Numbers point to spin

Stats preview of the 3rd Test between India and England at Mumbai

17-Mar-2006

Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh have tormented visiting teams in Mumbai © AFP

The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is India's most successful home venue among grounds where India have played more than two Tests. India have won nine of their 20 Tests here, drawn five and lost six. England have lost their last three Tests at this venue.

Avoid batting last . Seventeen out of 20 times, the captain winning the toss has decided to bat first and in thirteen of those occasions the team has not lost the match. The average runs per wicket declines from 34.1 in the first innings to 19.8 in the fourth. In the last Test played there, the highest total was 205 and Australia were dismissed for 93 in the final innings.

If England bat first, it is vital that they post a sizable first-innings score. The Wankhede's history suggests that as the match progresses the spinners become more than a handful. Since 1995, spinners have taken 95 wickets here to the fast bowlers' tally of 69.

Pace/Spin at the Wankhede since 1995
Innings	Pace avg/Spin avg	Pace SR/Spin SR
1st	27.52/36.86	63.36/72.79
2nd	26.76/22.78	52.35/50.38
3rd	26.00/14.55	57.71/33.21
4th	64.50/15.65	138.00/41.05

Since 2000, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh have taken a total of 36 wickets in their last three Tests in Mumbai. Kumble averages 21.15 and Harbhajan 17.58 at the Wankhede.

While none of the Indian batsmen have phenomenal records at Mumbai, three of the top four average above fifty. Sachin Tendulkar has a century and six fifties from seven Tests at his home ground. . Rahul Dravid averages 63.28 and Virender Sehwag 53.33.

India England England tour of India

George Binoy is editorial assistant of Cricinfo. For the stats he was helped by Arun Gopalakrishnan from Cricinfo's Chennai office