ODI batting: location summary, country details and key matches

Normally I do analysis-centric articles which take on and expound a theme. Once in a while I do different types of articles in which I go deep in one area of the game and provide data tables around it. This is one such article. However I can assure the readers that once the reader understands what is being covered, he will download the tables and keep the same for permanent reference. This has been a tough exercise on presentation and I must thank Milind for his invaluable suggestions.

This information is certainly available through StatsGuru of Cricinfo. However, what will not be available are the composite multidimensional tables which are provided here. You would have to put in multiple queries and saving the tables in an accessible format is another problem.

In order to avoid the usual questions and comments which relate to specific players, let me emphasize how these series of articles would be structured. I would cover the top/selected 10-12 players in a graph to visually present the variations. Then I would present data tables, in the body of the articles, which would normally cover the top 25 players or so. However the most important of the tables are the ones which have been uploaded and are available for downloading for permanent storage and perusal. Normally these cover the complete collection of players, say 150, who meet the cut-off criteria. So, before coming out with comments that "Miandad or Nick Knight or Amarnath are not mentioned", please download the tables and check. Superficial reading of the articles is not enough.

Over the next month or or two, I will be doing the following four tables. These may all not follow in sequence. I may intersperse other pending analysis in between.

1. ODI Batting analysis - summary by location and details by country played against and key tournament matches.
2. ODI Bowling analysis - summary by location and details by country played against and key tournament matches.
3. Test Batting analysis - summary by location and details by country played against.
4. Test Bowling analysis - summary by location and details by country played against.

The vs Country grouping is as explained below. I have 10 countries/groups: Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh & Zimbabwe combined and finally "all other teams". A fair grouping and nothing of relevance would be left out. And the analysis is very extensive in that it is by country played against: at home, away, in neutral locations and across career.

I have defined the key tournament matches by the following criteria. I have deliberately excluded the tri-series Finals from this group. At last count there were well over 100 such tournaments and inclusion of these tournaments would dilute the whole concept. Readers might differ. However it should be noted that inclusion of the Sharjah tournaments would also mean inclusion of all CB/VB Series and all inconsequential tri-series ever played. For that matter I have set the criteria as tournaments with 6 teams and above. World Cup Super-Sixes and Super-Eights rank with the Quarter finals.

10 World Cup Finals
20 World Cup Semi-finals
8 World Cup Quarter finals
45 World Cup Super-Sixes and Super-Eights
7 ICC/Champions' Trophy Finals
12 ICC/Champions' Trophy Semi finals
3 Finals of the following three 6+ team tournaments
- Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket, 1984/85 (7 teams)
- MRF World Series (Nehru Cup), 1989/90 (6 teams)
- Australasia Cup, 1989/90 (6 teams)

Total number of key tournament matches: 105

First the graphs. I would only offer limited comments since I expect the readers to come out with their own comments. I might miss some obvious comment. Should not really matter. The ordering is different for different modes of presentation since we can get different insights. In general, the graphs are ordered by the concerned RpI values and the tables are ordered by the appropriate run values. For ODIs I am a great fan of RpI (Runs per innings) than Batting average. Granted this measure might be slightly unfair to those middle order players who end unbeaten in over 20% of the innings and have a fat Batting average. However I think that is small price to pay for having a measure which measures the real contributions. So, no Batting average in this article.

Batsmen analysis - Summary by location

This graph contains the top 10 run-scorers and five other outstanding ODI batsmen. The Green rectangles indicate RpI values over 35.0 and Red rectangles indicate RpI values below 35.0. The size of the rectangle gives an indication of the RpI value. The numbers within the rectangles indicate the number of runs scored in that classification. Tendulkar has comfortable 40+ RpI values at home and in neutral venues and falls marginally below 35.0 in away matches. Ponting, Kallis and Ganguly average above 35.0 in all three areas. Jayasuriya falls below 35.0 in all areas. Haynes is the outstanding Home performer, with a mind-blowing RpI value of 52.51. Tendulkar's RpI value at neutral venues is the highest at 43.73. Richards has a magnificent away RpI value of 47.82. It is amazing that Richards has only played 26 matches at home and not even crossed 1000 runs.

Batsmen analysis - All matches - by opposing country

This graph requires some explanation. These are ordered by the RpI values. The player's performance against the 10 team groups are plotted. Blue ovals indicate RpI values of over 35.0 and Red ovals indicate RpI values below 35.0. The number of innings is displayed under each country. Amla crosses 35.0 against all countries. However the number of matches is quite low. Now look at Tendulkar's graph. He has crossed 35.0 against all countries. That is some level of consistency especially considering that he has played over 30 matches against all countries, barring the non-Test teams. Kohli also has similar figures, barring against the non-Test countries.

