Test batting: location summary, by innings and vs country

June 17, 2012

Test batting: location summary, by innings and vs country

Anantha Narayanan

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196 Comments

Jacques Kallis has a better average in the second innings than in the first innings © Getty Images

This is a continuation of the two ODI articles and analyses how Test batsmen and bowlers performed at home or away, against different teams and in the first or second innings. 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. 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 explain 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 30 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 set of players, say 150 or so, who meet the cut-off criteria. So, before coming out with comments that "Miandad or Graham Gooch or Amarnath is not mentioned", please download the tables and check. Superficial reading of the articles is not enough.

The vs Country grouping is simple. I have 10 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies & Zimbabwe. And the analysis is very extensive in that it is by country played against: at home, away and across career. These being Test matches, I have also analyzed the career averages by first and second innings.

1. The criteria is 3000 Test runs for the career analysis and 2000 runs for the other analyses. I know that Pollock and Headley will miss out. However I do not want to lower the target further since the vs Country numbers would be too low.
2. There is no problem with using the Batting Average since this is an analysis of Test matches. Not outs do not play that significant a part as happens in the ODI game.
3. There are problems with the single Australia-ICC Test match. It could be said that the ICC players played against Australia away. Fine. But what about Australia. Which country did they play against? And I am not certainly going to allocate part of the match runs/wickets only. So this match has been completely excluded from the analysis. So do not come out with a complaint if you see Muralitharan, in the next article, with 795 wickets and Hayden, in this analysis, short by over 100 runs.
4. There is no neutral location. Too few matches (probably a maximum of 20) have been played in the neutral locations for me to classify these. These are treated as "Away" for both, probably a very fair assignment.

There are some similarities between this and the previous article on Bradman. However that article had the individual innings as the basis while this analysis has, as basis, the runs scored in different locations, against other teams and different team innings. The objectives are quite different. There are different insights to be drawn. In these articles the unassailable fact is the superiority of Bradman, in figures. So all attempts have been made to highlight facts related to other batsmen. I request readers to try and maintain this. After all there are other Test batsmen than Bradman and Tendulkar.

First the graphs. I would only offer limited comments since I expect the readers to come out with their own comments. I might anyhow 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 Batting Average values and the tables are ordered by the appropriate Runs scored values.

Batsmen analysis - Summary by location / innings

Summary of career performance
© Anantha Narayanan

This graph contains batsmen with the top 10 averages and Tendulkar and Lara. Kallis is the only modern batsman in the top-10. The visual presentations are quite clear and are also explained on the graphs. Bradman is Bradman. Let us stop there. Barrington's away batting average is significantly higher than his home figure. As is the case with Hammond. Walcott has been much better at home than away. Hutton is almost the same everywhere.

Understandably most batsmen have performed better in the first innings than the second innings. Only three batsmen, Bradman, Sutcliffe and Kallis have performed better in the second innings than the first. This should put Kallis in slightly different light.

Batsmen analysis - All matches - by opposing country

Summary of performance against each team
© Anantha Narayanan

This graph requires some explanation. These are ordered by the Batting Average values. The player's performance against the 10 team groups are plotted. Blue ovals indicate Batting Average values of over 50.0 and Red ovals indicate Batting Average values below 50.0. The number of innings and runs scored are displayed under each country. Both Tendulkar and Lara have a mixed bag of performances and have been sub-par against three teams each. Both have been just below par against New Zealand and South Africa.

Only Bradman and Hobbs have performed above par across all countries. Tendulkar has been below par against Pakistan and South Africa while Lara has not been so successful against India and New Zealand. Looking down the graph, West Indies has been the toughest team to bat against and India the easiest to bat against.

Batsmen analysis - Home matches - by opposing country

Summary of performance in home Tests
© Anantha Narayanan

Other than Bradman, Weekes and Walcott have been outstanding at home against all opposition. Look at how well Australian bowlers have performed against all countries, away.

Batsmen analysis - Away matches - by opposing country

Summary of performance in away Tests
© Anantha Narayanan

Barring West Indies, Barrington has been above par while visiting the other countries. Same as with Hammond. Hobbs has also done well while on road. Surprisingly England has been a good country to visit and not so surprisingly New Zealand the toughest.

