And who is the Test centurion with the lowest batting average?

Steven Lynch07-Oct-2025I heard that Shivam Dube has played 36 T20Is without defeat. Is this a record? What are the equivalent records for ODIs and Tests? asked Nirmal Balaraman from the United States
India actually lost two of Shivam Dube’s first five T20 internationals (against Bangladesh and West Indies late in 2019), but since then he’s played 36 more without tasting defeat: that includes four tied games (all won by India in a super over), a no-result and one match which was abandoned after the toss was made. His 34 successive wins (ignoring no-results and abandonments, but including super-over victories) is easily a record for men’s T20Is: Pascal Murungi of Uganda has not lost any of his last 26 matches (his most recent was in December 2024), while Jasprit Bumrah is currently on a run of 23.There is a longer run in women’s one-day internationals, at least until Dube wins his next three games: the Australian pair of Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen won 36 and 35 completed matches respectively before a narrow loss to England in Bristol in July 2023. The record for women’s T20 internationals is a run of 23 successive wins by England’s Laura Marsh between January 2011 and October 2012.The record for men’s ODIs is 20 wins in a row, set by four team-mates whose run all came to an end when Australia lost to West Indies in Port-of-Spain in May 2003: Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting. (Hayden and Hogg missed that defeat, but returned for the next game, which they also lost.) The Test record is also an Australian preserve: McGrath, Justin Langer, Michael Slater and Mark Waugh all won 16 successive matches before March 2001, and that was matched by Hayden, Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Hussey and Brett Lee up to January 2008. Both runs were ended by defeats by India, in Kolkata in 2001 and in Perth in 2008.Which bowler has dismissed most batters out stumped in Tests? asked Nijat Ahmed from India
There are no great surprises in the aggregate numbers: Muthiah Muralidaran, the top Test wicket-taker, leads the way with 47 stumping victims, with Shane Warne second on 36, one ahead of another Sri Lankan, Rangana Herath. The Australian offspinner Nathan Lyon currently has 28 stumping victims, as did Clarrie Grimmett.Grimmett only took 216 Test wickets, so 12.96% of his victims came via stumpings. That’s the most for anyone with over 100 wickets apart from the Indian legspinner Subhash “Fergie” Gupte, whose 149 included 20 stumpings (13.42%). Another Australian legspinner, Arthur Mailey, took 99 Test wickets, of which 18 (18.18%) were stumped.Nine West Indians reached double figures in a recent T20 international against Australia. Was this a record? asked Victor Persaud from Trinidad
The match you’re referring to was the fourth in the series in the Caribbean in July: West Indies made 205 for 9 against Australia in Basseterre, with nine batters reaching double figures. This was actually the third such instance in T20 internationals, and the second this year: Austria (223 for 8) did it against Slovenia in Latschach in May, which followed the first instance, by Tanzania (176) against Uganda in Kigali (Rwanda) in December 2022.The record for women’s T20Is is eight, by Australia (153 for 8) against England in Canberra in 2011.Jerome Taylor, with one hundred and one 50 in 73 Test innings, has the lowest batting average of anyone who has made a Test century – 12.96•Getty ImagesWhich non-wicketkeeper took over 100 Test catches but finished his career without taking a single Test wicket? asked Azweer from India
I think there are actually ten people who fit the bill here. New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming held on to 171 catches in the field, but never bowled in his 111 Tests, let alone took a wicket. He did not take any in first-class cricket either, although he did pick one up in an ODI (Marcel Schewe of the Netherlands during the 1996 World Cup in Vadodara).Brian Lara took 164 catches but no wickets, Matthew Hayden 128, Virat Kohli and Andrew Strauss 121, Colin Cowdrey 120, Hashim Amla 108, Mohammad Azharuddin and Graham Thorpe 105, and Ajinkya Rahane 102. Here’s the list of those with 100 or more catches in the field.Which player who has scored a Test century has the lowest average? And how about ODIs? asked David Collins from England
The lowest career average by a batter with a Test century is 12.96, by the West Indian fast bowler Jerome Taylor, whose 106 against New Zealand in Dunedin in 2008 – which remained his only century – was over 2.5 times his previous-highest first-class score, 40 for Leicestershire against Derbyshire in 2007.He was only the second man, after his namesake Bruce Taylor on debut for New Zealand against India in Calcutta in March 1965, to score his maiden century in a Test having never previously reached 50 in a first-class innings. They have since been joined by Curtis Campher, with 111 for Ireland against Sri Lanka in April 2023 (he still has no other first-class scores of 50 or more).The next-lowest career Test averages by centurions belong to the Pakistan pair of Yasir Shah (14.12) and Saqlain Mushtaq (14.48). Australia’s Jason Gillespie, with 18.73, has the lowest of anyone with a double-century.The lowest ODI average by a man with a century to his name is 16.44, by the big-hitting West Indian Carlos Brathwaite, who slammed a memorable 101 against New Zealand during the 2019 World Cup. He’s just ahead of another West Indian, Xavier Marshall (17.52), and Australia’s Trevor Chappell (17.61).For the record, the lowest in T20 internationals is 15.06, by Slovenia’s Izaz Ali, who scored 118 in one innings and a total of 123 in his 15 others to date.And there’s an update to one of last week’s questions, via Ivan Monaghan from Australia
In the answer to the question about the man with the most Test runs but the fewest nineties, I didn’t spot that Greg Chappell’s only score in the nineties was not out – an undefeated 98 against England in Sydney in January 1980. This means that Greg has the most Test runs without ever being out in the nineties – his 7110 just shades the 6996 of Don Bradman.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Gio Reyna has been set a 2026 World Cup challenge. Former USMNT star Brad Friedel, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, has told the talented Borussia Monchengladbach playmaker what needs to happen in order to make Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for next summer’s tournament, with nobody – regardless of their ability – guaranteed a place in those plans.

