Test streaks: 52 and 27 matches long

A few years back I had done an analysis on streaks in Test cricket. I had done this work based on a notional number of consecutive Tests as the streak. Towards the end of the article there was an excellent suggestion that I could use 52 Tests as the basis. Unfortunately since this was a late suggestion, I could not do proper justice to the idea. Also, many current readers would not have seen the earlier article. Hence I have decided to revisit the Test streak scene.

Another important fact is that during the four years, top batsmen like Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Kevin Pietersen, Michael Clarke, Alastair Cook, Ross Taylor et al, had their highs and would surely make a significant impact on the tables. On the bowling front, we have Dale Steyn, Saeed Ajmal, Mitchell Johnson, James Anderson, Graeme Swann who have ruled the roost. Hence this article will, I am sure, break new ground.

For batsmen, 52 Tests forms the undisputed cut-off. An Air Guitar for guessing why. The colossus played 52 Tests. Any comparison will be against this number. So I will select only batsmen who have played a minimum of 52 Tests. There are 151 batsmen who qualify. My apologies to those who miss out: to name a few, Everton Weekes, Frank Worrell, Dennis Amiss and Jonathan Trott.

For bowlers, there is an equally dominant figure: Sydney Barnes. He played in 27 Tests only and captured 189 Test wickets, an average of seven wickets per Test. There are 158 bowlers who qualify. So we have a decent population in each category. Let us not forget that each batsman has many streaks of 52 Tests within his career. Sachin Tendulkar had 148 such streaks. Muttiah Muralitharan had 106 qualifying streaks. This means that we have a lot of data available.

Any player's career could be shaded by various textures. Years lost due to war, injuries, non-selections, boycotts, self-imposed exiles, WSC-type series, bans, non-bowling injuries, easy runs/wickets, tough runs/wickets. We have to take all these in our stride and work on the basis that these factors even out across the streaks of between four and 20 years. So this data has a lot going for it. It deserves a lot of respect.

I will be analysing a huge amount of data. However, to make the task of the reader easier, I have created only four relevant tables. For each batsman and bowler, I pick up the best streak embedded within his career. So I reduce tons of data, so to speak, into four tables. Further I will feature in this article the top ten and bottom five players in each table. The complete tables are available for downloading and viewing. The analysis is current up to and including India's historic win over England at Lord's.

Test batting streaks: Runs accumulated in 52 Tests

Batsman	Team	Tests	Runs	RpT	Best 52-Test streak	Runs	RpT	Worst 52-Test streak	Runs	Ratio
DG Bradman	Aus	52	6996	134.5	176(1928) - 303(1948)	6996	134.5	176(1928) - 303(1948)	6996	100.0
RT Ponting	Aus	168	13378	79.6	1595(2002)-1819(2006)	5857	112.6	1324(1996)-1590(2002)	3068	190.9
BC Lara	Win	131	11953	91.2	1542(2001)-1816(2006)	5576	107.2	1299(1995)-1541(2001)	3944	141.4
Sangakkara	Slk	125	11593	92.7	1804(2006)-2048(2012)	5518	106.1	1504(2000)-1776(2005)	3764	146.6
GS Sobers	Win	93	8032	86.4	443(1957) - 636(1968)	5468	105.2	529(1962) - 738(1974)	4410	124.0
JH Kallis	Saf	166	13289	80.1	1619(2002)-1856(2007)	5311	102.1	1318(1995)-1563(2001)	3340	159.0
Yousuf	Pak	90	7530	83.7	1513(2000)-1844(2007)	5247	100.9	1412(1998)-1726(2004)	3744	140.1
Tendulkar	Ind	200	15921	79.6	1365(1997)-1631(2002)	5236	100.7	1127(1989)-1364(1997)	3534	148.2
L Hutton	Eng	79	6971	88.2	281(1947) - 386(1954)	5114	98.3	276(1946) - 376(1953)	4643	110.1
Jayawardene	Slk	146	11506	78.8	1709(2004)-1968(2010)	5102	98.1	1447(1999)-1699(2004)	3559	143.4
ML Hayden	Aus	103	8626	83.7	1520(2000)-1723(2004)	5092	97.9	1688(2004)-1904(2009)	3966	128.4
GA Gooch	Eng	118	8900	75.4	1049(1986)-1260(1994)	5025	96.6	760(1975)-1044(1986)	3201	157.0
SM Gavaskar	Ind	125	10122	81.0	683(1971) - 856(1979)	5007	96.3	863(1979)-1025(1985)	3380	148.1
...............
HA Gomes	Win	60	3171	52.9	822(1978)-1045(1986)	3021	58.1	839(1979)-1070(1987)	2658	113.7
CG Borde	Ind	55	3061	55.7	465(1959) - 634(1968)	3021	58.1	459(1958) - 631(1968)	2925	103.3
JC Adams	Win	54	3010	55.7	1188(1992)-1523(2000)	2995	57.6	1208(1993)-1527(2001)	2857	104.8
A Ranatunga	Slk	93	5105	54.9	955(1983)-1293(1995)	2990	57.5	1103(1988)-1394(1998)	2653	112.7
GW Flower	Zim	67	3457	51.6	1285(1995)-1625(2002)	2872	55.2	1240(1993)-1581(2001)	2643	108.7

