Test batting analysis: by innings (Match and Team)

A detailed stats analysis of top batsmen across team and match innings in Tests

25-Feb-2013

Don Bradman during his record 334, England v Australia, 3rd Test, Leeds, July 11, 1930

This analysis is based on a request by Alex who wanted me to do an analysis of the Test performances by innings. It is a straight-forward analysis based on raw numbers. Please take this as a break up of the Career performances into lower levels with no adjustment whatsoever. The innings status at entry, match conditions, match location, quality of bowling, quality of opposition team et al are relevant factors but have not been incorporated. Once I open one door, the draught will open all the other doors and I do not want to do that. There are a number of tables shown. These tables are provided with minimal comments. The top-20/10/5 entries are shown in the main article and the complete tables are made available for viewing/downloading.

First the Team innings tables. For the Team innings, the cut-off is 3000 career runs. In addition to the batting average and runs scored tables, I have one on the comparison ratio to the career batting average. This table will indicate how close or away from their career averages have the batsmen performed in different innings and will give an insight into whether the batsman has excelled in setting up or finish the matches. Both are important but we need this insight to get a proper handle on batsmen appreciation.

1.1. Team First innings (Match inns 1/2) analysis: Table ordered by Batting average

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Bradman D.G 50 2 4697 97.85 EdeC Weekes 48 0 3429 71.44 Sehwag V 87 1 5917 68.80 Barrington K.F 82 5 5069 65.83 Hutton L 79 4 4905 65.40 Hammond W.R 85 6 5070 64.18 Tendulkar S.R 174 9 10557 63.98 Lara B.C 130 1 8249 63.95 Hobbs J.B 60 1 3750 63.56 Jayawardene D.P.M.D 115 2 7127 63.07 Worrell F.M.M 51 5 2843 61.80 Waugh S.R 166 25 8558 60.70 Samaraweera T.T 61 7 3251 60.20 Sangakkara K.C 93 4 5345 60.06 Mohammad Yousuf 89 5 5043 60.04 Sobers G.St.A 93 7 5109 59.41 Ponting R.T 152 5 8723 59.34 Walcott C.L 44 1 2547 59.23 Sutcliffe H 53 2 3014 59.10 Dravid R 150 8 8329 58.65

This is an important classification since it removes the distinction between first/second and third/fourth innings. Bradman just about misses the 100 mark. Note Sehwag's near-70 average. Also how the two modern greats, Tendulkar and Lara are separated only in the second decimal point. Jayawardene is the other modern batsman to appear in the top-10.

1.2. Team First innings analysis: Table ordered by Runs scored

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Tendulkar S.R 174 9 10557 63.98 Ponting R.T 152 5 8723 59.34 Waugh S.R 166 25 8558 60.70 Dravid R 150 8 8329 58.65 Lara B.C 130 1 8249 63.95 Kallis J.H 145 9 7590 55.81 Jayawardene D.P.M.D 115 2 7127 63.07 Border A.R 154 13 6803 48.25 Javed Miandad 123 8 6504 56.56 Gavaskar S.M 124 3 6159 50.90

Not surprising to see Tendulkar with 10000+ runs atop the table which is dominated by batsmen of recent vintage.

1.3. Team First innings analysis: Table ordered by Ratio to Career average

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge   Ratio

Sehwag V 87 1 5917 68.80 128.8% McDonald C.C 47 0 2380 50.64 128.8% Zaheer Abbas 77 6 3977 56.01 125.0% Worrell F.M.M 51 5 2843 61.80 124.9% Atapattu M.S 88 5 4044 48.72 124.9% Hassett A.L 43 1 2435 57.98 124.5% Bell I.R 62 6 3043 54.34 123.1% EdeC Weekes 48 0 3429 71.44 121.9% Lara B.C 130 1 8249 63.95 120.9% Waugh S.R 166 25 8558 60.70 118.9% Adams J.C 53 9 2152 48.91 118.6% ... Amla H.M 51 1 2351 47.02 100.1% Boon D.C 107 4 4491 43.60 99.9% ... Redpath I.R 66 1 2503 38.51 88.6% Mitchell B 42 0 1817 43.26 88.5% Butcher B.F 44 2 1428 34.00 78.9%

It may not be a surprise to see that Sehwag tops the table in first innings performances, scoring at nearly 30% above his career average. Lara clocks in at over 20%. Butcher has had a very average first innings. Amla and Boon are either side of 100%.

