TRESCOTHICK AND STRAUSS, WASHBROOK AND HUTTON, HOBBS AND SUTCLIFFE. INTERESTING TO NOTE THE PAIR HAVE ALWAYS BATTED THE SAME THIS LAST REBEL TOUR WAS THE MOST HIGH PROFILE AND INTERNATIONALLY REVILED AS 1990 WAS THE YEAR SOUTH AFRICA WAS TRANSFORMING ITSELF, WHEN MANDELA WAS FREE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 26 YEARS, CHANGE WAS ON THE CARDS, BUT THIS TEAM OF ENGLISH MEN WERE SUPPORTING A WHITE APARTHEID GOVERNMENT WHO WERE PAYING THEM DIRECTLY TO PLAY, NO CORPORATE SPONSORS WOULD TOUCH SUCH A TOUR. WAY ROUND. Wally Hammonds 1940's Record of 22 Centuries Could Fall WALLY HAMMOND, GEOFFREY BOYCOTT AND COLIN COWDREY ALL HAVE 22 CENTURIES FOR ENGLAND. THE 2012 TEST SERIES WITH SOUTH AFRICA OFFERS THREE MEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THIS RECORD. ANDREW STRAUSS, KEVIN PIETERSEN AND ALASTAIR COOK ARE ALL CLOSING IN. Batsman Span Tests 50s Best OS 100s NO 1927-1947 1954-1975 WALLY HAMMOND COLIN COWDREY GEOFFREY BOYCOTT 1964-1982 ANDREW STRAUSS KEVIN PIETERSEN ALASTAIR COOK JAN BELL 22 22 85 114 24 38 16 15 23 336 182 246 177 227 294 235 4 2004-2012 2005-2012 2006-2012 2004-2012 8 9 15 10 14 8 19 16 79 76 29 31 9 The Oval Test Records HIGH SCORE BATTING Player Runs Opposition Date Team L HUTTON IVA RICHARDS WH PONSFORD JAVED MIANDAD DG BRADMAN 364 291 288 260 321 ENGLAND WEST INDIES AUSTRALIA PAKISTAN AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA ENGLAND ENGLAND ENGLAND ENGLAND 20 AUG 1938 12 AUG 1976 18 AUG 1934 06 AUG 1987 18 AUG 1934 BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN AN INNINGS The Oval, kennington, London Player BBT 9/57 DE MALCOLM (ENG) M MURALITHARAN (SL) 9/65 SF BARNES (ENG) H TRUMBLE (AUS) MA HOLDING (WI) 8/29 8/65 8/92 BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN A MATCH Player Inns Balls Runs Wats BBM M MURALITHARAN (SL) FR SPOFFORTH (AUS) 6 16 683 636 820 688 1154 220 250 393 223 477 16/220 14/90 14/149 13/57 12/89 MA HOLDING (WI) SF BARNES (ENG) H TRUMBLE (AUS) 6 7 Headingley Carnegie HIGH SCORE BATTING Player Runs Opposition Date Team DG BRADMAN JH EDRICH DG BRADMAN EAB ROWAN G BOYCOTT 334 310 304 296 246 AUSTRALIA ENGLAND AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA ENGLAND ENGLAND ENGLAND NEW ZELAND ENGLAND 11 JULY 1930 08 JULY 1965 20 JULY 1934 26 JULY 1951 08 JUNE 1967 INDIA BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN AN INNINGS Headingley, Yorkshire, Player BBI RGD WILLIS (ENG) C BLYTHE (ENG) NA FOSTER (ENG) JN GILLESPIE (AUS) IMRAN KHAN (PAK) 8/43 8/59 8/107 7/37 7/40 BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN A MATCH Player Inns Balls Runs Wes BBM C BLYTHE (ENG) GAR LOCK (ENG) 15/99 11/65 11/85 11/88 11/113 4 14 423 1737 464 1764 1562 176 