Head-to-head stats for Lara, Tendulkar, Muralitharan, Warne and eight others
An analysis of how the top batsmen and bowlers fared against their major opponents in Tests based on the available ball-by-ball data
Rahul Dravid had the measure of most of the bowlers he faced in his career • AFP
This is the article, the third of a series, using ball-by-ball data, which the readers have repeatedly asked for during the past three years. For an introduction to that work please refer to the first article on contemporary bowlers. I had followed this with another article on contemporary batsmen.
First, let me present a paradox while determining a bowler-batsman confrontation metrics. This relates to the grey area in handling no-balls. The no-ball related runs are charged to the bowlers but not to the batsmen. The ball itself is added to the batsman but not to the bowler. This leads to the following anomaly.
Let us take an over by Mitchell Starc to Alastair Cook, which is the first over of the match.
Ball 1: Dot ball.
Ball 2: 2 runs scored by Cook. 2 runs for team and against Starc.
Ball 3: Wide. 1 run to team and 1 run against Starc.
Ball 3: 2 leg byes. 2 runs to team.
Ball 4: No ball. 1 run scored. 2 runs to team, 2 runs against Starc and 1 run to Cook.
Ball 4: 4 byes. 4 runs to team.
Ball 5: Dot ball.
Ball 6: No ball. 1 run to team, 1 run against Starc.
Ball 6: Dot ball.
At the end of the over the team score is 12 for 0 (9 extras). Starc's analysis reads 1.0-0-6-0 (6 balls and 6 runs (3 to Cook and 3 wide/no-balls)). Cook's score reads 7 balls and 3 runs (2 & 1). No problem about the runs. But the head-to-head confrontation between Starc and Cook has a problem. Do we take six balls or seven balls? I have taken the no ball as a ball for the combination. That is common-sense.
The present article covers the batsmen and bowlers, some who rank amongst the best whoever wielded a bat or held a ball, who have fewer than 75% of ball-by-ball data available. I have changed the format of this article as compared to the previous two. In those I had covered bowlers and batsmen separately and featured four bowlers and batsmen and created a number of tables for each of those. I had also created a downloadable Excel sheet which contained the complete data for the selected batsmen and bowlers.
In this analysis, I have gone about it differently. Since 100% data is not available for these players nothing is gained by doing an elaborate analysis. There would always be that feeling of incomplete data around these tables. Hence I have selected six batsmen and 6 bowlers each from the collection of players who have between 40% and 75% ball-by-ball data available and presented a single table for each player. The comments are thus specific to these players.
I have also uploaded an Excel sheet containing all instances of bowler-batsman combinations with 100 balls or more, extracted from the entire ball-by-ball data. There are 2844 such instances. In addition I have included 110 instances where three or more wickets were captured and fewer than 100 balls bowled. Thus, the data would almost be complete if one downloads all three Excel sheets. A hundred-balls represents a good cut-off. It is of very little relevance to know that Shane Warne bowled ten balls to Dinesh Karthik and 16 runs were scored or that VVS Laxman bowled ten balls to AB de Villiers and 3 runs were scored.
The players selected are given below. The percentage value on the left shows the extent of ball-by-ball data available. Sachin Tendulkar's ball-by-ball percentage is slightly higher since he is still active and each new Test adds to this component. If, as expected, he retires at the end of the South African tour, he is likely to finish at around 60%.
Batsmen:
45.1% Brian Lara
58.2% Sachin Tendulkar
71.3% Rahul Dravid
71.9% Jacques Kallis
67.4% Mohammad Yousuf
72.5% Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Bowlers:
54.1% Muttiah Muralitharan
40.2% Shane Warne
43.0% Glenn McGrath
50.2% Shaun Pollock
66.7% Shoaib Akhtar
53.7% Anil Kumble
Justification of these players' selections would be akin to gilding the lily. Most of them select themselves. I selected Mohammad Yousuf instead of Inzamam-ul-Haq since there is a lot more data available for him. Shoaib Akhtar is a late selection. Daniel Vettori was an alternative. Similarly, Stephen Fleming for Shivnarine Chanderpaul was another possibility.
I would like to emphasise that the ball-by-ball data availability for these players is around 50%. This has to be remembered when deriving insights. It is also a fact that the 50% mark pertains to the latter half of the concerned player's career. My suggestion is not to extrapolate. Just take the figures at their face value.
