Let me take two players not often discussed. The first is Ganguly. He, and most of the knowledgeable Indian supporters, would agree that his majestic unbeaten 98 while orchestrating a great chasing win over Sri Lanka during 2001 was a far greater innings, arguably his best, than many a big 100. Ganguly might have missed a personal landmark but he did not miss the bigger objective. Would anyone, including Ganguly, have been satisfied if Ganguly had scored 5 more runs but India 5 less.

Now for Jimmy Adams. Would anyone rate his 208 against New Zealand higher than his outstanding unbeaten 48 against Wasim/Waqar/Razzak/Saqlain taking his team to an improbable one-wicket win leading to a rare series win. Even though Adams' innings was less than half of Mark Waugh's match-winning of 116 against South Africa, it was no less important.]]> Hence I have done an analysis of the runs scored by a batsman during his team's wins. It does not matter whether the batsman scored 12(Ambrose), 49(Paranavitana), 96(Shakib Al Hasan) or 309(Sehwag). The runs are considered and added. Not the 400, nor the 241.

Also I have not done an average of these scores. It will be certain that this average would be higher than his career batting average. I have rather looked at the % of share of the runs scored by his team. This will give a clear indication of his contributions. There is no comparison done across eras, across teams, across bowlers et al. It is almost like the peer comparison. In truth it is a peer comparison, but the comparison is only within the team, that too only in selected subset of matches. I have also not prepared tables across teams. Each table is for the concerned team.

The criteria is simple. The batsman should have been involved in 10 wins and scored over 2000 Test runs (exception for Bangladesh and Zimbabwe). The team runs are computed, sans extras.

Cty Batsman              L Mat  Runs Wins Runs TmRuns  RpT  % TS

Eng Hutton L                79  6971  27  2678 11891  99.2 22.52
Eng Hobbs J.B               61  5410  28  2720 13715  97.1 19.83
Eng Gooch G.A              118  8900  32  2950 15504  92.2 19.03
Eng Boycott G              108  8114  35  2950 16366  84.3 18.03
Eng Hammond W.R             85  7249  29  2584 14614  89.1 17.68
Eng Pietersen K.P           54  4647  18  1608  9370  89.3 17.16
Eng Cowdrey M.C            114  7624  43  3087 18416  71.8 16.76
Eng Sutcliffe H             54  4555  25  2141 12840  85.6 16.67
Eng Edrich J.H           ~  77  5138  22  1771 10730  80.5 16.51
Eng Barrington K.F          82  6806  31  2319 14188  74.8 16.34
Eng Thorpe G.P           ~ 100  6744  38  3006 18917  79.1 15.89
Eng Strauss A.J          ~  67  5266  30  2596 16344  86.5 15.88
Eng Compton D.C.S           78  5807  25  1801 11420  72.0 15.77
Eng Richardson P.E       ~  34  2061  13   808  5195  62.2 15.55
Eng Trescothick M.E      ~  76  5820  37  2847 18757  76.9 15.18

Ind Viswanath G.R           91  6080  20  1637  9029  81.8 18.13
Ind Sidhu N.S               51  3202  13  1179  6680  90.7 17.65
Ind Dravid R               134 10823  44  4005 23227  91.0 17.24
Ind Tendulkar S.R          159 12773  51  4416 26993  86.6 16.36
Ind Gavaskar S.M           125 10122  23  1671 10417  72.7 16.04
Ind Vengsarkar D.B         116  6868  18  1187  7823  65.9 15.17
Ind Azharuddin M            99  6215  22  1609 10693  73.1 15.05
Ind Mansur Ali Khan         46  2793  12   846  5712  70.5 14.81
Ind Sehwag V                69  5757  25  1958 13228  78.3 14.80
Ind Amarnath M              69  4378  12   771  5772  64.2 13.36
Ind Engineer F.M            46  2611  13   774  5930  59.5 13.05
Ind Gambhir G            ~  25  2271  13   924  7203  71.1 12.83
Ind Laxman V.V.S           105  6741  36  2428 19479  67.4 12.46
Ind Chauhan C.P.S           40  2084  10   511  4425  51.1 11.55
Ind Shastri R.J             80  3830  10   492  4274  49.2 11.51

Nzl Crowe M.D               77  5444  16  1219  7085  76.2 17.21
Nzl Richardson M.H       ~  38  2776  12   763  5019  63.6 15.20
Nzl McMillan C.D            55  3116  18  1186  7838  65.9 15.13
Nzl Wright J.G           ~  82  5334  21  1253  8430  59.7 14.86
Nzl Fleming S.P          ~ 111  7172  33  2145 14637  65.0 14.65
Nzl Cairns C.L              62  3320  16   936  7393  58.5 12.66
Nzl Howarth G.P             47  2531  12   558  4655  46.5 11.99
Nzl Coney J.V               52  2668  17   814  6900  47.9 11.80
Nzl Astle N.J               81  4702  27  1239 11747  45.9 10.55
Nzl McCullum B.B            46  2283  13   563  5885  43.3  9.57
Nzl Hadlee R.J           ~  86  3124  22   790  8792  35.9  8.99
Nzl Vettori D.L          ~  94  3492  29  1101 12696  38.0  8.67
Nzl Parore A.C              78  2865  19   497  8744  26.2  5.68

Win Lara B.C             ~ 131 11953  32  2929 14611  91.5 20.05
Win Sarwan R.R              81  5671  13  1210  6505  93.1 18.60
Win Sobers G.St.A        ~  93  8032  31  3097 16926  99.9 18.30
Win Adams J.C            ~  54  3010  21  1534  9045  73.0 16.96
Win EdeC Weekes             48  4455  16  1403  8324  87.7 16.85
Win Greenidge C.G          108  7558  57  4653 27970  81.6 16.64
Win Campbell S.L            52  2882  16  1068  6645  66.8 16.07
Win Walcott C.L             44  3798  12  1113  6955  92.8 16.00
Win Richardson R.B          86  5949  43  3059 19251  71.1 15.89
Win Worrell F.M.M           51  3860  18  1483  9359  82.4 15.85
Win Kanhai R.B              79  6227  27  2404 15248  89.0 15.77
Win Nurse S.M               29  2523  10   873  5569  87.3 15.68
Win Chanderpaul S        ~ 121  8576  27  1933 12839  71.6 15.06
Win Lloyd C.H            ~ 110  7515  43  3337 22217  77.6 15.02
Win Haynes D.L             116  7487  60  4041 27824  67.3 14.52

What does this indicate. Possibly that the other batsmen were quite strong. However this is negated by the presence of all the top West Indian batsmen of the 1950s in the top-10. I am happy to see Jimmy Adams in the top-10.

Slk Sangakkara K.C       ~  85  7308  41  4179 22486 101.9 18.58
Slk de Silva P.A            93  6361  19  1467  8736  77.2 16.79
Slk Jayawardene D.P.M.D    107  8750  48  4155 25575  86.6 16.25
Slk Atapattu M.S            90  5502  31  2138 15653  69.0 13.66
Slk Jayasuriya S.T       ~ 110  6973  40  2801 20634  70.0 13.57
Slk Samaraweera T.T         54  3787  30  2222 16748  74.1 13.27
Slk Ranatunga A          ~  93  5105  17   985  7801  57.9 12.63
Slk Tillakaratne H.P     ~  83  4545  24  1534 12221  63.9 12.55
Slk Dilshan T.M             57  3443  28  1843 15126  65.8 12.18
Slk Vaas WPUJC           ~ 111  3087  43  1388 22578  32.3  6.15

Saf McGlew D.J              34  2440  11  1156  5285 105.1 21.87
Saf Smith G.C            ~  77  6343  40  3783 20252  94.6 18.68
Saf Wessels K.C          ~  40  2788  12  1044  5800  87.0 18.00
Saf Kallis J.H             131 10277  64  5099 31306  79.7 16.29
Saf Kirsten G            ~ 101  7289  48  3800 23961  79.2 15.86
Saf Barlow E.J              30  2516  11   941  6324  85.5 14.88
Saf Cullinan D.J            70  4554  34  2325 16048  68.4 14.49
Saf Cronje W.J              68  3714  32  2156 15214  67.4 14.17
Saf de Villiers A.B         52  3558  26  1793 13056  69.0 13.73
Saf Hudson A.C              35  2007  13   876  6544  67.4 13.39
Saf McLean R.A              40  2120  12   768  5749  64.0 13.36
Saf Amla H.M                37  2460  21  1389 10713  66.1 12.97
Saf Gibbs H.H               90  6167  44  2877 22607  65.4 12.73
Saf Prince A.G           ~  48  3074  28  1719 13546  61.4 12.69
Saf Rudolph J.A          ~  35  2028  12   721  6371  60.1 11.32

Aus Bradman D.G             52  6996  30  4813 17036 160.4 28.25
Aus Chappell G.S            87  7110  38  3595 19209  94.6 18.72
Aus Simpson R.B             62  4869  22  2015 11264  91.6 17.89
Aus Lawry W.M            ~  67  5234  20  1853 10714  92.7 17.30
Aus Harvey R.N           ~  79  6149  41  3253 19174  79.3 16.97
Aus Hill C               ~  49  3412  25  2223 13200  88.9 16.84
Aus Walters K.D             74  5357  28  2303 14211  82.2 16.21
Aus McDonald C.C            47  3107  23  1557  9994  67.7 15.58
Aus Ponting R.T            136 11341  90  7754 50453  86.2 15.37
Aus Slater M.J              74  5312  44  3508 22833  79.7 15.36
Aus Ponsford W.H            29  2122  16  1508  9884  94.2 15.26
Aus Hayden M.L           ~ 103  8626  71  6038 39634  85.0 15.23
Aus Trumper V.T             48  3163  22  1717 11427  78.0 15.03
Aus Hassett A.L             43  3073  26  1947 13123  74.9 14.84
Aus Hussey M.E.K         ~  42  3317  27  2359 15899  87.4 14.84

Pak Shoaib Mohammad         45  2705  12  1055  4927  87.9 21.41
Pak Saeed Anwar          ~  55  4052  23  2254 11079  98.0 20.34
Pak Inzamam-ul-Haq         120  8830  49  4690 25012  95.7 18.75
Pak Younis Khan             63  5260  22  2241 12570 101.9 17.83
Pak Javed Miandad          124  8832  39  2923 17298  74.9 16.90
Pak Asif Iqbal              58  3575  10   759  4934  75.9 15.38
Pak Mohammad Yousuf         82  7023  32  2617 17627  81.8 14.85
Pak Mudassar Nazar          76  4114  23  1511 10311  65.7 14.65
Pak Zaheer Abbas            78  5062  22  1530 10483  69.5 14.60
Pak Ijaz Ahmed              60  3315  23  1487 10385  64.7 14.32
Pak Mohsin Khan             48  2709  18  1134  8060  63.0 14.07
Pak Aamer Sohail         ~  47  2823  22  1365  9970  62.0 13.69
Pak Majid Khan              63  3931  13   849  6230  65.3 13.63
Pak Saleem Malik           103  5768  39  1880 17010  48.2 11.05
Pak Kamran Akmal            43  2226  13   776  7443  59.7 10.43

Cty Batsman                Mat  Runs Wins Runs TmRuns  RpT  % TS

Bng Habibul Bashar          50  3026    1  149   692 149.0 21.53
Bng Mohammad Ashraful       50  2149    3   65  1724  21.7  3.77

Cty Batsman                Mat  Runs Wins Runs TmRuns  RpT  % TS

Zim Whittall G.J            46  2207    4  361  1994  90.2 18.10
Zim Flower A             ~  63  4794    7  507  3461  72.4 14.65
Zim Flower G.W              67  3457    7  529  3630  75.6 14.57
Zim Campbell A.D.R       ~  60  2857    6  167  2908  27.8  5.74

To view the complete list, please click here.

I will come out with the second part of the "How far ahead is the top one ..." article next week. Later I will do a "In a winning cause" article on bowlers.]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2009:/itfigures//123.12816 2009-09-21T09:38:02Z 2009-11-06T13:41:22Z

Sachin Tendulkar leads the list of run-scorers and century-makers in Tests, but Ricky Ponting has a chance to catch up © AFP

How far ahead is the top player in any list is a key to answering the question of whether a high mark set by a player will be reached. I have taken a few Test batting measures and created a table of the Top-100, subject to qualifying criteria, and assigned each position a percentage relative to the top position. A perusal of these tables will give an idea of the degree of permanence of the top places.

Since I normally can only show 5/6 tables in any article to make the same readable, I will do the Test Batting now and follow with one on Test Bowling.

If an active player is at the top of an all-time list, he/she keeps on widening the gap on the second placed player, unless the top two or three are also active. This is true of the aggregate type of measures. On the other hand in performance related measures, it does not matter since it is possible for later players to catch up with the particular measure.

]]> 1. Table of Batting averages (minimum 200 runs)

SNo.Batsman                Cty Mat Inns  No   Runs   Avge     %

  1.Bradman D.G            Aus  52   80  10   6996  99.94  100.0
  2.Pollock R.G          ~ Saf  23   41   4   2256  60.97   61.0
  3.Headley G.A            Win  22   40   4   2190  60.83   60.9
  4.Sutcliffe H            Eng  54   84   9   4555  60.73   60.8
  5.Barrington K.F         Eng  82  131  15   6806  58.67   58.7
...
 50.Gilchrist A.C        ~ Aus  96  137  20   5570  47.61   47.6
...
100.Butcher B.F            Win  44   78   6   3104  43.11   43.1

This is the mother of all tables. The second placed player is nearly 40% off, making this, with almost exception, the most difficult performance measure to be breached. Over 10 Tests, yes, but over a career, positively no. Readers might recollect that Kallis is the one with the second highest 80-innings streak in history with an average of 76.41 which itself is 24% off Bradman's figure. Gilchrist at no.50 is at 47.6%, below the 50% mark. Butcher, at no.100 has a 43.6% value, indicating the bunching of players after the 50th position.

To view the complete list, please click here.

2. Table of Runs per Test (minimum 2000 runs)

SNo.Batsman                Cty Mat    RpT     %

  1.Bradman D.G            Aus  52  134.5  100.0
  2.Headley G.A            Win  22   99.5   74.0
  3.Pollock R.G          ~ Saf  23   98.1   72.9
  4.EdeC Weekes            Win  48   92.8   69.0
  5.Lara B.C             ~ Win 131   91.2   67.8
...
 50.Fredericks R.C       ~ Win  59   73.5   54.6
...
100.Thorpe G.P           ~ Eng 100   67.4   50.1

As compared to Batting average, this table is a more even one. The difference between Bradman and the second player is only 26%. Also the 50th batsman is well above 50%. In fact, the 100th player, Thorpe, himself is above 50%.

To view the complete list, please click here

3. Table of Career runs scored

SNo.Batsman                Cty   Mat   Runs      %

  1.Tendulkar S.R          Ind*  159  12773   100.0
  2.Lara B.C             ~ Win   131  11953    93.6
  3.Ponting R.T            Aus*  136  11341    88.8
  4.Border A.R           ~ Aus   156  11174    87.5
  5.Waugh S.R              Aus   168  10927    85.5
...
 50.Richardson R.B         Win    86   5949    46.6
...
100.Mudassar Nazar         Pak    76   4114    32.2

An '*' next to the team indicates that the player is still active.

This table is the most intriguing of all. Tendulkar is ahead of the retired-Lara by over 6%, a comfortable margin. However the next player, Ponting is still active and he is about 11% behind. The key questions are whether Tendulkar would score enough runs to make the aggregate beyond Ponting's reach or Ponting would succeed in chipping away at the difference. BCCI's generally lukewarm scheduling of Tests is another factor. From now to retirement, Ponting would have to play around 16-18 Tests more than Tendulkar to overtake the master. No crystal-gazing is possible. Probably the odds are against it.

Richardson, like Gilchrist in Batting average table, is at 50th position with 46.6%. Then note how the % drops off basically because this is a longevity measure. Mudassar, in the 100th position, has an aggregate below a third of Tendulkar's.

To view the complete list, please click here

4. Table of Centuries (minimum 10)

SNo.Batsman                Cty     100s      %

  1.Tendulkar S.R          Ind*     42    100.0
  2.Ponting R.T            Aus*     38     90.5
  3.Lara B.C             ~ Win      34     81.0
  4.Gavaskar S.M           Ind      34     81.0
  5.Waugh S.R              Aus      32     76.2
...
 50.Sutcliffe H            Eng      16     38.1
...
100.Hussey M.E.K         ~ Win*     10     23.8

I normally do not do any analysis of centuries since I feel it is an over-rated measure. However it is one measure which many people talk about and I have done this table for those interested.

As compared to the Runs scored table, Ponting and Lara have interchanged places, indicating Ponting's penchant for reaching three figures. He is only 4 centuries behind Tendulkar. Ponting's century frequency is once in 3.6 Tests and Tendulkar's is 3.8 Tests. This slight difference, and the fact that there is a difference of below 10%, generates a gut-feeling within me that Ponting might at least equal whatever Tendulkar finishes with, in 100s, if not runs.

To view the complete list, please click here

5. Table of Zeroes scored (Min 20)

No.Batsman            Cty  Inns Zeroes    %    Freq

 1.Walsh C.A          Win   185   43   100.0   4.30
 2.McGrath G.D        Aus   138   35    81.4   3.94
 3.Warne S.K          Aus   199   34    79.1   5.85
 4.Muralitharan M     Slk*  159   33    76.7   4.82
 5.Ambrose C.E.L      Win   145   26    60.5   5.58
 6.Dillon M           Win    68   26    60.5   2.62
 7.Martin C.S         Nzl*   72   25    58.1   2.88
 8.Morrison D.K       Nzl    71   24    55.8   2.96
 9.Chandrasekhar B.S  Ind*   80   23    53.5   3.48
10.Danish Kaneria     Pak    71   23    53.5   3.09
11.Waugh S.R          Aus   260   22    51.2  11.82
12.Atapattu M.S       Slk   156   22    51.2   7.09
13.Waqar Younis       Pak   120   21    48.8   5.71
14.Ntini M            Saf*  113   21    48.8   5.38
15.Harmison S.J       Eng*   86   21    48.8   4.10
16.Bedi B.S           Ind   101   20    46.5   5.05
17.Atherton M.A       Eng   212   20    46.5  10.60

This is a tribute to those wonderful breed of players who provide great entertainment to many. When Chris Martin starts to bat, his first run is looked forward to and applauded as enthusiastically as another batsman's 100th run. Barring three specialist batsmen, the other 14 are all wonderful bowlers, but mostly ineffective but entertaining batsmen.