• Form & fitness challenges for Reyna

  Reyna is unquestionably one of the most naturally gifted performers at the United States’ disposal. He has been tipped for the top since bursting onto the senior scene as a teenager, with a similar career path to fellow countryman Christian Pulisic being trodden when linking up with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

  Over 140 appearances were taken in for BVB, scoring 19 goals, but those numbers would have been considerably higher were it not for a string of unfortunate injuries. A fresh start is now being embraced with Gladbach – with more tests on form and fitness fronts being faced there.

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• Will Reyna make the USMNT squad for 2026 World Cup?

  Reyna did impress during his last international camp, registering goal number nine for his country in a friendly win over Paraguay, but questions continue to be asked of whether – having endured a tough time at the 2022 World Cup – he will be involved at another major tournament on home soil.

  Quizzed on whether the creative 23-year-old is in a position where a World Cup berth is his to lose, ex-USMNT goalkeeper Friedel – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “With Mauricio it is different, you have to go and impress and then you have to improve. There is no ‘you did well for me last month, you did well the month before’. That’s not how he goes about his business.

  “Once you impress, he will put a little higher bar on you and then you have to reach that bar. Then he will see if you can go again. The way that he performed, and I don’t know how he conducted himself in training, but let’s say it was positive, then they will watch him now with his club and see when he comes into camp again in March if he is lower. If so, he is already down in their minds again. If he comes in the same or higher, then he has impressed again.

  “That’s how they work. It’s the metrics, it’s building a squad of players that need to win – which is a better word than ‘want’ to win. What he has done right now is very good for him getting his foot back in the door. It’s not his to lose. Everyone goes on a level playing field, which is very different to what the US has been previously.”

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• Hot prospect: How Reyna can prove his worth

  Reyna knows that he faces fierce competition for places, and that he needs to steer clear of more spells on the treatment table in order to prove his worth. Friedel has previously told GOAL of how a hot prospect makes another global gathering: “With Gio, a lot of unfortunate stuff from the last World Cup, then injury after injury after injury. Talented, talented player. For Gio, he needs minutes and he needs not to be injured. Then we can see before the World Cup if he is ready. If he is, if he has a run of four or five months with no injuries, playing lots of minutes, he’s in the squad.

  “He’s a really talented player, one of the better ones we have. But he really does need to play. When I took the job at Besiktas, I was over at the Copa America and was watching. You could just tell there was something a little bit off. It’s not his ability, that is there. That’s not it. His body has unfortunately not cooperated with this sport.

  “Hopefully for him it goes well. He’s a really good kid and I hope he just stays fit, gets a run of games and then it will be down to Mauricio choosing him or not. I don’t like to see anybody get left out because of injury.”