Selected 6 Batsmen
Bowler | Type | Bowling Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M Muralitharan | rob | 22.73 | 9 | 709 | 373 | 3 | 52.6 | 124.33 | 236.3 |
Chaminda Vaas | LFM | 29.58 | 9 | 372 | 233 | 1 | 62.6 | 233.00 | 372.0 |
Andre Nel | RFM | 31.86 | 11 | 341 | 185 | 8 | 54.3 | 23.12 | 42.6 |
Makhaya Ntini | RF | 28.83 | 11 | 312 | 225 | 1 | 72.1 | 225.00 | 312.0 |
Steve Harmison | RFM | 31.82 | 13 | 303 | 146 | 4 | 48.2 | 36.50 | 75.8 |
Danish Kaneria | rlb | 34.80 | 8 | 298 | 260 | 3 | 87.2 | 86.67 | 99.3 |
Andrew Flintoff | RF | 32.79 | 10 | 263 | 109 | 4 | 41.4 | 27.25 | 65.8 |
Jacques Kallis | RFM | 32.43 | 8 | 251 | 148 | 0 | 59.0 | 148.00 | 251.0 |
Brett Lee | RF | 30.82 | 14 | 243 | 172 | 2 | 70.8 | 86.00 | 121.5 |
Stuart MacGill | rlb | 29.03 | 7 | 236 | 174 | 2 | 73.7 | 87.00 | 118.0 |
Glenn McGrath | RFM | 21.64 | 12 | 233 | 90 | 2 | 38.6 | 45.00 | 116.5 |
Jason Gillespie | RF | 26.14 | 8 | 214 | 82 | 0 | 38.3 | 82.00 | 214.0 |
Shaun Pollock | RFM | 23.12 | 6 | 192 | 63 | 1 | 32.8 | 63.00 | 192.0 |
Shahid Nazir | RFM | 35.33 | 4 | 181 | 88 | 0 | 48.6 | 88.00 | 181.0 |
Andy Bichel | RFM | 32.24 | 8 | 171 | 112 | 4 | 65.5 | 28.00 | 42.8 |
Shane Warne | rlb | 25.42 | 7 | 168 | 105 | 3 | 62.5 | 35.00 | 56.0 |
Abdul Razzaq | RFM | 36.93 | 6 | 168 | 110 | 0 | 65.5 | 110.00 | 168.0 |
Thilan Samaraweera | rob | 45.93 | 7 | 161 | 80 | 1 | 49.7 | 80.00 | 161.0 |
Gareth Batty | rob | 66.64 | 1 | 161 | 130 | 0 | 80.7 | 130.00 | 161.0 |
Matthew Hoggard | RFM | 30.50 | 10 | 159 | 137 | 1 | 86.2 | 137.00 | 159.0 |
1. Muttiah Muralitharan bowled millions of balls to Brian Lara, 709 to be precise (for whatever part of the ball-by-data available career of two). But it is safe to say that Lara mastered Muralitharan: and how? Strike rate over 50, average of 124 and a wicket every 40 overs. Not forgetting that most of these balls were bowled in Sri Lanka.
2. On the flip side, a fairly ordinary bowler like Andre Nel had the complete measure of Lara. Eight wickets at a strike rate of 42. Andy Bichel was also quite successful: four wickets, striking every 43 balls. This is difficult to explain considering that he handled much better fast bowlers better.
3. Lara took Danish Kaneria to the cleaners. A scoring rate of more than 87 over nearly 300 balls. He had a scoring rate of over 70 against six bowlers out of these 20.
4. Glenn McGrath, Shaun Pollock and Jason Gillespie kept Lara in check, but with very little success. In fact, Kallis and Gillespie bowled a lot at Lara but did not dismiss him even once. Lara attacked Warne but also lost his wicket often.
Bowler | Type | Bowling Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mitchell Johnson | LF | 30.93 | 18 | 502 | 250 | 3 | 49.8 | 83.33 | 167.3 |
Paul Harris | lsp | 37.87 | 7 | 441 | 154 | 3 | 34.9 | 51.33 | 147.0 |
Brett Lee | RF | 30.82 | 19 | 432 | 242 | 5 | 56.0 | 48.40 | 86.4 |
M Muralitharan | rob | 22.73 | 14 | 366 | 196 | 6 | 53.6 | 32.67 | 61.0 |
James Anderson | RFM | 29.67 | 23 | 350 | 208 | 9 | 59.4 | 23.11 | 38.9 |
Ashley Giles | lsp | 40.60 | 5 | 348 | 125 | 1 | 35.9 | 125.00 | 348.0 |
Andrew Flintoff | RF | 32.79 | 17 | 342 | 133 | 2 | 38.9 | 66.50 | 171.0 |
Daniel Vettori | lsp | 34.42 | 12 | 314 | 95 | 3 | 30.3 | 31.67 | 104.7 |
Dale Steyn | RF | 22.66 | 11 | 310 | 149 | 3 | 48.1 | 49.67 | 103.3 |
Monty Panesar | lsp | 33.78 | 13 | 304 | 149 | 4 | 49.0 | 37.25 | 76.0 |
Matthew Hoggard | RFM | 30.50 | 13 | 292 | 182 | 3 | 62.3 | 60.67 | 97.3 |
Mohammad Sami | RF | 52.74 | 9 | 287 | 127 | 1 | 44.3 | 127.00 | 287.0 |
Mohammad Rafique | lsp | 40.76 | 5 | 283 | 140 | 1 | 49.5 | 140.00 | 283.0 |
Graeme Swann | rob | 28.14 | 14 | 279 | 150 | 4 | 53.8 | 37.50 | 69.8 |
Danish Kaneria | rlb | 34.80 | 8 | 269 | 151 | 1 | 56.1 | 151.00 | 269.0 |
Mervyn Dillon | RFM | 33.63 | 10 | 267 | 163 | 2 | 61.0 | 81.50 | 133.5 |
Ben Hilfenhaus | RFM | 28.51 | 10 | 250 | 161 | 0 | 64.4 | 161.00 | 250.0 |
Nathan Hauritz | rob | 34.98 | 5 | 236 | 179 | 1 | 75.8 | 179.00 | 236.0 |
Shakib Al Hasan | lsp | 32.75 | 5 | 234 | 119 | 1 | 50.9 | 119.00 | 234.0 |
Cameron Cuffy | RF | 33.67 | 8 | 233 | 107 | 2 | 45.9 | 53.50 | 116.5 |
1. James Anderson had the complete measure of Tendulkar. He got his wickets nine times at a strike rate of 39 balls.
2. In view of the contest at year-end, it is significant to note that Tendulkar has handled Dale Steyn quite comfortably.
