Rediff Logo
Line
Channels: Astrology | Broadband | Chat | Contests | E-cards | Movies | Romance | Money | Travel | Weather | Wedding | Women
Partner Channels: Auctions | Auto | Education | Jobs | TechJobs | Technology
Line
Home > Cricket > Columns > Ananth Narayanan
August 17, 2000
Feedback  
  sections

 -  News
 -  Betting Scandal
 -  Schedule
 -  Database
 -  Statistics
 -  Interview
 -  Conversations
 -  Columns
 -  Gallery
 -  Broadband
 -  Match Reports
 -  Archives

 Search Cricket
 

  send this story to a friend

Test players' performances - an analytical review

Ananth Narayanan

The traditional way of looking at Test players' performances is to look at the 'Run Aggregates' and 'Batting Averages' for batsmen and 'Wickets' and 'Bowling Averages' for bowlers. These are clearly the best means of evaluating the player performances. In this article, I look at alternate methods of evaluating player performances giving us a clearer insight. There are some very revealing and unexpected facts emerging from these views. Throughout the article, ** indicates that the player is a current player.

Batsmen

In this entire article this is the only time I never use centuries for analysis. I consider a century as a personal landmark. To the team, it does nothing other than the runs scored in reaching the specific landmark. I can think of 100 sub-100 Test innings, which have been far more important to the team than 100 200+ innings. I am sure everyone will remember that on at least 4/5 occasions, the Indian team has lost out because of the batsman's pre-occupation with the number 100.

First let us put down on paper the two traditional analytical tables.

1. Top Batsmen - By Average (Criteria 50.00)
Batsman Mat Inns No Runs Avge
Bradman D.G 52 80 10 6996 99.94
Pollock R.G 23 41 4 2256 60.97
Headley G.A 22 40 4 2190 60.83
Sutcliffe H 54 84 9 4555 60.73
Barrington K.F 82 131 15 6806 58.67
EdeC Weekes 48 81 5 4455 58.62
Hammond W.R 85 140 16 7249 58.46
Hobbs J.B 61 102 7 5410 56.95
Walcott C.L 44 74 7 3798 56.69
Hutton L 79 138 15 6971 56.67
Tendulkar S.R 76 121 12 6036 55.38**
Chappell G.S 87 151 19 7110 53.86
Nourse A.D 34 62 7 2960 53.82
Javed Miandad 124 189 21 8832 52.57
Gavaskar S.M 125 214 16 10122 51.12
Lara B.C 68 117 4 5759 50.96**
Border A.R 156 265 44 11174 50.56
Waugh S.R 128 204 38 8373 50.44
Richards I.V.A 121 182 12 8540 50.24
Compton D.C.S 78 131 15 5807 50.06

Most people will know these figures by heart. Suffice to state that Bradman is ahead of the next player by a whopping 65% considering the batting average. I am going to make a statement now. I will be very surprised if I am proved wrong with facts. In any sport anywhere in the world, there does not exist such a wide gap between the first and second placed players, Pele ??? . Taking only this year, Tiger Woods is almost as far ahead as the next placed golfer, but in the whole career !!! One can only sit in awe and admiration at the achievements of the greatest Cricketer ever.

2. Top Batsmen - By Aggregate (Criteria 6500 runs)
Batsman Mat Inns No Runs
Border A.R 156 265 44 11174
Gavaskar S.M 125 214 16 10122
Gooch G.A 118 215 6 8900
Javed Miandad 124 189 21 8832
Richards I.V.A 121 182 12 8540
Waugh S.R 128 204 38 8373**
Gower D.I 117 204 18 8231
Boycott G 108 193 23 8114
Sobers G.St.A 93 160 21 8032
Cowdrey M.C 114 188 15 7624
Greenidge C.G 108 185 16 7558
Taylor M.A 104 186 13 7525
Lloyd C.H 110 175 14 7515
Haynes D.L 116 202 25 7487
Boon D.C 107 190 20 7422
Hammond W.R 85 140 16 7249
Chappell G.S 87 151 19 7110
Bradman D.G 52 80 10 6996
Hutton L 79 138 15 6971
Vengsarkar D.B 116 185 22 6868
Stewart A.J 100 180 13 6840
Barrington K.F 82 131 15 6806
Atherton M.A 100 184 6 6742
Waugh M.E 103 171 13 6593**

This is the record of longevity, concentration, fitness and stamina, backed by outstanding technical skills. These records, or more properly landmarks, will continue to be overtaken, as proved by Walsh. It will not be easy. However, there is a reasonable chance that Tendulkar will overtake Gavaskar and eventually Border.

Part 2 - News ways to evaluate players
Ananth Narayanan

Mail Ananth Narayanan