Losing by one, and the mystery of Lara's farewell

India lost a nailbiting ODI to West Indies by just one run. How many times have they lost like that? asked Shiva Kumar Sadhashivan from India

That exciting match at Kingston on May 20 was the third time India had lost a one-day international by one run. The others were both in the World Cup, and both inflicted by Australia: at Chennai in 1987-88, and at Brisbane in 1991-92. India have also won two ODIs by one run - beating New Zealand at Wellington in 1989-90, and Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1993. India have also been involved in four matches where the scores finished level - three ties and one game (against Pakistan at Hyderabad in 1986-87) in which they were declared the winners as they had lost fewer wickets. For a full list of close ODI finishes, click here.

Why did the reports all talk of Brian Lara's "last" match at home? Is he retiring before the World Cup asked Obaid Mangal from Germany

No, Brian Lara is planning to play in next year's World Cup - but the fuss was being made because he is widely expected to retire after the tournament (he will turn 38 shortly after the final), which would mean that last week's one-dayer against India would be his last international match in front of his home ground at Port-of-Spain in Trinidad. West Indies' group games in the World Cup are all being played in Jamaica, and none of the matches in the later rounds are scheduled for Trinidad. For the full 2007 World Cup schedule, click here.

Was Kevin Pietersen's amazing reverse-sweep in the Edgbaston Test the first ever to go for six? asked Andy Holmes from Reigate

Pietersen's amazing switch-hit six off Muttiah Muralitharan in the second Test at Edgbaston is believed to have been the first one in a Test. I'm only aware of two others in serious cricket. The first was by Jonty Rhodes of South Africa, who used to practise a "reverse pull" in the nets: he connected with one off Darren Lehmann in an ODI against Australia at Potchefstroom in 2001-02, and hit it for six. It also happened in a Twenty20 Cup game in England last year, when Warwickshire's Jim Troughton reverse-swept a six off Dean Cosker of Glamorgan - also at Edgbaston. There could well be some other instances of which I'm not aware.

Australia used two opening partnerships during the 1977 Centenary Test - who were they, and why? asked Graham Frost from Australia

In the first innings of that enthralling Test at Melbourne, staged to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Test match of all back in 1876-77, Australia's openers were Ian Davis and Rick McCosker. The unfortunate McCosker's innings ended when he was bowled by Bob Willis by a bouncer that deflected off his jaw into the stumps. The ball smashed his jaw, and he was not expected to bat again (although in the end he did emerge at No. 10 in the second innings, to help Rod Marsh reach his century, and ended up making a brave 25). In that innings Davis's opening partner was Kerry O'Keeffe: it was the only time in his 24 Tests that he went in higher than No. 7. He made 14 and helped Davis add 33.

What was the name of the Pakistan spinner who bowled both right- and left-handed during a youth tournament a few years ago? asked Javed Khan from London

This versatile young man was called Mohammad Naeem, and he played in the Lord's final of the Under-15 World Challenge event that was held in England in 2000 (West Indies beat Pakistan by two wickets). Wisden 2001 reports that Naeem "bowled slow left-arm to right-handers and right-arm offspin to left-handers". Naeem still plays for his home town of Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan, but hasn't yet played first-class cricket - but there's still time, as he isn't 20 until August 1.

I was surprised to see that Darrell Hair had written an autobiography. How many other Aussie umpires have done this? asked George Thompson from Melbourne

Hair's book was called Decision Maker, and came out in 1998. It starts with the story of how he no-balled Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne in 1995-96 ("I feel his action was diabolical," he wrote of an ODI in which he stood earlier that season). Before Hair's book came The Umpire's Story (1972), by Lou Rowan, who stood in the 1970-71 Ashes series Down Under, followed in 1974 by Bodyline Umpire, the memoirs of George Hele, who stood in all five Tests of the fractious Bodyline series in 1932-33. English umpires who have penned autobiographical books include Frank Chester, Frank Lee and David Shepherd ... and of course Dickie Bird, whose 1997 autobiography was a huge best-seller. The New Zealander Steve Dunne has also written a book.

Dave Frith (no, not that one) writes from Australia: "The longest run-out I remember was in the Australia-India Test at Adelaide in the 1999-2000 series. Greg Blewett ran out Sadagoppan Ramesh with a direct hit from the long boundary at the River End, as Ramesh and Devang Gandhi were trying to complete a fourth run. The throw must have been around 115 yards." And Nadeem Khan remembers one from earlier the same year: "My namesake Nadeem Khan ran out Sachin Tendulkar in controversial circumstances at Kolkata in 1998-99 - Shoaib Akhtar got in Sachin's way, and the direct hit rattled the stumps at the bowler's end. The third umpire had no choice but to declare Sachin out. Nadeem Khan, who was fielding as a substitute, threw the ball from the boundary, which is quite some distance at Eden Gardens."