A vertical perusal of the table indicates that Australia is the toughest country to bat against and Sri Lanka, relatively the friendliest one.

Batsmen analysis - Home matches - by opposing country

Haynes leads the table, with a RpI value of 52.51. Tendulkar's home figures are all above-par, barring, surprisingly, against Bangladesh/Zimbabwe. Real surprise is that no batsman has a 100% record of 35+ average against all countries. Possibly Tendulkar has the best overall home record.

Batsmen analysis - Away matches - by opposing country

As expected, the away RpI values graph has a smattering of red ovals scattered across. Richards has crossed 35 everywhere, but with fewer matches. Chanderpaul's graph looks very good. It can be seen that an almost completely different set of batsmen are featured here. It is not easy to average RpI of 40+ in away matches across a career. Only Richards and Hayden have achieved that. Richards' 47.83 is well above his career RpI. Tendulkar has gone below 35.0 only because of one blot in his career: an RpI of 25 in the away matches against South Africa.

Batsmen analysis - Neutral matches - by opposing country

In neutral locations, Tendulkar is king, with an outstanding RpI value of 43.73. Only against South Africa does he slip to 34.9. Otherwise all RpI values are above 35. No one else has achieved anywhere near this level of consistency.

Now for the tables. Most of these are self-explanatory.

		Career			KeyMats			Home			Neutral			Away
Batsman	Inns	Runs	RpI	Inns	Runs	RpI	Inns	Runs	RpI	Inns	Runs	RpI	Inns	Runs	RpI
Tendulkar	452	18426	40.76	18	656	36.44	160	6976	43.60	146	6385	43.73	146	5065	34.69
Ponting	365	13704	37.54	26	1163	44.73	150	5406	36.04	86	3208	37.30	129	5089	39.45
Jayasuriya	433	13430	31.01	20	656	32.80	124	3880	31.29	162	5463	33.72	147	4087	27.80
Inzamam	350	11739	33.54	10	256	25.60	64	2674	41.78	159	5133	32.28	127	3932	30.96
Kallis	307	11498	37.45	16	794	49.62	131	5102	38.95	75	2689	35.85	101	3708	36.71
Ganguly	300	11363	37.87	11	684	62.18	75	3110	41.47	127	4785	37.68	98	3468	35.39
Dravid	318	10889	34.24	12	392	32.67	91	3406	37.43	114	3439	30.17	113	4044	35.79
Jayawardene	351	10596	30.18	16	610	38.12	107	3229	30.18	113	3810	33.72	131	3557	27.15
Sangakkara	306	10472	34.22	17	557	32.76	96	3025	31.51	87	3021	34.72	123	4426	35.98
Lara	289	10405	36.00	14	471	33.64	85	3225	37.94	111	3969	35.76	93	3212	34.54
Mohd Yousuf	273	9720	35.60	4	98	24.50	66	2768	41.94	105	3497	33.30	102	3456	33.88
Gilchrist	279	9619	34.47	22	764	34.73	110	3960	36.00	62	2017	32.53	107	3642	34.04
Azharuddin	308	9378	30.44	8	209	26.12	102	3163	31.01	121	3411	28.19	85	2804	32.99
de Silva	296	9284	31.36	12	529	44.08	66	2407	36.47	133	3950	29.70	97	2927	30.18
Saeed Anwar	244	8824	36.16	9	544	60.44	40	1597	39.92	135	5353	39.65	69	1873	27.14
Chanderpaul	251	8778	34.97	15	596	39.73	84	2926	34.83	85	2632	30.96	82	3222	39.29
Haynes	237	8648	36.48	5	234	46.80	49	2573	52.51	87	3042	34.97	101	3033	30.03
Atapattu	259	8529	32.93	8	247	30.88	71	2559	36.04	96	2915	30.36	92	3055	33.21
M Waugh	236	8500	36.01	8	351	43.88	113	3827	33.87	43	1614	37.53	80	3059	38.24
Gibbs	240	8094	33.72	12	668	55.67	102	3556	34.86	58	1974	34.03	80	2564	32.05
Sehwag	239	8090	33.84	11	335	30.45	82	2905	35.43	71	2270	31.97	86	2915	33.90
Gayle	223	8087	36.26	11	370	33.64	90	3072	34.13	56	2073	37.02	77	2943	38.22
Yuvraj Singh	252	8051	31.94	10	302	30.20	83	2927	35.27	68	1747	25.69	101	3377	33.44
J Miandad	218	7381	33.85	9	307	34.11	60	1976	32.93	82	2832	34.54	76	2573	33.86
Bevan	196	6912	35.26	10	325	32.50	80	2849	35.61	45	1577	35.04	71	2488	35.04
Younis Khan	232	6814	29.37	2	28	14.00	52	1796	34.54	93	2295	24.68	87	2727	31.34
Kirsten	185	6798	36.74	6	155	25.83	63	2068	32.83	59	2384	40.41	63	2346	37.24
Flower	208	6786	32.62	6	142	23.67	57	1887	33.11	76	2544	33.47	75	2354	31.39
Dhoni	184	6773	36.80	3	123	41.00	67	2659	39.69	38	1232	32.42	79	2882	36.48
Richards	167	6721	40.24	7	324	46.29	26	805	30.96	59	1995	33.81	82	3921	47.82