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

Test batsmen summary: by location, innings and average bowling quality

				Career		Home		Away		1st Ins		2nd Ins		Avge	31.79	Adj Avge
Batsman	Team	Inns	Nos	Runs	Avge	Runs	Avge	Runs	Avge	Runs	Avge	Runs	Avge	BowQty	/ABQ

Tendulkar	Ind	311	32	15470	55.45	6765	56.38	8705	54.75	10924	62.07	4546	44.14	34.46	0.92	51.15
Ponting R.T	Aus	282	29	13346	52.75	7446	59.10	5796	46.37	9364	58.53	3982	42.82	34.82	0.91	48.16
Dravid R	Ind	286	32	13288	52.31	5598	51.36	7667	53.62	9105	59.12	4183	41.83	34.15	0.93	48.71
Kallis J.H	Saf	257	39	12379	56.78	6738	58.59	5558	54.49	7905	55.28	4474	59.65	35.34	0.90	51.08
Lara B.C	Win	232	6	11953	52.89	6217	58.65	5695	48.26	8249	63.95	3704	38.19	32.02	0.99	52.52
Border A.R	Aus	265	44	11174	50.56	5743	45.94	5431	56.57	6803	48.25	4371	54.64	32.79	0.97	49.02
Waugh S.R	Aus	260	46	10927	51.06	5710	47.58	5217	55.50	8558	60.70	2369	32.45	34.19	0.93	47.48
Jayawardene	Slk	217	13	10440	51.18	6646	63.90	3797	37.97	7699	60.62	2741	35.60	36.40	0.87	44.69
Chanderpaul	Win	243	39	10290	50.44	5444	59.17	4846	43.27	6746	56.22	3544	42.19	33.98	0.94	47.19
Gavaskar	Ind	214	16	10122	51.12	5067	50.17	5055	52.11	6159	50.90	3963	51.47	34.17	0.93	47.56
Sangakkara	Slk	183	12	9382	54.87	5186	59.61	4196	49.95	5781	56.13	3601	52.96	36.39	0.87	47.93
Gooch G.A	Eng	215	6	8900	42.58	5917	46.23	2983	36.83	5002	42.39	3898	42.84	30.54	1.04	44.33
J Miandad	Pak	189	21	8832	52.57	4481	61.38	4351	45.80	6504	56.56	2328	43.92	34.59	0.92	48.31
Inzamam	Pak	200	22	8830	49.61	3604	52.23	5225	48.83	5636	51.24	3194	46.97	34.29	0.93	45.99
Laxman	Ind	225	34	8781	45.97	3767	51.60	5014	42.49	5310	44.25	3471	48.89	33.54	0.95	43.57
Hayden M.L	Aus	184	14	8626	50.74	5023	57.08	3415	42.69	5153	50.03	3473	51.84	34.34	0.93	46.97
Richards	Win	182	12	8540	50.24	3136	49.78	5404	50.50	6045	50.80	2495	48.92	32.66	0.97	48.89
Stewart A.J	Eng	235	21	8465	39.56	4652	40.81	3813	38.13	5003	39.71	3462	39.34	30.45	1.04	41.29
Gower D.I	Eng	204	18	8231	44.25	4454	42.83	3777	46.06	5311	46.59	2920	40.56	32.22	0.99	43.66
Sehwag V	Ind	167	6	8178	50.80	4248	58.19	3847	44.73	6170	64.95	2008	30.42	34.49	0.92	46.82
Boycott G	Eng	193	23	8114	47.73	4356	48.40	3758	46.98	4795	45.67	3319	51.06	33.57	0.95	45.20
Smith G.C	Saf	174	12	8043	49.65	3572	44.65	4459	55.74	4872	50.23	3171	48.78	36.47	0.87	43.27
Sobers	Win	160	21	8032	57.78	4075	66.80	3957	50.73	5109	59.41	2923	55.15	32.07	0.99	57.27
Waugh M.E	Aus	209	17	8029	41.82	4019	43.22	4010	40.51	5568	44.90	2461	36.19	33.12	0.96	40.14
Atherton	Eng	212	7	7728	37.70	4716	38.98	3012	35.86	4458	39.45	3270	35.54	30.12	1.06	39.79
Langer J.L	Aus	182	12	7696	45.27	4406	49.51	3268	41.37	5176	50.75	2520	37.06	34.02	0.93	42.31
Cowdrey M.C	Eng	188	15	7624	44.07	3537	43.13	4087	44.91	5250	47.30	2374	38.29	33.23	0.96	42.17
Greenidge	Win	185	16	7558	44.72	3209	48.62	4349	42.22	4635	43.32	2923	47.15	32.68	0.97	43.50
Mohd Yousuf	Pak	156	12	7530	52.29	2965	63.09	4565	47.06	5043	60.04	2487	41.45	35.15	0.90	47.30
Taylor M.A	Aus	186	13	7525	43.50	3993	43.40	3532	43.60	4384	43.41	3141	43.62	34.36	0.93	40.25
Lloyd C.H	Win	175	14	7515	46.68	2881	46.47	4634	46.81	5191	49.91	2324	40.77	32.23	0.99	46.04
Haynes D.L	Win	202	25	7487	42.30	3868	56.06	3619	33.51	4457	38.76	3030	48.87	33.53	0.95	40.10
Boon D.C	Aus	190	20	7422	43.66	4541	46.34	2881	40.01	4491	43.60	2931	43.75	34.20	0.93	40.59
Kirsten G	Saf	176	15	7289	45.27	3384	42.30	3905	48.21	4620	47.14	2669	42.37	33.86	0.94	42.50
Hammond W.R	Eng	140	16	7249	58.46	3004	50.07	4245	66.33	5070	64.18	2179	48.42	43.86	0.72	42.37
Ganguly S.C	Ind	188	17	7212	42.18	3180	42.97	4032	41.57	4769	43.75	2443	39.40	34.05	0.93	39.37
Fleming S.P	Nzl	189	10	7172	40.07	2947	33.87	4225	45.92	4861	46.30	2311	31.23	32.76	0.97	38.88
Chappell	Aus	151	19	7110	53.86	4515	54.40	2595	52.96	4791	58.43	2319	46.38	32.29	0.98	53.04
Bradman D.G	Aus	80	10	6996	99.94	4322	98.23	2674	102.85	4697	97.85	2299	104.50	35.95	0.88	88.38

