Bradman reaches century

Don Bradman, named (along with Kerry Packer) as Australian cricket's most influential person three years ago, would have been 100 years old today.

Over a 20-year career, bowlers and captains tore their hair out trying to get him out. But research by us shows that it was actually quite easy to get him out. Based on his statistics, it is fairly obvious that all you had to do was to play Australia in the following circumstances and he could be dismissed cheaply.

• Jack Ryder as Australian captain (avg. 66.85)
  
• Make sure you won after opting to bat first (avg. 43.27 in Aus losses, avg. 33.87 when Aus lost after fielding first).
  
• Strike a deal with Jack Ryder to send Bradman in at #4 (avg. 53.88). Bradman averages 103.63 at #3 and only three other batsmen in test history have made more runs at that position.
  
• Play the test match at Old Trafford (avg. 27).
  
• Have Verity, Bedser, Doug Wright, Bill Voce or Gubby Allen on your side. Don't forget to include Lasith Malinga!
  
• Make sure that Les Ames is the keeper.

Now, that's not a tough ask, is it?!

Labels: australia, birthday, bradman, statistic

Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:59 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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The original Caribbean 'Atlas'

Given the number of times Brian Lara has more or less single-handedly carried (and occasionally let down) West Indies' batting over the past decade, it is amazing to think that his importance to the side would pale in comparison to how dependent the West Indies sides in the 1930s and 1940s were on George Alphonso Headley, born today.

Among batsmen to have scored more than 2000 test runs, he has the third highest average, after Don Bradman and Graeme Pollock. Before World War II broke out, he averaged nearly 67 from 19 tests and he was only 29 years old. He made 10 centuries in his first 35 test innings. After nearly a decade, when he played test cricket again, he was unable to pick up from where he left off. At a time when everyone talks about too much cricket and players 'retire' to preserve themselves, it is poignant to think about how many great cricketers missed out on the best years of their cricketing careers because of the Second World War.

Given that Headley was referred to as the 'Black Bradman' and Bradman was referred to as the 'White Headley', I thought it'd be interesting to compare how they did when they faced off against each other. As it turned out, West Indies toured Australia in 1930/31, the only time these two greats participated in the same test series. Headley definitely came away second best, averaging 37.3 to Bradman's 74.5.

I'll hazard a guess - Australia's bowling attack, Bert Ironmonger and Clarrie Grimmett in particular, were much better than West Indies' lineup of Learie Constantine and a few other names I've never heard before. I also think Australia's harder pitches may have had something to do with it. In addition, the rest of the batting was getting blown away all the time. West Indies didn't make 300 until the last test, after being thrashed by huge margins in the remaining tests, including following-on in the second and third tests. The amazing part is that across the first decade of his career, until 1939 when World War intervened, the Australia tour was the only time he averaged less than 50 in a series!

In 1948, he was appointed the first black captain of the West Indies.

All this, from someone who nearly became a dentist in the US. A delay in procuring a passport to the United States to study dentistry gave him time to squeeze in knocks of 78 and 211 against a visiting English team.

Labels: bradman, headley, west indies

Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:02 am | Sledge/Read 5 sledge(s)
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Ponting passes Bradman, level with Gavaskar, Dravid, Fingleton & Melville

Ricky Ponting is now officially a run-machine and boring to watch/follow. He made his 30th test century on day four of the Durban test, having made his 29th on the first day. He is now, obviously, ahead of Bradman in the centuries roster. Like I pointed out in a different thread, I expect he'll end up with something obscene, like 50 test centuries!

This century also means he is level with Sunil Gavaskar, with three century-in-each-innings efforts. Thanks to Ganesh for pointing out that he only needs to make a century in Australia's first innings at Johannesburg (well, at any rate, his next test innings) to equal Everton Weekes with 5 centuries in 5 consecutive innings. He is currently level with Rahul Dravid, Jack Fingleton & Alan Melville (who?) on four. Like Ganesh mentioned in his comment, it was a mistake on our part to have drawn this inference.

Why do these two (Dravid & Ponting) have one more similarity now!?

Labels: bradman

Thus spake Jagadish @ 11:40 am | Sledge/Read 1 sledge(s)
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Ponting goes on and on and on ...

Less than three months after he scored twin centuries in his hundredth test, Ricky Ponting went past yet another milestone today, against South Africa at Durban, when he scored his 29th test century, drawing level with Sir Don Bradman. He is at #5 in the list of top century makers. Only Tendulkar and Lara have scored more centuries among batsmen still in action.

Ponting and Dravid continue to chase each other's stats. They're now separated by 2 tests, 2 not outs, 122 runs and .05 batting average points. Ponting obviously has the greater number of centuries, Dravid has more fifties. Dravid leads on the catches front, with 138 catches to Ponting's 116. I'm fairly sure Ponting has more run-outs.