2.1. Team Second innings (Match inns 3/4) analysis: Table ordered by Batting average

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Bradman D.G 30 8 2299 104.50 Kallis J.H 101 29 4357 60.51 Sobers G.St.A 67 14 2923 55.15 Border A.R 111 31 4371 54.64 Sangakkara K.C 63 8 2899 52.71 Hayden M.L 81 14 3473 51.84 Laxman V.V.S 78 18 3104 51.73 Gavaskar S.M 90 13 3963 51.47 Boycott G 85 20 3319 51.06 Redpath I.R 54 10 2234 50.77 Compton D.C.S 53 12 2020 49.27 Richards I.V.A 61 10 2495 48.92 Haynes D.L 86 24 3030 48.87 Younis Khan 53 8 2195 48.78 Hammond W.R 55 10 2179 48.42 Cook A.N 50 6 2108 47.91 Thorpe G.P 79 23 2659 47.48 Greenidge C.G 77 15 2923 47.15 Inzamam-ul-Haq 82 14 3194 46.97 Crowe M.D 56 11 2098 46.62

Bradman is back on top with a 100+ average. Kallis is the only other batsman with a 60+ average. Sangakkara, Hayden and Laxman are the other modern batsmen in the top-10.

2.2. Team Second innings analysis: Table ordered by Runs scored

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Border A.R 111 31 4371 54.64 Kallis J.H 101 29 4357 60.51 Tendulkar S.R 116 23 4135 44.46 Gavaskar S.M 90 13 3963 51.47 Gooch G.A 97 6 3898 42.84 Dravid R 109 21 3734 42.43 Lara B.C 102 5 3704 38.19 Ponting R.T 107 23 3636 43.29 Hayden M.L 81 14 3473 51.84 Stewart A.J 103 15 3462 39.34 The second innings averages of Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting are significantly lower than the rest of the top modern batsmen.

2.3. Team Second innings analysis: Table ordered by Ratio to Career average

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge   Ratio

Butcher B.F 34 4 1676 55.87 129.6% Manjrekar V.L 37 8 1341 46.24 118.2% Redpath I.R 54 10 2234 50.77 116.8% Mitchell B 38 9 1654 57.03 116.7% Haynes D.L 86 24 3030 48.87 115.5% Amarnath M 45 7 1865 49.08 115.5% May P.B.H 40 6 1795 52.79 112.9% Saleem Malik 57 16 1960 47.80 109.4% Laxman V.V.S 78 18 3104 51.73 109.3% Flower A 49 14 1972 56.34 109.3% ... Boon D.C 83 16 2931 43.75 100.2% Amla H.M 39 6 1546 46.85 99.8% ... Zaheer Abbas 47 5 1085 25.83 57.7% Sehwag V 63 5 1777 30.64 57.3% Hassett A.L 26 2 638 26.58 57.1%

We all know about Laxman's second innings exploits. We would expect him to perform above his career average. But who would have thought that Butcher would have a 30% higher performance level in the second innings or that Haynes would have a 15% higher level batting in the second innings. As expected Sehwag almost props up the table, having performed at 57% of his career levels. Zaheer Abbas performed at similar low levels. As mentioned already, Boon and Amla are almost at their career levels in both innings.

For the Match innings 1-2-3, the cut-off is 1000 runs and for the Match innings 4, the cut-off is 500 runs. I have also replaced the average comparison table with one on % of Team score.

3.1. Match First innings analysis: Table ordered by Batting average

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Bradman D.G 22 1 2387 113.67 Ponsford W.H 15 1 1148 82.00 Hassett A.L 22 1 1655 78.81 EdeC Weekes 27 0 2068 76.59 Samaraweera T.T 32 3 2126 73.31 Lara B.C 58 1 4000 70.18 Barrington K.F 42 3 2735 70.13 Tendulkar S.R 83 6 5397 70.09 Javed Miandad 60 6 3730 69.07 Leyland M 19 0 1256 66.11 Hutton L 35 1 2232 65.65 Kanhai R.B 44 0 2869 65.20 Walters K.D 37 2 2271 64.89 Walcott C.L 24 0 1541 64.21 Sehwag V 38 1 2330 62.97 Hammond W.R 46 3 2691 62.58 Jones D.M 31 1 1871 62.37 Ponting R.T 84 4 4986 62.33 Waugh S.R 94 16 4855 62.24 Worrell F.M.M 24 3 1302 62.00

Bradman's 110+ average is expected. What is significant is that the two modern greats, Lara and Tendulkar, average over 70. Possibly more relevant is the unfancied Samaraweera's 70+ average.