The Home/Away and First/Second innings columns are self-explanatory. The last three columns are interesting. I have first posted the Average Bowling Quality, which is the Career-to-date bowling average faced by the batsman weighted by the runs scored. To counter the single bowler anomalies, the reciprocal method is used. An excellent bowling attack off which a 100 is scored will get a higher weight than the same attack off which 10 runs are scored. Thus this is a true depiction of the quality of bowling faced by the batsmen through their career and how they handled the attacks.

This work is an off-shoot of a comment for the previous article. Basically I have adjusted the batsman average by a factor which is 31.79 / ABQ. What is 31.79. That is the single bowling average value across 135+ years and 2000+ Tests. Bradman's ABQ being a below-par 35.95, his average gets reduced from 99.94 to 88.38. Gooch, having faced an above-par bowling attack of 30.54, has his average increased from 42.58 to 44.32. This seems to be an excellent adjustment tool.

Test summary: All matches vs other teams

Batsman	Team	Runs	Avge	Ins	Aus		Bng		Eng		Ind		Nzl		Pak		Saf		Slk		Win		Zim
All matches					Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins

Tendulkar	Ind	15470	55.45	311	57.3	67	137	9	56.3	47			49.4	36	42.3	27	42.5	45	60.5	36	55.2	30	76.5	14
Dravid R	Ind	13265	52.64	284	39.7	60	70	10	60.9	37			63.8	28	53.7	26	33.8	40	48.6	32	63.8	38	97.9	13
Ponting R.T	Aus	13242	52.76	280			65	5	44.2	58	54.4	51	53.6	26	66.8	26	52.5	43	46.4	23	53.4	44	96.7	4
Kallis J.H	Saf	12296	56.66	255	38.1	47	79.2	7	42.7	46	72	28	64.1	26	66.9	26			38.9	25	73.6	43	170	7
Lara B.C	Win	11912	53.18	230	52.1	56	86.5	2	62.1	51	34.6	29	41.4	17	53.3	22	49	35	86.5	14			55.5	4
Border A.R	Aus	11174	50.56	265					56.3	82	52.2	35	51.7	32	59.5	36	33.1	10	54.3	11	39.5	59
Waugh S.R	Aus	10927	51.06	260					58.2	73	41.9	31	38.5	34	34.6	30	49.9	25	87.6	11	49.8	51	145	3
Jayawardene	Slk	10443	51.19	217	34.9	23	66.4	14	59.9	37	67.5	28	51.6	19	32	40	59.4	28			44	18	60	10
Chanderpaul	Win	10290	50.44	243	50	38	54.6	8	52.4	54	65.7	40	42.9	20	42.9	26	50.6	36	42	12			28.8	9
Gavaskar	Ind	10122	51.12	214	51.7	31			38.2	67			43.4	16	56.5	41			66.7	11	65.5	48
Sangakkara	Slk	9382	54.87	183	42.7	17	73	14	35	36	57.1	24	59.2	14	79.6	25	48.6	28			54	19	89.3	6
Gooch G.A	Eng	8900	42.58	215	33.3	79					55.6	33	52.2	24	42.7	16	23.2	6	62.7	6	44.8	51
J Miandad	Pak	8832	52.57	189	47.3	40			51.1	32	67.5	39	80	29					41.6	16	29.8	28	28.6	5
Inzamam	Pak	8829	50.16	198	34.1	25	80.8	8	54.6	32	52.1	17	66.2	19			32.3	23	60	31	53.5	24	42.9	19
Laxman	Ind	8781	45.97	225	49.7	54	39	4	30.6	28			58.4	17	43.1	25	37.5	31	47.4	22	57.2	36	40	8