I have presented the best 52-Test streak and the worst 52-Test streak. This will enable the readers to see the fluctuations in a batsman's career. It is obvious that the best and worst streaks will be wide apart for players with long careers.

It does not take rocket science to know who would lead the table. As day follows night follows day, one DG Bradman, the "Boy from Bowral" is certain to be there at the top with 6996 runs. No need to describe Bradman other than to say that he stands supreme and in a separate zone of his own. This streak, also coinciding with his career, lasted just under 20 years. If those seven years had not been lost, would Bradman have reached 10,000 runs at 100 or ended his career with 6000 at 90? There are no answers.

What is important is the collection of modern greats who come after Bradman. Ricky Ponting's purplest of patches lasted just under five years and he accumulated nearly 6000 runs. Against a career RpT (Runs per Test) value of 80, he scored over 110 runs per Test during this period. He was within 17% of Bradman in his aggregate. This is a magnificent achievement considering that most measures place the second-placed batsman at around 40% below Bradman.

He is followed by another modern great. Brian Lara scored over 5500 runs during his heyday of five and a half years. Since his career RpT is itself a high 91, the accumulation of 107 does not seem that high. Another significant fact is that this was achieved virtually towards the end of Lara's career.

Kumar Sangakkara's recent form has been outstanding and this is shown by his six-year accumulation of just over 5500 runs. Garry Sobers completes the top five with an aggregate of nearly 5500 runs. However this took over ten years, indicating the paucity of Tests during the '50s and '60s.

Jacques Kallis, Mohammad Yousuf, Sachin Tendulkar, Len Hutton and Mahela Jayawardene complete the top ten. Hutton is the only batsman belonging to the earlier generation. Three other batsmen, Matthew Hayden, Graham Gooch and Sunil Gavaskar, are featured here since they accumulated over 5000 Test runs during the 52-Test streak.

It can be seen that where the batsmen have had careers close to 52 Tests, their career RpT and the best streak RpT are close. However, where the batsman has played in many Tests, such as Tendulkar, Ponting et al, there is a wide gap between the values.

The years that the concerned player took to complete this streak is of interest. For the older players we have periods exceeding 20 years. Bradman was close to this figure. Some of the modern players have achieved this in four years. For the record, Jack Hobbs took 21 years to play 52 Tests. Hayden took only four years to play the same number of Tests.

A tweak was necessary to present a meaningful bottom-five batsmen. The last part of the table is full of allrounders and wicketkeepers. Hence I have selected five players who played purely as batsmen. Grant Flower accumulated only 2872 runs in his best streak. The other four batsmen - Arjuna Ranatunga, Jimmy Adams, Chandu Borde and Larry Gomes - also aggregated only around 3000 runs in their best streak of 52 Tests.

