Every ball that Clarke, Pietersen, Cook and Amla faced

This is the second article of a series, using ball-by-ball data, which the readers have repeatedly asked for during the past three years. For an introduction to the work done, please refer to the first article on contemporary bowlers.

I have given below the revised plan for the analyses which would be done. Readers can contribute their bit in suggesting whether anything else can be done.

1. The top three modern bowlers: with over 85% of ball-by-ball data available (15 bowlers: Steyn/Anderson/Harbhajan are featured). This article has already been published.
2. The top four modern batsmen: with over 75% of ball-by-ball data available. Clarke, Pietersen, Cook and Amla are featured in this article, which is the current one. Thirteen other batsmen are included in the downloadable tables.
3. The third analysis will be a combined analyses of the entire data. I will look at all the batsmen and bowlers together and bring out tables of bowler-batsman combinations exceeding 100 balls. There are 2831 such combinations. This will mean that there will be no artificial restrictions or cut-offs. This table will be available in two orders: by bowler and by batsman.
4. Special analyses, to be decided as we go on, based on reader inputs.

The current analysis will cover the batsmen for whom over 75% of data is available and over 5000 Test runs have been scored. I have selected 17 batsmen and featured four batsmen in the article. This article features four top batsmen of the current generation. The batsmen featured are Michael Clarke, Kevin Pietersen, Alastair Cook and Hashim Amla. Virtually no one will have any problems with this selection. The others considered are Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, VVS Laxman and Ricky Ponting. These eight batsmen, along with eight others form the complete selection. Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Shivnarine Chanderpaul just missed the cut-off of 75%. Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Stephen Fleming are way below the cut-off, in fact, below 60% mark. However, I can assure all readers that all these great batsmen are very well represented in the third article.

I am not going to spend too much time on explaining the types of analyses which are possible. It is better that we move on to the tables. There will only be minimal comments. There is, however, a summary at the end. There are six tables for each of the featured batsmen since the balls/runs ones have been combined into one and the late order batsmen table, which was there in the bowler analysis, does not have a place here.

Michael Clarke

1. Ordered by Wickets in MICHAEL CLARKE-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowAvge	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wickets	StrikeRate	AvgeVsBowler
James Anderson	RFM	29.70	21	267	157	7	38.1	22.43
Dale Steyn	RF	22.66	19	376	253	7	53.7	36.14
Ishant Sharma	RFM	37.99	19	435	273	7	62.1	39.00
Steve Harmison	RFM	31.82	17	270	140	6	45.0	23.33
Anil Kumble	rlb	29.65	14	469	276	6	78.2	46.00
Zaheer Khan	LFM	32.36	19	460	260	5	92.0	52.00
Ravindra Jadeja	lsp	19.85	6	190	72	5	38.0	14.40
Rangana Herath	lsp	29.52	8	309	192	4	77.2	48.00
Matthew Hoggard	RFM	30.50	12	243	158	4	60.8	39.50
Mohammad Asif	RFM	24.37	8	198	87	4	49.5	21.75
Total for 10 batsmen				3217	1868	55	58.5	33.96

James Anderson moved to top of Clarke dismissals with his Trent Bridge dismissal. Ravindra Jadeja is a surprise presence here. And at a very low average.

2. Ordered by Balls bowled in MICHAEL CLARKE-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowAvge	Inns	Balls	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Harbhajan Singh	rob	32.38	23	527	372	70.6%	135	25.6%	20	3.8%
Anil Kumble	rlb	29.65	14	469	335	71.4%	98	20.9%	36	7.7%
Zaheer Khan	LFM	32.36	19	460	334	72.6%	94	20.4%	32	7.0%
Ishant Sharma	RFM	37.99	19	435	309	71.0%	92	21.1%	37	8.5%
Dale Steyn	RF	22.66	19	376	253	67.3%	94	25.0%	30	8.0%
Morne Morkel	RF	29.98	12	375	254	67.7%	79	21.1%	42	11.2%
Andrew Flintoff	RFM	32.79	17	375	280	74.7%	75	20.0%	20	5.3%
R Ashwin	rob	28.53	8	355	227	63.9%	100	28.2%	29	8.2%
Daniel Vettori	lsp	34.42	11	336	238	70.8%	80	23.8%	18	5.4%
Graeme Swann	rob	28.73	11	332	253	76.2%	65	19.6%	14	4.2%

The increase in India-Australia contests has propelled four Indian bowlers to the top of this table. And then two South African bowlers.

