Most overs by a captain in a Test innings

While Sri Lanka managed to escape a heavy defeat by skin of their teeth, it was English bowlers who were toiled to break the resistance. In the process, their captain Andrew Flintoff provided one of the rarest instances in the last 17 years of international Test cricket. By bowling 51 overs for his two wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings, the English captain registered only the 18th occasion of a captain bowling 50 or more overs in an innings. Flintoff became the 11th captain to do so. The last time a captain had to bear such burden was way back in 1989-90 when Imran Khan sent down 50.2 overs against India at Lahore. For reader's interest the accompanying table has the complete detail.

Drawing from the jaws of defeat!

Sri Lanka’s remarkable rearguard in the recently concluded first Test at Lord’s was only the tenth instance of a side scoring 500 or more runs after following on. The total of 537 for 9 is also the joint-fifth highest innings score by a side in such scenario. Just for record, only two of the ten Tests had decisive results while the remaining ended in draws.

Pakistan’s total of 657/8 against West Indies in 1957-58 still remains unsurpassed as the highest follow-on score. Though, India made a similar effort five years ago against Australia at Kolkata. For reader’s interest the accompanying table has the complete details.



Results are from the perspective of the sides listed first.