Walsh leads with 43 ducks. McGrath follows him about 20% behind. Where is Martin. He is there in 7th position. Another 50 innings and he would cross Walsh.

I have done this table on the number of zeroes. The frequency is also shown. The table could as well have been on this figure, in which case Martin would have been, sorry to disappoint my favourite Kiwi readers, in second position, just behind Dillon.

A table of the highest individual scores reached does not belong to this analysis since that is a specific single innings event and does not warrant such a comparison. For 10 years, no one might reach 400 and in one week, two batsmen might go past it. However just for interest there is a 5% gap between the best and the next best score.

As requested by Richard Mackey I have added a table of Runs per innings also. This will be a fairer one for the middle order batsmen.

6. Table of Runs per Innings (minimum 2000 runs)

SNo.Bataman                Cty Mat    RpI      %

  1.Bradman D.G            Aus  52   87.4   100.0
  2.Pollock R.G          ~ Saf  23   55.0    62.9
  3.EdeC Weekes            Win  48   55.0    62.9
  4.Headley G.A            Win  22   54.8    62.6
  5.Sutcliffe H            Eng  54   54.2    62.0
...
 50.Lloyd C.H            ~ Win 110   42.9    49.1
...
100.Graveney T.W           Eng  79   39.7    45.4

Who else but Bradman on top and a slight re-distribution of the second to fifth positions.

You can download the complete file by using the following link.

http://www.thirdslip.com/misc/perrpi.txt

Or please click here.

I will do the Bowler tables next week. ]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2009:/itfigures//123.12651 2009-09-11T17:41:03Z 2009-11-06T13:41:26Z

There were two very good suggestions to the piece I did last week, which were worth following up. Read on for the results

Ananth Narayanan above referenced article which were worth following up. One was by Arjun to have the datum of 80 innings (Bradman's career) and see what is/was the best streak in players' career. The other was Abhi/Kris's suggestion that I could look at the career in three parts, rather than two, since in most careers there is a slow start, a spurt and a slow finish. I have completed these two tables and presented these here.

The usual criteria apply. For the first table, the minimum is 80 innings and a batting average exceeding 25.00. For the second, I have retained the mid-point limits of 4000 runs and 45 Tests as the cut-off for batsmen.

]]> Test Batsmen: Analyzing the three career splits

SNo.For Batsman         |<---Career---->|Start-third| Mid-third| End-third
                        |Mat  Runs  Avge|Runs   Avge|Runs  Avge|Runs   Avge
                        |               |           |          |
  1.Aus Bradman D.G     | 52  6996 99.94|2229  96.91|2643 97.89|2124 106.20
  2.Eng Sutcliffe H     | 54  4555 60.73|1805  78.48|1537 56.93|1213  48.52
  3.Eng Barrington K.F  | 82  6806 58.67|2111  54.13|2379 62.61|2316  59.38
  4.Win EdeC Weekes     | 48  4455 58.62|1602  66.75|1643 63.19|1210  46.54
  5.Eng Hammond W.R     | 85  7249 58.46|2519  58.58|2396 61.44|2334  55.57
  6.Win Sobers G.St.A   | 93  8032 57.78|2781  61.80|2783 60.50|2468  51.42
  7.Eng Hobbs J.B       | 61  5410 56.95|1773  57.19|2019 63.09|1618  50.56
  8.Eng Hutton L        | 79  6971 56.67|2193  56.23|2661 59.13|2117  54.28
  9.Aus Ponting R.T     |136 11341 55.87|2535  40.89|4530 68.64|4276  57.01
 10.Slk Sangakkara K.C  | 85  7308 55.36|1951  47.59|2258 48.04|3099  70.43
 11.Pak Mohammad Yousuf | 82  7023 54.87|1712  40.76|2273 56.83|3038  66.04
 12.Saf Kallis J.H      |131 10277 54.66|2678  43.19|4209 67.89|3390  52.97
 13.Ind Tendulkar S.R   |159 12773 54.59|3617  50.24|5202 63.44|3954  49.42
 14.Aus Chappell G.S    | 87  7110 53.86|2310  53.72|2394 53.20|2406  54.68
 15.Slk Jayawardene D.P.|107  8750 53.35|2653  49.13|2469 46.58|3628  63.65
 16.Win Lara B.C        |131 11953 52.89|3884  54.70|3504 44.92|4565  59.29
 17.Pak Javed Miandad   |124  8832 52.57|3074  53.93|2817 52.17|2941  51.60
 18.Ind Dravid R        |134 10823 52.54|3772  54.67|4001 61.55|3050  42.36
 19.Zim Flower A        | 63  4794 51.55|1310  43.67|1488 46.50|1996  64.39
 20.Ind Gavaskar S.M    |125 10122 51.12|3951  53.39|3362 54.23|2809  45.31

        Average                    45.91       44.28      46.84       45.10
   (for all 101 batsmen)

The average of the averages figures indicates a clear move up of 5.7% from the first third to second third and a clear drop of 3.8% from the second to the third. Remember that these are on the grand average figure. Individual batsmen have clear move up and move down patterns.

Barrington, Hobbs, Hutton, Ponting (in a big way), Kallis (huge variations), Tendulkar, Dravid (again in a big way) are amongst the ones who have clearly identified low, up, low patterns.

Note the consistency across the complete career of Greg Chappell and Javed Miandad.

Sobers and Gavaskar are amongst those who have had great starts but fallen off drastically.

Bradman, Lara, Sangakkara, Mohammad Yousuf and Flower are those who have finished their careers very strongly.

To view the complete list, please click here.

Test Batsmen: By average sustained in 80+ innings

SNo.For Batsman                Start       Finish    Inns No Runs   Avge
                            Ins  Year     Ins  Year

  1.Aus Bradman D.G           1 (1928) to  80 (1948)  80  10 6996  99.94
  2.Saf Kallis J.H           82 (2001) to 161 (2006)  80  19 4661  76.41
  3.Aus Ponting R.T          87 (2002) to 178 (2006)  92  14 5904  75.69
  4.Win Sobers G.St.A        28 (1958) to 111 (1968)  84  13 5283  74.41
  5.Ind Dravid R             66 (2000) to 149 (2005)  84  14 4809  68.70
  6.Eng Barrington K.F       34 (1961) to 121 (1968)  88  12 5154  67.82
  7.Pak Mohammad Yousuf      42 (2000) to 122 (2006)  81   7 5008  67.68
  8.Ind Tendulkar S.R        69 (1996) to 148 (2002)  80   8 4782  66.42
  9.Eng Hutton L             42 (1947) to 123 (1954)  82  11 4687  66.01
 10.Aus Hayden M.L           23 (2001) to 102 (2004)  80   8 4744  65.89
 11.Eng Hammond W.R          15 (1928) to  97 (1936)  83  12 4672  65.80
 12.Aus Waugh S.R            82 (1993) to 176 (1999)  95  23 4699  65.26
 13.Slk Sangakkara K.C       61 (2004) to 142 (2009)  82   6 4899  64.46
 14.Aus Border A.R           88 (1982) to 168 (1988)  81  14 4295  64.10
 15.Win Lara B.C            126 (2000) to 205 (2005)  80   2 4985  63.91
 16.Eng Hobbs J.B            15 (1910) to  95 (1930)  81   5 4827  63.51
 17.Pak Inzamam-ul-Haq       91 (1999) to 175 (2005)  85   9 4795  63.09
 18.Win Chanderpaul S       123 (2004) to 202 (2009)  80  17 3947  62.65
 19.Eng Sutcliffe H           1 (1924) to  80 (1934)  80   9 4425  62.32
 20.Pak Javed Miandad        72 (1982) to 152 (1989)  81   6 4604  61.39

Leaving the colossus outside the discussions, there is a surprise in the second position. I have kept repeating myself many a time. In all the discussions centering around Lara, Tendulkar and Ponting, Kallis has been ignored completely. People point to his lack of wicket-taking ability, forgetting the outstanding batting skills. He and Ponting are the only two batsmen who have averaged over 75 in a consecutive 80+ innings stretch. These two are closely followed by Sobers whose stretch obviously includes the 365*.

Dravid's purple patch comes next, followed by the recent stretch of Yousuf and the mid-career brilliance of Tendulkar. Hutton (not including his 364) and Hayden (including his 380) complete the top-10.

It can be seen that the 80+ innings stretch averages of the last 15 batsmen in the table are within 6 runs.

To view the complete list, please click here.

Test Batsmen: By average sustained in exactly 80 innings

SNo.For Batsman                Start       Finish   Inns No Runs   Avge
                            Ins  Year     Ins  Year

  1.Aus Bradman D.G           1 (1928) to  80 (1948) 80  10 6996  99.94
  2.Saf Kallis J.H           82 (2001) to 161 (2006) 80  19 4661  76.41
  3.Aus Ponting R.T         102 (2003) to 181 (2006) 80  13 5048  75.34
  4.Win Sobers G.St.A        28 (1958) to 107 (1968) 80  12 4969  73.07
  5.Ind Dravid R             96 (2002) to 175 (2006) 80  12 4652  68.41
  6.Pak Mohammad Yousuf      42 (2000) to 121 (2006) 80   7 4884  66.90
  7.Ind Tendulkar S.R        69 (1996) to 148 (2002) 80   8 4782  66.42
  8.Aus Hayden M.L           23 (2001) to 102 (2004) 80   8 4744  65.89
  9.Eng Hutton L             44 (1947) to 123 (1954) 80  10 4555  65.07
 10.Eng Barrington K.F       27 (1961) to 106 (1966) 80  11 4462  64.67
 11.Slk Sangakkara K.C       61 (2004) to 140 (2009) 80   6 4740  64.05
 12.Eng Hammond W.R          15 (1928) to  94 (1936) 80  11 4416  64.00
 13.Aus Border A.R           88 (1982) to 167 (1988) 80  14 4220  63.94
 14.Aus Waugh S.R            77 (1993) to 156 (1998) 80  18 3963  63.92
 15.Win Lara B.C            126 (2000) to 205 (2005) 80   2 4985  63.91
 16.Eng Hobbs J.B            15 (1910) to  94 (1930) 80   5 4753  63.37
 17.Win Chanderpaul S       123 (2004) to 202 (2009) 80  17 3947  62.65
 18.Eng Sutcliffe H           1 (1924) to  80 (1934) 80   9 4425  62.32
 19.Pak Inzamam-ul-Haq      100 (2000) to 179 (2006) 80   8 4470  62.08
 20.Pak Javed Miandad        73 (1982) to 152 (1989) 80   5 4578  61.04

Arjun Hemnani wanted a table in which the stretch is exactly equal to 80 innings. I have created a different table and displayed the same here.

It can be seen that the exactly-80-innings average is slightly lower than that when more than 80 innings are considered since there is more flexibility in the extra innings. A below-average stretch can be more than made up with a very good sretch.

The tables look somewhat similar. ]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2009:/itfigures//123.12550 2009-09-04T10:15:06Z 2009-11-06T13:41:30Z

This piece compares players with themselves, looking at how the numbers from the first half of their careers matches up with the second half

Ananth Narayanan

Younis Khan's average in the second half of his Test career is 55.7% more than his average in the first half © AFP

In the past few posts, we have compared Test batsmen (and bowlers) with their peers; with batsmen batting at specific batting positions; with one's own team members. Now we will be looking inward. Let us compare a Test batsman/bowler with himself. I will look at the two halves of the player careers and do a comparison between these two (mostly dissimilar) periods.

The usual criteria apply. This is just to ensure that the career is sufficiently long. I have taken 4000 runs and 45 Tests as the cut-off for batsmen and 150 wickets and 45 Tests as cut-off for bowlers. These two sets of twin conditions ensure that bowlers such as Barnes do not get into the picture. Most of the top keepers get in.

Only the batting average and bowling average are used for comparison. These two are the most trusted of all measures and will provide a very good platform for a clear understanding of a Test players' career.

]]> Test Batsmen: Analysing the two career halves

SNo Cty Batsman         |<----Career---->|<--1st Half->|<-2nd Half>| % Chg
                        |Tests Runs  Avge|Mt Runs  Avge|Runs   Avge|
                        |                |             |           |
  1.Pak Younis Khan     |  63  5260 50.10|32-2033 39.10|3227  60.89| 55.7%
  2.Zim Flower A        |  63  4794 51.55|32-2013 41.94|2781  61.80| 47.4%
  3.Aus Redpath I.R     |  66  4737 43.46|33-1813 35.55|2924  50.41| 41.8%
  4.Nzl Wright J.G      |  82  5334 37.83|41-2123 31.22|3211  43.99| 40.9%
  5.Aus Chappell I.M    |  75  5345 42.42|38-2219 35.22|3126  49.62| 40.9%
...
 53.Eng Hobbs J.B       |  61  5410 56.95|31-2733 56.94|2677  56.96|  0.0%
...
 97.Aus Hayden M.L      | 103  8626 50.74|52-4714 58.92|3912  43.47|-26.2%
 98.Eng Smith R.A       |  62  4236 43.67|31-2255 51.25|1981  37.38|-27.1%
 99.Win Kallicharran A.I|  66  4399 44.43|33-2582 52.69|1817  36.34|-31.0%
100.Aus Gilchrist A.C   |  96  5570 47.61|48-3073 59.10|2497  38.42|-35.0%
101.Aus Harvey R.N      |  79  6149 48.42|40-3830 61.77|2319  35.68|-42.2%

Younis Khan has achieved the highest jump from the first half to second half, an astounding 55.7%. His average has improved from 39.10 to 60.89. Note that in his last 31 Tests he has scored at higher than 100 runs per Test.

Andy Flower has improved from 41.94 to 61.80, an increase of 47.4%, that too playing in a weak team. Ian Redpath, John Wright and Ian Chappell have also finished their careers very strongly.

For consistency one need not look beyond Jack Hobbs. He has only a second decimal difference in his second half average to the first half. Steve Waugh and Andrew Strauss are close to achieving this perfection.

Gilchrist's huge fall, from 59.10 to 38.42 is understandable considering that he had an explosive start and fell off drastically towards the end. What is surprising is the fall of Neil Harvey, who dropped his average from 60+ to 35. This is quite inexplicable. He scored 15 of his 21 hundreds in the first half of his career. Gilchrist, on the other hand, scored 9 of his 17 hundreds in the first half of his career. However he was dismissed for many single digit scores, quite a few 0s included, during the second half.

Note how Hayden, R Smith and Kallicharan have also fallen off.

To view the complete list, please click here.

Test Bowlers: Analysing the two career halves

No Cty Batsman          |<----Career---->|<-1st Half-->|<2nd Half>| % Chg
                        |Tests Wkts  Avge|Mt Wkts  Avge|Wkts  Avge|
                        |                |             |          |
 1.Eng Laker J.C        |   46  193 21.25|23-  78 29.95| 115 15.35| 48.8%
 2.Eng Bedser A.V       |   51  236 24.90|26- 100 33.87| 136 18.30| 46.0%
 3.Pak Iqbal Qasim      |   50  171 28.11|25-  65 35.78| 106 23.41| 34.6%
 4.Nzl Hadlee R.J       |   86  431 22.30|43- 192 26.17| 239 19.19| 26.7%
 5.Nzl Morrison D.K     |   48  160 34.68|24-  73 39.53|  87 30.61| 22.6%
 6.Slk Muralitharan M   |  129  783 22.22|65- 337 25.48| 446 19.76| 22.5%
...
38.Aus McKenzie G.D     |   60  246 29.79|30- 126 29.81| 120 29.77|  0.1%
...
66.Win Gibbs L.R        |   79  309 29.09|40- 176 24.56| 133 35.09|-42.9%
67.Pak Mushtaq Ahmed    |   52  185 32.97|26- 105 27.51|  80 40.14|-45.9%
68.Win Hall W.W         |   48  192 26.39|24- 119 22.15|  73 33.29|-50.3%
69.Eng Botham I.T       |  102  383 28.40|51- 231 23.46| 152 35.91|-53.1%
70.Eng Lock G.A.R       |   49  174 25.58|25- 104 20.13|  70 33.67|-67.2%

Laker moved from an average spinner to Lohmannish figures in the second half, no doubt aided by the 19 for 90 at Manchester. That is nearly 50% improvement. Similar with Alec Bedser, who had totally different career halves. What about Richard Hadllee, with sub-20 average in the second half of his career. Again Muralitharan's last 64 Tests have had sub-20 average and an average of 7, yes, you read it correctly, 7 wickets per Test.

McKenzie was like Hobbs, averaging almost the same figure in his two halves. Saqlain Mushtaq and McDermott are in the middle group.

Look at the last five, especially Ian Botham. He was a shadow of himself, increasing his average by over 50%. Lock's figures are still more astounding. An average of 20.13 moving to 33.67 and below 3 wickets per Test. Possibly he played the supporting role to Laker quite often as happened at Manchester in 1956.

To view the complete list, please click here.

This blog is going nowhere with readers following a single agenda, whatever be the subject matter of the article. I have had complaints from serious readers that the purpose of the articles is lost. Hence a firm reminder that only relevant comments will be published. Henceforth I will not and readers should not forget that the purpose of the blog is to come out with new analytical efforts. I myself have been guilty of side-tracking into irrelevant and/or non-cricketing issues. Remind me, gently or otherwise, to remove the offending comment or response.]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2009:/itfigures//123.12381 2009-08-26T06:03:26Z 2009-11-06T13:41:34Z

The readers wanted some fine tuning to be done to the Test batsmen peer analysis. I have done these and have come out with the following tables

Ananth Narayanan Test batsmen peer analysis. I have done these and have come out with the following tables. These have been presented with very few comments leaving the readers to draw their own conclusions. These tables have been created based on suggestions by Deon, Arjun and Rohan.