3. Ordered by Bowling SR (High) in CLARKE-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowCarStRate	Inns	Balls	Wickets	Strike rate
Andrew Flintoff	RFM	66.2	17	375	0	375.0
R Ashwin	rob	59.1	8	355	1	355.0
Tim Southee	RFM	65.1	7	273	0	273.0
Chris Martin	RFM	60.2	10	257	1	257.0
Virender Sehwag	rob	93.3	8	234	0	234.0
Jacques Kallis	RFM	68.9	11	229	0	229.0
Ashley Giles	lsp	85.2	9	222	1	222.0
Makhaya Ntini	RF	53.4	9	204	0	204.0
M Muralitharan	rob	55.0	4	178	0	178.0
Mohammad Amir	RF	56.2	6	171	1	171.0
Total for 10 batsmen				2498	4	624.5

Andrew Flintoff and Tim Southee have not managed a single dismissal despite bowling 650 balls. It is surprising that R Ashwin has been mastered by Clarke but in Jadeja, he has found his Waterloo.

4. Ordered by Bowling SR (Low) in CLARKE-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowCarStRate	Inns	Balls	Wickets	Strike rate
Simon Jones	RFM	47.8	7	69	3	23.0
Narsingh Deonarine	rob	61.5	7	85	3	28.3
Shaminda Eranga	RFM	64.0	5	104	3	34.7
Ravindra Jadeja	lsp	58.5	6	190	5	38.0
James Anderson	RFM	57.8	21	267	7	38.1
Amit Mishra	rlb	81.3	3	121	3	40.3
Steve Harmison	RFM	59.2	17	270	6	45.0
Mohammad Asif	RFM	48.8	8	198	4	49.5
Dwayne Bravo	RFM	75.0	8	156	3	52.0
Dale Steyn	RF	41.2	19	376	7	53.7
Total for 10 batsmen				1836	44	41.7

Simon Jones, in the 2005 Ashes series had the complete measure of Clarke. A very surprising bowler at the top: Narsingh Deonaraine. Then there are Shaminda Eranga, and Jadeja. Is there a chink in Clarke's armour when it comes to fairly ordinary bowlers?

5. By Batting Scoring rate (High) in CLARKE-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	CareerScRt	Inns	Balls	Runs	Scoring Rate	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Imran Tahir	rlb	55.7	5	109	119	109.2	50	45.9%	42	38.5%	17	15.6%
Umesh Yadav	RFM	55.7	6	153	122	79.7	102	66.7%	34	22.2%	18	11.8%
Morne Morkel	RF	55.7	12	375	277	73.9	254	67.7%	79	21.1%	42	11.2%
R Ashwin	rob	55.7	8	355	247	69.6	227	63.9%	100	28.2%	29	8.2%
Danish Kaneria	rlb	55.7	8	221	152	68.8	135	61.1%	73	33.0%	13	5.9%
Dale Steyn	RF	55.7	19	376	253	67.3	253	67.3%	94	25.0%	30	8.0%
Ashley Giles	lsp	55.7	9	222	149	67.1	143	64.4%	60	27.0%	19	8.6%
Chris Martin	RFM	55.7	10	257	174	67.7	185	72.0%	49	19.1%	24	9.3%
Chanaka Welegedara	rob	55.7	7	123	83	67.5	92	74.8%	18	14.6%	13	10.6%
Monty Panesar	lsp	55.7	4	136	89	65.4	89	65.4%	36	26.5%	11	8.1%
Total for 10 batsmen				2327	1665	71.6

Clarke dismissed Imran Tahir from his presence. Look at the good scoring rates against Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

6. By Batting Scoring rate (Low) in CLARKE-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	CarScrRt	Inns	Balls	Runs	Scoring Rate	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Ravindra Jadeja	lsp	55.7	6	190	72	37.9	154	81.1%	27	14.2%	9	4.7%
Paul Harris	lsp	55.7	11	324	127	39.2	242	74.7%	71	21.9%	11	3.4%
Darren Sammy	RFM	55.7	7	125	49	39.2	95	76.0%	27	21.6%	3	2.4%
Dwayne Bravo	RFM	55.7	8	156	64	41.0	124	79.5%	27	17.3%	6	3.8%
Fidel Edwards	RF	55.7	6	124	52	41.9	94	75.8%	25	20.2%	5	4.0%
Amit Mishra	rlb	55.7	3	121	52	43.0	95	78.5%	21	17.4%	5	4.1%
Mohammad Asif	RFM	55.7	8	198	87	43.9	159	80.3%	28	14.1%	11	5.6%
Doug Bracewell	RFM	55.7	3	102	44	43.1	82	80.4%	14	13.7%	6	5.9%
Mohammad Amir	RF	55.7	6	171	76	44.4	136	79.5%	27	15.8%	9	5.3%
Iain O'Brien	RFM	55.7	3	109	48	44.0	85	78.0%	17	15.6%	7	6.4%
Total for 10 batsmen				1620	671	41.4

Clarke found Jadeja impossible to score off. And some fairly innocuous bowlers like Paul Harris and Darren Sammy contained him.