592 149 795 509 19 29 13 44 30 CG MACARTNEY (AUS) 4 FS TRUEMAN (ENG) JC LAKER (ENG) 18 12 Lord's HIGH SCORE BATTING Player Runs Opposition Date EIN GA GOOCH IJL TROTT GC SMITH MH MANKAD DG BRADMAN 456 262 259 256 255 ENGLAND ENGLAND SOUTH AFRICA ENGLAND INDIA AUSTRALIA 26 JUL 1990 27 MAY 2010 31 JULY 2003 19 JUNE 1952 27 JUNE 1930 INDIA BANGLADESH ENGLAND ENGLAND BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN AN INNINGS Lord's, St. Johns Wood, London Player BBI IAN BOTHAM (ENG) GD MCGRATH (AUS) H VERITY (ENG) DL UNDERWOOD (ENG) 8/51 RAL MASSIE (AUS) 8/34 8/38 8/43 8/53 BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN A MATCH Player Inns Balls Runs Weis BBM 16/137 15/104 13/71 12/101 11/74 16 RAL MASSIE (AUS) H VERITY (ENG) 361 1923 1967 512 389 137 613 643 140 109 14 DL UNDERWOOD (ENG) 14 R TATTERSALL (ENG) 4 J BRIGGS (ENG) 4. SOURCE: BINGO.LADBROKES.COM THE BATTLE TO BE WORLD'S NO.1 England v. S. Africa Table mountain South Africa Londopi City- England Win by 1 Match FOR SOUTH AFRICA TO BE CROWNED WORLD CHAMPS Current Table New Table if South Africa win by one Game Matches Points Rating Team. Matches Points Rating Diff Team 1 ENGLAND 2 AUSTRALIA 3 SOUTH AFRICA 21 4 PAKISTAN 5 INDIA 6 SRI LANKA 3893 3952 2364 29 1 SOUTH AFRICA 25 2 ENGLAND 3 AUSTRALIA 4 PAKISTAN 5 INDIA 6 SRI LANKA 32 122 116 113 109 104 98 2952 36 4245 34 3952 29 3148 29 3004 29 2834 118 118 +5 34 -4 116 109 104 98 3148 29 3004 29 2834 IF SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY ONE MATCH THEY WILL RANK NUMBER 1 BY A DECIMAL POINT. Test World Rankings History 6.4. 1. 12. YEARS 7 MONTHS YEAR 8 MONTHS MONTHS MONTHS • DEC 2009 TO JUL 2011 India JAN 2003 TO JULY 2009 AUG 2009 TO NOV 2009 AUG 2011 TO JUL 2012 Australia South Africa England Head 2 Head Bowlers 30.05 3.14 57.2 267 24 BOWLING AVERAGE ECONOMY RATE STRIKE RATE TOTAL NUMBER OF WICKETS MOST WICKETS IN A SERIES 7/43 BEST BOWLING FIGURES(INNINGS) 7/51 5 WICKETS IN AN INNINGS 10 WICKETS INA MATCH TEST MATCHES PLAYED 23.18 3.39 40.9 272 21 12 1 James Anderson 70 17 4 54 Dale Steyn 26.09 2.82 54.6 55.3 16 BOWLING AVERAGE ECONOMY RATE STRIKE RATE TOTAL NUMBER OF WICKETS MOST WICKETS IN A SERIES 8/141 BEST BOWLING FIGURES(INNINGS) 6/44 5 WICKETS IN AN INNINGS 10 WICKETS INA MATCH TEST MATCHES PLAYED 14.15 3.17 26.7 51 21 6 2 7 vernon Philander 1 Tim Bresnan 14 30,42 2.99 61.0 161 25 BOWLING AVERAGE ECONOMY RATE STRIKE RATE TOTAL NUMBER OF WICKETS MOST WICKETS IN A SERIES 7/72 BEST BOWLING FIGURES(INNINGS) 6/23 5 WICKETS IN AN INNINGS 10 WICKETS INA MATCH TEST MATCHES PLAYED 30,02 3.31 54.3 139 19 1 Stuart Broad 47 39 Morne Morkel Bowler Analysis ENGLAND AND SOUTH AFRICA'S FAST BOWLING ATTACKS ARE ALMOST A MIRROR IMAGE OF EACH OTHER, BOTH