3.2. Match First innings analysis: Table ordered by Runs scored

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Tendulkar S.R 83 6 5397 70.09 Ponting R.T 84 4 4986 62.33 Waugh S.R 94 16 4855 62.24 Border A.R 87 9 4056 52.00 Lara B.C 58 1 4000 70.18 Dravid R 69 3 3921 59.41 Kallis J.H 70 4 3805 57.65 Javed Miandad 60 6 3730 69.07 Gooch G.A 69 0 3184 46.14 Langer J.L 55 2 3181 60.02

Almost totally filled by modern batsmen, indicating the high number of tests played by them.

3.3. Match First innings analysis: Table ordered by % of Team runs

Batsman             Inns No  Runs TeamRuns %Share

Bradman D.G 22 1 2387 9438 25.3% Lara B.C 58 1 4000 18111 22.1% EdeC Weekes 27 0 2068 9997 20.7% Hassett A.L 22 1 1655 8407 19.7% Ponsford W.H 15 1 1148 6117 18.8% Bradman's 25+% is in line with his overall career % share while Lara has had a higher share than his career average figure of 20%.

4.1. Match Second innings analysis: Table ordered by Batting average

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Bradman D.G 28 1 2310 85.56 Sehwag V 49 0 3587 73.20 Jayawardene D.P.M.D 60 1 4124 69.90 Mohammad Yousuf 47 4 2983 69.37 Sangakkara K.C 46 3 2940 68.37 Hobbs J.B 37 0 2503 67.65 Hammond W.R 39 3 2379 66.08 Chappell G.S 38 2 2378 66.06 Hutton L 44 3 2673 65.20 Bell I.R 26 4 1428 64.91 EdeC Weekes 21 0 1361 64.81 Prince A.G 31 5 1642 63.15 Hussey M.E.K 22 1 1322 62.95 Worrell F.M.M 27 2 1541 61.64 Barrington K.F 40 2 2334 61.42 Sobers G.St.A 37 1 2211 61.42 Gavaskar S.M 63 3 3613 60.22 Gilchrist A.C 47 5 2501 59.55 Lara B.C 72 0 4249 59.01 Waugh S.R 72 9 3703 58.78

Bradman drops well below 100. Note how Bradman is followed with 70+- averages by four modern stalwarts, Sehwag, Jayawardene, Yousuf and Sangakkara.

4.2. Match Second innings analysis: Table ordered by Runs scored

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Tendulkar S.R 91 3 5160 58.64 Dravid R 81 5 4408 58.00 Lara B.C 72 0 4249 59.01 Jayawardene D.P.M.D 60 1 4124 69.90 Kallis J.H 75 5 3785 54.07 Ponting R.T 68 1 3737 55.78 Waugh S.R 72 9 3703 58.78 Gavaskar S.M 63 3 3613 60.22 Sehwag V 49 0 3587 73.20 Richards I.V.A 73 1 3514 48.81

Richards just about gets in the run aggregate table.

4.3. Match Second innings analysis: Table ordered by % of Team runs

Batsman             Inns No  Runs TeamRuns %Share

Bradman D.G 28 1 2310 10513 22.0% Hutton L 44 3 2673 12850 20.8% Hobbs J.B 37 0 2503 12585 19.9% Turner G.M 29 1 1588 8345 19.0% Hammond W.R 39 3 2379 12831 18.5%

5.1. Match Third innings analysis: Table ordered by Batting average

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Bradman D.G 15 3 1565 130.42 Kallis J.H 59 15 3128 71.09 May P.B.H 21 3 1225 68.06 Compton D.C.S 31 7 1565 65.21 Border A.R 76 21 3511 63.84 Martyn D.R 25 6 1203 63.32 Walcott C.L 21 4 1067 62.76 Butcher B.F 24 2 1352 61.45 Flower A 38 10 1704 60.86 Saleem Malik 36 11 1512 60.48 Armstrong W.W 27 4 1391 60.48 Amla H.M 22 4 1044 58.00 Sobers G.St.A 48 8 2316 57.90 Laxman V.V.S 47 9 2197 57.82 Sangakkara K.C 42 4 2187 57.55 Amiss D.L 20 2 1002 55.67 Nourse A.D 23 3 1105 55.25 Thorpe G.P 45 11 1870 55.00 Amarnath M 33 5 1525 54.46 Gambhir G 19 0 1033 54.37

Bradman, aided by 3 not out innings, averages a huge 130+, nearly double that of the next batsman in the table. These are the difficult innings and note how Kallis weighs in with an outstanding 70+ average. Martyn. Andy Flower, Amla and Laxman all have 57+ averages.

