Numbers Game
Amazing to abysmal over three decades
Series between Australia and West Indies used to be keenly anticipated not so long ago, but over the last 10 years the stats have been hopelessly one-sided
Numbers Game
Deluge in ODIs, drought in Tests
A fantastic series against India capped what has been a fine year in ODIs for Michael Hussey; in Tests, though, it's a different story
Numbers Game
A lowdown on batting Powerplays
A look at what the numbers suggest about the latest innovation in one-day cricket
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Dhoni and the No. 5 slot
There's been some debate over MS Dhoni's batting position in ODIs, but he's done so well at No. 5 that it's unlikely he'll relinquish it any time soon... more
Ishant Sharma and his ODI problems
Last year's sensation has had his stats in one-dayers fall away this year, and the main difference has been his effectiveness at the start of the innings... more
Bounce no aid for Lankan fast bowlers
Sri Lanka have struggled in ODIs in South Africa and Australia over the last decade, and a big problem for them has been the display of their fast bowlers... more
The curious case of Misbah-ul-Haq
The World Twenty20 two years ago kickstarted an excellent run for Misbah-ul-Haq, but in 2009 his form has tapered away... more
The best ODI top order, and 300-plus scores
Are the best ODI teams those which have the best top-order batsmen? And a look at teams' records when they've posted 300... more
The favourites for the Champions Trophy
Recent form in ODIs and results in South Africa suggest the hosts, Australia and India are the best bets to lift the trophy... more
A decade of toil for bowlers
Bowlers haven't suffered as much as they have in the 2000s for 60 years... more
The decade of the batsmen
With several top bowlers retiring, the 2000s has truly been the decade in which batsmen have made merry... more
Samaraweera sizzles in his second innings
Since his return to the team, Thilan Samaraweera has added a whole new dimension to his game... more
Dilshan goes the Sehwag way
Tillakaratne Dilshan has always preferred aggression over defence - markedly so over the last few years... more
How good is England's middle order?
Stats indicate it compares quite poorly with those of the other top teams over the last decade... more
From pup to top dog
A century in his 50th Test has only confirmed that Michael Clarke has risen more than a few notches over the last three years... more
Bangladesh's best
Shakib Al Hasan has been a terrific find with bat and ball in Tests and ODIs... more
Happy at last
Batting in the fourth innings of a match is no longer the nightmare it once used to be... more
First-Test stars and flops
Batsmen who have stamped their authority on the first Test of a series, and others who have struggled... more
Is top-order batting so difficult in England?
Traditional wisdom suggests facing the new ball is the most difficult proposition in England, but numbers from the last two decades indicate otherwise... more
Why Younis Khan shouldn't have retired from Twenty20 cricket
Pakistan's captain may have announced his retirement from Twenty20 cricket, but stats suggest he is the perfect batsman for the format... more
New Zealand's bogey opposition
Ask any New Zealand cricketer which team he least prefers to play, and the answer will probably be Pakistan... more
Australia's bowling debacle, and left-arm seamers on the rise
The Australian attack was one of the most profligate in terms of conceding boundaries in the first stage of the World Twenty20... more
Batting tactics in the Powerplays and the slog overs
Go all out from the beginning or keep wickets in hand and launch an assault at the end? Stats indicate different teams adopt different measures... more
A lowdown on Twenty20 internationals
In a frenetic format, the only languid aspect has been the rate at which Twenty20s have been played at international level... more
The slog-over specialists in the IPL
IPL 2009 has placed greater demands on batsmen, but in the last six overs they have scored at a fair clip, with several teams going at around nine runs per over... more
How West Indies lose the plot overseas
Why the capitulation at Lord's conforms to pattern that has been established over the last few years... more
England's No. 3 problem, and IPL's 11th-over syndrome
One-down has been a source of worry for England for a while now... more
Top priority for the middle overs
The major difference between this IPL and its previous edition has been the way teams have handled the middle overs... more
Australia's ODI slump, and IPL's new spin
Australia may have regained their pre-eminence as a Test team, but in the one-day format the year 2009 has been an unmitigated disaster... more
South Africa's home run, and Gambhir's resurgence
The toughest country to beat in their own backyard, and the Indian who's had an amazing 10 months... more
The new, lethal Zaheer Khan
How India's spearhead has, over the last three seasons, transformed into a far more potent bowler than he used to be... more
The best venues for fast bowlers and spinners
Over the last seven-odd years, conditions at most venues have become overly favourable for batsmen, but some grounds still retain their venom and spice ... more
England's mid-overs slump, NZ's mid-order heroics
England's ODI travails have largely been due to their sluggish batting in the middle overs, while the fourth-wicket stand has been the most prolific for New Zealand in Tests this decade ... more
Vettori - the good stats and the bad stats
New Zealand's captain has made priceless contributions with the bat over the last six years, but his bowling against the top teams has been anything but incisive ... more
No country for bowlers
Not only in this series, but in the last few years, bowlers have been increasingly marginalised in ODIs in New Zealand ... more
The No. 6 makes his mark, and Ramdin's redemption
How batsmen occupying one of the more difficult slots in a Test line-up have shone over the last few months ... more