3. Tendulkar has been circumspect against most bowlers. There is only one bowler, Nathan Hauritz, against whom Tendulkar had a scoring rate exceeding 70.
4. Possibly because this pertained to Tendulkar's second half of his career, there seems to be a cautious handling of the bowlers. Most spinners have kept Tendulkar quiet.
Bowler | Type | Bowling Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M Muralitharan | rob | 22.73 | 16 | 688 | 326 | 5 | 47.4 | 65.20 | 137.6 |
Daniel Vettori | lsp | 34.42 | 12 | 609 | 275 | 2 | 45.2 | 137.50 | 304.5 |
Danish Kaneria | rlb | 34.80 | 13 | 583 | 305 | 5 | 52.3 | 61.00 | 116.6 |
Matthew Hoggard | RFM | 30.50 | 16 | 531 | 218 | 5 | 41.1 | 43.60 | 106.2 |
Andrew Flintoff | RF | 32.79 | 17 | 470 | 154 | 3 | 32.8 | 51.33 | 156.7 |
Mohammad Sami | RF | 52.74 | 14 | 454 | 205 | 2 | 45.2 | 102.50 | 227.0 |
James Anderson | RFM | 29.67 | 18 | 432 | 197 | 5 | 45.6 | 39.40 | 86.4 |
Brett Lee | RF | 30.82 | 16 | 389 | 153 | 5 | 39.3 | 30.60 | 77.8 |
Stuart MacGill | rlb | 29.03 | 8 | 357 | 225 | 0 | 63.0 | 225.00 | 357.0 |
Makhaya Ntini | RF | 28.83 | 13 | 345 | 149 | 3 | 43.2 | 49.67 | 115.0 |
Monty Panesar | lsp | 33.78 | 11 | 343 | 145 | 2 | 42.3 | 72.50 | 171.5 |
Pedro Collins | LFM | 34.62 | 11 | 341 | 178 | 0 | 52.2 | 178.00 | 341.0 |
Stuart Broad | RFM | 31.19 | 10 | 340 | 136 | 2 | 40.0 | 68.00 | 170.0 |
Devendra Bishoo | rlb | 39.55 | 9 | 339 | 165 | 2 | 48.7 | 82.50 | 169.5 |
Mitchell Johnson | LF | 30.93 | 13 | 324 | 113 | 4 | 34.9 | 28.25 | 81.0 |
Graeme Swann | rob | 28.14 | 9 | 318 | 163 | 3 | 51.3 | 54.33 | 106.0 |
Ashley Giles | lsp | 40.60 | 7 | 313 | 112 | 2 | 35.8 | 56.00 | 156.5 |
Jason Gillespie | RF | 26.14 | 12 | 300 | 84 | 4 | 28.0 | 21.00 | 75.0 |
Paul Harris | lsp | 37.87 | 8 | 300 | 107 | 1 | 35.7 | 107.00 | 300.0 |
Chris Martin | RFM | 33.81 | 10 | 297 | 89 | 3 | 30.0 | 29.67 | 99.0 |
1. Rahul Dravid has been quite careful against almost all bowlers. There is only one scoring rate in excess of 60: against Stuart MacGill.
2. No bowler has quite mastered Dravid. The lowest strike rate in this collection is 75, that of Gillespie.
3. Dravid faced Vettori very comfortably: 609 balls and only 2 wickets.
Bowler | Type | Bowling Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harbhajan Singh | rob | 32.38 | 18 | 676 | 382 | 6 | 56.5 | 63.67 | 112.7 |
Danish Kaneria | rlb | 34.80 | 13 | 621 | 258 | 4 | 41.5 | 64.50 | 155.2 |
Shane Warne | rlb | 25.42 | 22 | 550 | 280 | 5 | 50.9 | 56.00 | 110.0 |
Brett Lee | RF | 30.82 | 21 | 528 | 199 | 3 | 37.7 | 66.33 | 176.0 |
Anil Kumble | rlb | 29.65 | 14 | 494 | 191 | 1 | 38.7 | 191.00 | 494.0 |
Daniel Vettori | lsp | 34.42 | 10 | 475 | 208 | 0 | 43.8 | 208.00 | 475.0 |
Abdur Rehman | lsp | 28.41 | 8 | 434 | 222 | 0 | 51.2 | 222.00 | 434.0 |
James Anderson | RFM | 29.67 | 22 | 419 | 177 | 7 | 42.2 | 25.29 | 59.9 |
Zaheer Khan | LFM | 32.36 | 14 | 382 | 157 | 2 | 41.1 | 78.50 | 191.0 |
Glenn McGrath | RFM | 21.64 | 16 | 378 | 133 | 3 | 35.2 | 44.33 | 126.0 |
Andrew Flintoff | RF | 32.79 | 15 | 372 | 139 | 4 | 37.4 | 34.75 | 93.0 |
Steve Harmison | RFM | 31.82 | 13 | 346 | 146 | 4 | 42.2 | 36.50 | 86.5 |
S Sreesanth | RFM | 37.61 | 12 | 328 | 150 | 4 | 45.7 | 37.50 | 82.0 |
Chris Martin | RFM | 33.81 | 15 | 319 | 158 | 4 | 49.5 | 39.50 | 79.8 |
Umar Gul | RFM | 34.07 | 10 | 303 | 165 | 1 | 54.5 | 165.00 | 303.0 |
Peter Siddle | RFM | 28.58 | 15 | 294 | 170 | 2 | 57.8 | 85.00 | 147.0 |
Graeme Swann | rob | 28.14 | 8 | 288 | 147 | 1 | 51.0 | 147.00 | 288.0 |
Ray Price | lsp | 36.06 | 3 | 277 | 143 | 0 | 51.6 | 143.00 | 277.0 |
Mitchell Johnson | LF | 30.93 | 12 | 269 | 88 | 5 | 32.7 | 17.60 | 53.8 |
Dwayne Bravo | RM | 39.70 | 9 | 267 | 132 | 2 | 49.4 | 66.00 | 133.5 |
1. Anderson has been very successful against Jacques Kallis: 7 wickets at a strike rate of 60. Mitchell Johnson has also been quite successful.