Ponting's best streak is nearly twice as productive as his worst streak. It is of interest to note that only Daniel Vettori, with a ratio of 250%, has a wider variance. This indicates the topsy-turvy nature of Ponting's career. Most other players with long careers are around the 150% mark, with Kallis' 159% being quite high. Steve Waugh has a ratio of 170%. It is interesting to note that Tendulkar's best streak starts right at the end of his worst.

Test batting streaks: RpFI-MA across 52 Tests

Batsman	Team	Tests	Runs	Career RpFI-MA	Best 52-Test streak	Inns	Unf-Nos	Runs	Streak RpFI-MA
DG Bradman	Aus	52	6996	89.50	176(1928) - 303(1948)	80	4	6996	89.50
RT Ponting	Aus	168	13378	47.72	1595(2002)-1819(2006)	92	9	5857	66.50
GS Sobers	Win	93	8032	51.33	443(1957) - 636(1968)	88	5	5468	63.27
Sangakkara	Slk	125	11593	55.22	1804(2006)-2048(2012)	91	3	5518	61.82
Yousuf	Pak	90	7530	48.96	1513(2000)-1844(2007)	87	3	5247	61.44
Tendulkar	Ind	200	15921	49.49	1365(1997)-1631(2002)	88	4	5236	60.81
BC Lara	Win	131	11953	51.85	1542(2001)-1816(2006)	93	0	5576	59.96
Richards	Win	121	8540	47.55	767(1976) - 987(1984)	76	0	4514	59.39
JH Kallis	Saf	166	13289	48.44	1619(2002)-1856(2007)	91	5	5311	59.26
JB Hobbs	Eng	61	5410	54.55	102(1909) - 194(1930)	85	3	4897	59.23
ML Hayden	Aus	103	8626	48.57	1520(2000)-1723(2004)	91	6	5092	58.53
de Villiers	Saf	93	7240	47.70	1871(2008)-2119(2014)	82	4	4644	58.25
R Dravid	Ind	164	13288	47.73	1515(2000)-1765(2005)	86	5	4883	58.21
Jayawardene	Slk	146	11506	47.73	1709(2004)-1968(2010)	89	4	5102	58.18
Miandad	Pak	124	8832	47.72	945(1983)-1130(1989)	73	1	4240	58.14
...............
CG Borde	Ind	55	3061	32.60	465(1959) - 634(1968)	92	7	3021	34.07
AJ Lamb	Eng	79	4656	33.87	978(1984)-1163(1991)	91	3	3033	33.91
BE Congdon	Nzl	61	3448	30.71	583(1965) - 818(1978)	96	2	3171	33.65
GM Wood	Aus	59	3374	31.11	816(1978)-1021(1985)	99	3	3081	31.96
GW Flower	Zim	67	3457	28.41	1285(1995)-1625(2002)	98	2	2872	29.71

This table is ordered on the batting measure, "Runs per Fulfilled Innings - Milind-Ananth" (RpFI-MA). This is Milind's version of handling the non-fulfilled innings and has been discussed a few times already in my earlier articles. He has referred to this measure as 'µ' in his blogs. To recapitulate in a simple manner, we expand, in an indirect manner, all not out innings which are below the Out-Average to the Out-Average. This ensures that scores like 5*, 15* and 20* do not lower the RpI figures drastically. This method takes care of the problem in Batting Average with middle order batsmen remaining unbeaten in 15-20% of the innings they played in.

I have given the example of Bradman to illustrate this calculation. The average of the 70 innings in which he was dismissed is 83.83 (5868/70). His 10 not-outs are 37*, 299*, 103*, 144*, 102*, 56*, 127*, 57*, 30* and 173*. Out of these ten innings, six are higher than 83.83 and are considered "fulfilled innings". It is clear why. These innings have gone past the Out-Average. The other four innings - 37*, 56*, 57rh and 30* - are indirectly extended to the Out-Average, by tweaking the number 4 to a lower value 2.147(180/83.83). The value of RpFI-MA for Bradman is 6996/(76+2.147) which works out to 89.50. Hats off to Milind's awareness for maximum computing correctness.