The nightmare of opening in South Africa
Batting has been most difficult in South Africa over the last four years, and the job has been especially tough for those at the top of the order ... more
Leading by example with the bat
Are the batting captains of today more prolific than their counterparts from earlier eras? ... more
Dissecting England's batting woes
What the stats have to say about the Test form of Bell, Cook, Collingwood and Co over the last 18 months ... more
From electrifying to soporific
How West Indies has become the country where runs have been scored slowest over the last decade ... more
The importance of spin in middle overs of ODIs
How South Africa have controlled overs 16 to 40 in their series against Australia ... more
Sri Lanka's bogey team, and boundaryless Jayawardene
Sri Lanka have done reasonably well against most teams, but Pakistan have brought out the worst in them ... more
Chanderpaul, Gayle, and little else
West Indies have struggled though two of their batsmen have been the best in the world over the last 18 months ... more
New-look Amla breaks South Africa's No. 3 jinx
Hashim Amla made a slow start to his Test career, but over the last year he has grown immensely in stature... more
The year of South Africa and Graeme Smith
The year of the IPL also contained some truly memorable moments from Test cricket. We look back at the important numbers from 2008... more
A lowdown on fourth-innings run-chases
Of late, sides have achieved targets batting last far more often than they used to... more
Does Kallis really go missing against Australia?
His overall stats against Australia are admittedly modest: in 18 Tests he averages only 38.32, but since 2000, his numbers have been much better... more
New Zealand's dismal batting slump
Vettori's side have lost 11 of their last 15 Tests against opposition than Bangladesh, and the reason for that has primarily been their hopeless batting... more
England's ODI woes, and lefties at the slog
England have had a particularly tough time in ODIs in India over the last decade, and the problem has primarily been the bowling... more
Bangladesh's dismal batting slide
It's been eight years since Bangladesh made their Test debut, and while they've had several results to celebrate in ODIs during this period, their performances in the longer version has largely been dire... more
How good is the Sehwag-Gambhir pair?
India's current openers have performed exceptionally at the top of the order, producing numbers that suggest India may have found a long-term combination... more
The Ganguly story in numbers
After his 12-year international career, the stats indicate that Sourav Ganguly has largely fulfilled the potential that was obvious in his Test debut... more
Overseas spinners and their woes in India
Indian tracks are known to aid spin, but visiting slow bowlers have struggled to turn on the magic over the last two decades... more
Ponting's shot at redemption, and Hayden's rare feat
Why Australia's captain could turn around his poor record in India, and openers who haven't been out caught-behind too often... more
Why Australia will miss Symonds in India
Andrew Symonds' ability to score big quickly and handle spinners competently suggests his team will miss him in India... more
Great at No. 5, slouches elsewhere
Flintoff's remarkable recent form with the bat in ODIs against South Africa continued an extremely successful period for England's No. 5 batsmen... more
Bad times for Dravid and Kallis, and England's new No. 3
Kallis and Dravid have been the mainstays of their batting orders for a while now, but 2008 has been a particularly bad year for both... more
Call correct, call the shots
At some venues hosting day-night ODIs, just winning the toss might be enough... more
Livewire in a graveyard
Surrounded by the subcontinental deathbeds, Dambulla has been the best ODI venue for bowlers... more
India's middle-order blues
How Murali and Mendis brought about one of the worst batting displays by the Indian middle order in the last 40 years... more
Why it pays to open in Sri Lanka
The strength of Sri Lanka's spin attack has meant opening partnerships have yielded more runs for overseas teams than those in the middle and lower orders... more
England's problems with No. 6
England have struggled with one batting slot for more than 20 years... more
Ntini and his first-Test blues
The difference between Makhaya Ntini's bowling average in first and second Tests of series is more than ten runs per wicket... more
The best batting pitches in Tests
At which venues have batsmen made hay recently?... more
The flattest ODI pitch in the world
One-day cricket isn't much fun for the bowlers at the best of times, but in the Asia Cup theirs has been an especially unenviable job... more
Malik's favourite opposition
Shoaib Malik has thrived on the challenges of captaining Pakistan and playing India... more
Australia's pace kings rise to the challenge
In Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, Australia have just the right men to spearhead their attack... more
Splendid Anderson and his Achilles heel
Over the last 11 months James Anderson has been in excellent form, but he still hasn't solved the puzzle of how to bowl to left-hand batsmen... more
West Indies' fourth-innings heroes
How Chanderpaul and Sarwan have starred for West Indies in the last innings of Tests in recent times ... more
The IPL's most valuable players
With the league stage of the IPL out of the way, we look at the best batsmen and bowlers in the tournament so far... more
Why Rajasthan have been such a force
Which IPL teams have capitalised the most on Powerplays, and which have been the best finishers... more
The best IPL team, and the most effective hitter
A look at the teams' batting and bowling performances, and the singles and boundary percentages for batsmen... more
The importance of the opening gambit in the IPL