]]> 1.Batsman Peer comparisons - Basic table - Only against own team batsmen

>= 2000 Test runs.  (Batpos no. 1 to 7)

SNo.Batsman          Cty  Runs  Avge From- To   <------Peer-----> Ratio
                                                Inns   Runs  Avge

  1.Bradman D.G      Aus  6996 99.94 1928-1948   392  16166 41.24  2.42
  2.Headley G.A      Win  2190 60.83 1930-1954   197   5324 27.03  2.25
  3.Flower A         Zim  4794 51.55 1992-2002   548  15584 28.44  1.81
  4.Taylor H.W       Saf  2936 40.78 1912-1932   372   9104 24.47  1.67
  5.Sutcliffe B      Nzl  2727 40.10 1947-1965   366   8903 24.33  1.65
  6.Nourse A.D       Saf  2960 53.82 1935-1951   295   9811 33.26  1.62
  7.Lara B.C         Win 11953 52.89 1990-2006  1081  35420 32.77  1.61
  8.Hazare V.S       Ind  2192 47.65 1946-1953   250   7381 29.52  1.61
  9.Hobbs J.B        Eng  5410 56.95 1908-1930   467  16940 36.27  1.57
 10.Turner G.M       Nzl  2991 44.64 1969-1983   343   9855 28.73  1.55
 11.McGlew D.J       Saf  2440 42.07 1951-1962   300   8257 27.52  1.53
 12.Hanif Mohammad   Pak  3915 43.99 1952-1969   469  13841 29.51  1.49
 13.Hutton L         Eng  6971 56.67 1937-1955   609  23306 38.27  1.48
 14.Mitchell B       Saf  3471 48.89 1929-1949   355  11813 33.28  1.47
 15.Habibul Bashar   Bng  3026 30.88 2000-2008   481  10136 21.07  1.47
 16.Barrington K.F   Eng  6806 58.67 1955-1968   625  25062 40.10  1.46
 17.Hammond W.R      Eng  7249 58.46 1927-1947   642  25747 40.10  1.46
 18.Gavaskar S.M     Ind 10122 51.12 1971-1987   964  33940 35.21  1.45
 19.EdeC Weekes      Win  4455 58.62 1948-1958   388  15668 40.38  1.45
 20.Crowe M.D        Nzl  5444 45.37 1982-1995   629  19821 31.51  1.44

Readers can note that the players in stronger teams lose out. Bradman's ratio comes down and is even comparable to Headley's. Flower, an outstanding batsman in a weaker team, moves all the way upto third place. Bert Sutcliffe of New Zealand leapfrogs over many other players to the fifth position. It is no surprise that Ponting and Tendulkar are even out of the top-20.

To view the complete list, please click here.

2.Batsman Peer comparisons - Basic table

>= 2000 Test runs.  (Batpos no. 1 to 6 & no. 7 avge gt 30.00)

SNo.Batsman          Cty  Runs  Avge From- To (Mat) <------Peer-----> Ratio
                                                   Inns   Runs Avge

  1.Bradman D.G      Aus  6996 99.94 1928-1948(128)  2439  93717 38.42 2.60
  2.EdeC Weekes      Win  4455 58.62 1948-1958(161)  3153 112350 35.63 1.65
  3.Sutcliffe H      Eng  4555 60.73 1924-1935( 91)  1682  62698 37.28 1.63
  4.Pollock R.G      Saf  2256 60.97 1963-1970(126)  2612  98346 37.65 1.62
  5.Barrington K.F   Eng  6806 58.67 1955-1968(234)  4685 170077 36.30 1.62
  6.Walcott C.L      Win  3798 56.69 1948-1960(199)  3911 137954 35.27 1.61
  7.Hobbs J.B        Eng  5410 56.95 1908-1930(102)  1965  70137 35.69 1.60
  8.Sobers G.St.A    Win  8032 57.78 1954-1974(353)  7100 258499 36.41 1.59
  9.Headley G.A      Win  2190 60.83 1930-1954(194)  3789 146760 38.73 1.57
 10.Hammond W.R      Eng  7249 58.46 1927-1947(117)  2169  82513 38.04 1.54
 11.Hutton L         Eng  6971 56.67 1937-1955(143)  2705 100796 37.26 1.52
 12.Chappell G.S     Aus  7110 53.86 1970-1984(300)  5949 219541 36.90 1.46
 13.Ponting R.T      Aus 11341 55.87 1995-2009(615) 12369 474630 38.37 1.46
 14.Javed Miandad    Pak  8832 52.57 1976-1993(460)  8975 327935 36.54 1.44
 15.Tendulkar S.R    Ind 12773 54.59 1989-2009(792) 15813 602604 38.11 1.43
 16.Kallis J.H       Saf 10277 54.66 1995-2009(599) 12027 461711 38.39 1.42
 17.Mohammad Yousuf  Pak  7023 54.87 1998-2009(522) 10590 411465 38.85 1.41
 18.Lara B.C         Win 11953 52.89 1990-2006(661) 13132 494758 37.68 1.40
 19.Flower A         Zim  4794 51.55 1992-2002(431)  8500 313208 36.85 1.40
 20.Worrell F.M.M    Win  3860 49.49 1948-1963(252)  5004 178259 35.62 1.39

This is a variant of the basic table. The comparisons are only against the top six batsmen and the seventh, if he has a Batting average greater than 30.

To view the complete list, please click here.

3.Batsman Peer comparisons - Middle order batsmen

Batsman Peer comparisons - Middle order batsmen

>= 4000 Middle order runs

No.Batsman          Cty  BPos Inns Runs  Avge  <------Peer------> Ratio
                         Avge Out              Inns    Runs  Avge

 1.Bradman D.G      Aus  3.65  70  6996 99.94  1584   60056 37.91  2.64
 2.EdeC Weekes      Win  4.16  75  4399 58.65  2050   72238 35.24  1.66
 3.Sobers G.St.A    Win  5.09 128  7658 59.83  4672  170899 36.58  1.64
 4.Barrington K.F   Eng  4.07 113  6604 58.44  3074  113584 36.95  1.58
 5.Hammond W.R      Eng  3.70 120  6934 57.78  1393   52840 37.93  1.52
 6.Chappell G.S     Aus  4.04 132  7110 53.86  3911  143805 36.77  1.46
 7.Javed Miandad    Pak  4.24 167  8789 52.63  5893  218066 37.00  1.42
 8.Ponting R.T      Aus  3.84 203 11341 55.87  8118  320424 39.47  1.42
 9.Compton D.C.S    Eng  4.34 114  5805 50.92  2195   79104 36.04  1.41
10.Tendulkar S.R    Ind  4.28 233 12758 54.76 10370  404928 39.05  1.40
11.Kallis J.H       Saf  3.80 188 10277 54.66  7889  311872 39.53  1.38
12.Lara B.C         Win  3.78 223 11828 53.04  8593  331446 38.57  1.38
13.May P.B.H        Eng  3.66  96  4525 47.14  2223   76254 34.30  1.37
14.Sangakkara K.C   Slk  3.09 123  6899 56.09  5594  229171 40.97  1.37
15.Dravid R         Ind  3.27 191 10334 54.10  7788  308540 39.62  1.37
16.Waugh S.R        Aus  5.42 211 10910 51.71  8293  314060 37.87  1.37
17.Mohammad Yousuf  Pak  4.71 128  7023 54.87  6963  279859 40.19  1.37
18.Border A.R       Aus  4.70 220 11116 50.53  5257  195282 37.15  1.36
19.Flower A         Zim  5.03  93  4786 51.46  5568  211502 37.99  1.35
20.Harvey R.N       Aus  3.65 126  6147 48.79  3131  112807 36.03  1.35

This is again a variant of the basic table. The comparisons are only against the top six batsmen and the seventh, if he has a Batting average greater than 30. Note that these peer average figures are now slightly higher since the P.A.Patels and Ramdins have been left out.

To view the complete list, please click here.

4.Batsman Peer comparisons - Basic table

Between 1000 and 2000 Test runs.

SNo.Batsman         Cty  Runs  Avge From- To (Mat)  <------Peer----->Ratio
                                                    Inns   Runs Avge

  1.Shrewsbury A    Eng  1277 35.47 1882-1893( 37)   819  17249 21.06 1.68
  2.Paynter E       Eng  1540 59.23 1931-1939( 63)  1338  48476 36.23 1.63
  3.Barnes S.G      Aus  1072 63.06 1938-1948( 38)   782  31858 40.74 1.55
  4.Kambli V.G      Ind  1084 54.20 1993-1995(100)  2153  76700 35.62 1.52
  5.Davis C.A       Win  1301 54.21 1968-1973( 79)  1775  64075 36.10 1.50
  6.Mead C.P        Eng  1185 49.38 1911-1928( 61)  1276  42819 33.56 1.47
  7.Ryder J         Aus  1394 51.63 1920-1929( 46)   965  35621 36.91 1.40
  8.Grace W.G       Eng  1098 32.29 1880-1899( 57)  1314  31139 23.70 1.36
  9.Faulkner G.A    Saf  1754 40.79 1906-1924( 67)  1506  46487 30.87 1.32
 10.Bland K.C       Saf  1669 49.09 1961-1966( 97)  2132  79264 37.18 1.32
 11.Jardine D.R     Eng  1296 48.00 1928-1934( 60)  1260  46007 36.51 1.31
 12.Reid J.F        Nzl  1296 46.29 1979-1986(193)  4080 145746 35.72 1.30
 13.Rae A.F         Win  1016 46.18 1948-1953( 64)  1387  50295 36.26 1.27
 14.Goodwin M.W     Zim  1414 42.85 1998-2000(105)  2313  77858 33.66 1.27
 15.Hayward T.W     Eng  1999 34.47 1896-1909( 56)  1279  34904 27.29 1.26
 16.Duff R.A        Aus  1317 35.59 1902-1905( 22)   486  13753 28.30 1.26
 17.Pullar G        Eng  1974 43.87 1959-1963( 63)  1378  49027 35.58 1.23
 18.MacLaren A.C    Eng  1931 33.88 1894-1909( 64)  1478  40936 27.70 1.22
 19.Brown W.A       Aus  1592 46.82 1934-1948( 68)  1446  55587 38.44 1.22
 20.Houghton D.L    Zim  1465 43.09 1992-1997(183)  3981 141210 35.47 1.21

This table shows the batsmen who have scored between 1000 and 2000 runs. Thus many late order batsmen are included.

To view the complete list, please click here.

5.Maximum Peer ratio reached by a batsman

Only batsmen who have played in over 50 Tests considered
Only after 50 Tests are crossed

Figures shown are at the beginning of concerned Test

SNo.Cty Batsman                Test Test BatAvg   Peer Ratio
                                     No           Avge

  1.Aus Bradman D.G             303  52  101.39  30.65  3.31
  2.Eng Hobbs J.B               176  51   61.27  27.17  2.25
  3.Win Sobers G.St.A           642  66   63.77  29.12  2.19
  4.Eng Hammond W.R             257  60   61.61  29.23  2.11
  5.Eng Sutcliffe H             234  50   62.27  30.12  2.07
  6.Eng Barrington K.F          629  76   60.66  29.39  2.06
  7.Pak Javed Miandad           966  56   58.56  28.88  2.03
  8.Eng Hutton L                387  71   61.71  30.70  2.01
  9.Win Richards I.V.A          956  52   58.78  29.20  2.01
 10.Ind Tendulkar S.R          1591  91   58.87  29.42  2.00
 11.Aus Hayden M.L             1688  52   58.98  29.99  1.97
 12.Aus Ponting R.T            1821 108   59.96  30.54  1.96
 13.Ind Dravid R               1743  89   58.45  30.25  1.93
 14.Zim Flower A               1581  57   56.60  29.26  1.93
 15.Aus Gilchrist A.C          1678  50   58.24  30.52  1.91
 16.Ind Gavaskar S.M            871  62   57.27  30.15  1.90
 17.Saf Kallis J.H             1856 112   58.20  30.62  1.90
 18.Aus Harvey R.N              447  50   54.32  28.57  1.90
 19.Aus Chappell G.S            913  70   55.58  29.65  1.87
 20.Eng May P.B.H               476  59   49.76  27.09  1.84

Bradman reached his maximum ratio at the beginning of his last Test. Only the top-10 have crossed 2.00. Note the quality of the top-10.

To view the complete list, please click here.

6.Minimum Peer ratio reached by a batsman

Only batsmen who have played in over 50 Tests considered
Only after 50 Tests are crossed

Figures shown are at the beginning of concerned Test

SNo.Cty Batsman                Test Test BatAvg Peer Ratio
                                     No         Avge

  1.Saf Pollock S.M            1528  50  27.15 28.84  0.94
  2.Bng Habibul Bashar         1864  50  31.38 32.21  0.97
  3.Ind Kapil Dev N            1032  72  29.75 30.33  0.98
  4.Pak Imran Khan              973  50  29.88 30.20  0.99
  5.Eng Knott A.P.E             734  53  30.84 30.91  1.00
  6.Eng Flintoff A             1922  76  31.69 31.55  1.00
  7.Win Hooper C.L             1303  52  30.64 30.20  1.01
  8.Pak Rameez Raja            1313  53  30.93 30.30  1.02
  9.Nzl Burgess M.G             891  50  30.88 30.07  1.03
 10.Eng Lamb A.J               1099  53  32.31 31.15  1.04
 11.Aus Wood G.M               1110  58  31.39 29.80  1.05
 12.Win Dujon P.J.L            1175  81  32.51 31.01  1.05
 13.Saf Waite J.H.B             578  50  30.75 28.99  1.06
 14.Eng Smith M.J.K             700  50  32.08 30.33  1.06
 15.Nzl Cairns C.L             1689  58  32.13 30.17  1.06
 16.Nzl Wright J.G             1068  50  32.13 29.96  1.07
 17.Nzl Congdon B.E             769  51  33.07 31.00  1.07
 18.Eng Rhodes W                193  58  29.94 27.72  1.08
 19.Eng Butcher M.A            1636  50  31.94 29.56  1.08
 20.Ind Shastri R.J            1150  72  33.88 30.95  1.09

Only four batsmen have ever been at a peer ratio value of below 1.00. The only top flight batsmen in the top-10 minimum peer ratio list are Hooper, Rameez, Burgess and Lamb.

To view the complete list, please click here.

7.Comparison between maximum and minimum peer ratios reached

Only batsmen who have played in over 50 Tests considered
Only after 50 Tests are crossed
Max-Min is the ratio of Maximum to Minmum
Spread is the spread on either side of the mean
Figures shown are at the beginning of concerned Test

SNo Cty Batsman            BatAvg Peer Ratio BatAvg Peer Ratio Max Spread
                                  Avge  Max         Avge  Min  -Min

  1.Aus Waugh S.R           51.87 29.37 1.77  35.76 30.16 1.19 1.49 19.6%
  2.Saf Kallis J.H          58.20 30.62 1.90  41.00 28.84 1.42 1.34 14.5%
  3.Aus Ponting R.T         59.96 30.54 1.96  43.71 29.33 1.49 1.32 13.6%
  4.Slk de Silva P.A        43.89 29.65 1.48  34.06 30.16 1.13 1.31 13.4%
  5.Pak Imran Khan          38.23 30.41 1.26  29.88 30.20 0.99 1.27 12.0%
  6.Win Hooper C.L          37.67 29.73 1.27  30.64 30.20 1.01 1.26 11.4%
  7.Aus Gilchrist A.C       58.24 30.52 1.91  47.89 31.39 1.52 1.26 11.4%
  8.Saf Pollock S.M         34.90 29.91 1.17  27.15 28.84 0.94 1.24 10.9%
  9.Pak Inzamam-ul-Haq      51.79 30.36 1.71  40.71 29.41 1.38 1.24 10.7%
 10.Ind Vengsarkar D.B      46.21 29.61 1.56  37.41 29.61 1.26 1.24 10.6%
 11.Slk Sangakkara K.C      57.00 31.80 1.79  46.31 31.84 1.45 1.23 10.5%
 12.Pak Saleem Malik        46.97 30.64 1.53  37.86 30.65 1.24 1.23 10.5%
 13.Eng Gooch G.A           44.75 30.00 1.49  36.53 30.14 1.21 1.23 10.4%
 14.Aus Boon D.C            46.83 30.33 1.54  39.07 30.71 1.27 1.21  9.6%
 15.Pak Mohammad Yousuf     56.65 30.77 1.84  46.66 30.64 1.52 1.21  9.5%
 16.Win Dujon P.J.L         38.91 30.70 1.27  32.51 31.01 1.05 1.21  9.5%
 17.Win Chanderpaul S       49.71 30.66 1.62  39.17 29.31 1.34 1.21  9.5%
 18.Saf Gibbs H.H           49.46 30.14 1.64  42.05 30.81 1.36 1.21  9.3%
 19.Ind Tendulkar S.R       58.87 29.42 2.00  49.26 29.69 1.66 1.20  9.3%
 20.Win Richards I.V.A      58.78 29.20 2.01  49.93 29.96 1.67 1.20  9.2%

This is a very revealing maximum / minimum comparison list. A high value in the last two columns indicates extreme average values. A value of over 10% indicates clearly that there is a wide gap between segments of career. The last column is a spread on either side of the mean between maximum and minimum. Steve Waugh has a spread of nearly 20%. Kallis and Ponting are also very high in the list. Lara is somewhere in the middle with a spread of 5% and is amongst the lowest amongst batsmen who have played a high number of Tests. Too much should not be read at the low values of Sutcliffe and Bradman since both of them have played just over 50 Tests.

To view the complete list, please click here.

Jeff's follow-up analysis (with Jeff's commentary)

Following on from my comment about weighting the peer averages by the innings played against each team by each player, I've done this now for the top 20 players in the original list (using Statsguru which took me quite a long time !)

I thought the readers would be interested in the results. There were no great differences doing this, but a couple of players ratios moved a fair bit.

Headley was the main beneficiary, moving up from number 7 to number 2 - he played a fair bigger proportion of his innings against strong England teams than his peers did and so his average is more impressive than it first appears. Lara also moves up, as do a couple of others. Tendulkar moves up a place.

Ponting suffers through this because (as said earlier) he didn't have to face his own team and Hammond also falls a bit because he played a lot of times against a weak South Africa.

Flower is perhaps the most surprising casualty - you might expect him to rise as he didn't have the chance to score against Zimbabwe like his peers did. However, it seems that he only played only one match against Australia in his entire career, and this has cost him.