Kevin Pietersen

7. Ordered by Wickets in KEVIN PIETERSEN-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowAvge	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wickets	StrikeRate	AvgeVsBowler
M Muralitharan	rob	22.73	9	235	168	6	39.2	28.00
Brett Lee	RF	30.82	17	324	228	6	54.0	38.00
Glenn McGrath	RFM	21.64	13	270	135	5	54.0	27.00
Shane Warne	rlb	25.42	18	521	308	5	104.2	61.60
S Sreesanth	RFM	37.61	13	231	142	5	46.2	28.40
Morne Morkel	RF	29.98	15	241	172	5	48.2	34.40
Peter Siddle	RFM	28.23	11	208	103	5	41.6	20.60
Saeed Ajmal	rob	27.60	7	104	64	5	20.8	12.80
Shakib Al Hasan	lsp	32.75	7	172	110	4	43.0	27.50
Daniel Vettori	lsp	34.42	8	282	114	4	70.5	28.50
Total for 10 batsmen				2588	1544	50	51.8	30.88

It so happens that this is Muttiah Muralitharan's sum total of Pietersen's dismissals since Pietersen made his debut only in 2005. Then come three Australian bowlers. S Sreesanth is a surprise placement in this table. Steyn does not seem to be as successful against Pietersen as he is against Jonathan Trott.

8. Ordered by Balls bowled in KEVIN PIETERSEN-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowAvge	Inns	Balls	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Shane Warne	rlb	25.42	18	521	362	69.5%	126	24.2%	35	6.7%
Brett Lee	RF	30.82	17	324	218	67.3%	81	25.0%	28	8.6%
Anil Kumble	rlb	29.65	11	310	224	72.3%	62	20.0%	24	7.7%
Ishant Sharma	RFM	37.99	9	306	200	65.4%	75	24.5%	32	10.5%
Daniel Vettori	lsp	34.42	8	282	217	77.0%	54	19.1%	11	3.9%
Glenn McGrath	RFM	21.64	13	270	206	76.3%	46	17.0%	18	6.7%
Harbhajan Singh	rob	32.38	10	264	164	62.1%	82	31.1%	18	6.8%
Zaheer Khan	LFM	32.36	11	250	190	76.0%	45	18.0%	18	7.2%
Danish Kaneria	rlb	34.80	11	249	154	61.8%	67	26.9%	28	11.2%
Stuart Clark	RFM	23.86	10	247	187	75.7%	54	21.9%	7	2.8%

This list is led by the older bowlers.

9. Ordered by Bowling SR (High) in PIETERSEN-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowCarStRate	Inns	Balls	Wickets	Strike rate
Ishant Sharma	RFM	68.4	9	306	1	306.0
Stuart Clark	RFM	54.7	10	247	1	247.0
Daren Powell	RFM	83.4	9	196	0	196.0
Amit Mishra	rlb	81.3	4	169	0	169.0
Praveen Kumar	RFM	59.7	4	164	1	164.0
Anil Kumble	rlb	66.0	11	310	2	155.0
Chris Martin	RFM	60.2	8	155	0	155.0
Harbhajan Singh	rob	68.5	10	264	2	132.0
Makhaya Ntini	RF	53.4	8	129	1	129.0
Zaheer Khan	LFM	59.7	11	250	2	125.0
Total for 10 batsmen				2190	10	219.0

There are six Indian bowlers in this table indicating that the Indian bowlers found it difficult to dismiss Pietersen quickly.

10. Ordered by Bowling SR (Low) in PIETERSEN-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowCarStRate	Inns	Balls	Wickets	Strike rate
Saeed Ajmal	rob	62.1	7	104	5	20.8
M Muralitharan	rob	55.0	9	235	6	39.2
Peter Siddle	RFM	56.6	11	208	5	41.6
Shakib Al Hasan	lsp	68.3	7	172	4	43.0
Fidel Edwards	RF	58.2	12	175	4	43.8
S Sreesanth	RFM	62.3	13	231	5	46.2
Umar Gul	RFM	58.9	10	139	3	46.3
Morne Morkel	RF	55.1	15	241	5	48.2
RP Singh	LFM	63.3	7	152	3	50.7
Rangana Herath	lsp	63.9	7	156	3	52.0
Total for 10 batsmen				1813	43	42.2

Saeed Ajmal had the measure of Pietersen, probably mainly because of the Tests in the UAE. There is really no top bowler, other than Muralitharan, in this table. Some unlikely bowlers like Sreesanth, RP Singh and Shakib Al Hassan. The top three bowlers are all off-spinners.