The opening partnership is crucial in any form of the game, but in the Twenty20 version teams have little time to recover after an early setback... more
Win toss, lose match
Much has been written about teams needing to adapt their batting and bowling strategies to the demands of the new format, but the IPL has shown that another area that needs urgent attention is captaincy, and especially the decision-making at the toss... more
The marauding match-winner
McCullum's talent and ball-striking ability have never been in doubt, but it's only over the last 16 months that he has begun to live up to his potential as a batsman... more
Bangladesh slide, Steyn and Yousuf soar
Bangladesh's superb performance in the 2007 World Cup suggested they were at last learning to play with the big boys, but over the last year they've slipped into mediocrity again... more
Why India have been missing a Srinath at home
India have won only seven of their last 22 home Tests, and while their spinners have been less effective recently, that is hardly the complete explanation... more
How important is Shoaib Akhtar for Pakistan?
Numbers can't completely explain what Shoaib has brought to the table for Pakistan, but they can help reveal the basis for some of the arguments that have been used to support or rubbish him... more
Gayle and his struggle against Vaas
For a batsman of his ability, the manner in which Gayle has been dominated by Vaas is amazing - seven dismissals for ten runs in all... more
Home truths for Sri Lanka and Jacob Oram
Sri Lanka's batsmen have consistently turned it on when playing at home, but most of them have struggled for runs overseas. The same can be said of Jacob Oram the bowler... more
England's overseas woes
Since the Ashes triumph in 2005 England have done dismally overseas, with both their batsmen and their bowlers underperforming significantly... more
New Zealand's best batsman, and the world's best allrounder
Over the last decade Daniel Vettori has offered New Zealand much more than just accurate and incisive left-arm spin... more
Tendulkar and the run-chase quandary
Sachin Tendulkar has been outstanding when batting first in ODIs, but has been outshined by many of his team-mates in run-chases... more
The new and improved Mahendra Singh Dhoni
When Mahendra Singh Dhoni first burst onto the international scene, he was known for his six-hitting, but over the last couple of years his batting has changed considerably... more
The most successful batsmen against Murali
The teams, and the batsmen, who have handled the threat of Muttiah Muralitharan better than others... more
A test for India's batsmen and Sri Lanka's bowlers
The CB Series will be a huge test for the Indian batsmen, who haven't always done well overseas, and the Sri Lankan bowlers, who have similarly struggled to turn it on abroad... more
Opening worries for the Indians
The Indian openers' poor showing in Australia, and how they and other subcontinent opening pairs have done in pace-friendly conditions overseas... more
A soft corner for Adelaide and Sydney
The relatively easy conditions in Sydney and Adelaide have clearly favoured overseas batsmen more than Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth... more
Rearguard to the rescue
Australia's last five wickets cost oppositions 31 runs each, while they get the oppositions' last five out for 20 each. Clearly their lower half is their better half... more
Of boundaries, dots, and everything in between
How teams, and batsmen, compare in terms of dot balls, singles and threes scored, and more... more
The year of the No. 4 batsman
After playing second fiddle to the No. 3 batsmen, the No. 4s came into their own in 2007, dominating in both Tests and ODIs. Also: lefties strike it big, and how pace and spin stacked up against each other over the year... more
Australia's toughest opponent, and the spin dilemma
India have been the one side to have consistently stretched the Australians over the last decade... more
Mahela revisited, and the king of draws
Mahela Jayawardene's superb form over the last three years, and India's tendency to draw Test matches... more
Sangakkara's sensational 2007
Why Sangakkara won't forget this year in a hurry... more
Scorching Steyn leads pace revival
Just how much have the stats improved for fast bowlers in 2007 compared to the last few years?... more
Pakistan's over-reliance on the two Ys and Inzi
How Pakistan are lost without their three batting heavyweights... more
New Zealand's abysmal record abroad
New Zealand's overseas record this decade is almost as bad as West Indies': in 22 Tests against meaningful opposition, they have only won one... more
Australian misery for overseas fast bowlers
There used to be a time when fast bowlers would queue up to travel to Australia, but things have changed considerably over the last few years... more
Australia's staggering home record
Australia have been utterly dominant in home Tests in this decade, and the key difference has been their top-order batting... more
Allrounder Afridi's stunning run
Shahid Afridi has always been known for his occasional bursts of explosiveness, but in 2007 he has been far more immense, with both bat and ball... more
Viv Richards in disguise, and the free-hit effect
Andrew Symonds has been in the news for all kinds of reasons over the last three weeks, but his most emphatic statement has been out in the middle, with bat in hand... more
Kaneria's second-innings drought
Danish Kaneria has been reasonably effective in the first innings, but his stats in the second have been particularly disappointing of late... more
Hope for left-arm spin, and Kallis' riposte
Left-arm spinners have had a bounty in the Karachi Test. Can this spark off a revival for the art?... more
The new spin on Twenty20 cricket
Are spinners a bad option in Twenty20 cricket? ... more
The cream of the Twenty20 crop
The Numbers Game looks at some of the trends of Twenty20 cricket, and the batsmen and bowlers who have flourished in this format... more
How important is the No. 7 batsman?