It should be noted that the RpFI-MA value is derived for each streak and the best one presented here.

The first entry is the expected one. 99.94 would have been more easily recognisable. But let us start looking at Bradman's RpFI-MA figure carefully since that would appear quite frequently hereafter. The RpFI-MA is 89.50. Ponting continues to be in second place with an excellent RpFI-MA of 66.5. This is about 25% off Bradman's average and firmly places Ponting's streak on a fairly high pedestal.

Then we have changes from the earlier table. The increased number of not-outs, which are inherent in any middle order batsman's career, propels Sobers, with a RpFI-MA figure of 63.3 into third place. Sangakkara remains in the top five with 61.8 and the top five is completed by Yousuf, with 61.4.

Next in the list are the two modern legends: Tendulkar and Lara, who have almost identical figures either side of 60. Viv Richards is a surprise entry into the top ten. Kallis and Hobbs complete the top ten.

Grant Flower is comfortably propping up the table with a fairly low value of 29.7. Again, let me remind you that I have ignored allrounders and wicketkeepers. We also have four other batsmen who promised a lot but did not deliver much. Especially Graeme Hick.

Test bowling streaks: Wickets captured in 27 Tests

Bowler	Team	Tests	Wkts	WpT	Best 27-Test streak	Wkts	WpT	Worst 27-Test streak	Wkts	WpT	Ratio
Muralitharan	Slk	133	800	6.0	1670(2003)-1820(2006)	205	7.6	1195(1992)-1359(1997)	101	3.7	203.0
SF Barnes	Eng	27	189	7.0	65(1901) - 133(1914)	189	7.0	65(1901) - 133(1914)	189	7.0	100.0
Younis	Pak	87	373	4.3	1151(1990)-1268(1994)	177	6.6	1442(1999)-1617(2002)	82	3.0	215.9
SK Warne	Aus	145	708	4.9	1615(2002)-1763(2005)	173	6.4	1405(1998)-1556(2001)	93	3.4	186.0
RJ Hadlee	Nzl	86	431	5.0	959(1983)-1072(1987)	164	6.1	710(1973) - 873(1980)	118	4.4	139.0
MD Marshall	Win	81	376	4.6	991(1984)-1100(1988)	161	6.0	837(1978) - 988(1984)	109	4.0	147.7
DK Lillee	Aus	70	355	5.1	790(1977) - 908(1981)	160	5.9	876(1980) - 955(1983)	129	4.8	124.0
CV Grimmett	Aus	37	216	5.8	195(1930) - 251(1936)	159	5.9	166(1926) - 234(1934)	138	5.1	115.2
DW Steyn	Saf	73	371	5.1	1830(2007)-1951(2010)	157	5.8	1913(2009)-2056(2012)	129	4.8	121.7
R Benaud	Aus	63	248	3.9	431(1956) - 507(1961)	157	5.8	347(1952) - 433(1956)	73	2.7	215.1
Imran Khan	Pak	88	362	4.1	909(1981)-1058(1986)	154	5.7	1067(1987)-1182(1992)	78	2.9	197.4
A Kumble	Ind	132	619	4.7	1574(2001)-1724(2004)	153	5.7	1247(1994)-1387(1997)	87	3.2	175.9
AK Davidson	Aus	44	186	4.2	449(1958) - 537(1963)	151	5.6	372(1953) - 483(1959)	92	3.4	164.1
...............
Bracewell	Nzl	41	102	2.5	891(1980)-1093(1988)	71	2.6	1000(1984)-1138(1990)	59	2.2	120.3
Razzaq	Pak	46	100	2.2	1584(2002)-1809(2006)	67	2.5	1487(2000)-1716(2004)	48	1.8	139.6
TE Bailey	Eng	61	132	2.2	386(1954) - 440(1957)	66	2.4	334(1951) - 412(1955)	44	1.6	150.0
RJ Shastri	Ind	80	151	1.9	962(1983)-1054(1986)	63	2.3	1063(1986)-1177(1991)	37	1.4	170.3
CL Hooper	Win	102	114	1.1	1364(1997)-1553(2001)	45	1.7	1096(1988)-1174(1991)	11	0.4	409.1

For bowlers also, I have presented the best 27-Test streak as also the worst 27-Test streak. It is to be expected that the bowlers will have much wider fluctuations between their best and worst streaks. This can be seen later.

