Andy Flower may have had the match of his life for Zimbabwe against South Africa at Harare, but poor Ray Price had what is technically known as a 'mare (it's short for nightmare). Price, who's a left-arm spinner, had figures of 0 for 192 in South Africa's massive first innings of 600 for 3. The only person to concede more runs in an innings without the consolation of at least one wicket was Khan Mohammad, the Pakistan fast bowler.

Khan returned 0 for 259 against West Indies at Kingston in 1957-58. He had a bit of an excuse: opening bowler Mahmood Hussain pulled a thigh muscle in his first over, and spinner Nasim-ul-Ghani broke his thumb and could bowl only 15 overs. That left Fazal Mahmood (who toiled through 85.2 overs and took 2 for 247) and Khan to do most of the work. Garry Sobers cashed in, and pummelled 365 not out as West Indies ran up 790 for 3.

In later years Khan Mohammad, who settled in England and became a coach, was often ribbed about that innings. "People always talk about my 0 for 259," he would grumble good-naturedly. "But they never mention the time I bowled Len Hutton for a duck at Lord's in 1954."

In second place before Price pushed him down was Erapalli Prasanna, the great Indian sorcerer – but at Headingley in 1967 he had an off day for an offspinner, and returned 0 for 187 as England piled up 550 for 4 (Geoff Boycott 246 not out).

But Prasanna got a wicket in the second innings, and he scored 19 runs. Khan Mohammad wasn't out in either innings when he batted. So there's a case for saying that Ray Price (0 and 4) has had the worst allround match in Test history, although Gavin Hamilton might disagree after his debut experience for England against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1999-2000 – no runs, no catches, no wickets, no more caps.

Perhaps poor old Price should have stuck to golf, a game at which he's also a handy performer. He might have made more money, too: his uncle Nick has got sackfuls of the stuff for his golfing successes over the years, including the 1994 British Open.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd