Cricket Statistics and Trivia

[PKBasu]

Interesting stats, Puneet, especially after you remove Zimbabwe and Bangladesh matches to make the comparison fairer.

Ganguly, of course, was in genuinely horrendous form in the last but one series (against Pakistan at home) before he was dropped. But he had worked that off by going to England and averaging over 60 for Glamorgan (and also rediscovering his bowling ability). He should definitely have been dropped at that point (as indeed he effectively was -- through a 6-match ban!!), but it was certainly just as unfair to have dropped him immediately after he came back with a 2-0 overseas series win.

[suresh]

What exactly is a hoick? How does it differ from a hook shot? According to the Webster's dictionary, a hoick is a verb which means to move or pull abruptly.

[PKBasu]

"Hoick" is not yet an official cricket term, as far as I know  , but commentators have started using it to describe an ungainly hook or pull shot. Interesting, Suresh, that it appears to tally somewhat with the dictionary meaning you've found...

[suresh]

Thanks, PKB for the clarification. I was wondering how I could have missed this usage. Come to think of it, I only have seen the cricinfo writers use it.

[puneets]

Large 1st innings leads after scoring 250 or fewer runs

Here is a list of Test matches in which sides achieved a first innings lead of 150 after scoring 250 or fewer runs batting first.

Code: Select all

Lead
248  Eng (248-8d) v SAf (Forfeit) Pretoria        1999-00 W
186  Aus (247)    v Eng (61)      Melbourne(5)    1903-04 W
165  Ind (249)    v SAf (84)      Johannesburg    2006-07 W
164  SAf (243)    v NZ  (79)      Johannesburg(4) 1957-58 W
160  Aus (228)    v Eng (68-7d)   Brisbane        1950-51 W
153  Eng (250)    v NZ  (97)      Nottingham      1973    W

Source: Aslam in r.s.c

[puneets]

400-run target set without 300 in either innings

Here is a list of Test matches in which one side set a fourth innings target of 400 or more runs not having scored 300 runs in either innings.

Code: Select all

Target
445  Eng (288 & 291) v Aus (135 & 220-3)  Leeds        1975    D
410  Eng (298 & 203) v Ind (92 & 277)     Birmingham   1967    W
408  Ind (272 & 237) v Eng (102 & 128)    Leeds        1986    W
402  Ind (249 & 236) v SAf (84 & 278)     Johannesburg 2006-07 W 

Source: Aslam in r.s.c

[puneets]

Yet another record for Sachin Tendulkar. After his first innings in the 3rd test, he holds the record for most number of runs in test cricket (away from home).

[puneets]

These days, almost all the test matches have yielded results.
5/5 in Aus-Eng series,  3/3 in Ind-SA series,  2/2 in Nzl-SL series and 2/2 in the present Pak-SA series!

Now that I've pointed this out, I'm sure that the 3rd test match between Pak and SA will be a drwan affair

[suresh]

Since Puneet must be busy ( ) I am posting this link

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/columns ... 79122.html

[puneets]

The return of the maharaja:

Here's what Ganguly has scored since his return to the Indian team:
98, 13, 68, 62, 48, 58*, 66 and 89

502 runs in 8 innigs = 62.75 runs per inng!

He couldn't have scripted it better.

[PKBasu]

I think he could have scripted it a bit better! He should have converted at least two of those knocks into his 23rd and 24th ODI century  .

Interesting, the Telegraph (which has been editorially extremely unfriendly to Ganguly, partly because editor Rudrangshu Mukherjee is a Brit-ass-kissing historian who has tried to debunk Mangal Pandey and otherwise run down the 1857 Uprising) had this story this morning:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070320/a ... 541044.asp

The story suggests that Ganguly had taken on some captain-type duties on the day before the match:

"The script for what followed may have been written at Team India’s batsmen-specific practice session yesterday. Sourav, enjoying a day off after the physical drills, had played a special role, spending time with almost every member of the side separately. It began with a close discussion with captain Rahul Dravid for nearly 15 minutes and ended with Sehwag one and a half hours later."

I'm sure this is a pretty Telegraph-specific vignette.

[puneets]

Ganguly now has 999 runs in World Cup. He missed a record 5th century yesterday.
Tendulkar leads the table with 1796 runs with 4 centuries and 13 fifties.

[puneets]

Australia's dominacne in WC cricket can be gauged from another fact - McGrath has played 39 World Cup games and has batted just 4 times.

[SriramP]

I think he has faced only 4 balls Puneet (May be in 4 innings also, not sure)..and Mcgrath says tongue-in-cheek that it was 4 balls too many....!

[puneets]

I guess it's just 5 balls for him in his 39 World Cup matches!