11. By Batting Scoring rate (High) in PIETERSEN-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	CareerScRt	Inns	Balls	Runs	Scoring Rate	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Dwayne Bravo	RFM	62.5	4	122	103	84.4	71	58.2%	38	31.1%	13	10.7%
Dale Steyn	RF	62.5	11	187	155	82.9	135	72.2%	24	12.8%	30	16.0%
Jerome Taylor	RF	62.5	9	121	99	81.8	72	59.5%	35	28.9%	14	11.6%
Danish Kaneria	rlb	62.5	11	249	201	80.7	154	61.8%	67	26.9%	28	11.2%
Makhaya Ntini	RF	62.5	8	129	103	79.8	90	69.8%	24	18.6%	17	13.2%
Amit Mishra	rlb	62.5	4	169	130	76.9	105	62.1%	44	26.0%	20	11.8%
Fidel Edwards	RF	62.5	12	175	129	73.7	107	61.1%	53	30.3%	16	9.1%
Chris Gayle	rob	62.5	8	165	120	72.7	86	52.1%	71	43.0%	8	4.8%
Morne Morkel	RF	62.5	15	241	172	71.4	169	70.1%	51	21.2%	24	10.0%
M Muralitharan	rob	62.5	9	235	168	71.5	151	64.3%	63	26.8%	21	8.9%
Total for 10 batsmen				1793	1380	77.0

To score at nearly 5 runs per over against Steyn must be Pietersen's crowning achievement.

12. By Batting Scoring rate (Low) in PIETERSEN-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	CarScrRt	Inns	Balls	Runs	Scoring Rate	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Jacob Oram	RM	62.5	6	114	34	29.8	95	83.3%	17	14.9%	3	2.6%
Ben Hilfenhaus	RFM	62.5	8	194	75	38.7	157	80.9%	29	14.9%	8	4.1%
Stuart Clark	RFM	62.5	10	247	96	38.9	187	75.7%	54	21.9%	7	2.8%
Daniel Vettori	lsp	62.5	8	282	114	40.4	217	77.0%	54	19.1%	11	3.9%
Praveen Kumar	RFM	62.5	4	164	76	46.3	122	74.4%	33	20.1%	9	5.5%
Chaminda Vaas	LFM	62.5	10	159	74	46.5	124	78.0%	25	15.7%	10	6.3%
Sulieman Benn	lsp	62.5	7	168	79	47.0	118	70.2%	43	25.6%	7	4.2%
Peter Siddle	RFM	62.5	11	208	103	49.5	163	78.4%	31	14.9%	15	7.2%
Glenn McGrath	RFM	62.5	13	270	135	50.0	206	76.3%	46	17.0%	18	6.7%
Kyle Mills	RM	62.5	6	104	54	51.9	78	75.0%	20	19.2%	6	5.8%
Total for 10 batsmen				1910	840	44.0

Who contained Pietersen? A very unlikely set of second-tier bowlers, led by Jacob Oram and Ben Hilfenhaus. Daniel Vettori and Sulieman Benn are the two left arm spinners in this list.

Alastair Cook

13. Ordered by Wickets in ALASTAIR COOK-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowAvge	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wickets	StrikeRate	AvgeVsBowler
Ishant Sharma	RFM	37.99	12	350	130	7	50.0	18.57
Morne Morkel	RF	29.98	18	428	175	6	71.3	29.17
Umar Gul	RFM	34.07	14	262	120	6	43.7	20.00
Stuart Clark	RFM	23.86	8	132	35	5	26.4	7.00
Zaheer Khan	LFM	32.36	15	384	200	4	96.0	50.00
Mitchell Johnson	LFM	30.93	12	268	206	4	67.0	51.50
Peter Siddle	RFM	28.23	15	386	146	4	96.5	36.50
R Ashwin	rob	28.53	7	510	221	4	127.5	55.25
Trent Boult	RFM	29.12	9	221	62	4	55.2	15.50
Kyle Mills	RM	33.02	8	148	69	3	49.3	23.00
Total for 10 batsmen				3089	1364	47	65.7	29.02

Ishant Sharma seems to have the opposition's captain and best batsman in his radar, always. After Ponting it is Alastair Cook now. The top bowlers are all pace bowlers, understandable since Cook is an opener.