Since I have already talked about the Home/Away/Neutral performances in the graph section, I would only talk about the key tournament matches here. The bar for selection for the key tournament matches has been set quite high, and that is the way it should be. It can be safely concluded that these runs have all been scored in real tough situations. Ponting is the runaway leader in this classification, having scored 1163 runs at a very high RpI value of 44.73. This is a very impressive record and should not be swept under the carpet. Imagine, Ponting has scored nearly 10% of his career runs in tough tournament situations. No wonder that Australia won five major World tournaments during the past 20 years. Kallis follows next with an impressive 794 runs at 49.62. Although this has not resulted in many tournament successes. Gilchrist follows next, with 764 runs, albeit at a low RpI value of 34.73. Ganguly is next with an impressive tally of 684 runs at a more impressive 62.18. In fifth place is Gibbs, with 668 runs at a huge 55.67.

Batsman	Inns	Runs	RpI	vs AUS	vs ENG	vs IND	vs NZL	vs PAK	vs SAF	vs SLK	vs WIN	vs B/Z	vs OTH
All matches				RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)
Tendulkar	452	18426	40.76	44.0 (70)	39.3 (37)		42.7 (41)	37.7 (67)	35.1 (57)	38.9 (80)	40.3 (39)	42.6 (44)	62.2 (17)
Ponting	365	13704	37.54		42.1 (38)	36.7 (59)	39.4 (50)	31.6 (35)	39.1 (48)	36.6 (45)	32.8 (45)	42.3 (31)	39.4 (14)
Jayasuriya	433	13430	31.01	20.6 (47)	35.1 (34)	34.1 (85)	33.8 (45)	31.9 (79)	24.2 (44)		30.7 (30)	34.9 (54)	30.8 (15)
Inzamam	350	11739	33.54	29.1 (34)	33.4 (25)	37.5 (64)	30.5 (42)		26.9 (36)	39.1 (58)	32.0 (45)	39.2 (36)	14.4 (10)
Kallis	307	11498	37.45	33.2 (50)	27.7 (38)	47.3 (32)	33.0 (44)	32.9 (37)		43.3 (33)	41.6 (40)	47.8 (18)	43.1 (15)
Ganguly	300	11363	37.87	23.5 (33)	37.5 (26)		34.8 (31)	33.0 (50)	45.3 (29)	38.4 (40)	42.3 (27)	39.7 (46)	59.3 (18)
Dravid	318	10889	34.24	25.0 (39)	34.9 (29)		33.3 (31)	34.5 (55)	36.4 (36)	39.6 (42)	35.5 (38)	31.8 (34)	40.8 (14)
Jayawardene	351	10596	30.18	30.8 (48)	38.7 (31)	31.0 (71)	28.9 (32)	28.4 (55)	21.1 (35)		34.3 (18)	25.2 (45)	46.4 (16)
Sangakkara	306	10472	34.22	38.8 (44)	27.6 (27)	36.0 (62)	30.6 (30)	32.9 (39)	36.5 (34)		24.9 (15)	36.1 (39)	35.6 (16)
Lara	289	10405	36	37.2 (50)	29.4 (27)	28.6 (40)	41.1 (26)	36.9 (48)	32.9 (37)	44.9 (25)		38.4 (30)	46.5 ( 6)
Mohd Yousuf	273	9720	35.6	35.0 (29)	32.2 (24)	34.0 (42)	33.6 (27)		32.8 (34)	30.6 (42)	32.4 (24)	50.7 (38)	37.8 (13)