TEAMS POSSESS TALL HIT THE DECK BOWLERS, LINE AND LENGTH SEAM BOWLING AND THE TRUMP CARDS IN OUTSTANDING SWING BOWLERS - DALE STEYN AND JAMES ANDERSON RESPECTIVELY. STEYN IS CURRENTLY RANKED NUMBER 1 IN THE LATEST ICC TEST BOWLER RANKINGS, WITH ANDERSON HOT ON HIS HEELS IN THIRD PLACE, WITH PREVAILING CONDITIONS CONTINUING TO BE OVERCAST AND HUMID, THEIR BRAND OF SWING BOWLING IS LIKELY TO SEVERELY TEST BATSMEN'S TECHNIQUES ON BOTH SIDES, ALSO LOOK OUT FOR VERNON PHILANDER WHO ARRIVES HAVING REACHED 50 TEST MATCH WICKETS IN DOUBLE QUICK TIME, BUT HAS LOOKED OFF THE PACE IN THE WARM UP GAMES AND HIS BRIEF STINT AT SOMĖRSET EARLIER IN THE SUMMER, WHETHER HE CAN MAKE A MOCKERY OF ENGLAND'S BATTING LINE UP LIKE HE HAS DONE TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND PREVIOUSLY COULD GO A LONG WAY TO DETERMINING THE FATE OF THE SERIES. Batsmen 41.74 49.09 6930 177 21 27 Andrew Strauss 97 BATTING AVERAGE STRIKE RATE NUMBER OF RUNS SCORED HIGHEST SCORE NUMBER OF CENTURIES NUMBER OF HALF CENTURIES TEST MATCHES PLAYED 49.64 60.39 8042 277 24 32 99 Graeme Smith 48.54 48.28 6360 294 19 29 Alastair Cook 80 BATTING AVERAGE STRIKE RATE NUMBER OF RUNS SCORED HIGHEST SCORE NUMBER OF CENTURIES NUMBER OF HALF CENTURIES TEST MATCHES PLAYED 46.98 50.96 4464 253 14 23 Hashim Amla 59 51.22 47.89 2459 226 7 10 Jonathon TrotH 31 BATTING AVERAGE STRIKE RATE NUMBER OF RUNS SCORED HIGHEST SCORE NUMBER OF CENTURIES NUMBER OF HALF CENTURIES TEST MATCHES PLAYED 56.78 45,59 12379 224 42 55 152 Jacques kallis 49.33 63,05 6857 227 20 27 kevin Pietersen 86 BATTING AVERAGE STRIKE RATE NUMBER OF RUNS SCORED HIGHEST SCORE NUMBER OF CENTURIES NUMBER OF HALF CENTURIES TEST MATCHES PLAYED 49.16 54.95 5457 278 13 29 74 AB de villiers Batsmen Analyjsis ON THE FACE OF IT, THERE IS NOTHING MUCH TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE POWERHOUSE BATTING LINE UPS OF ENGLAND AND SOUTH AFRICA, ENGLAND BATSMEN HAVE PROVEN TO BE MASTERS OF THEIR OWN CONDITIONS IN THEIR IMPRESSIVE ASCENT TO THE TOP OF THE ICC TEST RANKINGS, AND WITH CAPTAIN ANDREW STRAUSS NOW BACK IN FINE FORM (2 CENTURIES IN HIS LAST 3 TEST MATCHES) WHAT WAS POTENTIALLY ENGLAND'S WEAKEST LINK IS NOW LOOKING VERY STRONG. FOR SOUTH AFRICA, CAPTAIN GRAEME SMITH HAS A FORMIDABLE RECORD IN ENGLAND, WITH SEVERAL HUNDREDS AND DOUBLE HUNDREDS TO HIS NAME IN ENGLISH CONDITIONS. AB DE VILLIERS ALSO PLAYED A MATCH WINNING KNOCK ON HIS LAST TRIP TO ENGLAND. THIS IS LIKELY TO BE JAQUES KALLIS' LAST TOUR OF ENGLAND, AND HE WILL DESPERATE TO FINISH ON A HIGH AFTER STRUGGLING LAST TIME OUT, ESPÉCIALLY AFTER BEING OUT IN EMBARRASSING CIRCUMSTANCES TO A STRĂIGHT FULL TOSS TO ANDREW FLINTOFF WHERE HE ALLEGED HE COULDN'T SIGHT THE BALL BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SIGHTSCREEN. England v SouthiAfrica (Tests all time) 1 1 Period Matches Won Lost Tied Draus Ave RPO HOME AWAY 1907-2008 1889-2010 61 138 11 29 23 53 2.45 1.93 33.49 31.71 27 604 654 76 England v South Africa (Tests 2007 - 2012) Period Matches Won Lost Tied Drau Ave RPO HS LS HOME AWAY 2007-2011 2007-2010 0,50 1.00 35,98 30.98 3.48 3.01 593 574 203 169 1 England Highest Score v South Africa Highest Totals Overs RR Inns Ground Mateh Date Scorecard 1 НОМЕ AWAY 604/9D 654/5 162.0 162.0 4 SEPT 2003 13 MARCH 1939 THE OVAL 3.72 2.24 DURBAN TEST #1659 TEST #271 4 South Africa Highest Score v England Highest Totals Overs RR Inns Ground Match Date Scorecard НОМE AWAY 513/8D 682/6D 192,0 177,0 CAPE TOWN LORDS 1 JAN 1931 31 JULY 2003 TEST #202 TEST #1653 2,67 1 3.85 Gatting go Home! Ban racist tours! Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook The Rebel Tours STRAUSS AND COOK ACHIEVED THE MILESTONE OF 5,000 RUNS TOGETHER ON 28TH OF MAY 2012, THE TEST AGAINST THE WEST INDIES WAS THEIR 124TH TOGETHER, THE HIGHEST COMBINED SCORE ACHIEVED BY ANY PAIR OF ENGLISH BATSMEN, THE HIGH SCORE IS MORE OF A REFLECTION ON THE AMOUNT OF TEST CRICKET IN RECENT YEARS. 1990 SAW THE LAST AND PROBABLY THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL REBEL CRICKET TOUR TO SOUTH AFRICA, THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN MIKE GATTING, INTERESTINGLY ONLY SUFFERED A SHORT BAN FROM TEST CRICKET FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT. THE PREVIOUS SIX TOURS BETWEEN 1982 AND 1987 WERE ALSO REPREHENSIBLE WHICH INCLUDED AUSTRALIA, THE WEST INDIES, ENGLAND AND SRI LANKA, HOWEVER COOK AND STRAUSS ARE LEADING A LIST FOR THE HIGHEST SCORING OPENING PAIRINGS IN ENGLISH HISTORY. IMPRESSIVE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS LIST ALSO INCLUDES, TRESCOTHICK AND STRAUSS, WASHBROOK AND HUTTON, HOBBS AND SUTCLIFFE. INTERESTING TO NOTE THE PAIR HAVE ALWAYS BATTED THE SAME THIS LAST REBEL TOUR WAS THE MOST HIGH PROFILE AND INTERNATIONALLY REVILED AS 1990 WAS THE YEAR SOUTH AFRICA WAS TRANSFORMING ITSELF, WHEN MANDELA WAS FREE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 26 YEARS, CHANGE WAS ON THE CARDS, BUT THIS TEAM OF ENGLISH MEN WERE SUPPORTING A WHITE APARTHEID GOVERNMENT WHO WERE PAYING THEM DIRECTLY TO PLAY, NO CORPORATE SPONSORS WOULD TOUCH SUCH A TOUR. WAY ROUND. Wally Hammonds 1940's Record of 22 Centuries Could Fall WALLY HAMMOND, GEOFFREY BOYCOTT AND COLIN COWDREY ALL HAVE 22 CENTURIES FOR ENGLAND. THE 2012 TEST SERIES WITH SOUTH AFRICA OFFERS THREE MEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THIS RECORD. ANDREW STRAUSS, KEVIN PIETERSEN AND ALASTAIR COOK ARE ALL CLOSING IN. Batsman