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MS Dhoni has an excellent ODI batting index, which is next only to that of Viv Richards
© AP
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This is a follow-up to the article published a few days back. Alex had suggested that I do this based on the strike rates as the defining measure. I was not very comfortable with that since I think the batting average is a very important measure. Then Mareeswaran made the excellent suggestion that I use the combination of batting average and strike rate.
The ODI Batting Index (OBI), which is a product of batting average and strike rate, was used by me as part of television analysis during 2002/3. Afterwards it has undergone many transformations, Strike rate remaining common but multiplied by batting average, runs per innings and even extended batting average. However the original idea is still the best. The batting average is the most accepted of all measures.
Filed under: Cricket> Cricket Live Tags: by admin Date 29 April, 2010
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Michael Hussey averages 117.67 at the No.7 slot
© Getty Images
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This is an analysis suggested by reader(s) whose names elude me. It is an excellent suggestion in that it will enable us to get a very good handle on the best performers at each batting position.
First I worked out the all-match average for each batting position. In this case the average will be appropriate since the same methodology is used to determine the individual batsmen figures. Since the comparisons are across all batsmen at the same position the impact of not outs is minimised. In order to ensure that flashes in the pan do not spoil the comparisons, a minimum limit of 1000 runs is set for Opening, no.3, no.4, no.5 and no.6 positions. For the positions 7 and 8, the bar is set at 500 runs.
Filed under: Cricket> Cricket Live Tags: by admin Date 29 April, 2010
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Muttiah Muralitharan has taken ten or more wickets in a Test in four consecutive matches
© AFPs
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First I wanted to do an analysis of the ODI high innings in view of the momentous tryst with destiny of one colossus at Gwalior. Then I decided not to do so since the results may not be exactly what is wanted by the myriad of Tendulkar fans and I am not ready to read and answer hundreds of comments.
The innings, one of the greatest ever, need not be and is not the best ODI innings ever. The numbers 189/189/194/175/183/149/140/158 et al are floating around. By Tendulkar’s own high standards, the 175/138/143/134/98 innings lay claim to being his best. But not to take away from the greatness and perfection of the innings. There might be greater innings but certainly no greater batsman during the past six decades. The gap is widening and soon would be insurmountable.
This is similar to the 400 which, despite being the highest Test innings, is nowhere near innings associated with the numbers 270/153/154/281/149/213/293 et al.
Filed under: Cricket> Cricket Live Tags: by admin Date 29 April, 2010
5 Comments »
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Sreesanth is one short of playing 50 ODIs, but he still hasn’t figured out a way to concede fewer runs
© Associated Press
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To start with, I must admit that I’ve always enjoyed watching Sreesanth bowl. He has a smooth, rhythmical action, has a classical side-on delivery motion, and, when he gets it right, the outswinger is wicked and a thing of sheer beauty. None of these things matter, though, when the format is limited-overs cricket, because then the rule is that Sreesanth will get clobbered no matter what he tries.
When Sreesanth returned to the ODI team with much fanfare at the beginning of the year, I had my doubts. Sure, he’d taken five in an innings against Sri Lanka in a matchwinning performance in the Kanpur Test, but this was a different format. Consistency has never been his forte, and on these benign subcontinent pitches, I feared he would be ruthlessly exposed.
Filed under: Cricket> Cricket Live Tags: by admin Date 29 April, 2010
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Analysis of Test results – by team has been done quite often. This article covers the other aspect, viz., by host country. I have taken a single theme of Test match results by country for the last four decades. The period has been selected because of the immediate relevance and to study the impact of the ODI games. The only measures are number of matches played, results and the result %.
For this particular analysis it does not matter whether the results were home wins or away wins. It is also quite possible that an innings win might be a dull mach when compared to a close draw. However I have a limited perspective here of looking only at results. In another later article I will look at excluding “dull” results and including “exciting” draws.
Filed under: Cricket> Cricket Live Tags: by admin Date 29 April, 2010
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