Jeff's analysis summary

New Prev Diff                   Ananth Jeff

 1.   1.  <> Bradman D.G    Aus  3.27  3.32
 2.   7.  +5 Headley G.A    Win  1.97  2.10
 3.   2.  -1 EdeC Weekes    Win  2.04  2.07
 4.   5.  +1 Walcott C.L    Win  2.00  2.05
 5.   4.  -1 Pollock R.G    Saf  2.00  1.99
 6.   3.  -3 Sutcliffe H    Eng  2.02  1.98
 7.   9.  -2 Sobers G.St.A  Win  1.95  1.97
 8.   6.  -2 Barrington K.F Eng  2.00  1.97
 9.   8.  -1 Hobbs J.B      Eng  1.96  1.95
10.  11.  +1 Hutton L       Eng  1.90  1.92
11.  10.  -1 Hammond W.R    Eng  1.94  1.88
12.  13.  +1 Chappell G.S   Aus  1.79  1.81
13.  14.  +1 Tendulkar S.R  Ind  1.78  1.80
14.  19.  +5 Lara B.C       Win  1.75  1.80
15.  12.  -3 Ponting R.T    Aus  1.81  1.79
16.  15.  -1 Kallis J.H     Saf  1.77  1.76
17.  17.  <> MohammadYousuf Pak  1.76  1.74
18.  16.  -2 Javed Miandad  Pak  1.76  1.71
19.  18.  -1 Flower A       Zim  1.75  1.69
20.  20.  <> Sangakkara K.C Slk  1.73  1.63

Many thanks to Jeff. I am very happy to see someone who does not have access to database and supporting programs like me doing this, so to say, by long hand. May his tribe flourish.

Arjun Hemnani has asked for a Maximum/Minimum table based on the top-6/7 batsmen only. I have completed that work and have uploaded the tables to my site. It can be downloaded by clicking on the following links.

http://www.thirdslip.com/misc/peermax1.txt

http://www.thirdslip.com/misc/peermin1.txt

]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2009:/itfigures//123.12202 2009-08-17T15:13:23Z 2009-11-06T13:41:38Z

Having done a peer comparison analysis of bowlers, it's now the turn of batsmen

Ananth Narayanan

Don Bradman's average was 3.27 times that of his peers © Getty Images

I have done a lot of cricket analysis work over the past 20+ years. I love doing all this work. However once a while a new idea comes across which I consider as a watershed moment in my analytic efforts. The idea of comparing a player with peer players (the base idea of which was provided by Abdulla) is one such spark. I am very excited about this since it is one of the truest measures of a players' capabilities. This is a follow-up article to the one on Test bowlers.

The idea is to compare a player's performances with his peers. The comparison with one's own team is a limited step and is quite useful. However the real comparison is with all the peer players since it takes perfect care of the vexed question of a player playing in a very strong team. I had done this in a limited way for ODI Strike Rates. Now I have extended this to Test Players in a much more extended manner as explained below.

]]> 2. Sum the three main data elements, Innings, Not Outs, and Runs Scored for all the players for these matches. The Batting Average is used for comparison since this is the most accepted of all measures.

3. Subtract the player's own career figures from the total for the match subset and post these figures as a database segment. Even though the players' own numbers are quite low compared to the match subsets (Tendulkar 12773 out of 749558 runs) and the impact of this subtraction is minimal, it is done to get an exact peer segment.

4. For batsmen, first the base table is created. This table compares the batsman's bating average with the composite average of all batsmen during his playing span. This covers all batsmen since separate comparisons are done for specialized batting positions such as Opening, Middle order and Late order.

I have not done a separation by period. This is a pure peer comparison, cutting across all divisions.

First let us look at the basic Batsman table.

1. Batsman Peer comparisons - Basic table

>= 2000 Test runs

No.Batsman         Cty  Runs  Avge From- To (Mat) <------Peer-----> Ratio
                                                   Inns   Runs Avge

 1.Bradman D.G     Aus  6996 99.94 1928-1948(128)  3722 113802 30.58 3.27
 2.EdeC Weekes     Win  4455 58.62 1948-1958(161)  4829 138734 28.73 2.04
 3.Sutcliffe H     Eng  4555 60.73 1924-1935( 91)  2600  78032 30.01 2.02
 4.Pollock R.G     Saf  2256 60.97 1963-1970(126)  3900 118766 30.45 2.00
 5.Walcott C.L     Win  3798 56.69 1948-1960(199)  5982 169812 28.39 2.00
 6.Barrington K.F  Eng  6806 58.67 1955-1968(234)  7072 207904 29.40 2.00
 7.Headley G.A     Win  2190 60.83 1930-1954(194)  5745 177352 30.87 1.97
 8.Hobbs J.B       Eng  5410 56.95 1908-1930(102)  3069  88958 28.99 1.96
 9.Sobers G.St.A   Win  8032 57.78 1954-1974(353) 10721 317459 29.61 1.95
10.Hammond W.R     Eng  7249 58.46 1927-1947(117)  3344 101007 30.21 1.94
11.Hutton L        Eng  6971 56.67 1937-1955(143)  4149 123572 29.78 1.90
12.Ponting R.T     Aus 11267 56.05 1995-2009(612) 18664 577309 30.93 1.81
13.Chappell G.S    Aus  7110 53.86 1970-1984(300)  8979 270067 30.08 1.79
14.Tendulkar S.R   Ind 12773 54.59 1989-2009(792) 24004 736785 30.69 1.78
15.Kallis J.H      Saf 10277 54.66 1995-2009(599) 18270 564569 30.90 1.77
16.Javed Miandad   Pak  8832 52.57 1976-1993(460) 13470 401608 29.81 1.76
17.Mohammad Yousuf Pak  7023 54.87 1998-2009(522) 16015 500382 31.24 1.76
18.Flower A        Zim  4794 51.55 1992-2002(431) 13040 384939 29.52 1.75
19.Lara B.C        Win 11953 52.89 1990-2006(661) 20051 607578 30.30 1.75
20.Sangakkara K.C  Slk  7095 55.43 2000-2009(421) 12848 411708 32.04 1.73

Even though the batsman peer span is shown in years, the actual computations are done for the exact match of debut onwards. The years make more sense while reading the table. The "inns" value shown on these tables is after subtracting the Not outs.

No surprise at the first placed batsmen. It would have been a shock if it had been anyone else. What is surprising is the ratio of Bradman. An amazing 3.27. Weekes is the first among 9 equals who have ratios from 1.94 to 2.04. These 10 batsmen are among the best ever, all 10 having played their game before 1970.

The batsman with the highest ratio among the contemporary players is Ponting, with a ratio of 1.81, followed by Tendulkar with 1.78 and the unheralded Kallis with 1.77. This, despite the commonly percieved notions of weaker teams, and hence cheaper runs. Note the high placement of Andy Flower.

It should be noted that the peer averages are comparable across ages, at either side of 30. Mohommad Yousuf's peer average is the highest at 31.24. His span is 1998-2009. As also Kallis'. The lowest Peer average numbers are for the early 1950s.

To view the complete list, please click here.

Now we come to the comparison tables for specialized batting positions. These are determined by isolating the runs scored by batsmen in these specialized positions only and then comparing with runs scored in these positions by other batsmen. Opening is determined by the positions 1-2, Middle order by positions 3-7 and Late order by positions 8-11. The only question mark could be with no.7. However when you realize that top-quality batsmen such as Gilchrist, Healy, Knott, Marsh, Imran, Kapil, Botham, S Pollock, Flintoff, Boucher et al have scored over 25,000 Test runs amongst them at no.7 position, it has to belong to the Middle order classification.

First let us look at the Opening position. This time I have also shown the Batting Position Average value. This is the average of the batting position the batsman has batted in, with the opening positions being considered as no.2. Thus a value of 2.00 means that the batsman has batted in the opening positions only.

2. Batsman Peer comparisons - Opening batsmen

>= 2500 opening runs

No.Batsman          Cty  BPos Inns Runs  Avge  <------Peer------> Ratio
                         Avge Out              Inns    Runs  Avge

 1.Sutcliffe H      Eng  2.05  74  4522 61.11   507   18443 36.38  1.68
 2.Hobbs J.B        Eng  2.15  91  5130 56.37   591   21419 36.24  1.56
 3.Hutton L         Eng  2.18 119  6721 56.48   846   30900 36.52  1.55
 4.Simpson R.B      Aus  3.27  66  3664 55.52  2578   94513 36.66  1.51
 5.Amiss D.L        Eng  2.50  61  3276 53.70  1318   49067 37.23  1.44
 6.Hayden M.L       Aus  2.00 170  8626 50.74  4339  153809 35.45  1.43
 7.Gavaskar S.M     Ind  2.21 191  9607 50.30  2439   86489 35.46  1.42
 8.Saeed Anwar      Pak  2.11  84  3957 47.11  2677   90241 33.71  1.40
 9.Smith G.C        Saf  2.21 118  6108 51.76  2115   78959 37.33  1.39
10.Sehwag V         Ind  2.36 105  5378 51.22  2360   88396 37.46  1.37
11.Langer J.L       Aus  2.42 106  5112 48.23  4127  146726 35.55  1.36
12.Gibbs H.H        Saf  2.64 111  5242 47.23  3483  124196 35.66  1.32
13.Boycott G        Eng  2.02 168  8091 48.16  2277   82894 36.40  1.32
14.Lawry W.M        Aus  2.00 111  5234 47.15  1086   39476 36.35  1.30
15.Slater M.J       Aus  2.00 124  5312 42.84  2154   71763 33.32  1.29
16.Greenidge C.G    Win  2.03 166  7488 45.11  2684   94699 35.28  1.28
17.Boon D.C         Aus  2.85  58  2614 45.07  2131   75453 35.41  1.27
18.Hunte C.C        Win  2.00  72  3245 45.07  1082   38410 35.50  1.27
19.Stewart A.J      Eng  3.91  75  3348 44.64  3464  122407 35.34  1.26
20.Vaughan M.P      Eng  2.86  68  3093 45.49  2803  101414 36.18  1.26

The three great English openers lead the table. Then Simpson and another top quality English opener, Amiss, although Amiss' contemporary openers posted a high average. Hayden and Gavaskar clock in next despite the somewhat lower peer averages. It is also an indicator that more often than not Gavaskar waged a lone battle. The next three positions are held by openers from the current and immediately precding era.

Alec Stewart is one of the very few batsmen who has scored enough runs in both opening and middle order positions to qualify for both lists. His opening average is considerably better and he is in the 19th position. Readers should not forget that the runs in the table are the runs scored in the opening positions only.

To view the complete list, please click here.

3. Batsman Peer comparisons - Middle order batsmen

>= 4000 middle order runs

No.Batsman          Cty  BPos Inns Runs  Avge  <------Peer------> Ratio
                         Avge Out              Inns    Runs  Avge

 1.Bradman D.G      Aus  3.65  70  6996 99.94  1841   64844 35.22  2.84
 2.EdeC Weekes      Win  4.16  75  4399 58.65  2388   79001 33.08  1.77
 3.Sobers G.St.A    Win  5.09 128  7658 59.83  5363  185285 34.55  1.73
 4.Barrington K.F   Eng  4.07 113  6604 58.44  3512  122194 34.79  1.68
 5.Hammond W.R      Eng  3.70 120  6934 57.78  1628   57387 35.25  1.64
 6.Chappell G.S     Aus  4.04 132  7110 53.86  4450  156700 35.21  1.53
 7.Compton D.C.S    Eng  4.34 114  5805 50.92  2569   86396 33.63  1.51
 8.Ponting R.T      Aus  3.85 201 11267 56.05  9177  344014 37.49  1.50
 9.Javed Miandad    Pak  4.24 167  8789 52.63  6639  234403 35.31  1.49
10.Tendulkar S.R    Ind  4.28 233 12758 54.76 11806  437913 37.09  1.48
11.May P.B.H        Eng  3.66  96  4525 47.14  2593   83403 32.16  1.47
12.Kallis J.H       Saf  3.80 188 10277 54.66  8981  336648 37.48  1.46
13.Sangakkara K.C   Slk  3.09 121  6845 56.57  6328  246703 38.99  1.45
14.Harvey R.N       Aus  3.65 126  6147 48.79  3651  122850 33.65  1.45
15.Lara B.C         Win  3.78 223 11828 53.04  9833  359979 36.61  1.45
16.Dravid R         Ind  3.27 191 10334 54.10  8859  332724 37.56  1.44
17.Mohammad Yousuf  Pak  4.71 128  7023 54.87  7884  300580 38.13  1.44
18.Waugh S.R        Aus  5.42 211 10910 51.71  9473  341102 36.01  1.44
19.Flower A         Zim  5.03  93  4786 51.46  6408  230728 36.01  1.43
20.Border A.R       Aus  4.70 220 11116 50.53  5914  209290 35.39  1.43

The middle order table shows no surprises. Again Mohammad Yousuf's peer batsmen batting average is quite high, only exceeded by Sangakkara's peer average. The early 50s show the lowest middle order batsman averages.

To view the complete list, please click here.

4. Batsman Peer comparisons - Late order batsmen

( >=500 late order runs and BPos avge >8.0)

No.Batsman          Cty  BPos Inns Runs  Avge <------Peer------>  Ratio
                         Avge Out              Inns    Runs  Avge

 1.Johnson M.G      Aus  9.03  22   762 34.64   695   11199 16.11  2.15
 2.Strang P.A       Zim  8.17  25   737 29.48  2546   36143 14.20  2.08
 3.Vettori D.L      Nzl  8.34  98  2959 30.19  4851   73245 15.10  2.00
 4.Symcox P.L       Saf  8.44  23   668 29.04  1781   25879 14.53  2.00
 5.Broad S.C.J      Eng  8.03  20   628 31.40   635   10389 16.36  1.92
 6.Reiffel P.R      Aus  8.40  34   936 27.53  1855   26951 14.53  1.89
 7.Blignaut A.M     Zim  8.31  30   835 27.83  1944   29804 15.33  1.82
 8.More K.S         Ind  8.33  44  1180 26.82  1458   22140 15.19  1.77
 9.Smith I.D.S      Nzl  8.34  60  1667 27.78  2418   38154 15.78  1.76
10.Boje N           Saf  8.10  42  1125 26.79  2843   43787 15.40  1.74
11.O'Keeffe K.J     Aus  8.06  23   606 26.35  1076   16462 15.30  1.72
12.Nash D.J         Nzl  8.82  30   729 24.30  3147   44928 14.28  1.70
13.Vaas WPUJC       Slk  8.09 109  2783 25.53  5557   83365 15.00  1.70
14.Chandana U.D.U   Slk  8.29  21   519 24.71  2567   38534 15.01  1.65
15.Verity H         Eng  8.52  28   620 22.14   506    7101 14.03  1.58
16.Ghavri K.D       Ind  8.53  41   900 21.95  1281   18099 14.13  1.55
17.Wasim Akram      Pak  8.14  97  2160 22.27  4784   70503 14.74  1.51
18.Madan Lal S      Ind  8.18  30   669 22.30  2577   38789 15.05  1.48
19.Wardle J.H       Eng  8.10  26   568 21.85  1197   18002 15.04  1.45
20.Allen D.A        Eng  8.63  34   805 23.68   973   16025 16.47  1.44

This is a very interesting table. The additional qualification of Batting position average ensures that only genuine late order batsmen are compared. Mitchell Johnson has recently started batting at no.8. Hence his entry into this table. Soon he will go out of the table as he builds more innings at no.8 and possibly no.7.

Johnson is on top with a ratio of 2.15. The others are good quality late order batsmen. Anyone who has a ratio of greater than 1.4 should be classified as a top quality late order batsman.

To view the complete list, please please click here.

If readers want different cut-offs for the tables, they are welcome to suggest the same.

Since the tables cover, with almost no exception, all the top batsmen of the world with variable career spans, I have given below the extreme peer average values in various classifications. The base table shows maximum spread, 10.7% on either side of 28.65, since it includes all batsmen, batting at 1-11. The Opening batsmen table has a spread of 7.4% on either side of 33.78. The Middle order table has a spread of 9.3% on either side of 32.69.

Base table (All batsmen)
Low:  24.58 1890-1912 S.E.Gregory
High: 32.71 2005-1009 Mike Hussey

Opening batsmen
Low:  33.24 1950s C.C.Mcdonald
High: 38.47 1970s Fredericks

Middle order batsmen
Low:  32.16 1951-1961 Peter May
High: 39.34 2005-2009 Kevin Pietersen

Late order batsmen
Low:  14.03 1930s Verity
High: 16.47 1960s D Allen

]]>

I have learnt a lot through the Test Batsmen analysis. First and foremost is that doing a single comparison table over 134 years is not the correct method. Test cricket has changed probably 1080 degrees over the years and there cannot be a single yardstick for all the players. Hence I have separated the analysis into multiple periods.

Period Separation:

These periods have been identified with lot of thought and deliberation with inputs from a few interested readers. Many related factors have gone into this process. Separate tables will be prepared for different periods. In addition, I will show, in the follow-up article, two tables separating the bowlers by type of bowling. This will be only for information.]]> - The bowling era: 1877-1914 (134 Tests and 370 players)
- The batting era: 1920-1969 (535 Tests and 980 players)
- The balanced era: 1970-2009 (1251 Tests and 1220 players).

The first era is so different from the rest of the years that it is essential to separate it into a single one despite the paucity of Tests. Uncovered pitches, 3-day Test matches, 110+ overs bowled in a day, compulsory follow-ons, low average scores et al are some of the features.

The second era was where batting was king. However, the in-between wars period was lit up by the wonderful batting of Bradman, Hammond. Headley, McCabe et al and was the golden era of batting. Still the results were plentiful. What followed the WW-2 was unfortunate. These years were batting dominated. However the batting was defensive and the matches were driven by the desire not to lose, rather than to win. The new teams, India and Pakistan, the weaker New Zealand and the defensive strong teams contributed a lot to this situation. These 50 years form a separate era. There are lot of similarities within the two sub-periods in terms of numbers.

The third era is the most balanced era of all. This era saw great bowlers such as Lillee, Holding, Marshall, Hadlee, Imran, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Kapil Dev, Muralitharan, Warne, Kumble et al. It also saw the presence of great batsmen such as Richards, Greg Chappell, Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Miandad, Dravid, Gooch, Jayawardene et al. Thus there were great contests. As such this was a great balanced era and even though the number of Tests is quite high, this is a logical grouping.