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  2026 World Cup draw: When & where does it take place?

  Excitement levels in the USMNT camp are about to build even further, with their opponents for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup set to be revealed when that draws take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on December 5.

Mohammed Shami, Mayank Markande, Nitish Rana, Donovan Ferreira and Arjun Tendulkar will also play for new teams in IPL 2026

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2025Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have finalised the player trade that will see Sanju Samson headed to CSK in exchange for allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, the IPL confirmed on Saturday morning.It is one of the most high-profile player trades in IPL history. Samson, who led RR from 2021 until the previous season, had been retained for INR 18 crore ahead of IPL 2025. CSK had also retained Jadeja for the same amount, while they had acquired Curran in the auction for INR 2.4 crore. Samson will go to CSK for the same fee, but Jadeja’s fee has been revised to INR 14 crore. Curran’s fee remains the same.”Rajasthan Royals gave me my first platform and my first taste of victory,” Jadeja said in a RR statement. “Coming back feels special – it’s not just a team for me, it’s home. Rajasthan Royals is where I won my first IPL, and I hope to win more with this current group of players.”Samson spent 11 years at RR, but had indicated after IPL 2025 that he was looking for a change and wanted to be released by RR.For Jadeja, it is a return to the franchise with whom he started his IPL career, in the inaugural season in 2008. Jadeja had been with CSK since 2012 barring the 2016 and 2017 seasons when the franchise was suspended, and was even appointed captain in 2022 but handed the captaincy back to MS Dhoni after a poor start to the season.For Curran, it will be a third IPL franchise, having shuttled between CSK and Punjab Kings between 2019 and 2025.”Jadeja coming back to the Royals is incredibly special for all of us. He understands the franchise and the fans, having been part of RR’s IPL-winning campaign,” Kumar Sangakkara, RR’s director of cricket, said. “Over the years he has grown into a player who can influence the game in every department. His experience, composure, and competitive edge will add immense value to our group.”Sam brings a different but equally important dimension. He’s fearless, adaptable, and thrives in pressure situations with both bat and ball. Together, Jadeja and Sam give us balance, leadership, and the kind of match-winning depth we want as we build for the future.”Letting go of Jadeja and Curran was done after consultations with the players, CSK managing director Kasi Viswanathan said. “The decision was taken with mutual understanding with both Jadeja and Curran. We are deeply grateful for Jadeja’s extraordinary contributions and the legacy he leaves behind. We wish both Jadeja and Curran the best for the future. We also welcome Sanju Samson, whose skill-set and achievements complement our ambitions. This decision has been made with great thought, respect, and a long-term vision.”Nitish Rana will now turn out for Delhi Capitals•BCCI

Shami, Nitish Rana, Ferreira, Tendulkar traded

As reported by ESPNcricinfo on Friday, Mohammed Shami will turn out for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2026 after being traded by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Shami, the second-most expensive acquisition for SRH ahead of the IPL 2025 season at INR 10 crore, will move to LSG at his existing fee.Some of the other updates on the day were those involving Mayank Markande, Arjun Tendulkar, Nitish Rana and Donovan Ferreira.Rana, who has featured in over 100 IPL games and has even led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), moves from RR to Delhi Capitals (DC), and will continue at his existing fee of INR 4.2 crore.For Markande, it’s a return home of sorts, as he returns to his original team Mumbai Indians (MI) from KKR. He will also be at his existing fee of INR 30 lakh.Ferreira, the South African allrounder, returns to his first team, RR, after being traded out by DC, that too with a salary hike. His fee has been revised from INR 75 lakh to INR 1 crore.Tendulkar, meanwhile, travels from MI to LSG at his existing fee of INR 30 lakh.

