Sehwag's achievement and a test team missing in action

I just realized that Sehwag, in 2008, has scored a triple century (Chennai v South Africa) and a double century (Galle v Sri Lanka). I reckoned this would be a pretty rare occurence.

Turns out that this has only happened thrice in test cricket's 131 year history, and the previous time it happened was way back in 1933. At least one of the names is fairly predictable.

In the 1930 Ashes, i.e. in a single series, Bradman had two double centuries and a triple century! Similarly, in the 1933 series against a very weak New Zealand, Wally Hammond had a double century and a triple hundred.

Honourable mention for Sanath Jayasuriya, who hit 340 and 199 in Sri Lanka's home series against India in 1997.

Ganesh asked me an interesting question: When was the last time one of the main 8 test-playing countries (i.e. excluding Bangladesh & Zimbabwe) didn't play a test? Actually, let's extend that question to asking when was the last year (before this year - Pakistan haven't played a test in 2008) a team was eligible to play tests and still didn't play a single test.

Since Zimbabwe haven't played a test for 3 years now, let's exclude them. Using Statsguru, it seems like the answer is 1970. In 2000, Bangladesh were not yet a test side (and are still not!). In 1991, South Africa were not yet back. In 1981, Sri Lanka were not yet a test side.

Exactly what happened in 1970? Only 3 teams played test cricket then - Australia, England & South Africa!

That was the year South Africa were suspended from international cricket because of the apartheid policy adopted by the government of the day. What happened to the other teams? Why didn't India, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies play a single test that entire year?

Labels: india, sehwag, statistic