Where's the run-fest?

What the numbers say about Green Park, Kanpur

14-Apr-2005

Kanpur has been a lucky venue for Sachin Tendulkar. Will he fire again tomorrow? © Getty Images

The Green Park in Kanpur has been a lucky venue for India - they have won six out of eight games, and every one of their last four matches. The last time they lost a one-day international here was more than ten years back, in October 1994, when West Indies beat them by 46 runs. Since then, the Indians have beaten Zimbabwe (twice), England and West Indies. Pakistan haven't played an ODI here. (Click here for all the results from ODIs at Kanpur.)

Going by past record, the Indian captain might be tempted to field first if he wins the toss. Five of India's six wins here have come when chasing a target, and they've all been very convincing wins too - the closest margin was by six wickets with 11 balls to spare against England in the Nehru Cup in 1989-90. That was the match in which Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the Indian captain, made what turned out to be an inspired change to the batting line-up - chasing 256, India were 65 for 2 when out walked Chetan Sharma at No. 4. He blasted 101 from just 96 balls, and India were home in a canter.

Winning the toss isn't such a blessing here - in nine games, the team losing the toss has won on seven occasions, including the last five ODIs.

And this should cheer up the bowlers from both camps - the highest score by the team batting first is 257, made by West Indies in 1994, and only twice has 250 been topped. In fact, that match against West Indies almost 11 years back is still remembered for the infamous go-slow tactics by Manoj Prabhakar and Nayan Mongia. Both dawdled at the crease instead of going for the runs - Prabhakar's unbeaten 102 spanned 154 balls, while Mongia was not out on 4 from 21 - as India finished up on 211 for 5. In the last four ODIs here, the team batting first has scored 218 (in 39 overs), 165, 222 and 247.

Both seamers and spinners have done reasonably well here. Since 1996, the fast bowlers have 30 wickets at 32.43, with an economy rate of 4.89, while spinners have accounted for 16 wickets at 38.44 (economy rate 4.57). The Indian spinners have done much better, though, averaging only 28.69 and conceding only 4.12 per over.

Kanpur has been one of the more prolific venues for Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored 312 from six games at 78, including one century and two half-centuries.

S Rajesh is assistant editor of Cricinfo.

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