The sixth ODI between England and India at The Oval underscored the value of the No. 7 batsman. The Numbers Game looks at the best in the trade... more
England's problems against spin bowling
Playing reasonably good spin bowlers against England is always an advantage. The Numbers Game explains why... more
Bell blossoms, and India's no-ball worries
Ian Bell's outstanding innings at Southampton against India suggests England might have found a stable No. 3batsman in ODIs... more
Left-armers on the rise, and England's best batting pair
The increasing success of left-arm pace bowlers, and England's best batting partnership... more
Can Zaheer and Co inspire more wins overseas?
India's lack of fast-bowling prowess has been the most glaring reason for their lack of success abroad. Recent results suggest they might be close to finding a solution... more
The Trescothick factor, and Kumble's profligacy
Why England are missing Marcus Trescothick, and Kumble's off day at Trent Bridge... more
Gavaskar vs Tendulkar - the fourth-innings story
Sachin Tendulkar's stats in the fourth innings of a Test belies the fact that he is among the leading batsmen to have played the game... more
India's first-Test blues
India's problem when playing overseas has often been the opening Test, especially when playing in conditions which they aren't familiar with... more
Murali and the Bangladesh factor
Muttiah Muralitharan got another bagful against Bangladesh, but over the last seven years he's had success against all teams... more
Bangladesh botch up their Test act again
Bangladesh have developed into a competitive ODI unit - especially in favourable conditions - but in Tests they continue to flounder... more
Chanderpaul takes centrestage
Shivnarine Chanderpaul has taken over the mantle from Brian Lara as West Indies' mainstay in the batting line-up... more
Monty magic
Monty Panesar's ten-wicket haul at Old Trafford brought his Test average down to less than 30 for the first time... more
Dravid's record, and Asif's slog-over blues
Rahul Dravid has put together 66 century stands in Tests, a record... more
A batting giant called Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen is on a roll. In 25 Tests he has scored a staggering 2448 runs, next only to the Don... more
A tale of the tail, and Pakistan dominate Sri Lanka again
Which are the teams that manage the maximum contribution from their last four batsmen, and which sides suffer at the hands of the opposition tailenders? The Numbers Game investigates... more
West Indies' woeful slide in Test cricket
West Indies have lost three times the number of Tests they have won in the last decade, which means the difference in the overall win-loss record is only 11... more
Does the 30-over rule hold in one-day cricket?