Richards	Win	8540	50.24	182	44.4	54			62.4	50	50.7	41	43	10	42	27
Stewart A.J	Eng	8465	39.56	235	30.7	65					40.6	15	45.9	26	52.3	22	39.2	39	41.2	16	36.9	43	69	9
Hayden M.L	Aus	8438	50.23	182			33.6	5	45.7	35	59	35	36.6	18	46.8	10	43.7	36	51.1	13	51.5	27	250	3
Gower D.I	Eng	8231	44.25	204	44.8	77					44.9	37	50	22	49.4	27			93	3	32.8	38
Boycott G	Eng	8114	47.73	193	47.5	71					57.1	22	38.2	25	84.4	10	37.3	12			45.9	53
Sehwag V	Ind	8095	50.91	165	43.9	40	35.2	6	27	22			44.4	18	91.1	14	50.2	26	72.9	18	52.2	17	58.7	4
Sobers	Win	8032	57.78	160	43.1	38			60.6	61	83.5	30	23.8	18	89.5	13
Smith G.C	Saf	8031	50.19	172	38.6	27	82.6	9	57.4	34	34.9	23	44	20	44.7	20			35	12	69.3	25	81	2
Waugh M.E	Aus	8029	41.82	209					50.1	51	33.2	24	42.6	20	42.4	22	42	29	24.6	14	41.3	48	90	1
Atherton	Eng	7728	37.70	212	29.7	66					57.4	13	68	17	41.4	19	43.8	32	18	8	31.7	50	37	7
Langer J.L	Aus	7674	45.68	180			36	2	50.2	38	40.3	26	62.9	23	57	20	42.7	20	35.9	14	37.9	33	20	4
Cowdrey M.C	Eng	7624	44.07	188	34.3	75					72.6	11	59.6	24	45.2	15	39.3	27			51.5	36
Greenidge	Win	7558	44.72	185	40.4	52			50.4	48	47.9	39	55.1	19	31.9	27
Mohd Yousuf	Pak	7530	52.29	156	29.6	21	252	6	62.5	24	49.9	27	53.4	15			29.8	13	29	26	101	14	68.4	10
Taylor M.A	Aus	7525	43.50	186					42.3	61	42.2	18	47.6	16	79.2	20	41.4	19	43.6	15	28.1	37
Lloyd C.H	Win	7515	46.68	175	50.2	48			45.1	51	58.6	44	16.7	14	37.9	18
Haynes D.L	Win	7487	42.30	202	42.1	59			47.8	59	34.1	32	49.6	20	37.1	29	40.5	2	20	1
Boon D.C	Aus	7422	43.66	190					45.7	57	70.8	20	47.5	27	23.9	20	43.3	11	32.9	15	39.9	40
Kirsten G	Saf	7289	45.27	176	34.4	34	155	2	48.7	35	40	19	50.1	23	55.9	18			42.6	16	34.5	24	82.5	5
Hammond W.R	Eng	7249	58.46	140	51.9	58					79.3	9	113	11			62.5	42			35.5	20
Ganguly S.C	Ind	7212	42.18	188	35.1	44	61.8	6	57.8	19			46.9	15	47.5	20	33.8	31	46.3	24	32.1	16	44.2	13
Fleming S.P	Nzl	7172	40.07	189	25.2	27	66.2	6	35.1	37	32.6	20			47.5	16	41.2	27	58.3	23	46.9	16	37.6	17
Chappell	Aus	7110	53.86	151					45.9	65	73.6	5	56.6	22	63.2	27			66	1	56	31
Bradman D.G	Aus	6996	99.94	80					89.8	63	179	6					202	5			74.5	6

I have resolved not to mention the dreaded B word once in this paragraph. Coming down to earth, the averages which stand out, after ensuring that sufficient innings are played are: Sutcliffe 46 @ 66.9 and Barrington 39 @ 64.0 against Australia. Richards 50 @ 62.4 and Lara 51 @ 62.1 against England. Zaheer Abbas 25 @ 87.0 and Sobers 30 @ 83.5 against India. Javed Miandad 29 @ 80.0 against New Zealand. Sangakkara 25 @ 79.6 and Taylor 20 @ 79.2 against Pakistan. Harvey 23 @ 89.2 against South Africa. Tendulkar 36 @ 60.5 against Sri Lanka. Kallis 43 @ 73.6 and Gavaskar 48 @ 65.5 against West Indies. I am certain I have missed out some gems.