2. Barring a few pace bowlers, Kallis has been quite successful against most bowlers.
3. Kallis vs Anil Kumble is simply amazing. 500 balls and a single dismissal. Similarly Graeme Swann has not been successful against Kallis. A single wicket in the 288 balls bowled.
4. Kallis has handled all bowlers quite well but at relatively low scoring rates: all, barring Steve Harmison, below 60.
Bowler | Type | Bowling Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anil Kumble | rlb | 29.65 | 17 | 504 | 287 | 5 | 56.9 | 57.40 | 100.8 |
Matthew Hoggard | RFM | 30.50 | 11 | 376 | 196 | 1 | 52.1 | 196.00 | 376.0 |
Steve Harmison | RFM | 31.82 | 7 | 355 | 235 | 2 | 66.2 | 117.50 | 177.5 |
Daniel Vettori | lsp | 34.42 | 8 | 315 | 110 | 2 | 34.9 | 55.00 | 157.5 |
Irfan Pathan | LM | 32.26 | 16 | 295 | 141 | 5 | 47.8 | 28.20 | 59.0 |
Monty Panesar | lsp | 33.78 | 7 | 291 | 145 | 3 | 49.8 | 48.33 | 97.0 |
Harbhajan Singh | rob | 32.38 | 11 | 263 | 155 | 3 | 58.9 | 51.67 | 87.7 |
Rangana Herath | lsp | 29.52 | 9 | 244 | 112 | 6 | 45.9 | 18.67 | 40.7 |
L Balaji | RM | 37.19 | 9 | 233 | 134 | 2 | 57.5 | 67.00 | 116.5 |
Dave Mohammed | lws | 51.38 | 3 | 228 | 132 | 1 | 57.9 | 132.00 | 228.0 |
Corey Collymore | RFM | 32.30 | 5 | 191 | 89 | 1 | 46.6 | 89.00 | 191.0 |
Zaheer Khan | LFM | 32.36 | 8 | 174 | 100 | 1 | 57.5 | 100.00 | 174.0 |
Andrew Flintoff | RF | 32.79 | 5 | 171 | 64 | 3 | 37.4 | 21.33 | 57.0 |
Jerome Taylor | RF | 35.65 | 5 | 169 | 121 | 0 | 71.6 | 121.00 | 169.0 |
Ray Price | lsp | 36.06 | 2 | 158 | 80 | 2 | 50.6 | 40.00 | 79.0 |
Chris Gayle | rob | 42.01 | 6 | 154 | 64 | 2 | 41.6 | 32.00 | 77.0 |
Dwayne Bravo | RM | 39.70 | 5 | 148 | 95 | 0 | 64.2 | 95.00 | 148.0 |
Iain O'Brien | RFM | 33.27 | 5 | 145 | 73 | 2 | 50.3 | 36.50 | 72.5 |
Daren Powell | RFM | 47.99 | 4 | 144 | 82 | 0 | 56.9 | 82.00 | 144.0 |
Enamul Haque | lsp | 57.11 | 3 | 140 | 89 | 0 | 63.6 | 89.00 | 140.0 |
1. Mohammad Yousuf against Matthew Hoggard is something. A single wicket in 376 balls.
2. Rangana Herath had the measure of Yousuf. He dismissed him six times in 244 balls. Similarly, Irfan Pathan.
3. Kumble bowled the maximum balls and had only reasonable success. Many bowlers had fair strike rates against Yousuf.
4. Yousuf attacked Harmison and Jerome Taylor.
Bowler | Type | Bowling Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harbhajan Singh | rob | 32.38 | 18 | 790 | 260 | 2 | 32.9 | 130.00 | 395.0 |
Anil Kumble | rlb | 29.65 | 13 | 500 | 232 | 6 | 46.4 | 38.67 | 83.3 |
Steve Harmison | RFM | 31.82 | 18 | 464 | 239 | 1 | 51.5 | 239.00 | 464.0 |
Andre Nel | RFM | 31.86 | 12 | 428 | 185 | 3 | 43.2 | 61.67 | 142.7 |
Makhaya Ntini | RF | 28.83 | 16 | 413 | 197 | 5 | 47.7 | 39.40 | 82.6 |
Danish Kaneria | rlb | 34.80 | 11 | 403 | 207 | 6 | 51.4 | 34.50 | 67.2 |
Monty Panesar | lsp | 33.78 | 8 | 392 | 179 | 2 | 45.7 | 89.50 | 196.0 |
Javagal Srinath | RFM | 30.47 | 11 | 382 | 139 | 3 | 36.4 | 46.33 | 127.3 |
Paul Harris | lsp | 37.87 | 9 | 359 | 179 | 1 | 49.9 | 179.00 | 359.0 |
Zaheer Khan | LFM | 32.36 | 9 | 355 | 136 | 2 | 38.3 | 68.00 | 177.5 |