Gilchrist	279	9619	34.47		31.1 (35)	36.0 (45)	30.4 (41)	31.7 (24)	26.8 (42)	50.4 (30)	30.6 (24)	40.6 (25)	39.5 (13)
Azharuddin	308	9378	30.44	24.1 (41)	39.6 (23)		28.7 (39)	28.1 (59)	33.6 (33)	38.2 (48)	23.8 (42)	32.0 (21)	45.0 ( 2)
de Silva	296	9284	31.36	40.3 (36)	30.5 (15)	32.5 (55)	23.0 (36)	31.8 (73)	22.5 (27)		17.8 (27)	49.1 (22)	54.8 ( 5)
Saeed Anwar	244	8824	36.16	22.8 (30)	44.4 (11)	41.7 (48)	39.4 (32)		16.6 (24)	42.2 (52)	33.4 (16)	47.0 (21)	27.3 (10)
Chanderpaul	251	8778	34.97	35.3 (25)	39.5 (23)	32.2 (41)	26.8 (26)	32.9 (33)	40.0 (39)	34.0 (20)		35.0 (32)	44.1 (12)
Haynes	237	8648	36.48	35.3 (64)	33.9 (35)	37.7 (36)	48.3 (12)	36.8 (65)	28.2 ( 8)	34.5 (14)		55.0 ( 3)
Atapattu	259	8529	32.93	26.4 (27)	27.4 (19)	30.2 (52)	31.3 (29)	37.6 (47)	34.2 (34)		26.0 (12)	39.9 (34)	43.8 ( 5)
M Waugh	236	8500	36.01		41.7 (20)	37.5 (26)	34.9 (39)	24.9 (27)	27.1 (41)	39.4 (23)	38.0 (45)	56.7 (13)	98.5 ( 2)
Gibbs	240	8094	33.72	30.1 (44)	28.9 (22)	39.4 (27)	35.9 (29)	27.0 (22)		23.0 (27)	37.0 (29)	46.0 (27)	38.3 (13)
Sehwag	239	8090	33.84	21.7 (29)	37.3 (27)		50.3 (23)	35.7 (29)	27.6 (18)	32.3 (48)	31.0 (27)	38.6 (19)	33.8 (19)
Gayle	223	8087	36.26	28.3 (28)	39.4 (24)	36.8 (32)	33.3 (19)	31.1 (27)	32.4 (27)	24.7 (15)		44.7 (38)	58.2 (13)
Yuvraj Singh	252	8051	31.94	29.2 (33)	42.4 (28)		18.7 (27)	37.9 (33)	29.0 (21)	28.4 (49)	39.1 (21)	34.0 (25)	31.5 (15)
Fleming	269	8037	29.87	27.0 (46)	32.2 (19)	28.9 (38)		32.1 (34)	34.6 (37)	18.1 (33)	34.0 (27)	35.5 (26)	30.6 ( 9)
S Waugh	288	7569	26.28		23.8 (28)	24.8 (45)	21.3 (51)	25.1 (40)	35.9 (44)	21.6 (20)	23.2 (48)	43.6 (10)	65.5 ( 2)
Ranatunga	255	7456	29.23	26.9 (31)	26.5 (17)	28.5 (51)	25.4 (33)	29.5 (63)	27.6 (16)		34.4 (22)	35.2 (19)	50.0 ( 3)
J Miandad	218	7381	33.85	30.9 (33)	36.7 (27)	34.6 (34)	35.1 (20)		48.3 ( 3)	36.8 (31)	30.2 (64)	46.3 ( 6)

This table is ordered by career runs scored. The top 30 are shown. A smattering of RpI values above 45 are there. The ones where enough runs have been scored are Tendulkar vs Australia (44.0 but 70 innings), Gooch vs Australia (45.0), Richards vs England (47.1), Jones vs England (47.8), Kirsten vs India (53.0), Hayden vs India (51.8), Salman Butt vs India (47.2), Shoaib Malik vs India (47.1), Greenidge vs India (51.3), Sehwag vs New Zealand (50.3), Jones vs New Zealand (48.2), Kirsten vs Pakistan (43.9), Ganguly vs South Africa (45.3), Gilchrist vs Sri Lanka (50.4), Dhoni vs Sri Lanka (46.5), Kallis vs West Indies (42.3). Note the absence of high averages against Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa, strong bowling sides.

