NZ-SL Test review (Aug 2019)-1

This is the first Test series to be completed (although the Aus-Eng series started earlier and in in progress as this is written). As the 2-Test series was drawn 1-1, NZ and SL each got 60 points.

A total of 36 Tests have been played between these sides. New Zealand leads Sri Lanka 16-0 with 11 draws.

In New Zealand, the hosts lead 11-2 with 6 draws in a total of 19 Tests.

In Sri Lanka, however, New Zealand trails 5-7 with 5 draws in a total of 17 Tests.

Going to individual performances, starting with

Batting

Most runs (500 or more):

Williamson and Latham are rising swiftly up this table, although the current Sri Lankan players are some distance away.

Highest innings (110 or more):

The highest score in this series was Latham’s 154, although he had made two larger scores in the previous series in 2018.

Strangely enough, the highest scores between these teams for NZ (299 by Martin Crowe) and SL (267) were in the same Test in 1991.

Highest batting averages (Minimum 20 innings, all instances):

Fleming and (surprisingly) Mathews lead this table. R Taylor is the only other current player here.

Highest strike rates (Minimum 1000 balls faced, all instances):

After Aravinda and Sangakkara, there are R Taylor, Williamson and several other current players.

To be continued.

 

Review of NZ-Eng Test series, 2017-18 (I)

New Zealand won the series 1-0 with one draw. Victories for New Zealand against England are quite rare; they have won at home only once before, in 1983-84 and now in 2017-18. In England, they have won only in 1986 and 1999. This was therefore their first series win against England since 1999, almost a generation ago.

Here is a summary of all Tests between these sides:

The highlight (or rather lowlight) of the series was England’s dismissal for 58 in the first innings of the series. It sent cricket followers searching for England’s lowest totals. It was more than their lowest total of 45 against Australia over a century ago, which they still won by 13 runs. But it is still quite far down, besides being the lowest-ever total in a pink-ball Test:

England’s lowest Test totals (75 and below):

It was indeed their lowest total against New Zealand, less than the 64 which marked New Zealand’s first Test victory against England in 1977-78 spearheaded by the up-and-coming Richard Hadlee while Geoff Boycott captained England for a short time.

We now look at individual performances.

Most runs (750 and above):

John Wright is the unlikely leader here, ahead of Martin Crowe. The latter does have the most centuries (5) while the former has the most scores of 50+ (11). 4 others have 10 scores of 50+

Cook and R Taylor are the only current players here.

Highest individual scores (150 and above):

We do have Walter Hammond’s 336* (then a world record surpassing Bradman’s 334) and 227, which gave him 563 runs in the series at 563.00 which no one is likely to overtake. There is also JH Edrich’s 52 4s in an innings which is still a record (Sehwag is next with 47 in his 254).

The last few series have been quite low-scoring as the only recent 150+ scores were by Cook in 2015 and H Rutherford in 2013.

Highest batting averages (Minimum 20 innings and average 35.00):

The top two names are somewhat unexpected. Once again, there are only Cook and Taylor among current players.

To be continued.