It has been said that there are lies, damn lies and statistics. And Test cricket is a good place to check this out.
After the conclusion of the India-South Africa series we ask Statsguru a few questions. The answers will not be what you expect.
Q1: Who is the best opening bowler in Tests in the 2010s?
A1: Consider all those who bowled at No 1 or 2 since 01 Jan 2010 and took at least 50 wickets while doing so, and rank them by their bowling averages.
Didn’t realize it was a spinner, did you?
Q2: OK, something more conventional. Who is India’s best opening bowler of all time?
A2: Consider all Indian bowlers who bowled at No 1 and No 2, and took at least 50 wickets while doing so. Rank them by their bowling averages.
Probably you should have seen that coming.
Q3: OK, but wasn’t Kapil Dev India’s greatest all-rounder?
A3: Let us consider all Indians who scored the double of 1000 runs/100 wickets, and rank by them by the difference between their batting average and bowling average. This measure is as good as any other means for ranking all-rounders.
Well, you should have seen that one coming too.
It is up to you to decide how seriously you take these figures.
abn397 
fascinating study…. However it is unfair to Kapil whose record is compared wid RA who has played one fourth tests…. Also Kapil spearheaded lone fight as he entered the scene when spin quartret was no more effective after 78 Pak debacle… Nevertheless Well Done Ashwin n Jadeja… n obviously INDIA !!
LikeLike
Numbers dont lie. Its the analysis that matters. 1000 runs and 50 is too less for an all rounder. There is a huge difference between a batting average of 31 for 1000 runs and the same for over 5000 runs
LikeLike