James Anderson | RFM | 29.67 | 14 | 339 | 151 | 2 | 44.5 | 75.50 | 169.5 |
Jacques Kallis | RFM | 32.43 | 17 | 334 | 113 | 2 | 33.8 | 56.50 | 167.0 |
Graeme Swann | rob | 28.14 | 10 | 330 | 122 | 5 | 37.0 | 24.40 | 66.0 |
Brett Lee | RF | 30.82 | 16 | 329 | 126 | 3 | 38.3 | 42.00 | 109.7 |
Ashley Giles | lsp | 40.60 | 9 | 310 | 138 | 3 | 44.5 | 46.00 | 103.3 |
Stuart MacGill | rlb | 29.03 | 9 | 283 | 210 | 3 | 74.2 | 70.00 | 94.3 |
Daniel Vettori | lsp | 34.42 | 8 | 277 | 116 | 3 | 41.9 | 38.67 | 92.3 |
Matthew Hoggard | RFM | 30.50 | 14 | 269 | 146 | 4 | 54.3 | 36.50 | 67.2 |
Stuart Broad | RFM | 31.19 | 10 | 268 | 89 | 5 | 33.2 | 17.80 | 53.6 |
Ashish Nehra | LM | 42.41 | 6 | 261 | 108 | 0 | 41.4 | 108.00 | 261.0 |
1. This has already been discussed when looking at Harbhajan Singh. Chanderpaul was dismissed only twice in 790 balls.
2. Still more dominant is Chanderpaul against Harmison. A single dismissal in 464 balls. On a normal day this represents nearly a day's bowling.
3. But look at Chanderpaul's scoring rates. Plenty of instances below 40. He attacked only one bowler: Stuart MacGill.
Selected 6 Bowlers
Batsman | Type | Batting Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brian Lara | LHB | 52.89 | 9 | 709 | 373 | 3 | 52.6 | 124.33 | 236.3 |
Rahul Dravid | rhb | 52.31 | 16 | 688 | 326 | 5 | 47.4 | 65.20 | 137.6 |
Ramnaresh Sarwan | rhb | 40.01 | 13 | 597 | 222 | 7 | 37.2 | 31.71 | 85.3 |
Mohammad Ashraful | rhb | 24.01 | 17 | 563 | 276 | 7 | 49.0 | 39.43 | 80.4 |
VVS Laxman | rhb | 45.97 | 15 | 496 | 240 | 2 | 48.4 | 120.00 | 248.0 |
Stephen Fleming | LHB | 40.07 | 5 | 453 | 171 | 0 | 37.7 | 171.00 | 453.0 |
Alastair Cook | LHB | 48.45 | 8 | 450 | 152 | 2 | 33.8 | 76.00 | 225.0 |
Paul Collingwood | rhb | 40.57 | 15 | 393 | 136 | 7 | 34.6 | 19.43 | 56.1 |
Graham Thorpe | LHB | 44.66 | 8 | 387 | 110 | 5 | 28.4 | 22.00 | 77.4 |
Sachin Tendulkar | rhb | 53.87 | 14 | 366 | 196 | 6 | 53.6 | 32.67 | 61.0 |
Mark Butcher | LHB | 34.58 | 7 | 357 | 106 | 2 | 29.7 | 53.00 | 178.5 |
Sourav Ganguly | LHB | 42.18 | 13 | 323 | 141 | 8 | 43.7 | 17.62 | 40.4 |
Michael Vaughan | rhb | 41.44 | 12 | 320 | 97 | 6 | 30.3 | 16.17 | 53.3 |
Jacob Oram | LHB | 36.33 | 11 | 296 | 107 | 5 | 36.1 | 21.40 | 59.2 |
Damien Martyn | rhb | 46.38 | 6 | 291 | 122 | 3 | 41.9 | 40.67 | 97.0 |
Shoaib Malik | rhb | 33.46 | 4 | 288 | 62 | 0 | 21.5 | 62.00 | 288.0 |
Gautam Gambhir | LHB | 44.19 | 10 | 271 | 137 | 4 | 50.6 | 34.25 | 67.8 |
Ashwell Prince | LHB | 41.65 | 6 | 267 | 88 | 3 | 33.0 | 29.33 | 89.0 |
Marcus Trescothick | LHB | 43.76 | 11 | 266 | 110 | 8 | 41.4 | 13.75 | 33.2 |
Daniel Vettori | LHB | 30.11 | 10 | 263 | 127 | 3 | 48.3 | 42.33 | 87.7 |
1. We have already talked of the dominance Lara had over Muralitharan. VVS Laxman and Cook were equally effective. Dravid suffers only in comparison.
2. The top batsmen seem to have played Muralitharan quite well. Only the English trio of Paul Collingwood, Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick seem to have a fair time, at best, against Muralitharan.