As done for the Batting analysis, the analysis is done in two parts. The first is based on Match Performances and the second part is based on the Career achievements. Many people are under the misapprehension that Match Performance is based on team achievements. This is completely wrong. The Match Performance refers to the concerned bowlers' performances during the specific match and what happened in the match. The only team achievement considered is the result which, at the end of the day, is the most important aspect of any match.

A. Match Performances (Maximum 40 points)

The following factors are used to analyze the match performances of bowlers. The total points secured is divided by the number of innspells (my own term indicating a qualifying bowling stint, taking care to exclude bowling efforts such as 5-0-17-0 et al).

Base points
- Wickets captured
- Balls bowled - to recognize long spells
- Batsmen dismissed - based on his score at time of dismissal
Multiplicative factors
- Overall quality of batting team (primarily top-7 batsmen)
- Bowling accuracy (relative to the innings scoring rate)
- Match-related pitch characteristics
- An adjustment for pace bowlers bowling in the Asian subcontinent and spinners bowling outside
- Match situation
- Home/Away (incorporating relative team strengths)
- Result (incorporating relative team strengths)
- Series situation

B. Career Achievements (Maximum 40 points)

This is an equally important aspect of any such analysis. It also encompasses aspects of bowling which do not require consideration of the match conditions or situation. The only longevity measure is the "Career wickets captured" measure, carrying 5 points (6.2%). This will incorporate the following factors.

- Career wickets captured (5 points)
- Career wickets per innspell (5 points)
- Bowling Strike rate-BpW (10 points)
- Bowling accuracy-RpO (5 points)
- Average Quality of batsmen dismissed - based on CtD bat avge (5 points)
- Type of wickets captured - Top/Middle order/Late order (5 points)
- Performance ratio - % of wickets captured to % of balls bowled (5 points).

C. Match Performances(Maximum 40 points)

1.1. Wickets captured: Straightforward linear weight for wickets captured.
1.2. Balls bowled: This is to recognize the fact that a bowler might have bowled an innspell of 43-12-69-2 and provided great support to the main strike bowler(s). Around 25-over spell is considered as approximately equivalent to a wicket.
1.3. Batsmen dismissed: This is to take care of situations such as the Cardiff/Lord's Tests. The idea is to reward Anderson who dismissed Ponting at 0 as against Panesar who dismissed him at 150. Anderson gets almost complete credit while Panesar none. The importance of dismissing a top batsman at a low score cannot be over-emphasized. However it must be noted that in the Career Batsman quality measure, both Anderson and Panesar would get credit for 56.18.
2.1. Overall quality of batting team: This is based on the Career-todate batting averages of the first 7 batsmen and minimal weight to the late order batsmen.
2.2. Bowling accuracy: This is in relation to the bowling team's overall innings performance. three recent examples shown.
- Saf: 651 in 154.3 (Siddle 35-15-67-1)
- Nzl: 619 in 154 (Harbhajan 41-7-120-2)
- Ind: 379 in 92 (Franklin 14-4-38-1)
In each of these cases the bowler concerned has done very well as compared to his team mates and will be credited with the appropriate multiplicative factor, Siddle and Harbhajan more than Franklin because of the higher proportion of overs delivered.
2.3. Match-related pitch characteristics: Based on Arjun's suggestion of the 10 best scores. I have done an analysis of many matches of different periods and this measure has come out very well. The highest value is 1319 in the (in)famous Slk-Ind test in which 6 centuries, including Jayasuriya's 340, were scored. The lowest was in an Ashes test during 1888 with a figure of 181, the four innings scores being 116, 53, 60 and 62 (???). The higher this value is, the more difficult the bowlers' task is and vice versa.
2.4. Location based adjustment: All pace bowlers bowling in the sub-continent get a lift up and all spinners bowling outside get a lift up. There is no negative valuation. These are based on actual summary calculations.
2.5. Match situation: The innings type. In the second innings, what score was being defended, in the third innings, what is the deficit/advantage and what was the attempted target score and in the fourth innings, what was the score being defended and what was the margin of win, if there was one.
2.6. Home/Away: No blind computation. This takes into account the relative strengths of the two teams. Weaker teams, whether playing home or away will get additional weight and vice versa.
2.7. Result: Here also the relative strengths are taken into account.
2.8. Series situation: Is it a dead rubber, is the series still in the balance, what is the series score at mid points et al.

D. Career Achievements (Maximum 40 points)

1. Career wickets captured (5 points): Only longevity based measure. 5 points for 1000 wickets.
2. Career wickets per innspell (5 points): Performance based measure.
3. Bowling Strike rate-BpW (10 points): This generally favours the fast bowlers. And that is the way it should be.
4. Bowling accuracy-RpO (5 points): This generally favours the spinners.
5. Average Quality of batsmen dismissed - based on CtD bat avge (5 points): Averaged over all the wickets captured.
6. Type of wickets captured - Top/Middle order/Late order (5 points): The Top/Middle order gets clubbed together and gets much higher weight than the low order and then the average determined.
7. Performance ratio - % of wickets captured to % of balls bowled (5 points). This is to reward the bowlers who have delivered maximum while bowling less. Generally favours the fast bowlers although readers would be surprised to see Stuart Macgill in the top-10.

Let us now look at the tables. The same criteria is used for all periods so the tables are comparable, while exercising a degree of caution. The bowler should have reached the mark of 100 career wickets. The tables are current upto and inclusive of match no. 1924 (Second Sri Lnka - Pakistan Test completed recently).

Before readers rush off with comments let me outline below in a simple manner all factors which have been taken care of. Please do not make redundant comments on these factors.

1. Bowler perf points in stronger bowling teams have been increased.
2. Bowler perf points in weaker bowling teams have been decreased.
3. Bowler perf points against stronger batting lineups have been increased.
4. Bowler perf points weaker batting lineups have been decreased.
5. Pace bowler perf points in subcontinent matches have been increased.
6. Spin bowler perf points in outside-sc matches have been increased.
7. Batsman quality is career-to-date and adjusted based on period.
8. Longevity gets a weight of 6.25% and performance measures 93.75%.
9. Effort put in by bowlers, even supportive, has been recognized.

1. Current era (1970-2000): Table of top bowlers

SNo. Cty Bowler          BT Ratio Total Match  Wkt  Bow  Bow  Wkt  Wkt Perf
                                   Pts  Perf   Pts StRt  Acc  Bat  Qty  Idx
                         Max Wt-> 80.0  40.0  10.0 10.0  5.0  5.0  5.0  5.0

  1. Slk Muralitharan M  ROB 1.28 51.30 23.85 6.49 6.74 3.89 4.02 3.81 2.51
  2. Aus Lillee D.K      RF  1.20 48.05 21.48 3.87 7.62 3.20 4.92 3.98 2.98
  3. Aus Warne S.K       RLB 1.20 48.00 22.52 5.57 6.47 3.64 3.69 3.61 2.52
  4. Nzl Hadlee R.J      RFM 1.20 47.97 21.16 4.37 7.69 3.38 4.73 3.88 2.76
  5. Pak Imran Khan      RF  1.20 47.90 21.41 3.87 7.37 3.46 5.15 3.92 2.72
  6. Saf Steyn D.W       RF  1.14 45.55 20.34 2.94 8.01 2.72 4.31 3.68 3.55
  7. Win Marshall M.D    RF  1.14 45.44 18.89 3.77 7.94 3.38 4.59 4.01 2.85
  8. Aus McGrath G.D     RFM 1.12 44.86 18.77 4.57 7.03 3.81 3.84 4.05 2.79
  9. Ind Kumble A        RLB 1.11 44.58 20.13 5.08 5.62 3.58 4.13 3.78 2.26
 10. Pak Waqar Younis    RFM 1.10 44.18 18.67 3.74 7.89 2.91 4.07 3.90 3.00

 11. Saf Donald A.A      RF  1.10 44.13 18.52 3.61 7.49 3.35 4.01 4.02 3.12
 12. Win Ambrose C.E.L   RF  1.09 43.55 18.76 3.81 6.90 3.83 4.01 3.96 2.27
 13. Win Holding M.A     RF  1.08 43.40 17.80 2.94 7.70 3.22 5.06 3.96 2.71
 14. Pak Wasim Akram     LFM 1.08 43.22 18.90 3.84 6.90 3.57 3.91 3.69 2.41
 15. Pak Shoaib Akhtar   RF  1.08 43.21 19.12 2.60 7.53 2.93 4.19 3.93 2.91
 16. Aus Lawson G.F      RF  1.08 43.20 19.26 2.70 6.40 3.12 5.18 4.17 2.37
 17. Aus Reid B.A        LFM 1.08 43.03 18.55 2.68 6.92 3.42 4.35 4.10 3.00
 18. Win Croft C.E.H     RF  1.07 42.97 18.20 2.43 7.86 3.15 4.61 4.10 2.61
 19. Aus Thomson J.R     RF  1.07 42.82 17.32 2.72 7.57 2.79 5.43 4.19 2.78
 20. Ind Harbhajan Singh ROB 1.06 42.51 20.26 3.46 5.63 3.59 3.81 3.61 2.14

This is a galaxy of the best bowlers who have graced the grounds over the past 40 years. Not one of them does not deserve his place in this exclusive list. One might like minor moves amongst the top-10, but no one can say with any degree of conviction that there is even one undeserving candidate, including Dale Steyn.

Muralitharan is deservedly on top, that too by a margin of around 6%. The fact that he has played for Sri Lanka has only aided him slightly. His top-drawer performances, day in and day out, have given him the highest Match Performance points. His collection of wickets, wickets per innspell, good accuracy, quality of batsmen dismissed are all in the top 10%. Only in the last two measures does he lag behind others since he has taken a lion's share of his team's bowling efforts and has captured significant number of late order batsmen.

Lillee, who is in second place just ahead of Warne, was the first of the modern great fast bowlers. He formed a great team with Thomson and would have comfortably crossed 450 wickets barring the mid-career switch to Packer and injuries, because of which he missed 30 Tests. A sub-24 average and a 52+ strike rate tell the story.

Warne, in third position, is much more than the "ball of the century" and similar mind-blowing efforts. He had great variations and, barring against and in India, he was devastating everywhere. On dead pitches he had the ability to think out set batsmen. He gains slightly because he was in a strong bowling attack.

What does one say of Richard Hadlee, who is in fourth place. He might have played for a weak team but this works against him in the Match Performance analysis. However he has maintained 5 wickets per Test throughout his career. He was the single bowling star for his team for many years and deserves his second spot.

What Imran Khan would have done if he had bowled in those 8 batting-only Tests is anybody's guess. His 40-wickets performance against India in the 1982-83 series is one of the best series efforts ever and without any doubt the best performance by a pace bowler in the Asian sub-continent. A great captain and one of the greatest pace bowlers ever, as shown by this placement.

Before readers start sending torrents of mails asking why xyz is not ahead of pqr or something similar, please look at what separates the second to fifth placed bowlers, just 0.15 point. Kindly see them together as a band of equals.

Steyn comes in next. Do I see eyebrows raised at Steyn. If so, do not forget that his strike rate is 39.2, bettered only by the pre-WW1 figure of 34.1 by Lohmann (should be ignored for all purposes). He has captured 170 wickets in 33 Tests at an outstanding average of 23+. His Performance ratio (% of balls to % of wickets) is the highest for any bowler, standing at 1.78. His placement is also a vindication of the algorithms used in that a bowler with 170 wickets could be placed above bowlers who have captured in excess of 550 wickets.

Marshall, McGrath, Kumble and Waqar Younis complete this table of great bowlers. Each of these is a giant and could easily have graced the top-5. Alan Donald, the greatest South African pace bowler ever, just misses out.

Australia has three bowlers and Pakistan, as a tribute to their fast bowling skills, two bowlers. There are 3 spinners in this elite group, probably par for the period. Let me also add that only one more spinner, Harbhajan, that too just about, makes it to the top-20, making this a pace bowlers' era. Anyhow, other than, to a lesser extent, Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Qadir, there have not been very good spinners during these times.

As I am readying this for despatch, I get to view all-time best Australian XI. The three Australian bowlers in the Top-10 from this table and the no.2 from the Middle-era table have all found their place.

To view the complete list, please click here.

2.Current era (1970-2000): Table with support data

SNo. Cty Bowler          B/T Inn Rating Wkts Bow   Bow   Wkt  Wkt  B/W
                             Spls  Pts       StRt  RpO  Avge Qual Ratio

  1. Slk Muralitharan M  ROB  219 51.30 770  54.6 2.44 20.09 0.76 1.26
  2. Aus Lillee D.K      RF   127 48.05 355  52.0 2.76 24.58 0.80 1.49
  3. Aus Warne S.K       RLB  262 48.00 708  57.5 2.65 18.47 0.72 1.26
  4. Nzl Hadlee R.J      RFM  146 47.97 431  50.9 2.63 23.63 0.78 1.38
  5. Pak Imran Khan      RF   132 47.90 362  53.8 2.55 25.75 0.78 1.36
  6. Saf Steyn D.W       RF    61 45.55 170  39.3 3.62 21.55 0.74 1.78
  7. Win Marshall M.D    RF   149 45.44 376  46.8 2.69 22.97 0.80 1.42
  8. Aus McGrath G.D     RFM  241 44.86 563  52.0 2.50 19.22 0.81 1.40
  9. Ind Kumble A        RLB  234 44.58 619  66.0 2.70 20.66 0.76 1.13
 10. Pak Waqar Younis    RFM  149 44.18 373  43.5 3.25 20.33 0.78 1.50

 11. Saf Donald A.A      RF   126 44.13 330  47.0 2.84 20.06 0.80 1.56
 12. Win Ambrose C.E.L   RF   170 43.55 405  54.6 2.31 20.04 0.79 1.14
 13. Win Holding M.A     RF   110 43.40 249  50.9 2.79 25.28 0.79 1.36
 14. Pak Wasim Akram     LFM  175 43.22 414  54.7 2.59 19.56 0.74 1.21
 15. Pak Shoaib Akhtar   RF    78 43.21 178  45.7 3.37 20.94 0.79 1.46
 16. Aus Lawson G.F      RF    75 43.20 180  61.8 2.97 25.90 0.83 1.19
 17. Aus Reid B.A        LFM   40 43.03 113  55.3 2.68 21.75 0.82 1.50
 18. Win Croft C.E.H     RF    52 42.97 125  49.3 2.84 23.06 0.82 1.31
 19. Aus Thomson J.R     RF    87 42.82 200  52.7 3.19 27.17 0.84 1.39
 20. Ind Harbhajan Singh ROB  137 42.51 330  65.1 2.81 19.07 0.72 1.07

To view the complete list, please click here.

3. Middle era (1920-1969): Table of top bowlers

SNo. Cty Bowler          BT Ratio Total Match  Wkt  Bow  Bow  Wkt  Wkt Perf
                                   Pts  Perf   Pts StRt  Acc  Bat  Qty  Idx
                         Max Wt-> 80.0  40.0  10.0 10.0  5.0  5.0  5.0  5.0

  1. Aus Grimmett C.V    RLB 1.25 49.87 25.94 3.53 6.19 3.71 4.22 3.70 2.58
  2. Aus O'Reilly W.J    RLB 1.23 49.24 25.98 2.97 5.99 3.89 4.62 3.72 2.06
  3. Saf Tayfield H.J    ROB 1.13 45.20 23.10 2.94 5.12 3.46 4.93 3.76 1.87
  4. Eng Trueman F.S     RF  1.11 44.29 18.72 3.42 8.53 2.94 3.56 3.82 3.30
  5. Pak Fazal Mahmood   RFM 1.10 44.08 21.16 2.78 6.15 3.37 4.32 4.11 2.20
  6. Eng Laker J.C       ROB 1.09 43.46 19.32 2.75 7.00 3.36 4.33 3.99 2.70
  7. Aus McKenzie G.D    RF  1.07 42.84 19.91 2.97 6.07 3.19 4.39 4.07 2.24
  8. Eng Bedser A.V      RFM 1.07 42.68 19.51 3.13 6.45 3.22 3.85 3.94 2.60
  9. Ind Chandrasekhar B RLB 1.06 42.23 18.86 3.12 6.57 3.09 4.50 3.90 2.20
 10. Win Hall W.W        RF  1.04 41.51 17.42 2.60 8.04 2.74 3.44 4.16 3.11

 11. Aus Davidson A.K    LFM 1.04 41.43 17.88 2.67 7.06 3.49 3.98 3.91 2.44
 12. Eng Tate M.W        RFM 1.03 41.19 19.80 2.51 4.80 3.93 4.09 3.89 2.18
 13. Eng Snow J.A        RFM 1.03 41.17 17.71 2.69 7.24 3.10 3.69 3.96 2.78
 14. Ind Bedi B.S        LSP 1.02 40.79 18.88 3.10 4.88 3.66 4.50 4.00 1.77
 15. Saf Pollock P.M     RF  1.02 40.75 16.81 2.32 7.80 3.09 3.68 3.97 3.09
 16. Eng Underwood D.L   LSP 1.02 40.74 17.52 3.02 5.58 3.74 4.62 4.12 2.15
 17. Ind Gupte S.P       RLB 1.01 40.57 19.36 2.74 5.58 3.14 3.59 3.84 2.32
 18. Win Gibbs L.R       ROB 1.01 40.54 20.00 3.19 4.21 3.67 4.01 3.65 1.79
 19. Aus Lindwall R.R    RF  1.00 40.17 15.75 2.67 7.35 3.15 4.67 3.90 2.69
 20. Aus Johnston W.A    LSP 1.00 40.06 17.54 2.40 6.22 3.33 4.10 4.09 2.38

Tayfield, the South African off spinner is in third position, in a list where spin is king. His 9 for 113 off 37 consecutive overs against England remains the best bowling performance ever in this analysis.

Trueman, the fiery fast bowler and the first to reach 300 test wickets is in fourth position. He is also the best fast bowler in this middle era.

The fifth position is held by that master of seam, Fazal Mahmood, who troubled the batsmen on the matting wickets of Pakistan but outside also and allowed Pakistan to have a reasonable start to their test initiation. Unfortunately there was a lot of defensive thinking which meant that Fazal also had to act as the stock bowler.

