Sri Lanka has narrowed the gap with number-one ranked South Africa to just two points in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship after winning the two matches Test series against New Zealand in Colombo. Now Reliance Mobile ICC ranking stands as follows:
Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship (as of 30 August 2009) -
1 South Africa 122
2 Sri Lanka 120
3 India 119
4 Australia 116
5 England 105
6 Pakistan 84
7 New Zealand 80
8 West Indies 76
9 Bangladesh 13
The first Test series after the ICC Champions Trophy is West Indies’ tour to Australia for three Tests, followed by Sri Lanka’s tour to India which gives both India and Sri Lanka the first shot at the number-one spot. More importantly Sri Lanka will need to win the series to reach the top of the table, India will have to win 2-0(whitewash Sri Lanka) to topple South Africa. This time can be considered as a golden era of Sri Lankan test cricket. The contributions made by all players are enormous and this study will concentrate only to the batting department of this wonderful game.
Aravinda de Silva one of the finest batsmen produced by Sri Lanka Scored 6361 runs in 93 matches and 159 innings with one double century, 20 centuries and 22 fifties. He scored a century in every five matches in average and at least century or fifty in once in every two matches. His highest score was 267 against New Zealand in Basin reserve, New Zealand. And Average was 42.98.Out of 6361 runs he scored 3290 in home with the average of 52.22.He scored 3071 away with the average of 36.13.He scored 11 centuries in Sri Lanka and 9 in overseas. Mr. Silva won 11 man of the match awards and more interestingly 7 were outside the country.
Former captain Mahela Jayawardena also considered as a batsman with class. He is still in the test arena .Up to now he scored 8747 runs in 107 matches and 177 innings with one triple century, five double centuries, 29 centuries and 25 fifties. He is scoring a century in every three matches in average and at least century or fifty in once in every two matches. His highest score was 374 against South Africa in SSC, Sri Lanka. And Average is 52.53.Out of 8747 runs he scored 5663 in home with the average of 65.09.He scored 3084 away with the average of 40.05.He scored 18 centuries in Sri Lanka and 8 in overseas. Mahela won 08 man of the match awards and only 1 overseas in England at Loards.
Sri Lankan Skipper Kumar Sangakkara also can be considered as fine batsman in the world. Started as a Wicket keeping batsmen he now fully concentrates on his batting. Up to now he scored 7308 runs in 85 matches and 142 innings with six double centuries, 20 centuries and 32 fifties. He is scoring a century in every three matches in average and at least century or fifty in once in every two matches. His highest score was 287 against south Africa in SSC, Sri Lanka. And Average is 55.36.Out of 7308 runs he scored 4233 in home with the average of 59.32.He scored 3075 away with the average of 50.41.He scored 13 centuries in Sri Lanka and 7 in overseas. Sanga won 10 man of the match awards and 2 in overseas.
Marvan Attapatthu fine opening batsman with classy batting style also considered as a one of the best players in Sri Lanka. He Scored 5502 runs in 90 matches and 156 innings with six double centuries, 16 centuries and 17 fifties. His conversion rate of fifty to century is high in comparison to other players. He scored a century in every four matches in average and at least century or fifty in once in every two matches. His highest score was 249 against Zimbabawe in Queens Sports club,Zimbabwe.. And Average was 39.02.Out of 5502 runs he scored 2671 in home with the average of 38.71.He scored 2831 away with the average of 39.32.He scored 8 centuries in Sri Lanka and in overseas. Attapattu won 03 man of the match awards and all three were outside the country.
Veteran, former captain Sanath Jayasooriya also considered as legend in both form of Sri Lankan Cricket. He Scored 6973 runs in 110 matches and 188 innings with one triple century, three double centuries, 14 centuries and 31 fifties. He scored a century in every six matches in average and at least century or fifty in once in every two matches. His highest score was 340 against India in Premadasa Stadium,Sri Lanka.. And Average was 40.07.Out of 6973 runs he scored 4114 in home with the average of 43.77.He scored 2859 away with the average of 35.74.He scored 9 centuries in Sri Lanka and 5 in overseas. Sanath won 04 man of the match awards and one outside the country.