How true is the theory that, with wickets in hand, teams often double their 30-over score in ODIs? The Numbers Game investigates... more
The best opening acts in ODIs, and Gilchrist in finals
Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist have all the numbers to suggest they're one of the best opening pairs ever in ODIs... more
One-way traffic, and Tait and Hogg turn it on
Despite so many well-matched teams, the World Cup has witnessed far too many one-sided contests... more
Hayden's power play
While most of the other teams are struggling to score runs in the early overs, Australia are doing just fine, thanks to Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist... more
Vaughan's ODI travails, and peerless Vettori
With an average in the mid-20s and a strike rate of 66, Michael Vaughan clearly doesn't cut it as a one-day batsman... more
Masters of the middle overs
A look at the batsmen and bowlers who have done the job during the crucial period between the 20th and 40th overs during this World Cup... more
Fair for all, and decoding D/L
The conditions in the World Cup have offered something to everybody, while wickets in hand will be key in matches involving D/L... more
Cool, calm, classy
Inzamam retires from one-day cricket
Inzamam-ul-Haq finished with 11,739 ODI runs, while his batting record as captain is the best of all time... more
The bowlers to fear with the new ball
A look at the fast bowlers who have been the most effective with the new ball in ODIs since 2006... more
The best ODI bowler at the death
Toothless bowling during the slog overs has been one of Australia's big weakness in the last month. The Numbers Game looks at the bowlers who have been at their most potent during the slog... more
Pollock's resurgence, and Dhoni the matchwinner
Shaun Pollock's stunning season as an ODI bowler, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's ability to play innings which win the game for India... more
Naved loses his ODI nous
The last one year has been a torrid one for Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who is fast climbing up the chart of the most expensive ODI bowlers ever... more
When the lower order comes up tops
A look at teams where the lower order get the runs, and the patnerships that make it happen... more
Clark and Asif lead fast-bowling revival
The success that Stuart Clark and Mohammad Asif have had in their short Test careers so far suggests they could be the leading fast bowlers in world cricket over the next few years... more
Prince in command, and Vettori's challenger
With three centuries and 764 runs in his last eight Tests, Ashwell Prince has been the giant among all South African batsmen over the last eight months, while Jeetan Patel has proved there is more to New Zealand spin than Daniel Vettori... more
When Lee outbatted Tendulkar
... more
The opening gambit, and Australia versus left-arm spin
The venues which are nightmares for the openers, and Australia's track record against left-arm spin... more
Giles and his struggles against Australia
Why England are making a mistake by persisting with Giles in this Ashes series... more
Tendulkar's bogey bowlers, and Pollock's bunnies
The bowlers have troubled Tendulkar the most, and the batsmen who have been easy prey for Pollock... more
South Africa's home run, and the McGrath-Warne show
South Africa's utter dominance of the opposition when playing ODIs at home, and 100 Tests together for Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath... more
Yousuf's hot streak, and Lara in defeats
Mohammad Yousuf has never had it quite as good as a Test batsman. In the first Test of the series against West Indies, he stroked a glorious 192, his sixth century in nine matches in 2006... more
Gayle's glorious run in ODIs
After a relatively slow start to his ODI career, Chris Gayle has blossomed into a terrific asset for West Indies at the top of the order... more
The best opening pair in ODIs
Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul's amazing run as an opening pair, and Australia's success rate when Andrew Symonds makes runs... more
Team India's reliance on Dravid ... and Tendulkar
India's slump in ODI form over the last six months has had many experts touting various explanations, but perhaps the biggest one has been Rahul Dravid's run-drought... more
Gilchrist's ODI exploits, and one-sided one-dayers
Adam Gilchrist's Test numbers have taken a severe beating since the Ashes last year - he only averages 26.88 in his last 17 Tests - but as a one-day batsman he remains a significant force... more
The Shane Bond factor
New Zealand wouldn't top anyone's list of favourites for the Champions Trophy, but they have one bowling weapon that all opposition line-ups will be wary of... more
The opening conundrum, and spinners in India
How important is the opening partnership to the result of ODIs? The Numbers Game explores this, and looks at how spinners have performed recently in ODIs in India... more
Why Australia is the best in ODI finals, and India the worst
The List had earlier this week looked at players who come to the party in knockout matches; The Numbers Game analyses how teams as a whole handle the pressure in tournament finals... more
How good is Kallis the ODI allrounder?
Jacques Kallis became the first cricket to get the ODI double of 8000 runs and 200 wickets. How do his stats compare with the other great allrounders in ODIs... more
Unpredictable Chanderpaul, and England's uphill battle
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is usually regarded as a dour batsman, but he can be quite destructive when in the mood. The Numbers Game looks at his peculiar approach at the crease. Plus, a brief analysis of how England have fared since the Ashes... more
England's dismal ODI stats, and Younis steps up
In their last 20 one-day matches, England have lost 15 and won four. The Numbers Game looks at the areas where England have been outplayed by the opposition... more
Searching for the next great fast bowler
A couple of weeks back, The Numbers Game had focussed on the plight of finger spinners, and how their effectiveness has gradually dwindled over the decades. Let's now run the rule over the fast bowlers... more
Trescothick's misery, and the Pakistani who relished pace
Over the last couple of decades, the wrist-spinner has been a far more potent force than the finger-spinner. A look at how the numbers stack up for the two... more
Is the finger-spinner a dying breed?