5.2. Match Third innings analysis: Table ordered by Runs scored

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Border A.R 76 21 3511 63.84 Kallis J.H 59 15 3128 71.09 Gooch G.A 68 2 2777 42.08 Tendulkar S.R 66 8 2764 47.66 Gavaskar S.M 57 4 2565 48.40 Dravid R 59 4 2334 42.44 Inzamam-ul-Haq 51 6 2327 51.71 Stewart A.J 64 9 2326 42.29 Sobers G.St.A 48 8 2316 57.90 Gower D.I 62 9 2287 43.15

Border and Kallis lead, indicating their propensity to score in these difficult innings.

5.3. Match Third innings analysis: Table ordered by % of Team runs

Batsman             Inns No  Runs TeamRuns %Share

Bradman D.G 15 3 1565 5170 30.3% May P.B.H 21 3 1225 5537 22.1% Kallis J.H 59 15 3128 15731 19.9% Nourse A.D 23 3 1105 5570 19.8% Sangakkara K.C 42 4 2187 11142 19.6% Bradman has scored a phenomenal 30+%. We should not forget that many of the third innings would have been declared. Note Kallis's near 20% share.

6.1. Match Fourth innings analysis: Table ordered by Batting average

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Mitchell B 12 5 629 89.86 Stollmeyer J.B 10 4 518 86.33 Bradman D.G 15 5 734 73.40 Hussey M.E.K 12 4 505 63.12 Hunte C.C 13 4 549 61.00 Boycott G 34 13 1234 58.76 Gavaskar S.M 33 9 1398 58.25 Hobbs J.B 23 6 979 57.59 Younis Khan 20 6 806 57.57 Javed Miandad 22 7 816 54.40 Ponting R.T 39 14 1358 54.32 Sutcliffe H 15 3 644 53.67 Stackpole K.R 19 5 749 53.50 Greenidge C.G 38 12 1383 53.19 Smith G.C 31 6 1322 52.88 Hayden M.L 39 13 1288 49.54 Chappell G.S 25 11 688 49.14 Jayawardene D.P.M.D 27 9 879 48.83 Dexter E.R 16 5 535 48.64 Taylor R.L 11 0 532 48.36

Finally we have an average table in which Bradman has been relegated to third place. He averages a mere mortal level 73+. Mitchell of South Africa and Stollmeyer of West Indies lead the table with 80+ averages. Note Mike Hussey's high average.

6.2. Match Fourth innings analysis: Table ordered by Runs scored

Batsman             Inns No  Runs   Avge

Lara B.C 46 5 1440 35.12 Dravid R 50 17 1400 42.42 Gavaskar S.M 33 9 1398 58.25 Greenidge C.G 38 12 1383 53.19 Atherton M.A 39 6 1375 41.67 Tendulkar S.R 50 15 1371 39.17 Chanderpaul S 41 10 1364 44.00 Ponting R.T 39 14 1358 54.32 Smith G.C 31 6 1322 52.88 Hayden M.L 39 13 1288 49.54

Lara leads the modern list of batsmen. It must be remembered that West Indies, being considerably weak, probably played more fourth innings than the other teams. There were very few times when West Indies had the luxury of innings wins or 9-10 wicket wins.

6.3. Match Fourth innings analysis: Table ordered by % of Team runs

Batsman             Inns No  Runs TeamRuns %Share

Stollmeyer J.B 10 4 518 1419 36.5% Mitchell B 12 5 629 2312 27.2% Greenidge C.G 38 12 1383 5369 25.8% Bradman D.G 15 5 734 2901 25.3% Hunte C.C 13 4 549 2215 24.8% Stollymeyer scored 36% of the runs. However the cut-off here is 500 runs.

As I have already explained, I have deliberately kept my comments to a minimal level since the article already has 18 tables. Readers can send in their own comments.

To view/down-load the complete Innings performance tables, please click on links given below. Each of these files has three tables.

Team First innings table: please click/right-click here.
Team Second innings table: please click/right-click here.

Match First innings table: please click/right-click here.
Match Second innings table: please click/right-click here.
Match Third innings table: please click/right-click here.
Match Fourth innings table: please click/right-click here.

Donald Bradman

Anantha Narayanan has written for ESPNcricinfo and CastrolCricket and worked with a number of companies on their cricket performance ratings-related systems