Test summary: Home matches vs other teams

Batsman	Team	Runs	Avge	Ins	Aus		Bng		Eng		Ind		Nzl		Pak		Saf		Slk		Win		Zim
Home matches					Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins

Ponting R.T	Aus	7446	59.10	147			34.5	2	44.3	28	86	26	51	18	69.9	16	58.2	22	50	9	45.4	23	130	3
Tendulkar	Ind	6765	56.38	135	62.7	29			60.6	17			49.3	18	44.2	14	36.2	17	52.5	17	61.7	16	113	7
Kallis J.H	Saf	6738	58.59	134	33.6	26	127	4	53.9	26	91.7	13	68.8	13	47.2	13			41.1	15	94.3	21	58.7	3
Jayawardene	Slk	6646	63.90	112	35.3	15	79.4	7	89	18	70.2	18	66.7	12	30.7	15	105	12			45.4	11	55.7	4
Lara B.C	Win	6217	58.65	111	66	23	86.5	2	78	24	35	23	49.7	6	60.8	9	51.4	17	69.8	7
Gooch G.A	Eng	5917	46.23	131	33.5	46					66.7	17	58.1	19	45.8	10	23.2	6	80.8	4	47.6	29
Border A.R	Aus	5743	45.94	145					47.3	39	53.4	19	52.8	18	57.7	20	29.2	5	63.2	4	33.9	40
Waugh S.R	Aus	5710	47.58	140					47.5	41	37.9	16	42	17	25.2	13	49.5	11	130	8	39.1	30	69.5	2
Dravid R	Ind	5598	51.36	120	35.7	30			47.8	14			63.8	14	42.9	17	39.2	18	76.9	11	58.4	10	126	6
Chanderpaul	Win	5444	59.17	114	80.4	17	108	2	40	27	70.3	29	46.8	6	65.9	11	63.1	15	43.3	4			24.3	3
Sangakkara	Slk	5186	59.61	95	30.5	11	118	7	39.2	18	74.3	14	52.8	7	68.8	10	65.8	12			68	12	63.8	4
Gavaskar	Ind	5067	50.17	108	52.5	12			36	39			43.2	6	54.4	22			104	5	61.1	24
Hayden M.L	Aus	5023	57.08	96			30.5	2	56.8	17	71.8	13	41.9	11	32	6	53.9	18	54.4	7	47.7	19	250	3
Atherton	Eng	4716	38.98	124	29.8	38					64.1	11	58.7	13	31.2	13	46.7	16			29.3	30	75	3
Stewart A.J	Eng	4652	40.81	126	30	33					52.9	9	35	17	63.9	16	41.6	23	58.8	8	26.9	15	60.5	5
Boon D.C	Aus	4541	46.34	108					42.9	29	73.2	15	58.3	16	18.3	9	31.2	5	36.9	9	46.3	25
Chappell	Aus	4515	54.40	96					50	37	73.6	5	36.2	9	60	22					58.8	23
J Miandad	Pak	4481	61.38	86	69.9	12			70	8	91.4	18	82.6	15					51.9	12	26.8	16	28.6	5
Gower D.I	Eng	4454	42.83	113	45.2	32					52.1	20	57.8	18	36.8	22			55	1	22.4	20
Langer J.L	Aus	4406	49.51	94			36	2	48.4	27	50.6	13	87.9	8	72.1	10	54.9	10	52.5	4	25.8	17	12	3
Boycott G	Eng	4356	48.40	100	50	34					64.3	12	46.1	17	87.3	5	18.8	4			41	28
Bradman D.G	Aus	4322	98.23	50					78.5	33	179	6					202	5			74.5	6
Sehwag V	Ind	4248	58.19	76	40.2	20			26.4	12			71.9	9	90.7	6	84	11	78.1	7	53.1	10	74	1
Jayasuriya	Slk	4114	43.77	102	31.1	14	75.6	5	30.6	14	94.8	10	31.5	8	42.6	14	45	15			27.9	11	43.3	11
Sobers	Win	4075	66.80	75	38.9	18			73.4	24	72.9	17	36.1	8	137	8
Waugh M.E	Aus	4019	43.22	99					50.8	23	22	11	45.9	12	45	9	40.3	14	63.8	4	42	26

I will let the readers come out with real gems from this table.

Test summary: Away matches vs other teams

Batsman	Team	Runs	Avge	Ins	Aus		Bng		Eng		Ind		Nzl		Pak		Saf		Slk		Win		Zim
Away matches					Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins	Avge	Ins