Hashan Thilakarathe also considered as fine Batsman and he scored 4545 runs in 83 matches and 131 innings with one double hundred, 11 centuries and 20 fifties. He scored a century in every seven matches in average and at least century or fifty in once in every two matches. His highest score was 204 against west Indies at SSC, Sri Lanka.And Average was 42.88.Out of 4545 runs he scored 2522 in home with the average of 54.83.He scored 2023 away with the average of 33.72.He scored 6 centuries in Sri Lanka and 5 in overseas. Hashan won three man of the match awards and all in Sri Lanka.
All fans are pleasing about Thilan samarawerra because of his consistency and sustainability in the test cricket. Up to now he scored 3787 runs in 54 matches and 85 innings with two double centuries, 19 centuries and 11 fifties. He is scoring a century in every four matches in average and at least century or fifty in once in every two matches. His highest score was 231 against Pakistan in national stadium, Pakistan . And Average is 51.88.Out of 3787 runs he scored 2219 in home with the average of 58.39.He scored 1568 away with the average of 44.80.He scored 07 centuries in Sri Lanka and 4 in overseas. Thilan won 03 man of the match awards and all in Sri Lanka.
Basically the players who play more than 50 matches and got the average of 39 or more are taken for the consideration in this study. Captain Kumar Sangakkara can be considered as the batsmen with highest average (55.36) with Mahela (52.53) and Thilan(51.88).When we look at the performance out side from Sri Lankan soil Kumar again scored 3075 away with the average of 50.41.Marvan Attapattu is the only player who scored same number of centuries in Sri Lanka and in overseas. And his average in overseas also better than inside Sri Lanka. Marvan won 03 man of the match awards and all in out side the country. Aravida de Silva also won 7 man of the match awards outside the country. He won 11 man of the match awards in his test match career which is the highest as a batsmen in Sri Lanka. Mahela Jayawardena scored one triple century, five double centuries, 29 centuries. He is the person scored (still scoring) highest number of runs and centuries for the country.
When comparing Sachin Tendulkar in India with kumar Sangakara, Sachin played(still playing) 159 matches and 261 innings.Sachin scored 12773 runs with four double centuries, 42 centuries and 53 fifties. But sangakakra had six double centuries under his belt. He played only 85 matches and 142 innings. Sangakkars ahead of Tendulkar in terms of centuries and double centuries scored per innings.( 0.1830 vs. 0.1762 per every inning).
Tendulakar is scoring a century in every three matches in average. His highest score was 248 against Bangaladesh in, Bangabandhu Stadium, Bangladesh and Sangas highest was 287 against South Africa in SSC, Sri Lanka. And Tendulkars overall Average is 54.59.(Sangas case it is 55.36)Out of 12773 runs he scored 5608 in home with the average of 54.98.He scored 7165 away with the average of 54.28.This is significant since his performance in overseas is excellent. Even master batsman Brian Lara’s averaged 58.65 in his country and in overseas it was only 47.80.But statistics and averages will not give you a clear picture about the quality and the caliber of batsman like Lara.
Sachin scored 18 centuries in India and 24 in overseas. This is remarkable as Sangarkara scored 13 centuries in Sri Lanka and 7 in overseas. And Sangakkara’s average in overseas is 50.41 with 59.32 in Sri Lanka.But we have to understand Kumar sangakkara was a wicket keeper in his early part of cricket career and had average of 39.55 in 79 innings. But as a specialized batsman his average is 76.18 in 63 innings.
This is unique since he is the only payer who had this average in Comparison to batting performances both playing as a Keeper and non Keeper. Anyway both Tendulkar and Sangakkara will go on making more runs and more records.
This is a small comparison and the reason to take Sachin, because he is considered as one of the best batsman produced by India and his technique and ability sometimes will reflects in statistics. For both Sanga and Sachin are remarkable players and we can see these players will conquer the world of test cricket in the future.
The contribution made by palyers like Arjuna Ranatunga, Sidath Wettamuni, Roshan Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinghe, Dullep Mendis and other players were enormous for the game of test cricket in Sri Lanka. This comparison will be helpful to understand the nature and dominant in test cricket in Sri Lanka. One also can argue how the players like Aravinda de Silva batted against the best bowlers like Wasim Akram, Richard Hadley etc in 1980s and 1990s despite the
Statistics!!!!!
Note: Statistics from Howstat.com
- Asian Tribune -
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