Span Tests 50s Best OS 100s NO 1927-1947 1954-1975 WALLY HAMMOND COLIN COWDREY GEOFFREY BOYCOTT 1964-1982 ANDREW STRAUSS KEVIN PIETERSEN ALASTAIR COOK JAN BELL 22 22 85 114 24 38 16 15 23 336 182 246 177 227 294 235 4 2004-2012 2005-2012 2006-2012 2004-2012 8 9 15 10 14 8 19 16 79 76 29 31 9 The Oval Test Records HIGH SCORE BATTING Player Runs Opposition Date Team L HUTTON IVA RICHARDS WH PONSFORD JAVED MIANDAD DG BRADMAN 364 291 288 260 321 ENGLAND WEST INDIES AUSTRALIA PAKISTAN AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA ENGLAND ENGLAND ENGLAND ENGLAND 20 AUG 1938 12 AUG 1976 18 AUG 1934 06 AUG 1987 18 AUG 1934 BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN AN INNINGS The Oval, kennington, London Player BBT 9/57 DE MALCOLM (ENG) M MURALITHARAN (SL) 9/65 SF BARNES (ENG) H TRUMBLE (AUS) MA HOLDING (WI) 8/29 8/65 8/92 BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN A MATCH Player Inns Balls Runs Wats BBM M MURALITHARAN (SL) FR SPOFFORTH (AUS) 6 16 683 636 820 688 1154 220 250 393 223 477 16/220 14/90 14/149 13/57 12/89 MA HOLDING (WI) SF BARNES (ENG) H TRUMBLE (AUS) 6 7 Headingley Carnegie HIGH SCORE BATTING Player Runs Opposition Date Team DG BRADMAN JH EDRICH DG BRADMAN EAB ROWAN G BOYCOTT 334 310 304 296 246 AUSTRALIA ENGLAND AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA ENGLAND ENGLAND ENGLAND NEW ZELAND ENGLAND 11 JULY 1930 08 JULY 1965 20 JULY 1934 26 JULY 1951 08 JUNE 1967 INDIA BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN AN INNINGS Headingley, Yorkshire, Player BBI RGD WILLIS (ENG) C BLYTHE (ENG) NA FOSTER (ENG) JN GILLESPIE (AUS) IMRAN KHAN (PAK) 8/43 8/59 8/107 7/37 7/40 BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN A MATCH Player Inns Balls Runs Wes BBM C BLYTHE (ENG) GAR LOCK (ENG) 15/99 11/65 11/85 11/88 11/113 4 14 423 1737 464 1764 1562 176 592 149 795 509 19 29 13 44 30 CG MACARTNEY (AUS) 4 FS TRUEMAN (ENG) JC LAKER (ENG) 18 12 Lord's HIGH SCORE BATTING Player Runs Opposition Date EIN GA GOOCH IJL TROTT GC SMITH MH MANKAD DG BRADMAN 456 262 259 256 255 ENGLAND ENGLAND SOUTH AFRICA ENGLAND INDIA AUSTRALIA 26 JUL 1990 27 MAY 2010 31 JULY 2003 19 JUNE 1952 27 JUNE 1930 INDIA BANGLADESH ENGLAND ENGLAND BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN AN INNINGS Lord's, St. Johns Wood, London Player BBI IAN BOTHAM (ENG) GD MCGRATH (AUS) H VERITY (ENG) DL UNDERWOOD (ENG) 8/51 RAL MASSIE (AUS) 8/34 8/38 8/43 8/53 BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN A MATCH Player Inns Balls Runs Weis BBM 16/137 15/104 13/71 12/101 11/74 16 RAL MASSIE (AUS) H VERITY (ENG) 361 1923 1967 512 389 137 613 643 140 109 14 DL UNDERWOOD (ENG) 14 R TATTERSALL (ENG) 4 J BRIGGS (ENG) 4. SOURCE: BINGO.LADBROKES.COM