14. Ordered by Balls bowled in ALASTAIR COOK-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowAvge	Inns	Balls	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
R Ashwin	rob	28.53	7	510	396	77.6%	87	17.1%	27	5.3%
M Muralitharan	rob	22.73	8	450	358	79.6%	78	17.3%	14	3.1%
Ben Hilfenhaus	RFM	28.51	15	440	350	79.5%	65	14.8%	27	6.1%
Morne Morkel	RF	29.98	18	428	337	78.7%	76	17.8%	19	4.4%
Peter Siddle	RFM	28.23	15	386	307	79.5%	63	16.3%	17	4.4%
Zaheer Khan	LFM	32.36	15	384	300	78.1%	54	14.1%	32	8.3%
Ishant Sharma	RFM	37.99	12	350	293	83.7%	38	10.9%	21	6.0%
Jerome Taylor	RF	35.65	15	349	257	73.6%	62	17.8%	30	8.6%
Fidel Edwards	RF	37.87	17	335	242	72.2%	71	21.2%	22	6.6%
Dale Steyn	RF	22.66	12	329	259	78.7%	52	15.8%	19	5.8%

Ashwin is at the top because of the marathon innings Cook played in the eight Tests of 2011-12. The top two are off-spinners indicating the length of time Cook bats.

15. Ordered by Bowling SR (High) in COOK-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowCarStRate	Inns	Balls	Wickets	Strike rate
Ben Hilfenhaus	RFM	61.4	15	440	1	440.0
Pragyan Ojha	lsp	70.9	7	317	1	317.0
S Sreesanth	RFM	62.3	10	308	0	308.0
Harbhajan Singh	rob	68.5	8	291	1	291.0
Danish Kaneria	rlb	67.8	7	265	1	265.0
Tim Southee	RFM	65.1	10	264	0	264.0
Suranga Lakmal	RFM	108.2	7	252	1	252.0
Sulieman Benn	lsp	85.9	6	239	1	239.0
M Muralitharan	rob	55.0	8	450	2	225.0
Xavier Doherty	lsp	131.1	3	200	0	200.0
Total for 10 batsmen				3026	8	378.2

Cook certainly had the measure of the Indian bowlers. And of Hilfenhaus: 440 balls and one wicket speaks volumes of Cook's mastery over Hilfenhaus.

16. Ordered by Bowling SR (Low) in COOK-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowCarStRate	Inns	Balls	Wickets	Strike rate
Mohammad Amir	RF	56.2	6	78	3	26.0
Stuart Clark	RFM	54.7	8	132	5	26.4
Vernon Philander	RFM	36.8	6	104	3	34.7
Riyad Mahmudullah	rob	78.5	6	106	3	35.3
Umar Gul	RFM	58.9	14	262	6	43.7
Kyle Mills	RM	66.0	8	148	3	49.3
Ishant Sharma	RFM	68.4	12	350	7	50.0
Trent Boult	RFM	59.4	9	221	4	55.2
Mohammad Asif	RFM	48.8	9	166	3	55.3
Glenn McGrath	RFM	52.0	10	176	3	58.7
Total for 10 batsmen				1743	40	43.6

Mohammad Amir and Stuart Clarke had excellent sub-30 strike rates against Cook. Mohammad Mahmudullah and Trent Boult are surprising presence in this list.

17. By Batting Scoring rate (High) in COOK-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	CareerScRt	Inns	Balls	Runs	Scoring Rate	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Mitchell Johnson	LFM	47.4	12	268	206	76.9	167	62.3%	77	28.7%	25	9.3%
S Sreesanth	RFM	47.4	10	308	201	65.3	222	72.1%	55	17.9%	32	10.4%
Abdur Razzak	lsp	47.4	4	115	73	63.5	68	59.1%	41	35.7%	6	5.2%
Chanaka Welegedara	rob	47.4	5	134	82	61.2	100	74.6%	21	15.7%	13	9.7%
Jerome Taylor	RF	47.4	15	349	207	59.3	257	73.6%	62	17.8%	30	8.6%
Shakib Al Hasan	lsp	47.4	4	114	67	58.8	72	63.2%	36	31.6%	6	5.3%
Paul Harris	lsp	47.4	8	184	107	58.2	128	69.6%	45	24.5%	11	6.0%
Tillakaratne Dilshan	rob	47.4	8	116	64	55.2	82	70.7%	26	22.4%	8	6.9%
Neil Wagner	RFM	47.4	8	165	92	55.8	120	72.7%	34	20.6%	11	6.7%
Dilhara Fernando	RFM	47.4	5	176	98	55.7	129	73.3%	34	19.3%	13	7.4%
Total for 10 batsmen				1929	1197	62.1

Cook had taken a liking to the inconsistent left arm fast bowling of Mitchell Johnson. And a few left arm spinners. But overall not as high figures as Pietersen has.