Batsman	Inns	Runs	RpI	vs AUS	vs ENG	vs IND	vs NZL	vs PAK	vs SAF	vs SLK	vs WIN	vs B/Z	vs OTH
Home matches				RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)
Tendulkar	160	6976	43.6	52.0 (30)	39.4 (16)		51.3 (16)	36.0 (15)	45.2 (22)	39.9 (27)	39.8 (17)	30.3 (12)	62.0 ( 5)
Ponting	150	5406	36.04		39.1 (14)	28.3 (18)	46.2 (19)	24.4 (20)	38.6 (22)	31.8 (25)	40.7 (19)	40.7 (10)	52.3 ( 3)
Kallis	131	5102	38.95	36.8 (26)	28.5 (19)	46.5 (11)	30.1 (15)	40.5 (11)		42.3 (17)	44.4 (18)	46.1 (10)	54.5 ( 4)
Jones	104	4069	39.12		56.1 (14)	37.8 (10)	48.7 (15)	42.8 (17)	39.8 ( 6)	57.1 (10)	18.8 (31)	54.0 ( 1)
Border	163	4068	24.96		23.0 (24)	33.1 (18)	20.1 (31)	25.4 (23)	16.0 ( 7)	38.4 (11)	24.1 (48)	22.0 ( 1)
Gilchrist	110	3960	36		28.1 (19)	30.2 (16)	31.6 (13)	26.8 (12)	27.9 (16)	58.6 (17)	28.6 ( 7)	55.3 ( 7)	60.0 ( 3)
Jayasuriya	124	3880	31.29	16.8 (14)	23.3 ( 9)	40.5 (39)	29.0 ( 9)	29.0 (16)	18.1 (11)		31.4 ( 7)	38.1 (16)	33.7 ( 3)
M Waugh	113	3827	33.87		36.5 (13)	28.2 ( 6)	21.9 (17)	19.0 (15)	32.5 (19)	42.5 (12)	45.3 (26)	44.4 ( 5)
Gibbs	102	3556	34.86	29.8 (25)	35.2 (12)	35.3 ( 7)	66.8 ( 6)	17.7 ( 7)		31.9 (12)	29.2 (15)	49.8 (11)	35.3 ( 7)
Astle	84	3448	41.05	34.9 (16)	45.4 (10)	24.6 ( 5)		31.0 ( 9)	42.7 ( 6)	32.2 (14)	50.8 (13)	60.5 (11)
Dravid	91	3406	37.43	28.3 (16)	37.2 ( 6)		38.4 ( 9)	41.7 (11)	31.4 (14)	52.5 (11)	50.9 (11)	24.2 (11)	41.0 ( 2)
Smith	86	3383	39.34	41.6 (17)	47.2 (11)	26.2 ( 9)	28.6 (10)	37.3 ( 7)		44.0 (10)	36.8 (10)	45.6 (11)	63.0 ( 1)
Jayawardene	107	3229	30.18	31.1 (14)	27.9 ( 7)	31.5 (32)	19.7 ( 9)	29.2 (14)	22.0 ( 8)		43.0 ( 7)	29.7 (13)	46.7 ( 3)
Lara	85	3225	37.94	41.6 (15)	37.9 (14)	23.8 (11)	44.2 (10)	45.2 ( 6)	33.8 (16)	55.8 ( 6)		31.4 ( 7)
S Waugh	136	3165	23.27		22.9 (15)	21.0 (14)	16.4 (22)	24.7 (24)	29.4 (19)	20.8 (12)	22.1 (27)	56.7 ( 3)
Azharuddin	102	3163	31.01	27.4 (14)	40.3 (10)		37.2 (13)	17.7 ( 7)	31.8 (13)	30.9 (18)	27.8 (19)	37.6 ( 7)	9.0 ( 1)
Boon	97	3132	32.29		26.2 ( 9)	46.1 (14)	29.6 (20)	31.9 (10)	26.4 ( 8)	36.2 (10)	26.7 (23)	51.3 ( 3)
Ganguly	75	3110	41.47	27.8 (13)	47.2 ( 5)		56.6 ( 7)	21.8 (13)	52.9 ( 7)	54.5 ( 8)	53.2 ( 8)	46.2 (12)	22.5 ( 2)
Gayle	90	3072	34.13	35.2 (13)	30.5 (11)	40.9 (12)	47.6 ( 5)	32.1 ( 9)	28.3 (17)	31.3 ( 6)		35.9 (16)	18.0 ( 1)
Sangakkara	96	3025	31.51	43.8 (12)	22.6 ( 7)	29.1 (27)	28.7 ( 6)	25.0 (15)	53.6 ( 7)		38.5 ( 6)	18.8 (12)	44.2 ( 4)
Fleming	101	2975	29.46	26.8 (20)	27.7 (10)	28.2 (12)		35.1 (14)	33.4 (10)	24.3 (14)	31.3 (10)	31.4 (11)
Clarke	86	2941	34.2		32.4 (12)	27.2 (13)	34.1 (12)	55.0 ( 9)	14.8 ( 6)	48.6 (17)	32.4 ( 7)	18.1 ( 7)	8.7 ( 3)

Tendulkar's RpI value is 52.0 against Australia at home. The other notable RpI values at home are Jones vs England (58.5), Kallis vs India (46.2), Tendulkar vs New Zealand (51.3), Jones vs Pakistan (42.8), Tendulkar vs South Africa (45.2), Gilchrist vs Sri Lanka (58.6), Mark Waugh vs West Indies (45.3) et al.

