by This seems to be the season when many of us are posting statistics on the net.
The bug seems to have bitten me, too, though I cannot boast of the ability to
shoot such numerical data off at the drop of a hat.
Since England is touring India right now, I thought this would be the time when
people can compare the performances of present day England players with those
from the past.
Sportstar carries a statistical summary (by S.Dinakar) of some of the leading
England cricketers who have "carved a niche for themselves". The article also
has sketches of these players' careers, but I have culled out only the "mere
numbers" for your consumption.
{Nadeem Moghal, we do remember you, and welcome back to the net. Weren't you in
the UK? I vaguely remember envying you, Mohan Krishnamoorthy, Sanjay Naik, et
al your privileged residence in a land where cricket is not only played but
also actually covered by the media!! Anyway, I won't say I am happy for you
(that's will be too rude, huh?), but welcome anyway. What better way to welcome
you than try my hand at a statistical post? :--)}.
Okay, here goes:
TESTS RUNS AVG TONS WKTS AVG CATCHES
WALLY HAMMOND 87 7249 58.45 22 83 37.80 110
HAROLD LARWOOD 21 485 19.40 -- 78 28.35 15
LEN HUTTON 79 6971 56.67 19 3 77.33 57
DENIS COMPTON 78 5807 50.06 17 25 56.40 49
JIM LAKER 46 676 14.80 -- 193 21.24 12
ALEC BEDSER 51 714 12.75 -- 236 24.89 26
FRED TRUEMAN 67 981 13.81 -- 307 21.57 64
TED DEXTER 62 4502 47.89 9 66 34.93 29
KEN BARRINGTON 82 6006 58.67 20 29 44.82 58
COLIN COWDREY 114 7624 44.60 22 -- -- 120
GEOFF BOYCOTT 108 8114 47.72 22 -- -- 33
DEREK UNDERWOOD 86 937 11.51 -- 297 25.83 44
JOHN SNOW 49 772 13.54 -- 202 26.66 16
ALAN KNOTT 95 4389 32.78 5 -- -- 250/19
IAN BOTHAM 102 5200 33.54 14 383 24.80 120
DAVID GOWER 117 8231 44.25 18 1 20.00 74
I shall leave the analysis, if any, to more knowledgable netters.
-Murali