Batting giants in Asia

In the ongoing three-Test series between Sri Lanka and India, eight centuries have been scored in less than two Tests' worth of cricket: Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga Paranavitana have scored two each, while four others have contributed one apiece. This run-fest is hardly surprising, considering the conditions on offer and the batting strength of the two teams contesting (though it was a surprise that India crumbled twice on a surface that wasn't exactly a minefield).

The two line-ups contain some of the most prolific batsmen who have played in these conditions. The pitch and the weather demand a high degree of patience and fitness, as well as skill against spinners, and both teams have plenty of names who meet those requirements. Which is why many of these batsmen find themselves among the most successful in the all-time list to have played in Asia. Of the 10 batsmen with the highest all-time Test averages in Asia (with a qualification of 2000 runs), five are currently in action in Sri Lanka.

That Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara are among the top names in the list won't surprise anyone, but it might surprise a few that Virender Sehwag's is first on that list. And a break-up of his stats in the subcontinent is as unconventional as his approach to opening batting: he averages almost 100 in Pakistan, and more than 50 in Sri Lanka and India, but only 35.20 in four Tests in Bangladesh.

There's little to separate the overall numbers for Jayawardene and Sangakkara in Asia, with both averaging a touch over 60, and more than 62 in Sri Lanka. However, while Sangakkara has flourished in Pakistan and struggled a bit in India, it's the other way around for Jayawardene. Surprisingly, though, both average only around 40 in Bangladesh, with only one century in 16 innings between them.

The other stat that requires attention in the table above is the averages of these players outside the subcontinent. The conditions in countries like Australia, South Africa and New Zealand have obviously been tough for many batsmen to adjust to, but the extent of difference between their numbers on their home continent and away are clear from the list above. Only one batsman among those listed above has an overseas average which is less than 10 runs lower than their average in Asia. On the other hand, for three the difference is more than 20, and for another it's only fractionally less.

Most critics acknowledge that Sehwag has scored runs in almost all conditions, and yet it turns out that his average outside the subcontinent is 41.42, more than 20 fewer than his average in Asia. A further break-up shows he has struggled in South Africa and New Zealand. His debut innings, in Bloemfontein, was an unforgettable 105, but what's not remembered as vividly are his performances in South Africa since then: in eight further innings he has a highest of 40, and five sub-15 scores. That's one stat he'll want to rectify when India travel to South Africa later this year.

Things were even worse for Mohammad Azharuddin when he played outside the subcontinent. New Zealand and England weren't so problematic - he got a couple of gorgeous hundreds there - but his numbers were mediocre in Australia, South Africa and the West Indies: in eight Tests in the West Indies he averaged less than 20. And despite a couple of superb innings in Australia and South Africa, his overall averages there were still less than 30.

Three of Pakistan's best batsmen couldn't touch the 50-mark outside Asia either. Javed Miandad had his problems in the West Indies - as did almost every overseas batsman during that era - and Australia; Inzamam-ul-Haq barely averaged more than 30 in Australia and South Africa, the two teams with the best bowling attacks during his era. Similarly Mohammad Yousuf had his problems against those teams as well.

Among the three Sri Lankans, Sangakkara is the one who comes off looking the best in this comparison - the difference in averages for him is only 12.16, which is much less than those for Jayawardene (22.66) and Thilan Samaraweera (25.95). Admittedly, Sangakkara's numbers in Zimbabwe have boosted his average a bit, but he has done well in Australia and New Zealand, and not too badly in South Africa. Jayawardene, on the other hand, has an average of less than 35 in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, while Samaraweera has played only 12 out of his 59 Tests outside the Asian subcontinent.

The last point also illustrates a huge problem with the scheduling of international cricket over the last decade and more, an issue that Sangakkara rightly raised after Sri Lanka's win against India in Galle. In Jayawardene's 13-year international career, for example, he has only played 29 Tests outside the subcontinent. Sri Lanka have played 31 during this period, spread over 14 series. The last time they toured South Africa for a Test series was way back in the 2002-03 season. As important as the lack of matches is the planning of the series: nine of those 14 series have consisted of two Tests, while another was a one-off Test in England. For a team that is challenging for the top spot in Test cricket, it seems patently unfair that they've been handed down crumbs in terms of overseas matches. In the 13 years since Jayawardene made his Test debut, India and Pakistan have played far more often overseas.

All of which brings us to Sachin Tendulkar, the only batsman in the top 10 above to average more than 50 both in Asia and outside. (The only other Asians to achieve this feat - with a cut-off of 1000 runs outside the subcontinent - are Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid, but their averages in Asia are outside the top 10. Click here for the full list.) Tendulkar averages more than 60 in England, but the stat that stands out for him is his average in Australia, which is an impressive 58.53 in 16 Tests, with six centuries. South Africa is the only country where his average dips below 40. Later this year, he too will get an opportunity to rectify that.