Batsman	Inns	Runs	RpI	vs AUS	vs ENG	vs IND	vs NZL	vs PAK	vs SAF	vs SLK	vs WIN	vs B/Z	vs OTH
Away matches				RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)
Ponting	129	5089	39.45		41.8 (20)	43.6 (25)	38.3 (18)	65.0 ( 3)	42.1 (18)	39.2 (15)	24.4 (18)	41.9 (11)	33.0 ( 1)
Tendulkar	146	5065	34.69	29.6 (25)	37.6 (17)		36.2 (18)	36.9 (13)	25.1 (22)	36.5 (28)	36.3 ( 6)	47.7 (14)	30.7 ( 3)
Sangakkara	123	4426	35.98	38.1 (28)	34.6 (14)	40.3 (17)	30.4 (14)	57.4 ( 7)	28.4 (18)		16.6 ( 7)	43.7 (15)	26.3 ( 3)
Jayasuriya	147	4087	27.8	23.0 (27)	41.4 (13)	22.5 (25)	31.4 (20)	30.8 (19)	20.7 (18)		42.3 ( 6)	22.6 (16)	55.0 ( 3)
Dravid	113	4044	35.79	29.5 (13)	32.4 (20)		35.4 (12)	45.7 (11)	46.5 (11)	33.4 (22)	29.7 (11)	40.4 (10)	36.0 ( 3)
Inzamam	127	3932	30.96	27.2 (22)	28.8 (13)	45.9 (12)	24.0 (23)		26.4 (17)	27.8 (13)	43.1 (13)	37.6 (11)	23.7 ( 3)
Richards	82	3921	47.82	50.1 (38)	57.4 (15)	41.4 (12)	66.5 ( 2)	35.0 (15)
Kallis	101	3708	36.71	28.5 (21)	25.9 (14)	52.7 (11)	32.9 (14)	29.5 (11)		41.9 ( 8)	46.1 (17)	59.3 ( 3)	42.5 ( 2)
Gilchrist	107	3642	34.04		38.0 (13)	37.8 (19)	34.9 (18)	63.3 ( 3)	29.7 (20)	23.9 ( 9)	30.0 (14)	35.4 ( 9)	31.5 ( 2)
Jayawardene	131	3557	27.15	31.5 (30)	46.9 (14)	24.5 (17)	14.8 (13)	23.6 (10)	22.6 (16)		27.9 ( 7)	22.6 (20)	25.8 ( 4)
Ganguly	98	3468	35.39	24.6 ( 9)	35.3 (16)		22.2 (12)	35.0 ( 8)	43.4 ( 9)	39.0 (20)	43.0 ( 6)	36.4 (15)	53.3 ( 3)
Mohd Yousuf	102	3456	33.88	24.8 (18)	29.8 (15)	36.9 (14)	29.3 (10)		35.7 (12)	19.2 (12)	22.9 ( 9)	73.2 (11)	83.0 ( 1)
Yuvraj Singh	101	3377	33.44	29.4 (11)	35.6 (14)		21.3 (11)	47.5 (12)	16.7 ( 9)	34.9 (22)	40.2 ( 9)	36.2 (12)	38.0 ( 1)
Chanderpaul	82	3222	39.29	45.5 ( 8)	45.9 ( 8)	36.2 (16)	29.4 (12)	53.7 ( 3)	42.5 (17)	21.8 ( 4)		41.8 (11)	43.0 ( 3)
Lara	93	3212	34.54	35.3 (27)	28.8 ( 9)	31.9 (14)	40.3 ( 9)	22.9 ( 9)	30.3 (13)	53.4 ( 5)		46.1 ( 7)
Dilshan	95	3089	32.52	23.9 (21)	5.3 ( 9)	45.9 (16)	26.6 ( 7)	38.9 (10)	40.7 ( 7)		24.2 ( 6)	38.2 (16)	63.0 ( 3)
M Waugh	80	3059	38.24		51.4 ( 7)	44.9 ( 8)	46.2 (18)	33.7 ( 6)	23.4 (14)	35.6 ( 9)	31.1 (16)	80.0 ( 2)
Atapattu	92	3055	33.21	34.3 (15)	34.4 ( 7)	21.8 (17)	34.0 (13)	48.2 (11)	39.4 (15)		23.8 ( 4)	27.6 ( 9)	23.0 ( 1)
Haynes	101	3033	30.03	30.7 (51)	17.4 ( 7)	26.0 (13)	32.6 ( 5)	33.5 (20)	33.3 ( 3)	37.0 ( 2)
Gayle	77	2943	38.22	13.7 (10)	42.5 (11)	46.0 (12)	31.1 (10)	14.2 ( 4)	32.3 ( 6)	20.2 ( 6)		57.2 (13)	72.2 ( 5)
de Silva	97	2927	30.18	30.2 (24)	20.8 ( 4)	32.0 (20)	23.0 (13)	28.1 (15)	22.5 (13)		16.0 ( 2)	83.8 ( 4)	48.0 ( 2)
Sehwag	86	2915	33.9	17.1 (12)	26.1 ( 7)		49.8 (12)	44.9 ( 9)	15.0 ( 7)	31.9 (19)	36.2 ( 8)	43.7 (12)