Over the last couple of decades, the wrist-spinner has been a far more potent force than the finger-spinner. A look at how the numbers stack up for the two... more
Shaun Pollock on the decline
Shaun Pollock and Chaminda Vaas have both lost considerable pace over the last couple of years, but while Vaas continues to be a force as a bowler, Pollock's numbers have declined alarmingly... more
Parsimonious Prosper, and Murali's ten-wicket routine
Muttiah Muralitharan and Monty Panesar have been hogging the headlines this past week, but there has been another spinner who has been making all the right moves during this period... more
The travails of Mohammad Sami
Five years ago he was touted as Pakistan's next big fast-bowling hope, but since then it's been one steady downward slide for Mohammad Sami... more
Playing Russian Roulette with the opening slot
Pakistan have used as many as 53 different opening combinations in 104 Tests since 1995, that's a healthy ratio of 1.96 matches per pair.... more
The difference between Harmison and Akram
A look at the bowlers and teams who have conceded the highest number of wides and no-balls in one-day internationals... more
Lopsided lbws, and England's ODI worries
In the West Indies-India series, India won 19 lbws while West Indies only got six in their favour. The difference of 13 was among the highest in any Test series... more
Has the follow-on gone out of fashion?
Once upon a time, the follow-on used to be enforced whenever the opportunity arose. Of late, though, it is being used far more sparingly... more
The Gayle-Ganga opening act, and England's profligacy
Why Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga deserve more time as an opening combination... more
Second innings blues for the bowlers
Over the years the Indian bowling attack has been found wanting, especially when there's an opportunity to finish off a team in the second innings... more
Indian spin twins in tandem, and Murali magic in England
Did the Indian think-tank make a huge mistake by not including Harbhajan Singh in the team for the first Test against West Indies in Antigua... more
The best spearheads, and first-innings blues
A look at the bowlers who have taken a high percentage of team wickets as a proportion of the balls bowled... more
The next Lara?
Ramnaresh Sarwan has outstanding ODI stats, but his Test numbers need some work... more
India's amazing middle order
The key to India's wins in run-chases has been the manner in which their middle order has reacted to the pressures of getting to a target... more
Too much cricket, or too much talk?
For all the talk about an overkill of cricket in the last few years, it's interesting to note that 2005 wasn't by any means the busiest in the calendar over the last ten years... more
The myth of the improved tailender
Is the average lower-order batsman today better than his corresponding number from yesteryear?... more
The most consistent and prolific batsman of all
Averages are a good measure of a batsman's calibre, but here's method which attempts to combine big scoring with consistency... more
The difference between Tendulkar and Dippenaar
How averages are not so much a matter of getting starts but converting them, and the batsmen who thrive on not-outs... more
Batting at the crunch, and outdoing the best legspinner
Which are the teams that are most affected by the pressures of batting in the second innings, and for which sides does it not matter much... more
The new and improved Ntini
Makhaya Ntini has shown over the last 15 months that he can crank it up against the best batsmen in the world, while Pakistan's ability to come back from the dead was confirmed at Kandy... more
Langer's landmark, and Ponting the pulveriser
As a crowd-puller, Justin Langer doesn't rank among the top names in a star-studded line-up, but his contribution to the juggernaut called the Australian cricket team has been immense... more
Maestros on the decline, and Pakistan's double-whammy
Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Adam Gilchrist have all been struggling for runs for a while now. Is this their worst slump in international cricket?... more
More than a wall
Rahul Dravid has risen from a good batsman to one of the world's best. His journey in numbers... more
India's battle against left-hand batsmen
Do Indian bowlers struggle more than most against letf-handers, or are they generally toothless against most batsmen?... more
Ashraful's battle to make his mark
Mohammad Ashraful has the talent, but consistency is one virtue he has struggled to achieve so far... more
Trial by spin awaits England
Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh will be licking the chops in anticipation of bowling to England's batsmen... more
Shoaib Malik's resurgence, and hot chasing streaks
Shoaib Malik's batting has been quite exceptional since Bob Woolmer took over as coach, while India are closing in on the record for most number of successive wins when batting second&... more
Why the Supersub isn't a super idea
The Supersub system hands over too much advantage to the team winning the toss, and must be changed... more
Where toss is key, and Tendulkar's drought
The venues where losing the toss is a blessing, Tendulkar's slump in form and Dippenaar's rising stock... more
Prolific partnerships, and one-sided triangulars
Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf are fast moving up the ladder among Pakistan's top batting pairs, while this season's VB Series is a rare three-way contest... more
A lowdown on lbws
Has the frequency of lbw decisions increased over the years? The Numbers Game find out... more
The enigma called Jacques Kallis
He has played almost 100 Tests, averages nearly 57, has scored runs against allcomers in all conditions, and was recently named the ICC's Player of the Year, but Jacques Kallis has hardly got the kind of acclaim you'd expect a batsman to receive after all... more
Gilchrist's slump, and a year for the middle order
Adam Gilchrist's average slips to below 50, and a look back at what the numbers show in 2005... more
Wag the tail, Indian spin and sticky Rudolph
Which team has relied most heavily on their tailenders to prop them, and Jacques Rudolph's epic against Australia... more
Overdose for the officials
If you thought the players were the only ones suffering from a packed itinerary, take a look at the plight of the elite umpires... more