What do we have here? We would have expected Barnes, with his career average of seven wickets per Test, sitting comfortably at the top. No, not this time. Murali, that Lankan wizard, has comfortably overtaken Barnes and is perched on top with 205 wickets in 27 Tests during the 2003-2006 period. An extraordinary WpT figure of 7.6.

Do I hear the words Bangladesh and Zimbabwe and home conditions in Sri Lanka? I am a firm believer in the axiom that a Test wicket is a Test wicket. There have been weak teams right through the 137 years of Test cricket. Surely Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are no worse than many teams during the 1930s, 1950s, 1960s? Even many established teams were poor. How many 5-0 drubbings have teams endured? Not to forget the uncovered pitches during the first few decades of Test cricket. So let us keep our views upright and not try to belittle one player or group of players. One day I should do an analysis to prove the point I have briefly talked about.

The next five bowlers are contemporary greats. How else can one describe Waqar Younis, Shane Warne, Richard Hadlee, Malcolm Marshall and Dennis Lillee? All these bowlers have accumulated in excess of 160 wickets in their prime stretch of 27 Tests. A special mention should be made of Marshall, who has averaged around six wickets per Test in his prime despite the presence of so many world-class bowlers in his team.

The top ten is completed by Clarrie Grimmett, the surprise package - Richie Benaud - and Steyn. Benaud is indeed a surprise. To have accumulated over 150 wickets is praiseworthy and should let us revise our opinion of him.

Bill O'Reilly's 27 Tests took over 14 years since he played one Test after the war and this Test completed the tally of 27 Tests. Erapalli Prasanna took over 11 years to play 27 Tests. Mitchell Johnson, Tony Greig and Andrew Flintoff took less than two years to play the 27 Tests.

As has happened often, Ravi Shastri and Carl Hooper prop up the table with very poor aggregates below 65 wickets. Not one of these five is a pure bowler.

Wilfred Rhodes is in a freak situation. He went through a 27-Test streak with 95 wickets and another 27-streak with 15 wickets. Sobers had very striking contrasting streaks with 104 and 24 wickets respectively. Kallis has similar figures. The first real surprise is Ian Botham. He picked up 146 and 57 wickets respectively in his best and worst streaks. Murali picked up 205 and 101 wickets respectively. Thus it can be seen that about ten bowlers have ratios more than 200%. Surprisingly, despite the non-bowling Tests, Imran Khan finishes with 154 and 78 wickets respectively.