Tendulkar	Ind	8705	54.75	176	53.2	38	137	9	54.3	30			49.5	18	40.2	13	46.4	28	67.9	19	47.7	14	40	7
Dravid R	Ind	7667	53.62	164	44	30	70	10	68.8	23			63.8	14	78.6	9	29.7	22	33.1	21	65.7	28	79.2	7
Ponting R.T	Aus	5796	46.37	133			95.5	3	44.1	30	26.5	25	59.7	8	62.1	10	46.8	21	44.2	14	61.1	21	31	1
Lara B.C	Win	5695	48.26	119	43.3	33			48.8	27	33	6	36.9	11	48.2	13	46.7	18	101	7			55.5	4
Kallis J.H	Saf	5558	54.49	121	43.8	21	31.5	3	29.3	20	58.5	15	59	13	90.5	13			35.3	10	55.4	22	503	4
Border A.R	Aus	5431	56.57	120					65.1	43	51.1	16	50.2	14	61.9	16	38	5	48.3	7	53.1	19
Richards	Win	5404	50.50	115	47.6	39			64.3	34	45.4	24	19.2	4	42.8	14
Inzamam	Pak	5225	48.83	120	35.2	14	89	3	42.5	22	54.9	10	59.6	15			31.8	15	80.9	13	48.9	16	49	12
Waugh S.R	Aus	5217	55.50	120					74.2	32	47.4	15	35.3	17	42.1	17	50.2	14	17.3	3	68.5	21
Gavaskar	Ind	5055	52.11	106	51.1	19			41.1	28			43.6	10	58.9	19			37.2	6	70.2	24
Laxman	Ind	5014	42.49	134	44.1	29	39	4	34.5	19			40.2	9	37.4	9	40.4	18	48.2	13	47.8	27	41.5	6
Chanderpaul	Win	4846	43.27	129	30.2	21	41.2	6	66.6	27	54.6	11	41.2	14	30.6	15	42.1	21	41.3	8			31	6
Lloyd C.H	Win	4634	46.81	108	49	36			42.1	30	75.5	22	15.3	11	33.8	9
Mohd You	Pak	4565	47.06	105	31.9	18	378	3	54.3	15	33.7	17	55.2	14			26.1	10	32.5	12	78.4	9	58.1	7
Younis Khan	Pak	4500	50.00	100	31.8	12	128	5	47.4	14	76.8	12	65.3	8			40.4	14	42.6	17	40	13	50.5	5
Smith G.C	Saf	4459	55.74	86	43.7	12	67	5	72.2	17	35.9	12	57.2	12	45.6	11			44.8	4	73	13
J Miandad	Pak	4351	45.80	103	38.1	28			46.6	24	49.9	21	77.3	14					15.8	4	33.8	12
Greenidge	Win	4349	42.22	110	31	32			56.1	30	45.3	25	56.2	12	17.3	11
Hammond W.R	Eng	4245	66.33	72	61.9	35							321	3			62.9	26			25	8
Fleming S.P	Nzl	4225	45.92	100	29.3	15	116	2	37.9	19	35.7	11			50	6	46.3	20	105	10	41.9	8	39	9
Sangakkara	Slk	4196	49.95	88	65.2	6	40.6	7	30.6	18	36.5	10	66.8	7	86.5	15	35.8	16			34	7	140	2
Cowdrey M.C	Eng	4087	44.91	100	36	48					103	4	55.9	16	33.2	4	33.1	10			60.3	18
Ganguly S.C	Ind	4032	41.57	104	34.8	20	61.8	6	65.4	15			27.7	8	49.3	3	36.1	16	36.8	17	40	12	30.6	7
Waugh M.E	Aus	4010	40.51	110					49.5	28	43.5	13	35.8	8	40.6	13	43.6	15	9	10	40.5	22	90	1

Let us set aside Hammond's average of 321.0 against New Zealand and Mohd Yousuf's 378.0 against Bangladesh (albeit in 3 innings each). The stand-out averages are: Hammond 35 @ 61.9 and Tendulkar 38 @ 53.2 against Australia. Steve Waugh 32 @ 74.2 and Dravid 23 @ 68.8 against England. Lloyd 22 @ 75.5 and Sobers 13 @ 99.9 against India. Kallis 13 @ 90.5 and Sangakkara 15 @ 86.5 against Pakistan. Inzamam 13 @ 80.9 and Fleming 10 @ 104.7 against Sri Lanka. Finally Gavaskar 24 @ 70.2 and Steve Waugh 21 @ 68.5 against West Indies. Again this is probably not a final list.

But for me the most inexplicable and impossible-to-understand performance is Sobers' 10 innings in New Zealand at 15.1. His scores during 3 tours are 27, 25, 27, 1, 1, 11, 0, 20, 39 and 0. What really happened ???

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 innings summaries. Batsmen run analysis vs Team - for all matches Batsmen run analysis vs Team - for home matches Batsmen run analysis vs Team - for away matches

No specific conclusions. I thought for long and decided against coming out with any selection of batsmen. It will be a red herring.