We're privileged to watch two totally contrasting masters go neck and neck towards greatness, as if they're not there already!

The other unfortunate coincidence between the two is that they both ended up with plenty of egg on the face after sending England in at Old Trafford and Wankhede Stadium.

Labels: bradman

Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:17 pm | Sledge/Read 17 sledge(s)
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Bradman and Packer named 'most influential' by Cricket Australia

In its 100th year of existence, Cricket Australia has named Sir Don Bradman and Kerry Packer as the most influential people in Australian cricket history.

Other reports from BBC Sport, The Melbourne Age and The Australian.

It must be remembered that earlier this year, reports from Australia suggested that Kerry Packer was keenly following Twenty20 cricket.

Meanwhile, it looks like Lehmann will be a national selector after the South Australian Cricket Association backs him to replace Border on the panel. You just have to hope that he doesn't suffer Mark Waugh's fate.

Labels: bradman, packer

Thus spake Jagadish @ 3:40 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Most runs made at each batting position

I read somewhere that Dravid was the most successful #3 in test cricket history in terms of the number of runs scored at that position. This led me to search around for a list from #1 to #11. I couldnt find any. So I did the next best thing - mailed someone. I mailed Steven Lynch at CricInfo and the email address provided at Howstat. Howstat is a delight for someone interested in cricket stats. I got a reply from Brian Winzor, the resident statistician there. He doesnt have a very upto-date list and doesnt have one for one-dayers. The list does have some surprises. In case any of you have some other resource which gives more updated details, please email me/leave comments.

Highest Aggregate for Each Batting Position

Opening - SM Gavaskar - 9,607

3 -  R Dravid - 5,955

4 - SR Tendulkar - 7,996

5 - SR Waugh - 6,821

6 - SR Waugh - 3,098

7 - AC Gilchrist - 3,068

8 - Kapil Dev - 1,777

9 - CEL Ambrose - 973

10 - Waqar Younis - 496

11 - CA Walsh - 553



Highest Average for Each batting position (Minimum 30 innings)



Opening - H Sutcliffe - 61.1

3 - DG Bradman - 103.63

4 - JH Kallis - 76.56

5 - GS Sobers & CL Walcott - 59.22

6 - ST Chanderpaul - 66.3

7 - AC Gilchrist - 52.00

8 - MV Boucher - 34.08

9 - IDS Smith - 28.46

10 - DK Lillee - 19.05

11 - WA Johnston - 14.45

Labels: bradman

Thus spake Jagadish @ 7:47 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Don Bradman had the highest regard for Keith Miller, in spite of them not seeing eye-to-eye on several instances.

Labels: bradman

Thus spake Jagadish @ 9:03 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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In 2000-01, when Australia came to India, it was Don Bradman who bid adieu to this worldly life and this time its Keith Miller.

Labels: aus v ind 2004, bradman

Thus spake Ganesh @ 3:22 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Lasith Malinga, the new Sri Lankan quick who is making quite a few waves, in an interview to Charlie Austin, reveals that the first batsman he hit was Bradman. And Benaud named that bloke in his all-time World XI!

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Thus spake Ganesh @ 1:05 pm | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Richie Benaud named his World XI of the century yesterday. You can buy the DVD online.

His side reads (in batting order): Sir Jack Hobbs, Sunil Gavaskar, Sir Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Viv Richards, Imran Khan, Sir Garfield Sobers, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Sydney Barnes, Dennis Lillee.

With 4 knights and all 5 Wisden cricketers of the century in his side, it sure seems like a great one. But I'm not convinced this is the best side of the century. Benaud certainly cant claim that this side comprises of the best players he ever saw. Even though we all know he is 1249 years old, Syd Barnes was even older!

I'm not convinced that current players should be included in any all-time XI. Obviously they could be included in current World XIs. But until their careers are done, I dont think they should be named by pundits in World XI of the century/millenium etc. I am not saying that Tendulkar or Warne or Gilchrist are not good enough. They certainly are top quality players. But it is just that I'd reserve judgement on including them in any all time side after their careers are done and dusted.

If I had to gripe about the selection, I'd certainly slot in someone like Healy, Marsh or Dujon ahead of Gilchrist. They were certainly better keepers and could bat too, although no keeper could bat the way Gilchrist does. Then again, does a side which has Sobers or Imran coming in at #7 need a wicket-keeper who can make centuries?

I'm also amazed none of the West Indian quicks of the 1980s finds a place in the side. Barnes is statistically among the best bowlers of all time but I doubt if Lillee he would make a better partnership than Lillee and Marshall or Lillee and Holding.

If you think I'm wrong, feel free to leave your comments!

Labels: bradman

Thus spake Jagadish @ 11:25 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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