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Q. When did England last embark upon a major tour with two keepers, neither of whom has played in a Test match?
Victor Marks, UK

Bearders' Answer: Not since 1929-30 when the MCC sent touring teams simultaneously to New Zealand and the West Indies. Les Ames, the established England keeper, accompanied by Ronald Stanyforth, went to the Caribbean for the major tour. As New Zealand was staging its inaugural official Tests, the gloves for that tour were entrusted to Walter Latter (‘Tich’) Cornford and Edward Turk Benson. Cornford, who kept in all four Tests (his entire international career), was only fractionally above five feet in height and played for Sussex in 484 matches from 1921 to 1947. Benson appeared in just 38 first-class matches for Oxford University, Gloucestershire and the MCC between 1928 and 1931.

There have been subsequent tours where an England wicket-keeper made his Test debut but on each occasion he was accompanied on that tour by a capped gloveman.

Q. The recently retired Adam Gilchrist made 96 consecutive Test appearances, constituting his entire Test career. Is this a record number of consecutive appearances and/or is it a record for an entire career consisting of consecutive Tests? Brian Harrison

Bearders' Answer: Excluding the superfluous ‘test’ against an ICC World XI, Gilchrist played in 95 international Test matches without a break. That is the record for an entire unbroken Test career, exceeding Rahul Dravid’s tally by two.

He is well short of the record number of consecutive Test appearances – 153 by Allan Border. Gilchrist has finished in fourth place on that list, also behind Mark Waugh (107) and Sunil Gavaskar (106).

Q. I know the record for the most consecutive wins is 16. But what is the record for the most consecutive draws and the most consecutive losses? Ruairidh Calderwood

Bearders' Answer: The other consecutive results records are: draws – 10 by West Indies (1970-71 to 1972-73); losses – 21 by Bangladesh (2001-02 to 2003-04); without a victory – 44 by New Zealand (1929-30 to 1955-56).

Q. When a batsman employs a runner, can the runner be charged with any instant of interfering with play such as a catchable ball played by the batsman or obstructing a fielder? Keith O. Brown, Ramstein, Germany

Bearders' Answer: Law 2, note 8 (b) specifically answers your question: ‘A batsman with a runner will suffer the penalty for any infringement of the Laws by his runner as though he had been himself responsible for the infringement. In particular he will be out if his runner is out under any of Laws 33 (Handled the ball), 37 (Obstructing the field) or 38 (Run out).’

Q. What is the highest number of "bowled" wickets in a Test match innings and have all ten ever been bowled in any form of cricket? Paul Craig, UK

Bearders' Answer: The most batsmen bowled in a Test match innings is nine, a fate that befell South Africa in their second innings against England at Newlands, Cape Town, in March 1989 during only their second Test match. It was the first Test innings without a catch being taken, the tenth wicket falling to a run out. The left-arm slow-medium bowling of Lancashire’s Johnny Briggs, accounted for eight of them. His record of taking 15 wickets on the second day still stands.

John Wisden, founder of the Cricketers’ Bible, bowled ten batsmen in the second innings while playing for the North (131) against the South (36 and 76) at Lord’s on 15 July 1850.

Q. Further to James Wimbush's question about learning to score, can you recommend any books that it would be worth investing in that teach the venerable trade, particularly one that details the 'Linear Method' as well? Barnaby Robinson

Bearders' Answer: Tom Smith’s ‘Cricket Umpiring and Scoring’ is the definitive guide. My autobiography (see my website) includes a chapter describing the linear method in detail, with examples of my completed score sheets.

Q. In Australia's recent 17-match winning streak how many times did Ricky Ponting win the toss? Richard Gardiner

Bearders' Answer: It was 16 wins – not 17 – equalling the record, and Ponting won the toss only seven times, choosing to bat on each occasion.

Q. When was a team first asked to 'follow on'? Priyadaka, England

Bearders' Answer: The follow-on was introduced in 1835 and initially was to be applied when the batting side was 100 or more runs in arrears. Until 1900 the follow-on was compulsory and not at the discretion of the opposing captain.

Q. Who was the last English batsman to retire from Test cricket with a batting average of more than 50? Was it Ken Barrington? Mohamed

Bearders' Answer: It was indeed Barrington, whose average was 58.67 when his Test career ended on 30 July 1968. Denis Compton, averaged 50.06, was the last before that, his final day of Test cricket occurring on 5 March 1957.

Q. In a recent England game, I noted that Alistair Cook lost his hat while chasing a ball in the outfield, the ball then brushed his hat as it raced by him. Doesn’t this mean the batting team should have been awarded five runs? Can you clarify this law for me please? Jonathan, Hong Kong

Bearders' Answer: Law 41 deals with this. For penalty runs to be awarded to the batting side, the hat would have had to have been wilfully discarded in an attempt to field the ball. Cook’s instance was accidental.

Q. I recently heard Shaun Pollock described as "the ultimate miser" when it comes to giving runs away. Who holds the record for the most maidens in Test history, and where does Pollock come on the list? Gavin, Glasgow

Bearders' Answer: Not surprisingly, the three bowlers who have taken most wickets in international Test cricket (Shane Warne, Muthiah Muralitharan and Anil Kumble) have bowled most overs and recorded most maidens. Warne has bowled the most balls (40,518) and achieved the most maidens (1,754).

Pollock is seventh on the list of most maidens (with 1223 from 24,353 balls). In addition to the three players mentioned above, Glenn McGrath, Lance Gibbs and Derek Underwood have exceeded Pollock’s tally of maiden overs.

Q. Who was the first cricketer of Afro-Caribbean origin to play for England? The earliest I remember was Norman Cowans of Middlesex in the early 1980's. David Jones

Bearders' Answer: Roland Butcher was the first black West Indian to play Test cricket for England; he even enjoyed the added delight of making his debut in his native Barbados in the Third Test of the 1980-81 rubber. Arriving in England at 14, he graduated to the Middlesex staff via Hertfordshire schools cricket.

Norman Cowans became the first black Jamaican to represent England when he made his debut at Perth in the opening match of the 1982-83 Ashes series.