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Anantha Narayanan has written for ESPNcricinfo and CastrolCricket and worked with a number of companies on their cricket performance ratings-related systems

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Keywords: Stats,

Posted by Arjun on (July 3, 2012, 13:32 GMT)

Ananth,

If we split career into 2 halves, Ian Botham's stats are like chalk and cheese. In 1st half he seems to be real challenger to Don Bradman as 'the greatest cricket ever'. After 25 tests, 139 wkts @ 18.52 plus 1336 runs @ 40.48 (probably best ever) After 50 tests, 229 wkts @ 22.89 plus 2625 runs @ 36.45 (probably greatest peak an allrounder has ever reached) He Scored his only double hundred(208) in his 51st test(his midpoint) Has any other cricketer scored 10 hundereds and 19 5-wkt hauls in his first 50 tests ? If he had retired at his mid-point(51 tests) he would have been greatest cricketer ever.

His Mid-point stats 2833 runs @ 38.80 with 11 hundereds 231 wkts @ 23.06 with 19(5w) and 4(10w) [[ Your figures are slightly different from mine since you have gone on Tests as the base. 102 Tests played and your figures reflect the career figures at the end of 51st Test. I have gone independently on innings and innspells. But the result is almost the same. Quite difficult to find an all-rounder difference of 15.7 and a sub-25 bowling figure. Ananth: ]]

Posted by Waspsting on (July 2, 2012, 11:37 GMT)

"... the umpiring decisions go 1-9 against (Pakistan). If it had been India, there would have been a major explosion...Oh! I know about Sydney. But then India got their revenge. They cut short the legs of Bucknor the next day... (BCCI) have to act responsibly and gracefully and not like a big bully."

I have mixed feelings on BCCI and Indian media. Yes, they are over the top and it is... not "gentlemanly". But they look after their own, in a way Pakistan do not.

Maybe its just not a gentlemanly world out there.

Re: WSC and IPL... discussions on human nature is beyond the scope of this blog, but basically, i think it boils down to the two being the same.

WSC took players pay from peanuts to decent IPL has gone from high to very high.

To the players, a gain is a gain and that's all. Don't think the finer points of the difference reach most people WHEN THEY ARE IN THE SITUATION themself

Call it greed or a lack of proportion... it is what it is, and its not going to change.

Posted by Ranga on (July 2, 2012, 6:00 GMT)

Aside, I did read Grieg's speech. Well, to me, you can't compare IPL and WSC. Just one similarity - both made money out of cricket. While WSC wanted to take the contests to a next level and make money, while IPL, wanted to encash on a certain country's cricket craze. IPL was not formed to raise the standard of Indian cricket. If it did, it was incidental and not intentional. But I am not really for blaming the BCC(I)PL for decline in test cricket. A 2-test series vs SAF and Aus doesnt involve BCCI. Neither does the 3-test series between Eng and SAF. That WIndies declined is not because of IPL. If at all any counrty lost due to IPL, it is India and INdian cricket should be worried about IPL. Vijay, a very stylish opening batsman is happy clobbering club bowlers, Ashwin and BHajji lost their bite due to PP overs,Rahul Sharma is making a mockery of Kumble. But I am not a supporter of this 2 month long IPL. But avarice, not greed, is the word to describe BCCI [[ Ranga As I have mentioned in my response to Alex, there are many things which are off the mark in Greig's speech. But on IPL and DRS he is correct. The last Test between Slk and Pak was one reason for against 100 reasons against inclusion of DRS. Many people have kept quiet because it was Pakistan. However they had a very raw deal. First Misbah gets suspended. Then the umpiring decisions go 1-9 against them. If it had been India, there would have been a major explosion. Oh! I know about Sydney. But then India got their revenge. They cut short the legs of Bucknor the next day. What does Pakistan do. I would go to the extent of saying that if there would have been DRS there was a very good chance for Pakistan to probably get a draw. As I have already written, if India had put their weight behind DRS (okay only 98% correct) in 2010, by now there would have been a multi-million dollar sponsorship of DRS across the globe and ICC would not look silly. I know the scheduling of 2-Test series is the responsibility of Australia/South africa/England. Overall the running theme is greed (I have no problems using this word as against avarice which is nothing but acceptable, camouflaged greed). I have advocated in every form possible that IPL should be restricted to 25 days and there should be a window so that the teams would not lose their star players. Gayle, Pietersen, Malinga, the list will only expand. I do not agree that India has lost because of IPL. ALl of them, BCCI, Vijay, Badri, Jadeja and the biggies, are counting their cash tills till their fingers get sore. Do you think they care about missing out on being part of cricket history. I am not holding BCCI responsible for all that is worong with world cricket. But they have to act responsibly and gracefully and not like a big bully. Ananth: ]]

Posted by ad captandum on (July 2, 2012, 5:28 GMT)

@boll (7.59pm)

I agree. That said, I have also never really thought that Ponting deserved to be rated up there with Tendulkar and Lara. Ponting, Kallis, Dravid et al form a chasing pack.

Posted by Waspsting on (July 1, 2012, 11:15 GMT)

I'd say its a given that Bradman was the best against everything out there, including extreme pace. 2000+ runs @84 is only low by his own standards - it puts to shade anyone else overall, doubly puts to shade anyone against extreme pace.

