Colin, England

Did Geoff Boycott once bat on all five days of a Test?

Yes, Colin, Boycott, 107 and 80 not out, batted on all five days against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1977. He was the second to achieve this feat in a five-day Test after M.L.Jaisimha (India v Australia, Calcutta, 1959-60).

Three others have subsequently emulated them: K.J.Hughes (A v E, Lord's, 1980), A.J.Lamb (E v WI, Lord's, 1984), and R.J.Shastri (I v E, Calcutta, 1984-85).

Steve Atkinson, England

Could you tell me the highest fourth innings Test total ever recorded irrespective of the outcome of the match?

The record total in the fourth innings of any first-class match is 654-5 by England v South Africa at Durban in March 1939. Set 696 to win in a timeless Test, England had to settle for a draw and catch the train to meet their ship at Cape Town when rain ended play on the tenth day.

Chris Horseman, UK

What is the worst start ever made to a Test match innings? I vividly recall Devon Malcolm reducing South Africa to 1-3 at one stage in his famous nine-wicket haul back in 1994, but I believe India were once 0-4 in a Test match against England.

You are absolutely right, Chris. India lost their first four wickets for no runs to the first 14 balls of their second innings against England at Headingley in June 1952. Three of them were captured in eight balls by Fred Trueman making his Test debut while on leave from national service in the RAF. It remains the worst start to a Test match innings.

Saqib Malik, Canada

Who has scored the highest number of fifties (excluding centuries) in both LOIs and Tests?

Allan Border (63 in 265 innings for Australia - excluding his 27 hundreds) holds the Test record. Inzamam-ul-Haq (62 in 258 innings for Pakistan up to 4.9.02 - excluding his eight hundreds) holds the record in limited-overs internationals.

Rob Ellis, Australia

The Basin Reserve is, I believe, the only Test ground below sea level. Which is the highest above sea level?

Intriguing question, Rob. Having scored several Tests there I am fairly certain that the Basin Reserve is above sea level. Bourda at Georgetown in Guyana is definitely below sea level. The Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, may also be. The highest ground is possibly the Wanderers in Johannesburg (circa 6,000 feet).

Ajay, India

How many times in the history of Test cricket have both batsman stayed at the wicket for the whole day and if so, what is the record partnership?

Eleven pairs of batsmen have batted throughout a full day of Test cricket. Only one pair, S.T.Jayasuriya and R.S.Mahanama, have batted throughout TWO full days.

They hold the record for the highest and longest partnership in all Tests: 576 runs in 753 minutes for Sri Lanka v India at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium in August 1997.

Steve, England

Who was the second bowler to get hit for 36 in one over?

The answer is Tilak Raj of Baroda who was hit for six sixes by R.J. (Ravi) Shastri of Bombay in 1984-85. Six years later I played alongside Tilak for a "Cricket World" XI in Delhi.

Only after he had dropped a catch off the first ball I bowled in India did I remind him of Shastri's assault. "One of those sixes was a dropped catch," he said, reproachfully. "Dropped at deep square-leg by a spectator in the 16th row!"

Andrew Johnston, Sheffield, UK

Can you list the record partnerships for each wicket by England?

Yes.

Ken Francis, USA

As a Somerset supporter from way back, can you tell me if Tremlett, who plays for Hants, is any relation to Maurice Tremlett, circa 1950s, who captained Somerset and played for England.

Yes, Ken. Christopher Tremlett, who will miss the rest of the 2002 season because of a stress fracture of his foot, is the grandson of the late Maurice and the son of Timothy, who played for Hampshire from 1976 to 1991 and who is currently their Director of Cricket.

Jon, Haywards Heath

Who is the heaviest cricketer to have played at Test match level?

Probably Warwick Armstrong of Victoria (1898-99 to 1921-22) who captained Australia in 10 of his 50 Tests. On his last tour of England in 1921 he weighed over 20 stone (127kg). Known as 'The Big Ship', his shirt covers most of a wall in the MCG museum.

Sid Sen, USA

Was Bangladesh's highest Test score against India?

Yes - Bangladesh scored 400 against India at Dhaka in their inaugural Test innings in November 2000. Aminul Islam contributed 145 to become the third batsman after Charles Bannerman (Australia) and David Houghton (Zimbabwe) to score a century in his country's first Test.

Steve Atkinson, UK

Would a batsman be out if he was stumped after the ball rebounded off a wicket-keeper's helmet?

No, Law 39 states: "If the ball touches a helmet worn by the wicket-keeper, the ball is still in play but the striker shall not be out Stumped."