Pete Rose
Senior ODI Player
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2011
- Runs
- 22,848
- Post of the Week
- 2
So I had a look at some of the numbers in the recently concluded Departmental Odi Cup. The general view from the sports press was that Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, and Salman Butt should be considered for a recall. I had a look at the scorecards for the games to see not just what the tournament aggregates were but rather what were averages and strike rates of the batsmen batting at 1,2, and 3. In summary:
- There were 31 games played in all by 8 departmental teams
- The average first innings score was 242 and the average second innings score was 220. Kinda tells you where the game is at the moment in Pakistan. I am sure folks knowledgeable than me will be able to give perspective if pitch, ball, and weather had a role to play in these totals
- 300 or more was scored twice only: team batting first scored it and naturally won since we cant really chase whatever the level of cricket. (the highest second innings score was 287)
- Although the team batting second won 20 times out of 31, its not particularly encouraging considering the score being chased was pretty low. To make that point clearer: only 6 out of these 20 scores that were successfully chased were above 250.
Getting to the batsmen and how they fared:
- 7 out of the top 10 batsmen in this tournament played in the top 3 positions
- Only two out of these 7 batsmen have a strike rate above 80. Awais Zia and Ahmed Shehzad
- The remaining 5 from these top order batsmen have very healthy averages buy extremely mediocre to poor strike rates: Shan Masood, Kamran Akmal, Imam Ul Haq.
- So I extended the list to look which other top order batsman has done well with a respectable average (around 40) and aggressive strike rate (higher than 80).
- The guys that are worth considering: (average@strike rate)
Ahmed Shehzad (96.17@93.28)
Junaid Ali (45.3@88.6)
Awais Zia (44.8@99.5)
If I had to chose I would put Awais Zia above the other two (ahmed shehzad needs more time, and junaid ali has played about 20 matches in all)
- There were 31 games played in all by 8 departmental teams
- The average first innings score was 242 and the average second innings score was 220. Kinda tells you where the game is at the moment in Pakistan. I am sure folks knowledgeable than me will be able to give perspective if pitch, ball, and weather had a role to play in these totals
- 300 or more was scored twice only: team batting first scored it and naturally won since we cant really chase whatever the level of cricket. (the highest second innings score was 287)
- Although the team batting second won 20 times out of 31, its not particularly encouraging considering the score being chased was pretty low. To make that point clearer: only 6 out of these 20 scores that were successfully chased were above 250.
Getting to the batsmen and how they fared:
- 7 out of the top 10 batsmen in this tournament played in the top 3 positions
- Only two out of these 7 batsmen have a strike rate above 80. Awais Zia and Ahmed Shehzad
- The remaining 5 from these top order batsmen have very healthy averages buy extremely mediocre to poor strike rates: Shan Masood, Kamran Akmal, Imam Ul Haq.
- So I extended the list to look which other top order batsman has done well with a respectable average (around 40) and aggressive strike rate (higher than 80).
- The guys that are worth considering: (average@strike rate)
Ahmed Shehzad (96.17@93.28)
Junaid Ali (45.3@88.6)
Awais Zia (44.8@99.5)
If I had to chose I would put Awais Zia above the other two (ahmed shehzad needs more time, and junaid ali has played about 20 matches in all)
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). Good hand eye coordination. Good strength and plays at quick pace.