3. However the best against Muralitharan is undoubtedly Fleming. Over 453 balls and no dismissal. Shoaib Malik has been equally good.
4. Tendulkar has attacked Muralitharan but also been dismissed frequently. Lara and Tendulkar have been quite aggressive against Muralitharan.
Batsman | Type | Batting Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacques Kallis | rhb | 56.10 | 22 | 550 | 280 | 5 | 50.9 | 56.00 | 110.0 |
Kevin Pietersen | rhb | 48.31 | 18 | 521 | 308 | 5 | 59.1 | 61.60 | 104.2 |
Ashwell Prince | LHB | 41.65 | 18 | 466 | 164 | 11 | 35.2 | 14.91 | 42.4 |
Mark Boucher | rhb | 30.30 | 22 | 417 | 219 | 9 | 52.5 | 24.33 | 46.3 |
Andrew Flintoff | rhb | 31.78 | 19 | 407 | 225 | 7 | 55.3 | 32.14 | 58.1 |
Ian Bell | rhb | 46.58 | 13 | 396 | 177 | 5 | 44.7 | 35.40 | 79.2 |
Neil McKenzie | rhb | 37.39 | 11 | 366 | 153 | 4 | 41.8 | 38.25 | 91.5 |
Herschelle Gibbs | rhb | 41.95 | 14 | 347 | 166 | 6 | 47.8 | 27.67 | 57.8 |
Nathan Astle | rhb | 37.02 | 15 | 333 | 141 | 2 | 42.3 | 70.50 | 166.5 |
Paul Collingwood | rhb | 40.57 | 10 | 317 | 165 | 2 | 52.1 | 82.50 | 158.5 |
Alec Stewart | rhb | 39.56 | 12 | 294 | 160 | 5 | 54.4 | 32.00 | 58.8 |
Stephen Fleming | LHB | 40.07 | 8 | 294 | 125 | 2 | 42.5 | 62.50 | 147.0 |
Mark Butcher | LHB | 34.58 | 12 | 287 | 151 | 4 | 52.6 | 37.75 | 71.8 |
Michael Vaughan | rhb | 41.44 | 10 | 285 | 131 | 3 | 46.0 | 43.67 | 95.0 |
Nasser Hussain | rhb | 37.19 | 10 | 278 | 109 | 3 | 39.2 | 36.33 | 92.7 |
Jacques Rudolph | LHB | 35.43 | 10 | 260 | 114 | 4 | 43.8 | 28.50 | 65.0 |
Shaun Pollock | rhb | 32.32 | 13 | 252 | 172 | 2 | 68.3 | 86.00 | 126.0 |
Andrew Strauss | LHB | 40.91 | 12 | 241 | 141 | 8 | 58.5 | 17.62 | 30.1 |
Gary Kirsten | LHB | 45.27 | 5 | 238 | 128 | 1 | 53.8 | 128.00 | 238.0 |
Thilan Samaraweera | rhb | 48.77 | 7 | 226 | 78 | 0 | 34.5 | 78.00 | 226.0 |
1. What do we see with Ashwell Prince? In the earlier article we have already seen Prince's three dismissals by Swann in five balls. Now we see that Warne has dismissed Prince 11 times at a strike rate of 40 balls.
2. Mark Boucher was dismissed nine times at a strike rate of 46, Andrew Flintoff seven times at 58, Alec Stewart five times at 59 and finally Andrew Strauss eight times at 30. Warne seems to have had the measure of all.
3. Kevin Pietersen has attacked Warne and has a high strike rate. Look at the way Shaun Pollock has handled Warne very effectively.
4. Look at how effectively Thilan Samaraweera has handled Warne.
Batsman | Type | Batting Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Herschelle Gibbs | rhb | 41.95 | 17 | 492 | 191 | 3 | 38.8 | 63.67 | 164.0 |
Marcus Trescothick | LHB | 43.76 | 24 | 438 | 184 | 6 | 42.0 | 30.67 | 73.0 |
Jacques Kallis | rhb | 56.10 | 16 | 378 | 133 | 3 | 35.2 | 44.33 | 126.0 |
Mark Butcher | LHB | 34.58 | 15 | 365 | 174 | 5 | 47.7 | 34.80 | 73.0 |
Michael Vaughan | rhb | 41.44 | 14 | 348 | 193 | 6 | 55.5 | 32.17 | 58.0 |
Andrew Strauss | LHB | 40.91 | 15 | 336 | 168 | 3 | 50.0 | 56.00 | 112.0 |
Nathan Astle | rhb | 37.02 | 10 | 297 | 189 | 3 | 63.6 | 63.00 | 99.0 |
Ian Bell | rhb | 46.58 | 13 | 293 | 108 | 5 | 36.9 | 21.60 | 58.6 |
Kevin Pietersen | rhb | 48.31 | 13 | 270 | 135 | 5 | 50.0 | 27.00 | 54.0 |
Brian Lara | LHB | 52.89 | 12 | 233 | 90 | 2 | 38.6 | 45.00 | 116.5 |
Ramnaresh Sarwan | rhb | 40.01 | 9 | 232 | 82 | 2 | 35.3 | 41.00 | 116.0 |
Graeme Smith | LHB | 48.63 | 12 | 224 | 81 | 5 | 36.2 | 16.20 | 44.8 |
Stephen Fleming | LHB | 40.07 | 13 | 222 | 63 | 7 | 28.4 | 9.00 | 31.7 |
Mike Atherton | rhb | 37.70 | 10 | 210 | 86 | 6 | 41.0 | 14.33 | 35.0 |
Paul Collingwood | rhb | 40.57 | 11 | 199 | 54 | 2 | 27.1 | 27.00 | 99.5 |
Gary Kirsten | LHB | 45.27 | 10 | 196 | 75 | 4 | 38.3 | 18.75 | 49.0 |
Mark Richardson | LHB | 44.77 | 9 | 193 | 58 | 1 | 30.1 | 58.00 | 193.0 |
Nasser Hussain | rhb | 37.19 | 12 | 192 | 41 | 4 | 21.4 | 10.25 | 48.0 |
Chris Gayle | LHB | 42.46 | 8 | 177 | 63 | 4 | 35.6 | 15.75 | 44.2 |
Neil McKenzie | rhb | 37.39 | 10 | 176 | 76 | 2 | 43.2 | 38.00 | 88.0 |
1. With whatever data available, it is clear that McGrath has dominated quite a few batsmen. Fleming has the lowest strike rate: seven wickets at 32. Mike Atherton, six at 35. Pietersen and Ian Bell have similar figures.