The top-10 is completed by Laker, McKenzie, Alec Bedser, Chandrasekhar and Hall, an outstanding quintet. There are 5 spinners in this top-10 group indicating that this was an era which had a very strong spin presence.

To view the complete list, please click here.

4. Middle era (1920-1969): Table of support data

SNo. Cty Bowler          B/T Inn Rating Wkts Bow   Bow   Wkt  Wkt  B/W
                             Spls  Pts       StRt  RpO  Avge Qual Ratio

  1. Aus Grimmett C.V    RLB   66 49.87 216  67.2 2.16 21.10 0.74 1.29
  2. Aus O'Reilly W.J    RLB   48 49.24 144  69.6 1.95 23.08 0.74 1.03
  3. Saf Tayfield H.J    ROB   61 45.20 170  79.8 1.95 24.67 0.75 0.94
  4. Eng Trueman F.S     RF   122 44.29 307  49.4 2.62 17.80 0.76 1.65
  5. Pak Fazal Mahmood   RFM   50 44.08 139  70.7 2.10 21.58 0.82 1.10
  6. Eng Laker J.C       ROB   81 43.46 193  62.3 2.05 21.67 0.80 1.35
  7. Aus McKenzie G.D    RF   106 42.84 246  71.9 2.49 21.94 0.81 1.12
  8. Eng Bedser A.V      RFM   91 42.68 236  67.4 2.21 19.24 0.79 1.30
  9. Ind Chandrasekhar B RLB   95 42.23 242  66.0 2.71 22.48 0.78 1.10
 10. Win Hall W.W        RF    88 41.51 192  54.3 2.92 17.20 0.83 1.55

 11. Aus Davidson A.K    LFM   80 41.43 186  62.3 1.98 19.92 0.78 1.22
 12. Eng Tate M.W        RFM   67 41.19 155  80.8 1.94 20.45 0.78 1.09
 13. Eng Snow J.A        RFM   90 41.17 202  59.5 2.69 18.44 0.79 1.39
 14. Ind Bedi B.S        LSP  113 40.79 266  80.3 2.14 22.50 0.80 0.89
 15. Saf Pollock P.M     RF    50 40.75 116  56.2 2.58 18.39 0.79 1.55
 16. Eng Underwood D.L   LSP  145 40.74 297  73.6 2.11 23.10 0.82 1.07
 17. Ind Gupte S.P       RLB   56 40.57 149  75.7 2.34 17.94 0.77 1.16
 18. Win Gibbs L.R       ROB  141 40.54 309  87.8 1.99 20.07 0.73 0.89
 19. Aus Lindwall R.R    RF   112 40.17 228  59.9 2.31 23.36 0.78 1.34
 20. Aus Johnston W.A    LSP   75 40.06 160  69.0 2.08 20.49 0.82 1.19

To view the complete list, please click here.

5. Pre-WW1 era (1877-1914): Table of top bowlers

SNo. Cty Bowler          BT Ratio Total Match  Wkt  Bow  Bow  Wkt  Wkt Perf
                                   Pts  Perf   Pts StRt  Acc  Bat  Qty  Idx
                         Max Wt-> 80.0  40.0  10.0 10.0  5.0  5.0  5.0  5.0

SNo. Cty Bowler          BT Ratio Total Match  Wkt  Bow  Bow  Wkt  Wkt Perf
                                   Pts  Perf   Pts StRt  Acc  Bat  Qty  Idx
                         Max Wt-> 80.0  40.0  10.0 10.0  5.0  5.0  5.0  5.0

  1. Eng Barnes S.F      RFM 1.27 50.71 26.15 3.90 6.72 3.53 3.37 3.97 3.08
  2. Aus Turner C.T.B    RFM 1.06 42.41 19.35 3.12 5.92 3.95 3.97 4.15 1.96
  3. Eng Richardson T    RF  1.05 41.87 19.84 3.44 5.92 2.95 3.26 3.93 2.52
  4. Aus Spofforth F.R   RFM 1.02 40.96 17.58 2.90 6.48 3.42 4.10 3.92 2.55
  5. Aus Saunders J.V    LSP 1.01 40.52 18.80 2.59 6.40 2.89 3.40 3.86 2.58
  6. Eng Blythe C        LSP 1.01 40.50 18.10 2.58 6.40 3.44 3.30 4.29 2.39
  7. Aus Trumble H       ROB 1.00 40.06 17.75 2.56 5.44 3.62 4.79 3.91 2.00
  8. Eng Peel R          LSP 1.00 39.85 18.77 2.70 5.92 3.91 2.46 3.90 2.20
  9. Eng Lohmann G.A     RFM 0.98 39.27 15.71 3.03 7.28 3.99 2.32 3.76 3.18
 10. Aus Cotter A        RFM 0.98 39.25 17.74 2.41 5.84 2.62 4.30 4.12 2.23

 11. Aus Giffen G        ROB 0.94 37.43 17.18 2.50 5.04 3.28 3.53 3.91 1.98
 12. Aus Palmer G.E      ROB 0.93 37.28 16.03 2.41 5.44 3.66 3.75 3.80 2.19
 13. Eng Briggs J        LSP 0.91 36.43 14.69 2.56 6.40 3.54 2.68 3.76 2.79
 14. Aus Jones E         RF  0.90 36.10 14.69 1.98 5.36 2.94 4.76 4.06 2.30
 15. Aus Whitty W.J      LFM 0.90 36.10 14.46 2.28 5.92 3.44 3.68 3.96 2.36
 16. Saf Vogler A.E.E    RLB 0.89 35.43 14.20 2.10 6.56 2.76 3.28 4.18 2.36
 17. Nzl Cameron F.J     RFM 0.88 35.04 13.45 1.63 5.76 4.33 4.24 3.79 1.84
 18. Saf Faulkner G.A    RLB 0.87 34.79 14.37 2.03 6.44 2.82 3.47 3.67 1.98
 19. Aus Noble M.A       ROB 0.87 34.67 13.51 2.05 5.28 3.37 4.85 3.70 1.92
 20. Eng Ferris J.J      LM  0.83 33.14  9.94 3.16 7.04 3.87 3.22 3.95 1.95
 21. Eng Rhodes W        LSP 0.81 32.24 12.47 1.90 5.44 3.40 3.54 3.49 2.00
 22. Saf Sinclair J.H    RLB 0.72 28.83 10.73 1.63 5.44 2.59 2.88 3.99 1.56
 23. Aus Armstrong W.W   RLB 0.69 27.57 10.47 1.37 2.73 3.70 4.00 3.97 1.34
 24. Eng Woolley F.E     LSP 0.69 27.52  8.79 1.28 4.49 3.30 4.10 3.83 1.75

Exactly 10 bowlers fulfill the criteria (Since changed cut-off to 60 wkts). The list is, as expected, headed by Sid Barnes, by the reckoning of many, the best fast-medium bowler ever. He is ahead of the next bowler by over 20%. Then come those deadly exponents of pace and spin who revelled on those uncovered deadly pitches.

Surprising thing is that Lohmann, despite his devastating strike rate and average, comes as low as fifth. His match performances have been below-par. The opposition has also been quite average. This list is dominated by spinners, 7 in all, but led by two great fast medium bowlers. Quite surprising that there is no leg spinner. Grimmett and O'Reilly started the tradition of great leg spinners, after the war.

6. Pre-WW1 era (1877-1914): Table with support data

SNo. Cty Bowler          B/T Inn Rating Wkts Bow   Bow   Wkt  Wkt  B/W
                             Spls  Pts       StRt  RpO  Avge Qual Ratio

SNo. Cty Bowler          B/T Inn Rating Wkts Bow   Bow   Wkt  Wkt  B/W
                             Spls  Pts       StRt  RpO  Avge Qual Ratio

  1. Eng Barnes S.F      RFM   48 50.71 189  41.7 2.37 16.83 0.79 1.54
  2. Aus Turner C.T.B    RFM   29 42.41 101  51.3 1.93 19.85 0.83 0.98
  3. Eng Richardson T    RF    22 41.87  88  51.1 2.96 16.31 0.79 1.26
  4. Aus Spofforth F.R   RFM   29 40.96  94  44.5 2.48 20.51 0.78 1.28
  5. Aus Saunders J.V    LSP   27 40.52  79  45.1 3.02 17.01 0.77 1.29
  6. Eng Blythe C        LSP   36 40.50 100  45.5 2.46 16.51 0.86 1.20
  7. Aus Trumble H       ROB   57 40.06 141  57.4 2.28 23.93 0.78 1.00
  8. Eng Peel R          LSP   35 39.85 102  51.1 1.97 12.30 0.78 1.10
  9. Eng Lohmann G.A     RFM   34 39.27 112  34.1 1.89 11.60 0.75 1.59
 10. Aus Cotter A        RFM   34 39.25  89  52.1 3.30 21.49 0.82 1.12

 11. Aus Giffen G        ROB   39 37.43 103  62.0 2.62 17.67 0.78 0.99
 12. Aus Palmer G.E      ROB   29 37.28  78  57.9 2.23 18.75 0.76 1.09
 13. Eng Briggs J        LSP   45 36.43 118  45.2 2.36 13.42 0.75 1.40
 14. Aus Jones E         RF    29 36.10  64  58.6 2.97 23.81 0.81 1.15
 15. Aus Whitty W.J      LFM   25 36.10  65  51.6 2.45 18.41 0.79 1.18
 16. Saf Vogler A.E.E    RLB   27 35.43  64  43.2 3.16 16.40 0.84 1.18
 17. Nzl Cameron F.J     RFM   36 35.04  63  77.7 2.39 21.21 0.76 0.92
 18. Saf Faulkner G.A    RLB   38 34.79  82  51.5 3.09 17.36 0.73 0.99
 19. Aus Noble M.A       ROB   63 34.67 121  59.2 2.54 24.24 0.74 0.96
 20. Eng Ferris J.J      LM    16 33.14  61  37.7 2.02 16.10 0.79 0.97
 21. Eng Rhodes W        LSP   75 32.24 127  64.8 2.50 17.68 0.70 1.00
 22. Saf Sinclair J.H    RLB   36 28.83  63  57.1 3.33 14.42 0.80 0.78
 23. Aus Armstrong W.W   RLB   70 27.57  87  92.2 2.19 20.00 0.79 0.67
 24. Eng Woolley F.E     LSP   72 27.52  83  78.3 2.60 20.50 0.77 0.87

I do not expect the readers to agree with all the placings. They have every right to disagree in a nice, positive, contributory manner. I have no problems if you express your disagreement supported by subjective, objective or figures-based arguments. Kindly stay away from rude, offensive or abusive comments. Also resist making mundane bare comments such as "abc is better than xyz.". Also all comments on batsmen have to be relevant to the topic under discussion. Otherwise, they are unlikely to see the light of the day.

One final note. Muralitharan's action has been analyzed and deemed to be perfectly acceptable by ICC. That is enough for me. That may not be enough for some readers, I have no problem with that. However please do not raise that issue in response to this article. One such comment I will ignore. If readers persist with such comments, I will have no other option but to ignore all their comments, however valid those might be. This is not the forum for such comments.

A reminder that the bowler-type tables will be brought out in the follow-up article.]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2009:/itfigures//123.11691 2009-07-13T11:11:40Z 2009-11-06T13:41:55Z

earlier article uncovered a measure which could stand firm across decades, across different types of pitches/conditions and across different types of bowling skills and strategies. There were not many comments. However there were two comments which suggested enhancing the analysis by expanding the scope of coverage. These two were very sound and I decided to do a follow-up immediately before coming out the eagerly-awaited Test Bowler Analysis next week.

First a recap. The initial analysis compared the Batsman career strike rate with the rest of the team's strike rate, in the matches played by the batsman. The concerned table is given below.]]> Player career strike rates compared to own team strike rates

SNo Batsman           Cty Mat  Runs Balls  S/R OBRuns OBBalls   S/R  BSRF

  1.Shahid Afridi     Pak 276  5642  5083 1.110  49132  65461 0.751 147.9%
  2.Kapil Dev N       Ind 225  3783  3979 0.951  32898  49298 0.667 142.5%
  3.Powell R.L        Win 108  2085  2157 0.967  17332  24678 0.702 137.6%
  4.Richards I.V.A    Win 187  6721  7451 0.902  25859  38757 0.667 135.2%
  5.Sehwag V          Ind 205  6592  6472 1.019  37006  46569 0.795 128.2%
  6.Wasim Akram       Pak 356  3717  4224 0.880  51127  73789 0.693 127.0%
  7.Jayasuriya S.T    Slk 431 13151 14443 0.911  70806  97706 0.725 125.6%
  8.Klusener L        Saf 171  3576  3978 0.899  26076  35034 0.744 120.8%
  9.Flintoff A        Eng 141  3393  3819 0.888  20940  28419 0.737 120.6%
 10.Gilchrist A.C     Aus 287  9619  9923 0.969  52125  64341 0.810 119.7%
 11.Tikolo S.O        Ken 117  3213  4214 0.762  16758  26291 0.637 119.6%
 12.Cairns C.L        Nzl 215  4950  5879 0.842  33299  47167 0.706 119.3%
 13.Zaheer Abbas      Pak  62  2572  3216 0.800   8669  12863 0.674 118.7%
 14.Chappell G.S      Aus  74  2331  3088 0.755  10480  16449 0.637 118.5%
 15.de Silva P.A      Slk 308  9284 11497 0.808  46393  67537 0.687 117.6%
 16.Gower D.I         Eng 114  3170  4222 0.751  17751  27765 0.639 117.4%
 17.McCullum B.B      Nzl 153  2984  3353 0.890  22785  29918 0.762 116.9%
 18.Botham I.T        Eng 116  2113  2816 0.750  17981  27866 0.645 116.3%
 19.Pollock S.M       Saf 303  3519  4059 0.867  40335  54126 0.745 116.3%
 20.Pietersen K.P     Eng  92  3127  3576 0.874  14069  18585 0.757 115.5%
...
 77.Inzamam-ul-Haq    Pak 378 11739 15827 0.742  60323  81270 0.742 100.0%
...
142.Taylor M.A        Aus 113  3514  5867 0.599  18912  25762 0.734  81.6%
143.Yasir Hameed      Pak  56  2028  3029 0.670  10522  12777 0.824  81.3%
144.Tillakaratne H.P  Slk 200  3789  6544 0.579  28664  39951 0.717  80.7%
145.Mudassar Nazar    Pak 122  2653  5067 0.524  17685  25900 0.683  76.7%
146.Marsh G.R         Aus 117  4357  7721 0.564  18347  24649 0.744  75.8%

To view the complete list, please click here.

There were two excellent suggestions. The more far-reaching and top-drawer suggestion came from Abdulla who suggested that I compare the player strike rates with the strike rates applicable for all the players during the players' career. A simple suggestion. However this was also quite difficult to develop but has far-reaching implications in that it allows us to look at a players' career in true perspective, viz., in relation to his exact peers.

I have built a Player career span segment of the database. The great thing is that such comparisons can now be made not just on strike rates but on other relevant factors such as Batting and Bowling averages, Strike Rates, Bowling accuracy, Runs per match et al. My sincere thanks to Abdulla for opening the door on this fascinating treasure-trove.

In both cases I have taken care that the players' own performances and team extras are excluded from the Match and Player career span figures (for want of a better term. Readers are invited to offer their suggestions for this measure.)

Player career strike rates compared to Player career span strike rates

 SNo Batsman          Cty St/Rt <---Player Career Span---> Ratio
                                Mats    Runs   Balls St/Rt

  1.Shahid Afridi     Pak 1.110 1727  675319  905740 0.746 148.9%
  2.Kapil Dev N       Ind 0.951  884  315912  472334 0.669 142.1%
  3.Sehwag V          Ind 1.019 1399  542088  726324 0.746 136.5%
  4.Richards I.V.A    Win 0.902  657  231329  347757 0.665 135.6%
  5.Powell R.L        Win 0.967  821  317559  432398 0.734 131.6%
  6.Gilchrist A.C     Aus 0.969 1559  606126  816737 0.742 130.6%
  7.Jayasuriya S.T    Slk 0.911 2223  852640 1166792 0.731 124.6%
  8.Wasim Akram       Pak 0.880 1704  648988  913613 0.710 123.9%
  9.Symonds A         Aus 0.924 1479  576233  770030 0.748 123.5%
 10.Zaheer Abbas      Pak 0.800  325  111928  172049 0.651 122.9%
 11.Klusener L        Saf 0.899 1136  440634  601710 0.732 122.8%
 12.Flintoff A        Eng 0.888 1405  547613  731734 0.748 118.7%
 13.Yuvraj Singh      Ind 0.893 1226  477541  630604 0.757 117.9%
 14.Dhoni M.S         Ind 0.909  657  258316  334702 0.772 117.8%
 15.Chappell G.S      Aus 0.755  196   66408  103226 0.643 117.3%
 16.Tendulkar S.R     Ind 0.856 2231  851567 1164382 0.731 117.1%
 17.McCullum B.B      Nzl 0.890 1040  406431  534609 0.760 117.1%
 18.Pollock S.M       Saf 0.867 1634  642511  863944 0.744 116.6%
 19.Cairns C.L        Nzl 0.842 1644  634542  875659 0.725 116.2%
 20.de Silva P.A      Slk 0.808 1735  653214  921125 0.709 113.9%
...
 83.Samuels M.N       Win 0.756 1071  422058  558413 0.756 100.1%
 84.Javed Miandad     Pak 0.672 1053  377675  559175 0.675  99.5%
...
142.Wessels K.C       Saf 0.556  770  276221  408463 0.676  82.2%
143.Habibul Bashar    Bng 0.605 1590  625424  843319 0.742  81.5%
144.Campbell S.L      Win 0.590  743  291157  400299 0.727  81.2%
145.Tillakaratne H.P  Slk 0.579 1598  612869  857466 0.715  81.0%
146.Mudassar Nazar    Pak 0.524  514  182279  271972 0.670  78.1%

To view the complete list, please click here.

This is truly the measure of greatness. I would appreciate if readers understand that this only compares the Strike Rates and not bring in the Averages into the discussion. That will be the subject of another analysis.

