Prolific partnerships, and one-sided triangulars

Almost every batsman who had a hit in the first two Tests of the ongoing series in Pakistan came away with a bucketful of runs, but one pair took advantage of the featherbeds at Lahore and Faisalabad more than any other: Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf put together a monumental 319 for the third wicket in the first match, then took that good form into the second, adding partnerships of 142 and 242 to ensure that the pair will be on top of the Most Wanted list for the Indian bowlers.

The 703 runs that the two added have taken their career partnership aggregate to 1842 runs, rocketing them to the top ten pairs for Pakistan in terms of runs. Even more impressive, though, has been the average runs per stand - 73.68, with six century partnerships and an equal number of fifties in 25 tries, that's one substantial contribution out of two. Among Pakistani pairs, not many can boast of better stats: only two have a higher scoring rate, with Javed Miandad the common factor in both. The table below lists Pakistan's top duos with the willow.

There was an Indian pair too which reminded the world of the symphonies they can create when batting together. The 197 runs that Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman collected won't be counted among the classics that the two have conjured, but it was nevertheless a critical partnership for the team. Among Indian pairs who've made at least 1500, this pair is at third place in terms of averages. Interestingly, the top four spots are all taken by batsmen in the current squad.

That it's the age of the batsmen can be gleaned from the table below, which ranks the most prolific pairs in world cricket in terms of runs scored per completed partnership. Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe are comfortably perched on top, but the next seven slots are all occupied by current players. Also, the second and third-placed pairs offer part of the explanation of why Australia have been such an irresistible force in world cricket over the last few years - Ricky Ponting has combined outstandingly with both Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden, the Australian openers. Given that Hayden and Langer themselves average a not-so-insignificant 53 runs per stand, it means Australia usually get off to a flying start with the bat, allowing their middle order to further consolidate on a strong beginning.

In terms of runs, though, the old firm of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes are still on top with 6482 runs from 148 tries. Their average of 47.31, however, puts them out of the top ten. Among non-opening pairs, Dravid and Tendulkar have the highest aggregate - they have accumulated an amazing 4631 runs, but their average of 55.79 puts them just outside the top ten, in 11th place.

Triangular woes
When Sri Lanka joined Australia and South Africa for the VB Series, few would have expected them to offer much resistance - they had been thrashed 6-1 by India, and then managed only one win out of four in New Zealand. In Australia, though, they have turned around their fortunes magnificently, winning two of their first five games and ensuring that this season's tri-series is one of the most competitive for many years.

Barring the odd exception, the triangular series in Australia have been one or two-horse races; rarely have all three teams been as evenly matched as this season. The last time there was a three-way tie, with each side winning twice after six games, was way back in 1996-97, when Carlton and United took over from Benson & Hedges as sponsors of the series. Australia started the series in style, winning their first two matches, before West Indies and Pakistan shared the next four. Australia's slide continued thereafter, as they lost five successive games and eventually missed out on the finals, which Pakistan won.

More recently, the 2001-02 edition threw up a few surprises as well, with Australia missing out on a finals berth again. New Zealand were the early leaders with three wins in the first two rounds of matches, and though Australia drew level with them on points, New Zealand's superior head-to-head helped them sneak through to the finals, where they were demolished by South Africa.