The cost of high average and low strike rate

[Joseph Gomes]

Tamim Iqbal and Imam Ul Haq are prime example, they score tons of runs in bilaterals but can't accelerate to save their lives. Tamim especially is supposed to have reputation for being aggressive, but he's easily the slowest batsman in Bangladesh team.

Their high average at low SR means they play too many dot balls to score their useless runs, and put pressure on opposition batsmen. Dhoni does it too, but Dhoni can at least hit sixes when in good touch.

Bangladesh and Pakistan are being held back due to their regressive mentality towards SR, all they care about is batting average. Look at Australia, NZ, England or India, they have several batsmen who can produce 100 off 70 balls on a given day.

Bangladesh has improved a lot but they reached their glass ceiling. 330 is the highest they can score no matter how flat the pitch is. Players like Tamim are holding them back.

 

[Indiafan]

But you have a batsman in every team who plays like this early in the innings. Kane Williamson, Smith, recently Warner, rohit sharma, etc. England is the only exception bit even there root is slower compared to most

 

[iPakistani]

I think it depends on the team and the batsmen around them, Imam after him has Babar, Malik, Hafeez, Imad who aren't known to play at a SR of 120 and above whereas India after Sharma has Kohli, Pandya, Dhoni who can all up the scoring rate.

If you put Tamim into the Indian lineup he would play at a quicker rate, at the moment Imam is lacking dynamic scoring shots therefore his SR is low.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

But you have a batsman in every team who plays like this early in the innings. Kane Williamson, Smith, recently Warner, rohit sharma, etc. England is the only exception bit even there root is slower compared to most

All those players can accelerate, and are not required to bat aggressively due to others around them. Root is excellent in taking singles, probably the best in the world. Rohit has a higher SR than ABD after 40th over. None of them are slow like the ones I mentioned.

Tamim and Imam have terrible average, especially Tamim who has been playing for 12 years now. In an era of 350+ pitch, SR is just as important if not more than average.

 

[Canistani Hero]

But you have a batsman in every team who plays like this early in the innings. Kane Williamson, Smith, recently Warner, rohit sharma, etc. England is the only exception bit even there root is slower compared to most

There's a difference, those batsmen particularly Rohit make light work of catching up as the innings progresses - their strike rate ends up between 100-120 at the very least, where as Imam/Tamim are 60-70 initially and progresses to 80-100 at the most before dismissal

 

[jeetu]

ODI batsman averaging 45+ since 2010 (min 30 ODI)
[table=width: 500, class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Player [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Ave [/td][td]SR [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AB de Villiers (SA) [/td][td]135 [/td][td]64.2 [/td][td]109.76 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JM Bairstow (ENG) [/td][td]68 [/td][td]47.16 [/td][td]105.99 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fakhar Zaman (PAK) [/td][td]40 [/td][td]48.94 [/td][td]97.5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]105 [/td][td]47.79 [/td][td]96.12 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Q de Kock (SA) [/td][td]112 [/td][td]45.21 [/td][td]95.34 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]V Kohli (INDIA) [/td][td]215 [/td][td]60.55 [/td][td]93.93 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RG Sharma (INDIA) [/td][td]168 [/td][td]53.38 [/td][td]90.1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]HM Amla (SA) [/td][td]157 [/td][td]49.53 [/td][td]89.29 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KJ Coetzer (SCOT) [/td][td]48 [/td][td]45.47 [/td][td]89.01 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]F du Plessis (SA) [/td][td]140 [/td][td]46.03 [/td][td]88.36 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JE Root (ENG) [/td][td]137 [/td][td]51.99 [/td][td]87.87 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Babar Azam (PAK) [/td][td]68 [/td][td]50.91 [/td][td]86.11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MS Dhoni (INDIA) [/td][td]190 [/td][td]49.8 [/td][td]85.83 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KC Sangakkara (SL) [/td][td]142 [/td][td]52.96 [/td][td]84.7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]LRPL Taylor (NZ) [/td][td]149 [/td][td]54.94 [/td][td]84.22 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Haris Sohail (PAK) [/td][td]35 [/td][td]45.79 [/td][td]83.05 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KS Williamson (NZ) [/td][td]143 [/td][td]47.36 [/td][td]82.18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MJ Clarke (AUS) [/td][td]82 [/td][td]48.19 [/td][td]81.28 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]32 [/td][td]55.29 [/td][td]80.18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AT Rayudu (INDIA) [/td][td]55 [/td][td]47.05 [/td][td]79.04 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]IJL Trott (ENG) [/td][td]64 [/td][td]51.36 [/td][td]77.57 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]SD Hope (WI) [/td][td]59 [/td][td]50.68 [/td][td]75.65 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]106 [/td][td]45.55 [/td][td]70.98 [/td][/tr]
[/table]

 

[nam]

Williamson is down the list but imo he wins games for his country by staying till the end so his low SR does not hurt the team.

 

[Mueez]

Imam plays slow but as we saw against England when he made 158 he batted a quite decent strike rate.

Shows he has the skills in him but he bats ‘sensibly’.