Shahid Afridi truly stands tall in terms of his strike rate comparison with his peers. During his career of 276 matches, a total of 1727 matches were played. The average strike rate, sans Afridi, during these 1727 matches, is an impressive .746 and Afridi outscores his peers at an astounding 148.9%. An underrated player, even by his own countrymen at times, he stands supreme.

Kapil Dev outscored his peers by a wide margin of 42.1% indicating how far ahead he was, at least as far as strike rates are concerned. Then comes Sehwag who has an impressive 36.5% and the incomparable Richards who also has a very good lead over his peers of 35.6%. Ricardo Powell completes the top 5 clocking in at 31.6%.

The Top-10 is rounded by Gilchrist, Jayasuriya, Wasim Akram. Symonds and Zaheer Abbas. All great strikers of the ball. The surprise is the position of Zaheer Abbas. He scored at 22.9% over his peers, indicating his immense contributions during a low scoring period.

There is a significant change so far as Tendulkar is concerned. He outscored his team-mates by 13.9%. Hoever he has outscored his peers, over 431 matches in a span of 2231 matches by an impressive 17.1%.

Samuels and Miandad have almost perfectly matches their peer strike rates. The rear of the table is populated by players who were not known for their striking ability.

The second one, made by Karthik, suggested that I expanded the scope a little bit by comparing with the strike rates applicable for the rest of the match rather than the rest of the innings. This makes a lot of sense since it adjusts for widely varying performances in the same match. My thanks to Karthik.

Player career strike rates compared to Match strike rates

 SNo Batsman          Cty St/Rt <---Match figures--->  Ratio
                                   Runs   Balls St/Rt

  1.Shahid Afridi     Pak 1.110   99136  133940 0.740 150.0%
  2.Richards I.V.A    Win 0.902   55082   85923 0.641 140.7%
  3.Kapil Dev N       Ind 0.951   69813  102464 0.681 139.5%
  4.Powell R.L        Win 0.967   36314   50521 0.719 134.5%
  5.Sehwag V          Ind 1.019   78773   99466 0.792 128.6%
  6.Gilchrist A.C     Aus 0.969  106771  139873 0.763 127.0%
  7.Wasim Akram       Pak 0.880  102549  147528 0.695 126.6%
  8.Jayasuriya S.T    Slk 0.911  153293  211317 0.725 125.5%
  9.Klusener L        Saf 0.899   53273   72429 0.736 122.2%
 10.Symonds A         Aus 0.924   63755   82415 0.774 119.5%
...
 77.Gambhir G         Ind 0.839   30372   36203 0.839 100.0%
...
144.Marsh G.R         Aus 0.564   39756   56599 0.702  80.3%
145.Tillakaratne H.P  Slk 0.579   63736   86846 0.734  78.9%
146.Mudassar Nazar    Pak 0.524   37385   55308 0.676  77.5%

To view the complete list, please click here.

There is not much of a difference in the ratios when we include the other team's strike rates indicating that the top players outperform their own team mates and match peers by similar margins.

Powell moves down to fourth spot moving Kail Dev and Richards up. Gilchrist moves up substantially indicating that his team mates scored raather freely as compared to his match peers. Gambhir has matched his team mates and match peers exactly. No major change is there at the end except that Marsh moves off the bottom which is now occupied by Mudassar Nazar.

]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2009:/itfigures//123.11614 2009-07-07T07:06:31Z 2009-11-06T13:41:59Z

A comparison of batsmen career strike rates with the strike rates of the rest of the team in the matches played by the batsman indicates how quickly he scored compared to his team-mates. This measure also stands firm across decades, across different types of pitches/conditions

Ananth Narayanan

Shahid Afridi outscores his team-mates by more than 37% © Getty Images

Since I need some time to complete the Test Bowler Analysis, I have come out with an article on ODI Strike Rates. What started as an interim article has turned out to be a very interesting one.

Whenever we compare measures across years we always have problems since the relevant period strategies, pitch/ground conditions, quality of bowling (or batting), prevailing laws etc vary significantly. Shahid Afridi's 100+% strike rate cannot be blindly compared to Viv Richards' sub-90 strike rate since everything has changed over the years.

I have created a new factor comparing the Batsman career strike rate with the rest of the team's strike rate, in the matches played by the batsman. The great thing with this measure is that this stands firm across decades, across different types of pitches/conditions and across different types of bowling skills and strategies.

]]> The analysis has also evolved. My first idea was to compare the batsman's career strike rate to the team's overall strike rate. Then I changed to the concerned match strike rate of the team but this had an element of overlap since the player's own performance is embedded in the team's performance. Finally I came out with the idea of taking into account the other players' strike rates. This has worked out very well.

Now let us look at the tables. The criteria is that the concerned batsman should have scored a minmum of 2000 ODI runs. Even this means that there is a sample size of 146 batsmen. This table is current upto match no. 2855, the fourth ODI between West Indies and India.

Table of Career strike rates to Concerned match team strike rates

SNo Batsman           Cty Mat  Runs Balls  S/R OBRuns OBBalls   S/R  BSRF

  1.Shahid Afridi     Pak 276  5642  5083 1.110  52937  65461 0.809 137.3%
  2.Kapil Dev N       Ind 225  3783  3979 0.951  35676  49298 0.724 131.3%
  3.Powell R.L        Win 108  2085  2157 0.967  18941  24678 0.768 125.9%
  4.Richards I.V.A    Win 187  6721  7451 0.902  28195  38757 0.727 124.1%
  5.Sehwag V          Ind 205  6592  6472 1.019  40230  46569 0.864 117.9%
  6.Wasim Akram       Pak 356  3717  4224 0.880  55541  73789 0.753 116.9%
  7.Jayasuriya S.T    Slk 431 13151 14443 0.911  77876  97706 0.797 114.2%
  8.Klusener L        Saf 171  3576  3978 0.899  27976  35034 0.799 112.6%
  9.Gilchrist A.C     Aus 287  9619  9923 0.969  56114  64341 0.872 111.1%
 10.Flintoff A        Eng 141  3393  3819 0.888  22790  28419 0.802 110.8%
 11.Chappell G.S      Aus  74  2331  3088 0.755  11416  16449 0.694 108.8%
 12.Pollock S.M       Saf 303  3519  4059 0.867  43168  54126 0.798 108.7%
 13.Cairns C.L        Nzl 215  4950  5879 0.842  36554  47167 0.775 108.6%
 14.Zaheer Abbas      Pak  62  2572  3216 0.800   9520  12863 0.740 108.1%
 15.Tikolo S.O        Ken 117  3213  4214 0.762  18721  26291 0.712 107.1%
 16.Gower D.I         Eng 114  3170  4222 0.751  19486  27765 0.702 107.0%
 17.McCullum B.B      Nzl 153  2984  3353 0.890  24937  29918 0.834 106.8%
 18.Pietersen K.P     Eng  92  3127  3576 0.874  15244  18585 0.820 106.6%
 19.Botham I.T        Eng 116  2113  2816 0.750  19731  27866 0.708 106.0%
 20.de Silva P.A      Slk 308  9284 11497 0.808  51495  67537 0.762 105.9%
 21.Rhodes J.N        Saf 245  5935  7310 0.812  42228  54993 0.768 105.7%
 22.Trescothick M.E   Eng 123  4335  5086 0.852  21661  26647 0.813 104.9%
 23.Symonds A         Aus 198  5088  5504 0.924  34568  39054 0.885 104.4%
 24.Tendulkar S.R     Ind 425 16684 19481 0.856  76047  92266 0.824 103.9%
 25.Moin Khan         Pak 219  3266  4011 0.814  37111  47228 0.786 103.6%
...
 40.Gibbs H.H         Saf 244  8038  9647 0.833  45073  54128 0.833 100.0%
...
142.Yasir Hameed      Pak  56  2028  3029 0.670  11363  12777 0.889  75.3%
143.Wessels K.C       Saf 109  3367  6057 0.556  16626  22456 0.740  75.1%
144.Tillakaratne H.P  Slk 200  3789  6544 0.579  31601  39951 0.791  73.2%
145.Mudassar Nazar    Pak 122  2653  5067 0.524  19282  25900 0.744  70.3%
146.Marsh G.R         Aus 117  4357  7721 0.564  20183  24649 0.819  68.9%

Note: The OB figures reflect the aggregate of the runs/balls of the other batsmen who batted in all the innings in which the concerned batsman has batted. If the concerned batsman did not bat at all, the figures for that innings are not included in the aggregate.

As expected Shahid Afridi is at the top. He has out-scored his team-mates by an amazing margin of 37.3% although his team-mates themselves score at a fair clip, 80.9. This underscores his value to the team. He outperforms his team-mates by such a wide margin, I fail to understand how the selectors could ever drop him, I am not even referring to his bowling.

Look at the second entry, also a proof that this measure cuts across years with ease. Kapil Dev has outperformed his team-mates by over 26%. His team-mates have been sluggish. However this understandable since those were the times. It was outstanding performance by Kapil Dev to score at a great strike rate of over 90% during those days when 70 was the norm.

Third player in the table is Ricardo Powell, who has out-scored his team-mates by over 25%. Whatever happened to Powell.

Now comes two interesting entries. Viv Richards' value to his team cannot be exemplified more than by this measure. He has outscored his team-mates by over 21%, day in and day out. This, coupled by the achievements of those mean and fiery fast men, was primarily responsible for the West Indian successes of the 1970s/80s.

Then comes the modern great, Sehwag. His team, India itself, has scored at a pretty good rate, 86.4. Sehwag has still managed to outscore his team-mates by 18%. This single factor has been one of the main reasons for the Indian team's recent successes.

In the next 5 places we have Wasim Akram, Jayasuriya, Kluesener, Gilchrist and Flintoff who have all outscored their team-mates by over 10%. All are great strikers.

Tendulkar has managed to outscore his team-mates by around 4%, mainly because the rest of the team, with a number of attacking batsmen, including Sehwag, Yuvraj et al, have scored at a good rate of 82.4. But his contributions, in the opening position, have been outstanding. Note the relatively lower placement of Symonds, just over 4%, indicating, a la Tendulkar, the higher scoring rate of his team-mates, in this case a very high 88.5.

Gibbs is the only batsman who has almost exactly mirrored his team-mates' achievements.

At the other hand we have mostly defensive batsmen of olden years, led by Geoff Marsh whose team-mates have outscored him by over 30%. The only modern batsman is Yasser Hameed who has scored at an amazing 25% below his team-mates, accepting that this group includes Afridi.

To view the complete list, please click here.

The above table includes the team extras in the runs scored. Thus the rest-of-the-team strike rates is slightly higher. I have given below the same table, this time excluding the team extras. No major changes.

SNo Batsman           Cty Mat  Runs Balls  S/R OBRuns OBBalls   S/R  BSRF

  1.Shahid Afridi     Pak 276  5642  5083 1.110  49132  65461 0.751 147.9%
  2.Kapil Dev N       Ind 225  3783  3979 0.951  32898  49298 0.667 142.5%
  3.Powell R.L        Win 108  2085  2157 0.967  17332  24678 0.702 137.6%
  4.Richards I.V.A    Win 187  6721  7451 0.902  25859  38757 0.667 135.2%
  5.Sehwag V          Ind 205  6592  6472 1.019  37006  46569 0.795 128.2%
  6.Wasim Akram       Pak 356  3717  4224 0.880  51127  73789 0.693 127.0%
  7.Jayasuriya S.T    Slk 431 13151 14443 0.911  70806  97706 0.725 125.6%
  8.Klusener L        Saf 171  3576  3978 0.899  26076  35034 0.744 120.8%
  9.Flintoff A        Eng 141  3393  3819 0.888  20940  28419 0.737 120.6%
 10.Gilchrist A.C     Aus 287  9619  9923 0.969  52125  64341 0.810 119.7%
 11.Tikolo S.O        Ken 117  3213  4214 0.762  16758  26291 0.637 119.6%
 12.Cairns C.L        Nzl 215  4950  5879 0.842  33299  47167 0.706 119.3%
 13.Zaheer Abbas      Pak  62  2572  3216 0.800   8669  12863 0.674 118.7%
 14.Chappell G.S      Aus  74  2331  3088 0.755  10480  16449 0.637 118.5%
 15.de Silva P.A      Slk 308  9284 11497 0.808  46393  67537 0.687 117.6%
 16.Gower D.I         Eng 114  3170  4222 0.751  17751  27765 0.639 117.4%
 17.McCullum B.B      Nzl 153  2984  3353 0.890  22785  29918 0.762 116.9%
 18.Botham I.T        Eng 116  2113  2816 0.750  17981  27866 0.645 116.3%
 19.Pollock S.M       Saf 303  3519  4059 0.867  40335  54126 0.745 116.3%
 20.Pietersen K.P     Eng  92  3127  3576 0.874  14069  18585 0.757 115.5%
 21.Trescothick M.E   Eng 123  4335  5086 0.852  19830  26647 0.744 114.5%
 22.Lamb A.J          Eng 122  4010  5290 0.758  19026  28691 0.663 114.3%
 23.Rhodes J.N        Saf 245  5935  7310 0.812  39173  54993 0.712 114.0%
 24.Tendulkar S.R     Ind 425 16684 19481 0.856  69447  92266 0.753 113.8%
 25.Crowe M.D         Nzl 143  4704  6464 0.728  20206  31581 0.640 113.7%
...
 77.Inzamam-ul-Haq    Pak 378 11739 15827 0.742  60323  81270 0.742 100.0%
...
142.Taylor M.A        Aus 113  3514  5867 0.599  18912  25762 0.734  81.6%
143.Yasir Hameed      Pak  56  2028  3029 0.670  10522  12777 0.824  81.3%
144.Tillakaratne H.P  Slk 200  3789  6544 0.579  28664  39951 0.717  80.7%
145.Mudassar Nazar    Pak 122  2653  5067 0.524  17685  25900 0.683  76.7%
146.Marsh G.R         Aus 117  4357  7721 0.564  18347  24649 0.744  75.8%

Test Bowler Analysis

I have given below a brief write-up on the Test Bowler Analysis. If you want to send in your comments on this, please do so, as a separate comment, titling the same, "Test Bowler Analysis".

1. Period Separation: These periods have been identified with lot of thought and deliberation with inputs from a few interested readers. Many related factors have gone into this process. Separate tables will be prepared for different periods. I have considered, and rejected, a separation of Pace and Spin since there will be too many tables and we will not have the charm of a Murali/Warne vs Hadlee/Lillee comparison.

- The bowling era: 1877-1914 (134 Tests and 370 players)
- The batting era: 1920-1969 (535 Tests and 980 players)
- The balanced era: 1970-2009 (1251 Tests and 1220 players).

2. Match Performance: This is a very important aspect of any such analysis. Many readers have completely forgotten that this is not career-based and takes into account every ball bowled and wicket captured weighted by the match conditions and the opposition. Those who are shouting at the rooftops that the career-end figures are not favourable to one player over the other should take the trouble of understanding this aspect of analysis carefully. This will incorporate the following factors.

- Wickets captured (Base)
- Balls bowled (Base) - to recognize long spells
- Batsmen dismissed - based on his score at time of dismissal (Base)
- Overall quality of batting team - primarily top-7 batsmen
- Bowling accuracy - relative to the innings scoring rate
- Own team's bowling quality (to take care of very strong bowling sides)
- Match-related pitch characteristics
- Match situation (incl first day spinners' performances, defending low/high totals in innings 2, innings 3 situation, levels of fourth innings totals defended, win margins et al.
- Home/Away - incorporating relative team strengths
- Result - incorporating relative team strengths.

3. Career Achievements: This is an equally important aspect of any such analysis. It also encompasses aspects of bowling which do not require consideration of the match conditions or situation. The only longevity measure is the "Career wickets captured" measure with no more than a 10% weight. This will incorporate the following factors.

- Career Wickets captured
- Bowling Strike rate (BpW)
- Bowling accuracy (RpO)
- Average Quality of batsmen dismissed - based on CtD batting average
- Type of wickets captured - Top order / Middle order / Late order
- % of wickets with own efforts - Bowled/Lbw/C&b (Still undecided on this).

Once again reminding the readers to send separate comments on this topic. ]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2009:/itfigures//123.11486 2009-06-27T07:13:26Z 2009-11-06T13:42:03Z

After looking at all comments to my previous article on best Test batsmen, I have come up with a revised set of tables which are a great improvement and should satisfy most readers

Ananth Narayanan

Brian Lara remains on the top of the list as the best Test batsman since 1960 © AFP

The follow-up to a major article is always fraught with pitfalls. One has to make sure that the changes are not just cosmetic, nor be influenced by a point only because it is made by the majority, nor knee-jerk reactions and finally must significantly improve the original submission. Each change has to be carefully considered and implemented. Hence, I have taken the time required to peruse all comments (over 700 in all), sift amongst these, pick up the meaningful and valid ones and come out with a revised set of tables which are a great improvement and should satisfy most readers. Let me summarise the changes below.

These changes are given in order of importance and the impact on the original submission.

1. The Match Performance points are divided by the number of innings played rather than the matches played. This will impact the calculations significantly and benefit players such as Richards who have played the second innings infrequently.

2. The Scoring rate measure has been dropped. This is again a significant change since it gets all the batsmen on an equal keel and is fair to all.

]]> Consistency index has been added. This information is available across years and for all the batsmen. Details of the calculations for this measure have been given elsewhere.

4. The weight for %-Team Score has been reduced from 10 to 5. This is fair to players who have played in relatively stronger teams. To those who have questioned this measure, for flimsy reasons, let me say that the highest value in this measure is that of Bradman, batsman extraordinary, in very strong Australian teams.

5. In Match Performance calculations, the Bowling quality measure is now Career-to-date instead of final career figures. This is also quite significant since the early Test figures for many bowlers is quite different to their career-end figures. The other benefit is that the Ratings figures calculated do not vary during subsequent calculations.

6. The Bowling quality is determined by a combination of Bowling Average and Strike Rate. This is based on Arjun Hemnani's excellent suggestion. This is fair to bowlers such as Waqar Younis, Marshall, Donald et al who are great strike bowlers but concede runs.