Tendulkar v other top batsmen in run-chases
How does Sachin Tendulkar compare when India chase challenging totals in ODIs? The Numbers Game investigates... more
A giant called Inzamam, and the new Shoaib
Inzamam-ul-Haq passes Javed Miandad as the highest century-maker for Pakistan, while Shoaib Akhtar is showing just how handy he can be with the willow... more
First-Test blues, and chasing small targets
A rare win in the first Test of a series for Pakistan, and how teams fare when chasing a small fourth-innings target... more
The extras factor, and Harbhajan's return
India's bowling performance at Rajkot was one of their most disciplined in the last five years, while Harbhajan Singh gets his home groove back... more
Sri Lanka's overseas travails
Sri Lanka have an awesome record in home ODIs, but when they've travelled it has been a different story... more
A new spin to ODIs, and Vettori's return
The Numbers Game looks at how spinners have performed in one-day internationals over the decades... more
Peerless Pigeon
The Numbers Game looks at Glenn McGrath's penchant for ruffling top-order feathers... more
The McGrath menace looms
The Numbers Game looks at how the players from the Australian and World XI teams stack up against each other... more
The unsung heroes behind the stumps
Statistically, it's tough to convert a wicketkeeper's performances into numbers which can be compared and rated. S Rajesh tries his hand at rating glovemen ... more
Left-arm swing and minnow-bashing
Sri Lanka's high percentage of matches against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, and left-arm seamers against them ... more
Of dropped catches and batting in pairs
The Ashes review in numbers - Part II
How dropped catches hurt Australia much more, and England's key partnerships ... more
Dravid's lapses, and the dilemma of debutants
Rahul Dravid's tendency to get bowled in the last one year, and debutants blooded in by various teams ... more
The Man Fridays
Throughout the history of the game, the captains with the most wins have been those with able lieutenants who could execute the drawing-board strategies... more
The Gilchrist factor, and subbed out
Why Adam Gilchrist's failure has been the biggest drawback for Australia, and dismissals by substitutes ... more
Home truths, and the greatest fast-bowling pairs
Which teams enjoy home conditions the most, and the best partnerships among fast bowlers ... more
Jones-Bond on the hunt, and Fleming's feat
Simon Jones and Shane Bond join the 50-wicket club, while Stephen Fleming gets to a milestone as well ... more
Lucky venues, and captain-centurions
Which venues have been good for which teams, and captains leading by example in an Ashes series ... more
India's ODI conundrum, and Australia minus McGrath
Four specialist bowlers or five, and how Australia have coped with Glenn McGrath's absence in the past ... more
Vaughan's batting horrors
How Michael Vaughan has struggled in both defence and attack over the last 30 months ... more
India's ODI slump, and Lord's lows
India's bowling in one-dayers in the last couple of seasons ... more
Vaas's batting heroics, and Aussie dominance
Chaminda Vaas's credentials as an allrounder, and Australia's dominance of Test cricket over the last six years ... more
Australia's best and worst, and Strauss's struggles
A contrasting time in England for Mike Hussey and Jason Gillespie, and Andrew Strauss's newfound tendency to get bowled ... more
Masters of the chase, and the most meaty strikers
Why England would prefer to bat first in the NatWest Series final, and Kevin Pietersen's outstanding one-day record ... more
Inzi the matchwinner, and super sweepers
Why Inzamam-ul-Haq is among the best in the world, and an analysis of the sweep stroke ... more
The drivers, and Kaneria's case
The batsmen who are most adept at playing the drive in the V, and the Kaneria-Lara battle ... more
Happy hookers, and Bangladesh's struggle
The batsmen who get the most of the hook and pull shots, and what the stats say about Bangladesh ... more
The fall of the Caribbean quicks
A statistical study of the decline of the West Indian fast bowlers over the last two-and-a-half decades ... more
The cutting edge, and the Lara factor
Masters of the strokes - Part III
A look at the players who execute the square-cut better than the others, and West Indies' fortunes without Brian Lara... more
One-day wonders, and Boeta's run-spree
A look at batsmen who've preferred the one-day game to Test cricket, and Boeta Dippenaar's amazing run in ODIs... more
The masters of defence
Masters of the strokes - Part II
Who is the batsman with the most secure defence of all? And who resorts to defence only as the last option? Read on to find out... more
The cover-drive kings
Masters of the strokes - Part I
Who is the best cover-driver of all? And do left-handed batsmen really have an advantage? Here's an analysis... more
Subcontinental giants, and runs in defeats
A look at teams visiting in the subcontinent, and Brian Lara's continued run-spree in West Indian defeats... more
Overseas minnows, and Tendulkar's jinx
Sri Lanka's pathetic run outside the subcontinent, and Sachin Tendulkar's one-day runs in defeats... more
South African stodges, and batting with the tail
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Black Cap collapses, and the Brown Bradman
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
McGrath walks the talk
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The lucky batsmen, and the post-Australia trend
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The lucky bowlers, and the luckless ones
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
History in numbers
Until recently, history tilted towards Pakistan... more
Youhana steps it up, and Aussie appeals
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Australia's finals spree, and Pietersen the Plunderer
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Pakistan's opening conundrum, and Zim's super keepers
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Workhorse turns striker, and Bangladesh's day
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Relentless Kallis, and Lara's Aussie exploits
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
MacGill on a roll, and the jinx of the top run-getter