18. By Batting Scoring rate (Low) in COOK-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	CarScrRt	Inns	Balls	Runs	Scoring Rate	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Stuart Clark	RFM	47.4	8	132	35	26.5	112	84.8%	17	12.9%	3	2.3%
Trent Boult	RFM	47.4	9	221	62	28.1	193	87.3%	22	10.0%	7	3.2%
Chris Gayle	rob	47.4	8	259	85	32.8	197	76.1%	59	22.8%	3	1.2%
M Muralitharan	rob	47.4	8	450	152	33.8	358	79.6%	78	17.3%	14	3.1%
Saeed Ajmal	rob	47.4	5	254	88	34.6	210	82.7%	33	13.0%	11	4.3%
Danish Kaneria	rlb	47.4	7	265	91	34.3	209	78.9%	49	18.5%	7	2.6%
Jacques Kallis	RFM	47.4	10	169	62	36.7	136	80.5%	25	14.8%	8	4.7%
Dwayne Bravo	RFM	47.4	5	134	50	37.3	110	82.1%	21	15.7%	4	3.0%
Ishant Sharma	RFM	47.4	12	350	130	37.1	293	83.7%	38	10.9%	21	6.0%
Rangana Herath	lsp	47.4	7	247	93	37.7	184	74.5%	56	22.7%	7	2.8%
Total for 10 batsmen				2481	848	34.2

Look at the way Muralitharan contained Cook. And Saeed Ajmal. This table is equally divided between spinners and pace bowlers.

Hashim Amla

19. Ordered by Wickets in HASHIM AMLA-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowAvge	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wickets	StrikeRate	AvgeVsBowler
S Sreesanth	RFM	37.61	15	234	155	6	39.0	25.83
Mitchell Johnson	LFM	30.93	17	374	245	6	62.3	40.83
Harbhajan Singh	rob	32.38	14	606	291	5	121.2	58.20
Mohammad Asif	RFM	24.37	8	129	60	5	25.8	12.00
Peter Siddle	RFM	28.23	17	465	173	4	116.2	43.25
Steve Harmison	RFM	31.82	5	68	38	3	22.7	12.67
Stuart Broad	RFM	30.94	15	437	226	3	145.7	75.33
Abdur Rehman	lsp	28.41	6	232	117	3	77.3	39.00
Shane Shillingford	rob	31.23	5	102	42	3	34.0	14.00
Daniel Vettori	lsp	34.42	8	320	133	2	160.0	66.50
Total for 10 batsmen				2967	1480	40	74.2	37.00

20. Ordered by Balls bowled in HASHIM AMLA-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowAvge	Inns	Balls	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Harbhajan Singh	rob	32.38	14	606	423	69.8%	159	26.2%	24	4.0%
Peter Siddle	RFM	28.23	17	465	394	84.7%	45	9.7%	27	5.8%
Stuart Broad	RFM	30.94	15	437	339	77.6%	73	16.7%	31	7.1%
James Anderson	RFM	29.70	15	429	310	72.3%	84	19.6%	37	8.6%
Graeme Swann	rob	28.73	6	375	261	69.6%	95	25.3%	19	5.1%
Mitchell Johnson	LFM	30.93	17	374	264	70.6%	79	21.1%	34	9.1%
Amit Mishra	rlb	43.30	3	326	262	80.4%	54	16.6%	10	3.1%
Daniel Vettori	lsp	34.42	8	320	234	73.1%	74	23.1%	12	3.8%
Zaheer Khan	LFM	32.36	10	280	205	73.2%	51	18.2%	24	8.6%
Saeed Ajmal	rob	27.60	7	274	174	63.5%	87	31.8%	13	4.7%

Surprisingly, Harbhajan Singh is at the top: over 100 overs to Amla. Maybe the long innings played during their Indian tour was the cause. Stuart Broad, Anderson and Graeme Swann must have bowled a fair share of these balls during the triple century in 2012.

21. Ordered by Bowling SR (High) in AMLA-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowCarStRate	Inns	Balls	Wickets	Strike rate
Amit Mishra	rlb	81.3	3	326	0	326.0
Chris Martin	RFM	60.2	11	251	0	251.0
James Anderson	RFM	57.8	15	429	2	214.5
Danish Kaneria	rlb	67.8	8	202	0	202.0
Doug Bracewell	RFM	60.3	7	195	1	195.0
Graeme Swann	rob	59.2	6	375	2	187.5
Umar Gul	RFM	58.9	10	184	0	184.0
Ben Hilfenhaus	RFM	61.4	7	164	1	164.0
Daniel Vettori	lsp	79.7	8	320	2	160.0
Stuart Broad	RFM	60.6	15	437	3	145.7
Total for 10 batsmen				2883	11	262.1

There are quality spinners in this lot, indicating the comfort with which Amla played spinners.