The stand-out performance is that of Richards who has an RpI value of 50.1 vs Australia in away matches. He also has 57.4 against England. Kallis averages over 50 per innings vs India. Dravid, 46.5 vs South Africa. Azharuddin has been the best visitor to Sri Lanka with an RpI of 45.3. The one who relished the West Indian attack most was Kallis with 46.1.

Batsman	Inns	Runs	RpI	vs AUS	vs ENG	vs IND	vs NZL	vs PAK	vs SAF	vs SLK	vs WIN	vs B/Z	vs OTH
Neutral matches				RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)	RpI (I)
Tendulkar	146	6385	43.73	51.7 (15)	46.2 ( 4)		39.6 ( 7)	38.6 (39)	34.9 (13)	40.5 (25)	42.4 (16)	46.7 (18)	72.9 ( 9)
Jayasuriya	162	5463	33.72	18.3 ( 6)	37.2 (12)	36.0 (21)	39.4 (16)	33.3 (44)	33.0 (15)		26.4 (17)	41.5 (22)	21.8 ( 9)
Saeed Anwar	135	5353	39.65	27.5 (10)	33.3 ( 3)	39.9 (39)	45.0 (14)		21.2 ( 9)	48.4 (38)	30.8 (12)	51.7 ( 6)	20.5 ( 4)
Inzamam	159	5133	32.28	25.9 ( 9)	21.2 ( 5)	32.3 (40)	51.5 (10)		22.1 (11)	40.3 (36)	26.1 (29)	36.9 (13)	9.2 ( 6)
Ganguly	127	4785	37.68	17.4 (11)	34.8 ( 5)		34.8 (12)	37.5 (29)	42.5 (13)	26.4 (12)	35.2 (13)	38.2 (19)	66.4 (13)
Lara	111	3969	35.76	35.0 ( 8)	1.2 ( 4)	28.9 (15)	37.6 ( 7)	39.2 (33)	35.6 ( 8)	37.2 (14)		38.0 (16)	46.5 ( 6)
de Silva	133	3950	29.7	65.0 ( 5)	29.6 ( 9)	26.7 (15)	20.5 (13)	35.2 (46)	22.1 (11)		16.4 (22)	41.5 (11)	10.0 ( 1)
Jayawardene	113	3810	33.72	24.0 ( 4)	34.9 (10)	35.2 (22)	55.6 (10)	29.6 (31)	18.3 (11)		30.2 ( 4)	24.7 (12)	55.4 ( 9)
S Afridi	160	3539	22.12	11.4 (14)	19.5 ( 8)	19.6 (37)	32.5 (15)		26.3 (13)	24.3 (34)	17.3 (19)	33.8 (12)	13.9 ( 8)
Mohd Yousuf	105	3497	33.3	47.2 ( 8)	0.0 ( 1)	40.1 (16)	28.6 (11)		15.9 (12)	35.2 (23)	38.9 (14)	26.3 ( 9)	34.6 (11)
Dravid	114	3439	30.17	13.8 (10)	47.0 ( 3)		26.1 (10)	28.4 (33)	32.5 (11)	39.0 ( 9)	28.8 (16)	31.7 (13)	42.3 ( 9)
Saleem Malik	122	3411	27.96	33.2 ( 4)	22.9 ( 8)	30.8 (39)	30.1 ( 9)		22.0 ( 5)	31.2 (26)	24.6 (24)	19.0 ( 6)	0.0 ( 1)
Azharuddin	121	3411	28.19	26.8 (13)	29.2 ( 5)		22.9 (13)	31.2 (47)	29.6 ( 8)	38.6 (12)	19.5 (15)	20.2 ( 8)
Ranatunga	116	3315	28.58	29.3 ( 3)	26.2 ( 9)	26.0 (13)	24.3 (15)	27.8 (40)	22.8 ( 8)		35.5 (17)	34.2 (10)	50.0 ( 1)
Ijaz Ahmed	122	3285	26.93	9.0 ( 5)	30.3 ( 7)	26.1 (39)	26.1 (10)		36.0 ( 7)	30.0 (28)	28.7 (22)	6.2 ( 4)
Ponting	86	3208	37.3		54.0 ( 4)	35.2 (16)	31.1 (13)	35.3 (12)	34.0 ( 8)	52.8 ( 5)	32.8 ( 8)	44.2 (10)	36.1 (10)
Haynes	87	3042	34.97	17.0 ( 3)	29.8 (13)	37.6 (15)	6.5 ( 2)	37.7 (37)	29.0 ( 2)	34.1 (12)		55.0 ( 3)
Sangakkara	87	3021	34.72	28.2 ( 4)	17.0 ( 6)	42.2 (18)	32.0 (10)	29.8 (17)	39.4 ( 9)		13.0 ( 2)	43.8 (12)	34.9 ( 9)
Atapattu	96	2915	30.36	15.0 ( 2)	14.3 ( 9)	31.3 (12)	24.9 ( 9)	34.7 (29)	25.2 (13)		4.0 ( 4)	47.3 (15)	31.7 ( 3)
J Miandad	82	2832	34.54	42.0 ( 4)	41.1 ( 9)	39.9 (13)	42.7 ( 3)			31.9 (14)	30.1 (36)	39.3 ( 3)
Fleming	96	2747	28.61	24.5 (13)	31.3 ( 6)	31.9 (12)		24.7 (15)	36.1 (15)	11.2 (13)	27.8 ( 6)	45.8 ( 8)	33.5 ( 8)
Kallis	75	2689	35.85	35.3 ( 3)	30.0 ( 5)	42.3 (10)	35.9 (15)	29.8 (15)		46.9 ( 8)	16.6 ( 5)	44.4 ( 5)	38.2 ( 9)