7. The Pitch Index calculations have undergone a very significant change. Now I am determining the Pitch index, not from the team scores and wickets, but using only the scores of the top 7 (or applicable) batsmen of each innings. This ensures that both the teams make their contributions to the index value. Also that the late order wickets do not distort the picture. I have also used the RpI rather than RpW. Makes lot more sense.

8. I had taken into account the relative team strengths in the Result parameter. Now I have extended this to the Home/Away parameter also. It means that instead of giving the benefit to the Away team automatically, now I take into account the relative team strengths. In other words, if Australia or India tour Bangladesh they will not automatically get the Away bonus. For Bangladesh touring, say, Sri Lanka, the Away bonus will be suitably increased.

9. "The Runs added with late order batsmen" measure's weight has been reduced from 1.00-1.30 to 1.00-1.20. This has been done to ensure the correct weight for the more important measures such as Pitch type, Bowler's quality et al.

10. Finally I have introduced a new measure called R-Factor. More on this later.

Consistency Index:

The Consistency index has been calculated as follows.

The career of each batsman was split into 5-Test slices. His 5-Test performance (Runs per innings used rather than Batting average so that the impact of not outs is negated) was measured against the Career RpI figures and the number of below-average performance slices (below 75%) used to determine the more significant part of the Consistency Index. 5-Test slices have been used since these represent a reasonable number to determine consistency. There is sufficient slack within 5 Tests to recover from bad form.

The other part of the Consistency index is based on the % of single digit dismissals. Together these two determine the Consistency record of the batsman.

The most consistent batsman is Alistair Cook of England, who has had no below-average slice and only 17.9% of single-figure dismissals. He gets an Index value of 4.28. Ross Taylor of New Zealand is also very consistent as, surprisingly, is Afridi. Amongst top batsmen, Hobbs and Sutcliffe are right at the top.

At the other end are Karthik, with 1.79 points, Wishart with 1.88 points, Richie Benaud with 2.05 points et al.

Separate tables for different eras:

I have also separated the tables into two independent ones. The first is for batsmen who started their career before 31 December 1959 and the other for batsmen who started their career after 1 January 1960. These dates have been decided after a lot of deliberations, summarized below.

I had earlier decided on 1 January 1940 as the cut-off date. Unfortunately very few Tests had been played upto that point (274 out of 1920) and there are not enough batsmen. Even 1 January 1960 cut-off does not give us enough Tests. However 483 Tests out of 1920 is a far better share.

The other key factor is that the 1950s (and some might say, the 1960s) really belonged to the old fashioned method of playing Test cricket and a Hutton or Barrington or Hanif Mohommad or Vijay Hazare would very easily fit in with the first era. Anyhow whatever date I take for cut-off there would be objections and this is a good enough point. It is also 50 years back.

I have also followed the separation very strictly, with debut match as the only criterion, knowing fully well that some players might have made their debut in 1958-59 but played most of their matches after 1960. Jarman who made his debut in Test no 483 (started on 19 December 1959) is placed in the first era while Durrani who made his debut in Test no 484 (started on 1 January 1960) is placed in the second era, and so on. I have to work on certain guidelines and have to be true to those. The number of players in the first era is a healthy 1124. The second era contains 1435 players.

I have also implemented another one of Arjun's suggections. That is to give a simple ratio between 2.0 and 0.0 against each batsman, based on a suitable mean, so that their position can be determined instantly and comparisons become easier. For this a value of 35.0 has been used as the notional mean (it does not matter what this figure is). Readers will instantly note the value of this single figure when they peruse the tables.

Let us now look at the revised tables.

The best Test batsmen: 1960-2009

No. Cty Batsman        Ratio  Total    Match  Bat   Runs Cons %-TS   R-Factor
                               Pts      Perf  Avge   Pts  Idx  Pts

  1. Win Lara B.C        1.44 50.26    (22.63 10.43 11.93 3.37 1.90)
  2. Ind Tendulkar S.R   1.41 49.24    (20.44 10.69 12.85 3.70 1.55)
  3. Aus Ponting R.T     1.38 48.24    (21.54 10.85 10.88 3.54 1.44)
  4. Ind Dravid R        1.31 45.98    (19.93 10.11 10.92 3.50 1.51)
  5. Ind Gavaskar S.M    1.31 45.83    (20.52 10.02 10.12 3.49 1.67)
  6. Saf Kallis J.H      1.30 45.65    (19.92 10.56 10.23 3.43 1.51)
  7. Win Richards I.V.A  1.28 44.97    (21.81  9.90  8.65 3.11 1.50)
  8. Aus Border A.R      1.28 44.83    (18.38 10.07 11.16 3.79 1.44)
  9. Aus Waugh S.R       1.27 44.52    (18.35 10.12 10.90 3.86 1.28)
 10. Slk Sangakkara K.C  1.26 43.98    (22.20 10.33  6.73 3.12 1.61)

 11. Slk Jayawardene D.P 1.25 43.81    (20.59 10.00  8.15 3.49 1.58)
 12. Pak Javed Miandad   1.25 43.62    (19.53 10.42  8.83 3.24 1.61)
 13. Aus Hayden M.L      1.24 43.49    (20.77  9.83  8.54 2.93 1.42)
 14. Pak Mohammad Yousuf 1.24 43.35    (21.36 10.60  6.81 2.98 1.60)
 15. Pak Inzamam-ul-Haq  1.23 43.05    (19.39  9.71  8.91 3.56 1.47)
 16. Aus Chappell G.S    1.23 42.91    (20.21 10.54  7.01 3.57 1.58)
 17. Saf Pollock R.G     1.18 41.37    (22.20 11.88  2.22 3.42 1.66)
 18. Win Chanderpaul S   1.18 41.21    (18.59  9.55  8.56 3.04 1.48)
 19. Eng Gooch G.A       1.17 41.02    (18.85  8.45  8.75 3.41 1.56)
 20. Saf Smith G.C       1.17 40.78    (20.14  9.46  6.39 3.31 1.49)

Lara continues to stay in no.1 position but his lead over Tendulkar has been considerably reduced (only around 2%). Ponting is at third position at a similar distance from Tendulkar. In fourth and fifth place are Dravid and Gavaskar. Then we get Kallis, who can ever deny the contributions he has made without fuss. Now comes Richards, probably correctly placed in the Top-10. He could have been in the Top-5 with no complaints. Then we have the two great Australian batsmen, Border and Steve Waugh. The incomparable Sangakkara completes the top-10.

Jayawardene follows next and then the fighter-extraodinary, Javed Miandad. I am happy that three top-class Pakistani batsmen, Miandad, Mohd Yousuf and Inzamam occupy 3 of the next 4 places, Hayden occupying the 12th place. Greg Chappell, Greame Pollock and Chanderpaul are correctly placed in the Top-20 which is completed by Graham Gooch and Greame Smith.

Lara's ratio is 1.44, Sangakkara's 1.26 and Greame Smith's 1.17. It can be seen that the top-10 batsmen have a spread of only 12.5% and the spread between 11 and 20 is only 7%. The only way to treat these tables is to look at these players as "First 1/2/5/10/20 ... amongst equals".

To view the complete list, please click here

Given below is the support table. The data is self-explanatory. For the two Consistency index related columns, explanations have been given below.

The best Test batsmen ever: 1960-2009 - Support data

SNo. Cty Batsman        Inns Rating  Runs  Bat  ( Adj) Consistency  %-TS
                               Pts         Avge          1     2

  1. Win Lara B.C        232  50.26 11953 52.15 (0.99) 26.9% 26.7% 19.0%
  2. Ind Tendulkar S.R   261  49.24 12773 53.46 (0.98) 25.0% 23.8% 15.5%
  3. Aus Ponting R.T     221  48.24 10956 54.26 (0.97) 26.9% 20.8% 14.4%
  4. Ind Dravid R        233  45.98 10823 50.54 (0.96) 29.6% 21.9% 15.1%
  5. Ind Gavaskar S.M    214  45.83 10122 50.10 (0.98) 20.0% 25.7% 16.7%
  6. Saf Kallis J.H      221  45.65 10277 52.79 (0.97) 30.8% 20.4% 15.1%
  7. Win Richards I.V.A  182  44.97  8540 49.52 (0.99) 29.2% 25.3% 15.0%
  8. Aus Border A.R      265  44.83 11174 50.33 (1.00) 25.8% 24.2% 14.4%
  9. Aus Waugh S.R       260  44.52 10927 50.58 (0.99) 21.9% 24.6% 12.8%
 10. Slk Sangakkara K.C  132  43.98  6764 51.65 (0.94) 37.5% 18.9% 16.1%

 11. Slk Jayawardene D.P 167  43.81  8254 50.02 (0.94) 20.0% 22.8% 15.8%
 12. Pak Javed Miandad   189  43.62  8832 52.08 (0.99) 32.0% 20.1% 16.1%
 13. Aus Hayden M.L      184  43.49  8626 49.17 (0.97) 42.9% 19.6% 14.2%
 14. Pak Mohammad Yousuf 134  43.35  6770 53.00 (0.96) 37.5% 22.4% 16.0%
 15. Pak Inzamam-ul-Haq  200  43.05  8830 48.56 (0.98) 16.7% 23.5% 14.7%
 16. Aus Chappell G.S    151  42.91  7110 52.70 (0.98) 17.6% 22.5% 15.8%
 17. Saf Pollock R.G      41  41.37  2256 59.38 (0.97) 20.0% 24.4% 16.6%
 18. Win Chanderpaul S   206  41.21  8576 47.76 (0.97) 33.3% 25.2% 14.8%
 19. Eng Gooch G.A       215  41.02  8900 42.27 (0.99) 25.0% 24.2% 15.6%
 20. Saf Smith G.C       135  40.78  6343 47.28 (0.94) 26.7% 22.2% 14.9%

                    No of below-average 5-Test slices
Consistency 1 %  =  ---------------------------------
                      Total number of 5-Test slices

                    No of single digit dismissals
Consistency 2 %  =  -----------------------------
                       Total number of innings

To view the complete list, please click here

The best Test batsmen: 1877-1959

SNo. Cty Batsman        Ratio Total     Match  Bat   Runs Cons %-TS  R-Factor
                               Pts       Perf  Avge   Pts  Idx  Pts

  1. Aus Bradman D.G     1.97 69.08    (36.62 19.35  6.91 3.70 2.50)
  2. Eng Hobbs J.B       1.36 47.57    (23.93 12.34  5.49 3.99 1.82)
  3. Win Sobers G.St.A   1.29 45.03    (20.67 11.48  8.03 3.28 1.58)
  4. Eng Hutton L        1.27 44.37    (20.72 11.35  6.93 3.55 1.83)
  5. Eng Barrington K.F  1.26 44.27    (20.97 11.71  6.81 3.08 1.70)
  6. Win Headley G.A     1.25 43.86    (24.07 12.00  2.18 3.45 2.16)
  7. Eng Sutcliffe H     1.25 43.62    (21.88 11.61  4.52 3.88 1.72)
  8. Eng Hammond W.R     1.24 43.49    (19.78 11.27  7.31 3.43 1.70)
  9. Win EdeC Weekes     1.22 42.69    (21.16 12.21  4.44 3.11 1.77)
 10. Win Walcott C.L     1.16 40.67    (20.29 11.75  3.73 3.30 1.61)

 11. Aus Harvey R.N      1.16 40.50    (19.22  9.92  6.18 3.56 1.62)
 12. Win Kanhai R.B      1.13 39.44    (18.86  9.37  6.23 3.55 1.43)
 13. Eng May P.B.H       1.12 39.14    (19.65  9.63  4.48 3.75 1.63)
 14. Eng Cowdrey M.C     1.12 39.05    (18.00  8.75  7.65 3.22 1.43)
 15. Eng Compton D.C.S   1.10 38.64    (17.88 10.06  5.70 3.43 1.57)
 16. Saf Nourse A.D      1.08 37.94    (19.28 10.61  2.92 3.30 1.82)
 17. Eng Dexter E.R      1.07 37.32    (18.15  9.45  4.51 3.75 1.46)
 18. Aus Simpson R.B     1.06 37.12    (18.25  9.21  4.87 3.28 1.52)
 19. Win Worrell F.M.M   1.06 37.10    (18.10 10.14  3.86 3.50 1.49)
 20. Aus Morris A.R      1.03 36.10    (18.45  9.68  3.53 2.99 1.45)

Bradman is on top with a Rating value of 69.08 (and ratio of 1.97). He is followed, at a distance, by Hobbs and Sobers. Hutton and Barrington complete the top-5. The next 5 positions are monopolized by the West Indians, Headley, Weekes and Walcott and two great English batsmen, Sutcliffe and Hammond.

If we take Bradman's numbers away, the spread between 2 and 10 is a managable 14%.

I would appreciate if readers digest the tables before making the usual "xyz is better than abc" or "how can pqr be so low (or high)" or "". I will again repeat that intangible and non-measurable factors have no place in this analysis. This analysis has the heart of a cricket lover but the mind of a cricket analyst are behind it.

To view the complete list, please click here

Given below is the support table. The data is self-explanatory.

The best Test batsmen ever: 1877-1959 - Support data

SNo. Cty Batsman        Inns Rating  Runs  Bat  ( Adj) Consistency  %-TS
                               Pts         Avge          1     2

  1. Aus Bradman D.G      80  69.08  6996 96.75 (0.97) 20.0% 17.5% 25.0%
  2. Eng Hobbs J.B       102  47.57  5410 61.68 (1.08) 16.7% 12.7% 18.2%
  3. Win Sobers G.St.A   160  45.03  8032 57.40 (0.99) 31.6% 19.4% 15.8%
  4. Eng Hutton L        138  44.37  6971 56.73 (1.00) 25.0% 17.4% 18.3%
  5. Eng Barrington K.F  131  44.27  6806 58.55 (1.00) 37.5% 19.8% 17.0%
  6. Win Headley G.A      40  43.86  2190 60.02 (0.99) 25.0% 20.0% 21.6%
  7. Eng Sutcliffe H      84  43.62  4555 58.04 (0.96) 18.2% 14.3% 17.2%
  8. Eng Hammond W.R     140  43.49  7249 56.35 (0.96) 29.4% 17.1% 17.0%
  9. Win EdeC Weekes      81  42.69  4455 61.06 (1.04) 30.0% 24.7% 17.7%
 10. Win Walcott C.L      74  40.67  3798 58.75 (1.04) 33.3% 17.6% 16.1%

 11. Aus Harvey R.N      137  40.50  6149 49.61 (1.02) 18.8% 21.9% 16.2%
 12. Win Kanhai R.B      137  39.44  6227 46.84 (0.99) 25.0% 17.5% 14.3%
 13. Eng May P.B.H       106  39.14  4537 48.14 (1.03)  7.7% 25.5% 16.3%
 14. Eng Cowdrey M.C     188  39.05  7624 43.74 (0.99) 26.1% 25.0% 14.3%
 15. Eng Compton D.C.S   131  38.64  5807 50.30 (1.00) 25.0% 20.6% 15.7%
 16. Saf Nourse A.D       62  37.94  2960 53.07 (0.99) 28.6% 21.0% 18.2%
 17. Eng Dexter E.R      102  37.32  4502 47.23 (0.99) 16.7% 18.6% 14.6%
 18. Aus Simpson R.B     111  37.12  4869 46.04 (0.98) 25.0% 24.3% 15.2%
 19. Win Worrell F.M.M    87  37.10  3860 50.71 (1.02) 10.0% 29.9% 14.9%
 20. Aus Morris A.R       79  36.10  3533 48.42 (1.04) 33.3% 25.3% 14.5%

                    No of below-average 5-Test slices
Consistency 1 %  =  ---------------------------------
                      Total number of 5-Test slices

                    No of single digit dismissals
Consistency 2 %  =  -----------------------------
                       Total number of innings

To view the complete list, please click here

The significant changes to the tables are summarized below. Most of these should make the tables more acceptable to many readers.

1. All batsmen are treated across years uniformly with the same set of parameters.
2. Consistency amongst batsmen has been recognized well. Note the high consistency figures of Tendulkar, Border, Steve Waugh et al.
3. Performances of lower ranked teams have been recognized more.
4. The quality of bowling faced has a much sharper definition. I may very well do a separate article on this fascinating aspect.
5. The gap between Lara and Tendulkar has narrowed to 2%.
6. Richards has moved up significantly.
7. Steve Waugh and Alan Border have moved up.
8. The three top Pakistani batsmen are reasonably well placed.
9. There are no major changes in the first era other than the revised set of batsmen included in this set.

R-Factor:

The points for all the measures add up to 90. The balance of 10 points has been reserved for R-Factor, expanding to Reader-Factor. The readers have complained that many points have not been taken into account. These points range from ridiculous, silly, absurd, obscure to relevant, sensible, valid and crystal-clear. Of course no analysis can take care of all such factors, especially as these are mostly intangible and non-measurable. Hence I have invented the R-Factor. It is your tool to be used the way you want. Convert the tables to Excel sheets, plug in your own R-Factor values and do what you want. Frame your results, circulate amongst yourselves and in general, have a ball. My only request to all is, whatever you do, do not send anything you have done on this to me.

You may, of course, ignore it completely.

Some of the factors I have been informed as not having considered are outlined below.

- Playing in a good team.
- Playing in a poor team.
- Expectations of a billion people.
- Coming from an island of population of 7500.
- Lack of support.
- Short pitched bowling.
- Lack of helmets, thigh guards, chest support etc.
- Injuries.
- Selectors' foibles.
- Terrorizing bowlers.
- Too much cricket.
- Too little cricket.
et al.

Only comments which add value to the article and derived conclusions will be published. Comments which are repetitive, say the same things ad nauseum, which are with the theme of "abc is the best, not pqr" type, which say, in different forms, "if you take away this measure, xyz will be on top", "abc is better than pqr because his average against ... is higher" type of comments, "there is no change from the earlier table" after a cursory 2-minute perusal etc will not be published. I gave a lot of leeway last time in publishing of comments. This time I will weed out such comments from the beginning. They are coming in the way of serious readers from appreciating the article and the user responses.

I want to emphasize once again, whether your comment is published or not is in your hands. Another important point. Anonymous comments will not be published.

My sincere thanks to Arjun Hemnani's whose quality ideas were the foundation for a number of these changes. My thanks to others like Jack (Jagdeep Singh), Ashik, Shankar et al.]]>