22. Ordered by Bowling SR (Low) in AMLA-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	BowCarStRate	Inns	Balls	Wickets	Strike rate
Steve Harmison	RFM	59.2	5	68	3	22.7
Mohammad Asif	RFM	48.8	8	129	5	25.8
Shane Shillingford	rob	63.1	5	102	3	34.0
S Sreesanth	RFM	62.3	15	234	6	39.0
Mitchell Johnson	LFM	55.3	17	374	6	62.3
Abdur Rehman	lsp	66.1	6	232	3	77.3
Total for 10 batsmen				2647	38	69.7

Steve Harmison had the measure of Amla. And Asif. Then comes Shane Shillingford. But the real surprise is Sreesanth: 6 wickets at below 40 balls per wicket. There are only 7 bowlers with balls per wicket values below 100, indicating how careful Amla has been. It may also be caused by the fewer number matches played by Amla.

23. By Batting Scoring rate (High) in AMLA-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	CareerScRt	Inns	Balls	Runs	Scoring Rate	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Nathan Lyon	rob	52.6	8	134	106	79.1	77	57.5%	47	35.1%	10	7.5%
S Sreesanth	RFM	52.6	15	234	155	66.2	172	73.5%	37	15.8%	25	10.7%
Mitchell Johnson	LFM	52.6	17	374	245	65.5	264	70.6%	79	21.1%	34	9.1%
Ishant Sharma	RFM	52.6	7	258	165	64.0	177	68.6%	58	22.5%	23	8.9%
Tim Bresnan	RFM	52.6	3	128	79	61.7	89	69.5%	29	22.7%	10	7.8%
Shahadat Hossain	RFM	52.6	5	106	64	60.4	76	71.7%	22	20.8%	9	8.5%
Virender Sehwag	rob	52.6	5	113	68	60.2	79	69.9%	24	21.2%	10	8.8%
Umar Gul	RFM	52.6	10	184	110	59.8	130	70.7%	41	22.3%	14	7.6%
Mark Gillespie	RFM	52.6	4	103	61	59.2	79	76.7%	16	15.5%	9	8.7%
Saeed Ajmal	rob	52.6	7	274	164	59.9	174	63.5%	87	31.8%	13	4.7%
Total for 10 batsmen				1908	1217	63.8

Possibly the most impressive of these numbers is the one against Johnson. 374 balls at nearly 4 runs per over. This table is stuffed with pace bowlers.

24. By Batting Scoring rate (Low) in AMLA-Bowler combination

Bowler	Type	CarScrRt	Inns	Balls	Runs	Scoring Rate	Dot Balls	% of total	1/2/3 run balls	% of total	Boundary balls	% of total
Amit Mishra	rlb	52.6	3	326	99	30.4	262	80.4%	54	16.6%	10	3.1%
James Pattinson	RFM	52.6	3	103	37	35.9	86	83.5%	16	15.5%	3	2.9%
Danish Kaneria	rlb	52.6	8	202	74	36.6	149	73.8%	47	23.3%	6	3.0%
Peter Siddle	RFM	52.6	17	465	173	37.2	394	84.7%	45	9.7%	27	5.8%
Anil Kumble	rlb	52.6	7	224	83	37.1	173	77.2%	44	19.6%	7	3.1%
Mohammad Hafeez	rob	52.6	7	129	52	40.3	93	72.1%	31	24.0%	5	3.9%
Shane Shillingford	rob	52.6	5	102	42	41.2	77	75.5%	20	19.6%	5	4.9%
Daniel Vettori	lsp	52.6	8	320	133	41.6	234	73.1%	74	23.1%	12	3.8%
Chris Martin	RFM	52.6	11	251	108	43.0	201	80.1%	37	14.7%	14	5.6%
Mohammad Asif	RFM	52.6	8	129	60	46.5	105	81.4%	14	10.9%	10	7.8%
Total for 10 batsmen				2251	861	38.2

Amit Mishra contained Amla to around 30. And quite a few spinners in this lot, indicating that Amla played the spinners carefully.

These are is just samples of the type of insights which can be drawn. I have created an Excel sheet with 17 contemporary batsmen who have ball-by-ball data exceeding 80% and uploaded this. To download/view the document, a veritable treasure-trove of information, please CLICK HERE.

The 17 batsmen covered in this table are given below. The figures at the beginning indicate the quantum of ball-by-ball data available for this batsman.