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Warne's winning ways, and Strauss's stunning start
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The Richardson story in numbers
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Non-regular bowlers in ODIs, and Donald's feat
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Tendulkar's diminishing returns, and McGrath the batsman
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Kumble and Sehwag on a roll
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Busting Kanpur's myths, and McGrath's woes
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
New Zealand's batsmen, and Aussie bowling might
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Kaneria's rise, and Pakistan's home worries
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Dravid goes defensive, and Kartik's favourite captain
S.Rajesh plays the Numbers Game... more
Martyn conquers the subcontinent, and Rafique's rise
S Rajesh plays the Numbers Game... more
Harbhajan's hurrah, and a duck for Dravid
Australia's weakness against off spinners and Dravid's bizarre run of scores... more
Beginning with a bang, and wickets for a veteran
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
India's favourite opponents, and a spot on openers
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The toss quandary, and Gilchrist's slump
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
A match-winning workhorse, and MVPs
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Fearsome finishers, and Flintoff's fireworks
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Kallis out, all out, and Atapattu the great
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Playing spin, and selfish batsmen
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Murali-less Sri Lanka, and dominant partnerships
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The double-hundred experts, and first-over kings
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Dissecting Pollock, and Sri Lanka's home advantage
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Gayle turns it on, and India's nemesis
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The Inzamam factor, and no-ball kings
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Mahela's unfulfilled promise, and England's weakness against left-armers
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The bore-a-minute ODIs, and twin hundreds in defeats
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Checking Australia's starts, and a sorry comeback
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Harmison's heroics, and India's opening conundrum
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The Cairns story in numbers, and England's saviour
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Analysing Slater, and Headingley's highs and lows
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Rising to a challenge, and unlikely centurions
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The master stonewaller, and Nass the crisis man
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Atapattu's run-fest, and the Whatmore effect
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Vaughan's 100% captaincy record, and ODI trends
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The merits of retaining Gough, and Windies on the chase
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Capitalising on chances, and Vaas the minnow-basher
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Examining India's middle order
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Hameed's struggle, and Caribbean capers
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Big wins, bigger defeats, and Sehwag's jinx
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The dead-rubber expert, and Vettori's woes
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Successive home defeats, and the extras kings
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The new Caddick, and second-innings fightbacks
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The Warne-Murali battle
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
New Zealand's solution, and Sri Lanka's problem
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Losing it in finals, and Murali's dominance
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Big-match players, and the day-night debate
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Kallis's run-glut, and the injustice of day-night matches
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Turning around poor starts, and West Indies' slide
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Lara's runs, and West Indian ruins
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Problems at the top, and Fleming's love for the chase
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Indian high-fives and double declarations
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
The year of the No. 3
Perhaps numbers never do reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it... more
Fleming's appetite and Murali's new weapon
Perhaps numbers do never reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it fairly well... more
The Dravid-Laxman symphony, and Lara's run-riot
Perhaps numbers do never reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it fairly well... more
Wresting the initiative, and Waugh the survivor
Perhaps numbers do never reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it fairly well... more
Inzi's milestone, and top-order baiters
Perhaps numbers do never reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it fairly well... more
The Waugh that raged during crises
S Rajesh examines Steve Waugh's appetite for the big hundred and the value that he brought to the Australian team... more
The real McGrath, and India on the chase
S Rajesh examines the two bowling stars from the TVS Cup, Lara's awesome run-spree over the last two years and India's not-so-bad record when batting second in ODIs... more
Fourth-innings gladiators and Ponting airborne
Perhaps numbers do never reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it fairly well... more
Gavaskar's chink, Bevan's successor and Bangladesh's faith
Perhaps numbers do never reveal the full story, but they tell a large part of it fairly well... more
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