Tendulkar has an RpI value of 51.7 vs Australia in neutral locations. Saeed Anwar likes the New Zealand attack with an RpI value of 45.0. Inzamam has 51.5. Saeed Anwar also has an RpI value of 48.4 vs Sri Lanka.

To download/view the Excel sheet containing the following tables, please click/right-click here. The serious students of the game are going to have a link to this Excel file on their desktop and refer to it a few times a day.

Batsman location summary and key tournament match performances.
Batsmen run analysis vs Team - for all matches
Batsmen run analysis vs Team - for home matches
Batsmen run analysis vs Team - for away matches
Batsmen run analysis vs Team - for neutral matches

I am not going to do too much of work on the conclusions which can be drawn. This is not that type of article. Just a minimalistic set of statements.

There is a need to mention three players. I can already hear the reader or two saying "So! what's new: we know that already".

The first (amongst equals) is Tendulkar. A career which is almost the definition of consistency, not in any narrow numbers-based sense, but based on a broad definition. An RpI value exceeding 35 in almost all classifications, exceeding 40 in many classifications, no real failures (barring one: away against South Africa), tons of runs, all at an excellent strike rate. What more can one want.

The next one is Richards. Not many runs, by today's standards, but understandable. But almost all top quality runs, a very high career RpI, an away RpI which exceeds the already high career RpI, most of the runs scored away from home and all at a wonderful strike rate. An RpI value of 47+ in the key tournament matches adds to his aura.

The third one is Ponting. His overall numbers speak for themselves. Above-par performances in all locations and above-average against all countries. However what clinched this special inclusion is his tally of runs and RpI in the key tournament matches. These have contributed significantly to the team cause in winning three World Cups and two ICC Champions Trophies.

Three jewels in the crown, that is all one can say.

I can hear a few readers asking me "why not complete the batting line-up?". A valid request. So I will give you my three additional players to go with these three jewels to complete the top-6 batting line-up. Gilchrist (to open with Tendulkar), Lara (at 4/5) and Pietersen (Bevan/Hussey ???). This leaves the seventh spot for a truly great all-rounder (Shakib Al Hassan, anyone? Averages of 35+ and 28+, playing for Bangladesh).