Usman Khawaja batted for the first time since the Perth Test as looked to prove his fitness for the day-night encounter at the Gabba after the back spasms which curtailed his role in the opening match of the Ashes.Having done some physio and gentle fielding on Sunday, Khawaja was put through his paces by Australia’s medical staff on the outfield, including running and stretching, before batting for 30 minutes during the team’s day-time session on Monday.Khawaja purely faced assistant coach Michael Di Venuto with the sidearm during his half hour in the nets, of which a considerable number of deliveries were short, giving his back a good workout. The session was an optional one for Australia, although all the players were present, and they will have another full session under lights on Tuesday.Speaking last week at an event for his foundation, Khawaja said he “should be right” for his hometown Test and was not requiring further painkillers after initially suffering the back spasms on the opening day at Perth Stadium.Related

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England collapsed so quickly on the first afternoon that Khawaja was unable to open due to the time he’d spent off the field and when he emerged at No. 4 could only make 2 before gloving a short ball from Brydon Carse.On the second day Khawaja took his place at first slip, taking a catch to remove Harry Brook and then spilling a low edge offered by Jamie Smith. His back went into spasm while leaping for another edge provided by Smith, opening the way for Travis Head to make his 123 in Australia’s chase.Khawaja’s form was under scrutiny heading into the series – he is now averaging 31.84 since the end of the 2023 Ashes with one century in 45 innings – and coupled with the way Head threw down the gauntlet as an opener, and his public statements about being keen for the role, it has sparked a debate about whether now is the time to draw an end to Khawaja’s Test career.”I think Usman is a high quality player,” Marnus Labuschagne said. “You look at his record, 85 Tests and what he’s done for Australian cricket, especially since his comeback in 2021. He’s been super consistent; he’s been really the rock [in] the top there. I think there’s been a lot of talk about how many opening partners he’s had over his time.”He’s an amazing player. The way he’s gone about his game, the way he’s gone from a No. 3, 4 and then opened the batting…navigated some tricky scenarios, he’s just been awesome.”But I’m not a selector. I think whatever happens is up to the people above my pay grade and what they deem is the best way for us to win the game and win this series. I think it’s just game by game and you work out what’s your best team.”Ahead of the 2023 Ashes, David Warner laid out his retirement timeline, stating that he wanted to finish at the SCG in early 2024. In the end he made it, providing some useful contributions against England then starting his final series against Pakistan with 164 in Perth.Khawaja has never publicly outlined what his ideal finishing point would be, but the final Ashes Test at the SCG, the ground where he returned with his twin hundreds in the 2020-21 series, has often been thought of as the perfect stepping off point. However, Labuschagne said that what the team needed should be the over-riding factor.”I think the most important thing is the team comes first at any stage,” he said. “I know there’s different times where different people may have done that [picked a finishing point] in the past. But taking nothing away, he’s an amazing player…averaging 45 for Australia all around the world… [But] it’s just what is the best way we win the game and what does that look like, and that’s what’s most important.”Carse played a straight bat when asked who England would prefer to see at the top of the order. “I don’t have to make that decision, so that’s up to the captain and the coach of the Australian side, but whatever we’re presented with we’ll stick to our plans,” he said.”That was a phenomenal knock played by a high-quality player [Head], and if he does open the batting again we’ve got set plans that we’ll look to use, but I don’t think anything changes from a mindset thing. He had an incredible day that afternoon.”Meanwhile, Pat Cummins put in another impressive net session, bowling two spells either side of having a bat, as he continues his path towards returning from his back injury. Cummins is not part of Australia’s 14-man squad for this match with a return in Adelaide appearing the most likely scenario.

Micky Van de Ven was left blown away by the performance of a Tottenham Hotspur star in the 2-0 victory against Brentford at the weekend.

Tottenham secure first Premier League win since late October

The pressure has been mounting on Thomas Frank in recent weeks, with it even emerging that Tottenham were considering a move for Barcelona manager Xavi as a replacement, but the Dane may have bought himself more time courtesy of a victory against Brentford.

Spurs breezed to a 2-0 win against the Bees, which was their first triumph in the Premier League since winning 3-0 at Everton at the end of October, with Richarlison opening the scoring after 26 minutes, finding the back of the net for the seventh time in all competitions this season.

Xavi Simons was the creator, and the Dutchman then went on to score his first goal since moving to north London just before half-time, sealing all three points for Frank’s side in the process.

Simons has received heavy criticism for making a slow start to life at Tottenham, with Jamie O’Hara left particularly scathing after the defeat against Fulham, but he clearly has the full support of teammate Van de Ven, who singled the attacking midfielder out for high praise after Brentford.

Simons needs to build on his Brentford performance

Frank will no doubt be delighted the Netherlands international appears to be finding his feet, receiving a SofaScore match rating of 9.5 after registering a goal and an assist against Keith Andrews’ side.

Having finally shown what he can produce, the 22-year-old needs to build on that performance, starting on Tuesday against Slavia Prague, with Spurs set to host the Czech side in their sixth Champions League game.

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Frank’s side have looked bereft of ideas at times this season, with only a Richarlison wonder goal preventing them from suffering an even heavier loss against Arsenal back in November.

As such, Simons needs to step up, and Tottenham will be hoping the former RB Leipzig man can start recording similar attacking numbers to what he did during his time with the German club, registering 22 goals and 24 assists in 78 games.

Under-fire Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is personally very keen on signing one marquee forward amid a major setback surrounding their chase for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Thomas Frank under pressure amid woeful Spurs run

Frank finds himself navigating treacherous waters at Tottenham right now, with mounting pressure threatening his managerial position following a dismal run.

The Dane has overseen just one victory from Tottenham’s last seven fixtures across all competitions, culminating in Saturday’s disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Fulham.

Spurs’ abject home form compounds their misery right now with just three wins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2025, and only bottom-side Wolves have a worse record on their own patch this season.

Premier League home form table

Team

Wins

Draws

Losses

Points

GD

16. Burnley

2

1

3

7

-1

17. Nottingham Forest

2

1

4

7

-5

18. West Ham

2

0

5

6

-9

19. Tottenham

1

2

4

5

-1

20. Wolves

0

1

5

1

10

Particularly alarming are whispers from within the Tottenham dressing room, where players have reportedly grown bewildered by Frank’s constant tactical tinkering.

Some media sources believe that strategies are frequently modified immediately before kickoff or abandoned entirely during matches, leaving squad members confused about their responsibilities (Jack Rosser).

Tottenham have also conceded eleven goals in their last three games, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s unbelievable error gifting Harry Wilson Fulham’s winning goal last weekend.

Frank’s relationship with supporters has also reached boiling point following his criticism of fans who booed Vicario’s mistake, and carried on jeering the Italian almost every time he touched the ball afterwards.

It wasn’t really the best move by Spurs’ boss to add fuel to the fire, considering his popularity was already waning among a lot of supporters, who are also extremely keen for co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange to hire a new manager.

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Even more worryingly for the north Londoners, credible reports suggest that players feel a ‘growing disconnect’ with the fanbase (The Telegraph), and this quite simply must cease if Tottenham stand any chance of building upon their Europa League triumph in May.

Spurs’ lack of attacking creativity has been subject to plenty of debate too, but the Lewis family are apparently looking to back Frank in January and provide him with major forward upgrades.

It is believed that both FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, who’s been on fire for the last two seasons, and Premier League superstar Semenyo are both on Spurs’ radar heading into next month.

Frank 'intent' on signing Aghehowa as Spurs dealt Semenyo blow

The latter’s contract includes a tantalising £65 million release clause, including add-ons, which will be active in the early stages of January.

Of course, this has piqued real interest from Spurs, with the prospect of Mohammed Kudus on the right and Semenyo on the left coming as a very enticing thought.

However, as per TEAMtalk, Paratici and Lange have now been dealt a crushing blow in their pursuit of the 25-year-old.

The Lilywhites, Man City, Liverpool and Man United are all competing to sign Semenyo in January, but Pep Guardiola’s City side are now casting doubt over a potential move to N17.

This is because they are now the prime contenders with Semenyo ‘keen to engage’ in City talks, dealing Spurs a roadblock and making them outside contenders for his signature.

That being said, Frank personally remains ‘intent’ on signing Aghehowa for Spurs, and there is every reason to believe the Spaniard would be a serious improvement on their centre-forward options.

The 21-year-old has bagged 37 goals in all competitions since the start of 24/25, making him one of Europe’s most lethal strikers right now, but Tottenham will need to fork out around £70 million to make the deal happen.

This would be a club-record deal for Spurs, eclipsing the £65 million they paid for the injury-prone Dominic Solanke last year.

Solanke’s unavailability, concerns surrounding Richarlison and Mathys Tel’s rawness emphasise the need for a new number nine, especially considering Randal Kolo Muani is only at Tottenham on a straight loan.

In terms of pedigree and potential, you could hardly do better than Aghehowa, who’s already been compared to a prime Diego Costa.

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