2. Only Herschelle Gibbs has really dominated McGrath. To a lesser extent, Kallis and Strauss.
3. The metronome that McGrath was, it is amazing to see Nathan Astle taking him quite comfortably at a very good strike rate. Nasser Hussain found it difficult to get McGrath away.
Batsman | Type | Batting Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marcus Trescothick | LHB | 43.76 | 18 | 381 | 126 | 4 | 33.1 | 31.50 | 95.2 |
Michael Vaughan | rhb | 41.44 | 18 | 367 | 91 | 5 | 24.8 | 18.20 | 73.4 |
Matthew Hayden | LHB | 50.74 | 11 | 356 | 152 | 2 | 42.7 | 76.00 | 178.0 |
Justin Langer | LHB | 45.27 | 11 | 352 | 137 | 3 | 38.9 | 45.67 | 117.3 |
Andrew Strauss | LHB | 40.91 | 9 | 336 | 121 | 2 | 36.0 | 60.50 | 168.0 |
Michael Hussey | LHB | 51.53 | 8 | 312 | 122 | 1 | 39.1 | 122.00 | 312.0 |
Ricky Ponting | rhb | 51.87 | 14 | 291 | 151 | 3 | 51.9 | 50.33 | 97.0 |
Rahul Dravid | rhb | 52.31 | 11 | 277 | 69 | 5 | 24.9 | 13.80 | 55.4 |
Taufeeq Umar | LHB | 38.72 | 8 | 277 | 72 | 1 | 26.0 | 72.00 | 277.0 |
Ramnaresh Sarwan | rhb | 40.01 | 9 | 241 | 108 | 4 | 44.8 | 27.00 | 60.2 |
Mark Butcher | LHB | 34.58 | 10 | 233 | 66 | 1 | 28.3 | 66.00 | 233.0 |
Chris Gayle | LHB | 42.46 | 6 | 224 | 117 | 1 | 52.2 | 117.00 | 224.0 |
Damien Martyn | rhb | 46.38 | 8 | 223 | 72 | 2 | 32.3 | 36.00 | 111.5 |
Virender Sehwag | rhb | 49.34 | 8 | 206 | 120 | 3 | 58.3 | 40.00 | 68.7 |
Mahela Jayawardene | rhb | 49.57 | 8 | 195 | 58 | 2 | 29.7 | 29.00 | 97.5 |
Brian Lara | LHB | 52.89 | 6 | 192 | 63 | 1 | 32.8 | 63.00 | 192.0 |
Sachin Tendulkar | rhb | 53.87 | 10 | 186 | 85 | 3 | 45.7 | 28.33 | 62.0 |
Graham Thorpe | LHB | 44.66 | 10 | 185 | 69 | 2 | 37.3 | 34.50 | 92.5 |
Marvan Atapattu | rhb | 39.02 | 8 | 183 | 55 | 3 | 30.1 | 18.33 | 61.0 |
Andrew Flintoff | rhb | 31.78 | 10 | 177 | 88 | 4 | 49.7 | 22.00 | 44.2 |
1. Shaun Pollock has had the measure of Flintoff and to a lesser extent, Dravid.
2. Mike Hussey has handled Pollock very well. 312 balls and a single dismissal tells the story. A few Australian top order batsmen and Lara have also been quite effective.