BBB % Batsman selected 
	100.0 - Michael Clarke 
	100.0 - Kevin Pietersen 
	100.0 - Alastair Cook 
	100.0 - Hashim Amla 
	100.0 - Michael Hussey 
	100.0 - Virender Sehwag 
	100.0 - Graeme Smith 
	100.0 - Andrew Strauss 
	100.0 - AB de Villiers 
	93.9 - Kumar Sangakkara 
	90.6 - Chris Gayle 
	89.9 - Younis Khan 
	86.5 - Matthew Hayden 
	85.3 - VVS Laxman 
	80.8 - Adam Gilchrist 
	80.8 - Mahela Jayawardene 
	78.5 - Ricky Ponting 
	

I have given below a few exceptional situations from the tables of 17 batsmen. Let me also suggest that the interested readers can peruse the Excel sheet and come out with such interesting sidelights.

Balls bowled: Sangakkara -Ajmal 906 
	Shivnarine Chanderpaul-Harbhajan Singh 790 
	Kumar Sangakkara -Harbhajan Singh 742 
	
Runs scored: Mahela Jayawardene-Harbhajan Singh 431 
	Graeme Smith -James Anderson 411 
	Kumar Sangakkara -Saeed Ajmal 393 
	
High St Rate: Kumar Sangakkara -Umar Gul 508 (1) 
	Jacques Kallis -Anil Kumble 494 (1) 
	Jacques Kallis -Daniel Vettori 475 (0) 
	Shivnarine Chanderpaul-Steve Harmison 464 (1) 
	
Low St Rate: Virender Sehwag -Graeme Swann 79 (5 @ 15.8) 
	Ricky Ponting -Darren Gough 103 (5 @ 20.6) 
	Kevin Pietersen -Saeed Ajmal 104 (5 @ 21.8) 
	Virender Sehwag -James Anderson 109 (5 @ 21.9) 
	
High Sc Rate: Adam Gilchrist -Steve Harmison 152 in 120 
	Chris Gayle -Andre Nel 147 in 129 
	Virender Sehwag -Ajantha Mendis 146 in 130 
	
Low Sc Rate: Rahul Dravid -Glenn McGrath 26 in 170 
	Rahul Dravid -Michael Kasprowicz 20 in 130 
	Shivnarine Chanderpaul-Kyle Mills 20 in 124 
	

Readers can, if they care, write on the types of analyses which could be done using these data. Please do not, however, ask for details of how Asad Shafiq faced up to Lonwabo Tsotsobe or Nick Compton's performance against Ashwin. Let it be of interest to all the readers.

My tuppennyworth on the happenings in the first Ashes Test.

1. Broad family does not walk. For that matter most families do not walk. This is the generation of stayers, not walkers.
2. Broad cannot be blamed. Michael Holding has a point. But there seems to be a fine line between cheating and blatantly taking advantage of rules.
3. Gilchrist, the batsman (I repeat, the batsman), walked and walked always. I remember Lara, after a very tough tour of India in 1994, walked at 91 for the faintest of touches. S Srinivas Venkataraghavan said that he was not going to give Lara out since he was not sure.
4. It is clear that the English are better at planning the DRS referrals than Australians. Their innate conservatism helps them a lot.
5. No colouring of the rules should allow a howler of this sort. It is easy to say things from the outside. But common-sense should take over.
6. Howlers are howlers and should be taken off the map. There are two options. Let the third umpire immediately call the umpire concerned and ask for a special referral. Then the established steps could follow.
7. Alternately or in addition, allow a team six referrals (reduced from the current total of 8), but for the entire match, batting, bowling and both innings combined.
8. It is also possible that the Ashton Agar stumping more than compensated for the Broad fiasco and Trott semi-fiasco. However three wrongs do not make two rights.
9. Irrespective of what happened earlier, were England ahead of Australia by 14 runs? Of course, yes.
10.The comment I appreciated most was that of McGrath. "If Australia had a review, Broad would have walked". Beautifully put. On the stumps, with unwavering accuracy and a very keen understanding of the situation. As the great guy bowled.

Give me one such Test any day and you can keep the entire IPL-6. I will throw in a few of these Tri-series also. I had written to Milind before play started on the last day "I hope there is a final twist in the Test today. Already there have been quite a few (217 ao, 117 for 9, Agar stumping, 280, 120 for 2 to 4, Ian Bell DRS, Broad incident, Clarke's faintest of touches (needed a magnifying glass to see that dab of white) leading to 2 more wickets)". Well there were probably three more twists: the 5 quick wickets, the missed run-out and catch and finally a DRS decision which was missed by Aleem Dar again. What a Test? Towards the end I was rooting for an Australian score of 310.

Shahid Afridi's magnificent performance, in probably his 27th comeback in a remarkable career, is probably the greatest all-round performance in the history of the ODI game. Paul Collingwood 's 6 for 31 and 112 were against Bangladesh. Viv Richards' 5 for 41 and 119 were against a rather weak New Zealand. But Afridi's efforts were against a very good West Indian side. Pakistan surely missed Afridi in the Champions Trophy.