Test bowling streaks: Bowling average across 27 Tests

Bowler	Team	Tests	Wkts	Avge	Best 27-Test streak	Wkts	BowAvge
Imran Khan	Pak	88	362	22.81	909(1981)-1058(1986)	154	14.85
SF Barnes	Eng	27	189	16.43	65(1901) - 133(1914)	189	16.43
MD Marshall	Win	81	376	20.95	991(1984)-1100(1988)	161	17.09
Waqar Younis	Pak	87	373	23.56	1151(1990)-1268(1994)	177	17.32
JC Laker	Eng	46	193	21.25	383(1954) - 464(1959)	126	17.49
J Briggs	Eng	33	118	17.75	23(1886) - 62(1899)	118	17.64
Muralitharan	Slk	133	800	22.73	1670(2003)-1820(2006)	205	18.15
CEL Ambrose	Win	98	405	20.99	1144(1990)-1257(1994)	140	18.16
RJ Hadlee	Nzl	86	431	22.30	959(1983)-1072(1987)	164	18.46
AV Bedser	Eng	51	236	24.90	317(1949) - 389(1954)	149	18.56
AK Davidson	Aus	44	186	20.53	449(1958) - 537(1963)	151	18.95
Wasim Akram	Pak	104	414	23.62	1134(1990)-1268(1994)	149	19.24
IT Botham	Eng	102	383	28.40	806(1977) - 881(1980)	146	19.30
SM Pollock	Saf	108	421	23.12	1380(1997)-1475(1999)	130	19.38
AA Donald	Saf	72	330	22.25	1320(1995)-1437(1998)	148	19.72
RGD Willis	Eng	90	325	25.20	780(1976) - 836(1978)	117	19.89
...............
Rafique	Bng	33	100	40.76	1512(2000)-1832(2007)	91	36.37
AF Giles	Eng	54	143	40.60	1606(2002)-1728(2004)	81	36.38
CL Hooper	Win	102	114	49.43	1364(1997)-1553(2001)	45	36.60
DVP Wright	Eng	34	108	39.11	263(1938) - 326(1950)	90	39.39
RJ Shastri	Ind	80	151	40.96	962(1983)-1054(1986)	63	39.44

I was almost certain that the average of Barnes would be the best, even though he was upstaged in the wickets tally by Murali. But there is another bowling giant who firmly shuts the door on Barnes. Imran Khan captured 154 wickets in the five-year period around early eighties at an unbelievable average of 14.85. Yes, that is true. This is the sort of average the demon bowlers around the turn of the 19th century used to get, bowling on uncovered wickets against teams new to Test cricket. I have carefully pondered over this. In my opinion the numbers of Murali and Imran Khan are two of the greatest bowling achievements ever. Imran's career figures changed from 128 at 29.45 to 282 at 21.48 during this memorable period.

The next three bowlers are Marshall, Younis and Jim Laker. All are wonderful bowlers. After Johnny Briggs appears Murali, who has an average of 18.15. Not bad for a spinner. Both Younis and Akram find a place in the top 12. What a period for Pakistan. Between 1990 and 1994, they had these two stalwarts picking up 320 wickets at an average of around 17.

The usual culprits prop up the table, including the ever-present table-proppers, Shastri and Hooper.

There is a case for increasing the bowling cut-off to a higher number of Tests. However, I am satisfied with this: after all 27 Tests have produced 150 wickets and more.

What do we conclude? Bradman was supreme, there has been no doubt about it and this analysis confirms this view. In his long career, scarred by six years of war and deliberate bodyline attack, he accumulated nearly 20% more runs at 25% higher RpFI-MA value than the next player who was playing at his prime. This one sentence confirms that his zone was beyond all other players' zones. This is the one analysis where there is a smaller gap between the master and the next best, Ponting. He is only around 20% off. Let us give him due credit. Lara and Sangakkara also stand out.

Murali, on the aggregate front, and Imran, on the average measure, have upstaged Barnes, considered by many to be one of the greatest, with career figures expected to be unreachable. That too, in modern conditions. Maybe all of us must give the modern bowlers their credit. We tend to put the batsmen on a pedestal and do not give the bowlers their right due.

An interesting add-on observation from Milind. If we define an alternate measure of consistency of a batsman as the ones with the lowest ratios, which would be close to 100%, between best and worst streaks (min 78 Tests considered - to have a career at least 150% of the streak length), then the top batsmen are given below.

NJ Astle (106.9%), MS Dhoni (109.4%), L Hutton (110.1%), GC Smith, N Hussain, Richardson, RJ Hadlee, GS Chappell, IR Bell, A Ranatunga, Tillakaratne, A Flintoff, Barrington, MW Gatting, Abbas, AJ Lamb, RB Kanhai (114.8%). A nice nugget: thank you, Milind.

The names that appear here which were well-placed in my earlier Consistency analysis are Hutton, Ken Barrington and Rohan Kanhai.

I have uploaded the Table containing the four full tables. To download/view this file, please CLICK HERE.