3. Chris Gayle has attacked Pollock's bowling with lot of success.
Batsman | Type | Batting Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Younis Khan | rhb | 50.74 | 13 | 661 | 332 | 5 | 50.2 | 66.40 | 132.2 |
Ricky Ponting | rhb | 51.87 | 13 | 579 | 295 | 4 | 50.9 | 73.75 | 144.8 |
Mohammad Yousuf | rhb | 52.29 | 17 | 504 | 287 | 5 | 56.9 | 57.40 | 100.8 |
S Chanderpaul | LHB | 51.82 | 13 | 500 | 232 | 6 | 46.4 | 38.67 | 83.3 |
Jacques Kallis | rhb | 56.10 | 14 | 494 | 191 | 1 | 38.7 | 191.00 | 494.0 |
Michael Clarke | rhb | 51.59 | 14 | 469 | 276 | 6 | 58.8 | 46.00 | 78.2 |
Michael Vaughan | rhb | 41.44 | 11 | 459 | 272 | 2 | 59.3 | 136.00 | 229.5 |
Simon Katich | LHB | 45.03 | 15 | 439 | 265 | 6 | 60.4 | 44.17 | 73.2 |
Matthew Hayden | LHB | 50.74 | 15 | 399 | 256 | 5 | 64.2 | 51.20 | 79.8 |
Ramnaresh Sarwan | rhb | 40.01 | 12 | 394 | 151 | 3 | 38.3 | 50.33 | 131.3 |
Kamran Akmal | rhb | 30.79 | 15 | 379 | 201 | 5 | 53.0 | 40.20 | 75.8 |
Mahela Jayawardene | rhb | 49.57 | 8 | 370 | 161 | 3 | 43.5 | 53.67 | 123.3 |
Inzamam-ul-Haq | rhb | 49.61 | 10 | 352 | 234 | 5 | 66.5 | 46.80 | 70.4 |
Paul Collingwood | rhb | 40.57 | 10 | 324 | 146 | 3 | 45.1 | 48.67 | 108.0 |
Misbah-ul-Haq | rhb | 43.20 | 6 | 320 | 125 | 0 | 39.1 | 125.00 | 320.0 |
Damien Martyn | rhb | 46.38 | 12 | 317 | 178 | 5 | 56.2 | 35.60 | 63.4 |
Kevin Pietersen | rhb | 48.31 | 11 | 310 | 176 | 2 | 56.8 | 88.00 | 155.0 |
Nasser Hussain | rhb | 37.19 | 9 | 288 | 147 | 4 | 51.0 | 36.75 | 72.0 |
Michael Hussey | LHB | 51.53 | 7 | 276 | 170 | 1 | 61.6 | 170.00 | 276.0 |
Mohammad Sami | rhb | 11.60 | 13 | 272 | 67 | 5 | 24.6 | 13.40 | 54.4 |
1. Many of the batsmen who faced Kumble have played him quite well. We have already seen Kallis' 494 balls per wicket.
2. For all the accurate bowling Kumble was famous for, quite a few batsmen have very good scoring rates, led by Inzamam.
3. Look at how comfortably Hussey and Misbah-ul-Haq have handled Kumble.
4. Damien Martyn is the one Kumble had some measure of.
Batsman | Type | Batting Avge | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Batsman Scoring Rate | HtH Average | Bowler Strike Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rahul Dravid | rhb | 52.31 | 12 | 283 | 91 | 2 | 32.2 | 45.50 | 141.5 |
Virender Sehwag | rhb | 49.34 | 8 | 212 | 177 | 3 | 83.5 | 59.00 | 70.7 |
Justin Langer | LHB | 45.27 | 8 | 174 | 127 | 0 | 73.0 | 127.00 | 174.0 |
Marcus Trescothick | LHB | 43.76 | 7 | 165 | 73 | 2 | 44.2 | 36.50 | 82.5 |
Sourav Ganguly | LHB | 42.18 | 9 | 164 | 100 | 2 | 61.0 | 50.00 | 82.0 |
VVS Laxman | rhb | 45.97 | 10 | 154 | 80 | 1 | 51.9 | 80.00 | 154.0 |
Sachin Tendulkar | rhb | 53.87 | 8 | 140 | 79 | 2 | 56.4 | 39.50 | 70.0 |
Sanath Jayasuriya | LHB | 40.07 | 4 | 137 | 103 | 1 | 75.2 | 103.00 | 137.0 |
Ian Bell | rhb | 46.58 | 6 | 129 | 84 | 2 | 65.1 | 42.00 | 64.5 |
Matthew Hayden | LHB | 50.74 | 7 | 115 | 55 | 3 | 47.8 | 18.33 | 38.3 |
Ricky Ponting | rhb | 51.87 | 8 | 111 | 65 | 2 | 58.6 | 32.50 | 55.5 |
Wasim Jaffer | rhb | 34.11 | 6 | 109 | 47 | 2 | 43.1 | 23.50 | 54.5 |
Habibul Bashar | rhb | 30.88 | 5 | 102 | 95 | 1 | 93.1 | 95.00 | 102.0 |
1. Shoaib Akhtar has been quite effectively handled by the Indian batsmen, led by Dravid and Laxman. Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag have had mixed time against Akhtar.
2. Matthew Hayden is the batsmen against whom Akhtar has had some success.
One final reminder that we are looking at ball-by-ball data of around 50% for the players concerned. However, it should be noted that in certain cases, because one part of the concerned bowler-batsman pair could as well have complete data, the data presented is complete for this combination. Examples are Steyn vs Tendulkar and Warne vs Pietersen.
These are just samples of the type of insights which can be drawn. I have created an Excel sheet with 2954 instances of ball-by-ball data where the number of balls exceeds 100 or number of dismissals exceed 3. To download/view the document, a veritable treasure-trove of information, please CLICK HERE.
These three articles complete the first phase of analysis using the ball-by-ball data which has been extracted by Milind. After a break of an article or two I will look at some special analysis using this priceless data. Any suggestions from readers will be welcome. To start with, I may start with a single-Test based analysis.
Anantha Narayanan has written for ESPNcricinfo and CastrolCricket and worked with a number of companies on their cricket performance ratings-related systems