If you want to know anything about the collection of Firsts, Lasts and Onlys from the world of cricket, then you must get hold of Paul Donnelley's fascinating book. The book is worthy, reliable and informative.

With over 300 brilliant and bizarre curiosities highlighting events that have occured during the illustrious history of cricket, you are sure to discover facts that you never knew about this glorious game.

# Cricket enthusiasts are informed that Bernard James Tindal Bosanquet, playing for Middlesex against Sussex at Lord's in 1905, became the first player to post two centuries and claim ten wickets in a First-class match. In the first innings, he registered 103 followed by an unbeaten 100 in the second. With the ball, he took three for 75 and eight for 53 as Middlese won by 324 runs.

# The County Championship match between Derbyshire and Warwickshire was unique in the annals of the competition as, at one stage in Warwickshire's first innings, father and son Walter and Bernad Quaife were batting together and facing the bowling of Billy Bestwick at one end and his son Robert at the other end. Walter Quaife scored 107 before Robert Bestwick bowled him, while Bernard scored 20. Warwickshire won by ten wickets.

# Having already won the series against South Africa, England gathered at Old Trafford hoping to make it four victories in a row. The Springboks won the toss and elected to bat before 8,000 spectators. Torrential rain ended the day's play at 4 p.m. after 165 minutes, during which time South Africa made 116 for four. Rain prevented play on the rest of the scheduled days and opener Jack MacBryan's Test career began and ended. Stated to bat at number three, he is the only Test cricketer never to bat, bowl or take a catch.

# Surrey Test batsman Andrew Ducat died of a heart attack while batting for Surrey Home Guard against Sussex Home Guard at Lord's on July 23 1942. He is the only player to have died during a match at Lord's. A former Arsenal midfielder, he was one of the few people to have represented England at international level at both football and cricket. He was 56.

# The only instance of ten different fielders taking a catch in a First Class match occured on the second day of the County Championship game between Leicestershire and Northampton. The only Leicestershire player not to take a catch was Jack Birkenshaw. He did take three wickets for 60, but was outclassed by his captain Tony Lock who took seven for 75.

# The only Test cricketer run out in three consecutive innings is John Jameson. He made his debut for England in the second Test of the 1971 rubber aainst India and in his first innings scored 15, opening the batting with Brian Luckhurst. In the second innings Jameson was run out for 28. His run of bad luck continued in the third and final Test of the series. He was on 82 and looking good for his maiden Test century when he was run out. His hat-trick of run-outs came in the second innings, when he was on 16.

The 224-page book is obviously a labour of love. The cricket writing of Paul Donnelley is renowned for its accuracy, awareness and detail. Attractively produced, this is an excellent book.