-------

Think its important to look at both -

a) how comfortable a batsman looks and b) how frequently he got out against pace, spin etc.

- when looking at things like "x plays fast/spin bowling well".

The most comfortable looking player of fast bowling i've seen is Inzamamam-Ul-Haq - but his record in Aus and SA isn't anything special

On the flip side, we have Steve Waugh - as uncomfortable looking against fast bowling as can be, but found a way to put runs on the board against SA, WI and Pak consistently.

Posted by Boll on (July 1, 2012, 8:41 GMT)

@Ravi M - not only the Bedi interview, but a great collection 1-19.

Posted by Boll on (July 1, 2012, 7:59 GMT)

@Ravi M. thanks for the link to the Bedi interview - wonderful stuff, as are the 18 others of that series, only one of which (Viv on not wearing a helmet) I think I`ve seen before.

I do feel that Kallis has been undervalued (and for much of his career, rightly overshadowed as a batsman by Lara, Ponting, Tendulkar et al.) as a batsman and all-rounder. However, the recent (or is it just the forums that I read?) push for him as the greatest all-rounder, or indeed player, of all time, has swung the pendulum too far the other way for mine.

Wonderful batting record home/away, what have you. Perhaps Barrington`s records and similar lack of recognition come closest.

Not sure, but I`ve watched a lot of Kallis and have only thought on rare occasions that I was watching a truly great batsman.

Posted by Alex on (July 1, 2012, 4:08 GMT)

@Ravi M & @Ananth:

1. "Greatest ever vs spin" is quite subjective. I think that honor should go to someone from Ind or Pak. Outside of these two teams, Lara & Sobers must be two of the prime candidates.

2. It doesn't look like Sobers, despite playing for 20 yrs, ever encountered a major change in actual cricket ... no major rule changes, no major format change (ODIs arrived just when he retired), no major playing condition changes (real fast bowlers arrived after he retired), etc. The social status of black cricketers did change a lot during this period and that is a very big thing but that is not the same as a change in the game itself. Of course, this is not meant to criticize Sobers, a genius who might well be the greatest ever cricketer bar Bradman.

Posted by Alex on (July 1, 2012, 3:55 GMT)

@Ananth: By no means, I meant that you are a sycophant!! While I hate the Bollywoodization & poor quality cricket in IPL, it does provide X million dollars to a Badrinath ... it is not just about increasing the revenues of superstars from X million to X+Y. [[ Alex, no worries on that. I knew that you had only pointed out Mark Nicholas. No one who knows me can accuse me of sycophancy, once they know that I tend to disagee more often than agree. Ananth: ]] While on money, MSD made 26 million USD last year and 23 million USD of that income was due to advertisement. These advertisements are primarily run in India only. Now, MSD has got whitewashed in Eng & Oz where Kapil & SMG were shown the door for much less serious reasons. So, basically, BCCI/IPL is not duping ICC but it is duping people of India through its propaganda machinery just to ensure limelight to cricket so that its cash reserves improve ... Sharad Pawar is at the helm, after all.

Posted by Ravi M on (July 1, 2012, 2:41 GMT)

Noticed some comments who the best was against extreme pace, medium pace, swing, spin etc.

It's safe to say that Bradman was the best against every type except perhaps extreme pace. Other than Larwood & a couple of West Indians, I don't think Bradman faced many who bowled at 90 mph consistently.

With Larwood: Debut series: 468 @ 67 Away: 705 @ 176 Bodyline: 396 @ 57

v WI: 447 @ 75

Overall: 2000+ runs @ 84.

Significant drop from his usual 100. I guess bodyline & debut series were primary factors. All in all, considering most bowlers in his time were fast medium and spinners, I guess it's no big deal to choose Sobers as the best again sheer pace. 254 - 'Nuff said.

Leaving Bradman aside, I'd easily place Sobers ahead of rest against spin**, swing and especially yorkers & bouncers. Strangely enough, he never really dominated medium pacers as much.

** Bedi on Sobers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXOOH9xufO0&list=UU3PkyEEVULkdUhGg8vX8M7Q&index=5&feature=plcp

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anantha Narayanan
Anantha spent the first half of his four-decade working career with corporates like IBM, Shaw Wallace, NCR, Sime Darby and the Spinneys group in IT-related positions. In the second half, he has worked on cricket simulation, ratings, data mining, analysis and writing, amongst other things. He was the creator of the Wisden 100 lists, released in 2001. He has written for ESPNcricinfo and CastrolCricket, and worked extensively with Maruti Motors, Idea Cellular and Castrol on their performance ratings-related systems. He is an armchair connoisseur of most sports. His other passion is tennis, and he thinks Roger Federer is the greatest sportsman to have walked on earth.

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