 

[Sunzi]

Non-issue for me - Tamim plays an important role for BD. He has players like Shakib, Mahmudullah, Sarkar capable of playing quickly.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Tamim Iqbal and Imam Ul Haq are prime example, they score tons of runs in bilaterals but can't accelerate to save their lives. Tamim especially is supposed to have reputation for being aggressive, but he's easily the slowest batsman in Bangladesh team.

Their high average at low SR means they play too many dot balls to score their useless runs, and put pressure on opposition batsmen. Dhoni does it too, but Dhoni can at least hit sixes when in good touch.

Bangladesh and Pakistan are being held back due to their regressive mentality towards SR, all they care about is batting average. Look at Australia, NZ, England or India, they have several batsmen who can produce 100 off 70 balls on a given day.

Bangladesh has improved a lot but they reached their glass ceiling. 330 is the highest they can score no matter how flat the pitch is. Players like Tamim are holding them back.

A score of 300-330 is defendable all you need is a good bowling attack and smart Field Placement (Captaincy).
High strike rate is only useful if backed by High Average. This fact is lost on most Pakistani supporters who keep attacking their own team.
High Strike Rate without High Average means you have a useless hack like Asif Ali, Awais Zia, Mukhtar or Sharjeel.
First and foremost is High Average, if this High Average also comes with High Strike than you have best of both worlds. If not Have 4 or 5 High Average Batsmen followed by a couple of big hitters. A strong bowling attack can easily save you 50-70 runs.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Imam plays slow but as we saw against England when he made 158 he batted a quite decent strike rate.

Shows he has the skills in him but he bats ‘sensibly’.

Imam is good find for Pakistan. Don't know if Pakistan ever had a 55 average opener, Plus he opens with Fakhar who attacks. once Pakistan finds a more solid middle order, Imam will win many matches for Pakistan

 

[ab041937]

ODI batsman averaging 45+ since 2010 (min 30 ODI)
[table=width: 500, class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Player [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Ave [/td][td]SR [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AB de Villiers (SA) [/td][td]135 [/td][td]64.2 [/td][td]109.76 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JM Bairstow (ENG) [/td][td]68 [/td][td]47.16 [/td][td]105.99 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fakhar Zaman (PAK) [/td][td]40 [/td][td]48.94 [/td][td]97.5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]105 [/td][td]47.79 [/td][td]96.12 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Q de Kock (SA) [/td][td]112 [/td][td]45.21 [/td][td]95.34 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]V Kohli (INDIA) [/td][td]215 [/td][td]60.55 [/td][td]93.93 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RG Sharma (INDIA) [/td][td]168 [/td][td]53.38 [/td][td]90.1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]HM Amla (SA) [/td][td]157 [/td][td]49.53 [/td][td]89.29 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KJ Coetzer (SCOT) [/td][td]48 [/td][td]45.47 [/td][td]89.01 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]F du Plessis (SA) [/td][td]140 [/td][td]46.03 [/td][td]88.36 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JE Root (ENG) [/td][td]137 [/td][td]51.99 [/td][td]87.87 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Babar Azam (PAK) [/td][td]68 [/td][td]50.91 [/td][td]86.11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MS Dhoni (INDIA) [/td][td]190 [/td][td]49.8 [/td][td]85.83 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KC Sangakkara (SL) [/td][td]142 [/td][td]52.96 [/td][td]84.7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]LRPL Taylor (NZ) [/td][td]149 [/td][td]54.94 [/td][td]84.22 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Haris Sohail (PAK) [/td][td]35 [/td][td]45.79 [/td][td]83.05 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KS Williamson (NZ) [/td][td]143 [/td][td]47.36 [/td][td]82.18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MJ Clarke (AUS) [/td][td]82 [/td][td]48.19 [/td][td]81.28 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]32 [/td][td]55.29 [/td][td]80.18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AT Rayudu (INDIA) [/td][td]55 [/td][td]47.05 [/td][td]79.04 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]IJL Trott (ENG) [/td][td]64 [/td][td]51.36 [/td][td]77.57 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]SD Hope (WI) [/td][td]59 [/td][td]50.68 [/td][td]75.65 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]106 [/td][td]45.55 [/td][td]70.98 [/td][/tr]
[/table]

Virat Kohli's average is in touching distance of Misbah's Strikerate

 

[Saj]

It's pretty clear that some Pakistani batsmen/all-rounders have been and continue to play for their average rather than the team.

It improves their stats and makes them look good but it doesn't help the team one bit.

 

[dhump]

Yes in modern day cricket you need players like Kohli who can start slow but bring the strike rate right at the top. As a Pakistani fan, we have short memory it was not long ago we used to wait for several matches before any of our batsmen scored a hundred in ODI cricket. I remember Shahzad and Hafeez was the one who scored one after so many matches literally.

 

[jusarrived]

if you play relatively slow and take the role of an anchor , the you have to be there till the end more often . if such a batsmen chokes under pressure or struggles on a difficult pitch , then he is of no use .

 

[Mueez]

Imam is good find for Pakistan. Don't know if Pakistan ever had a 55 average opener, Plus he opens with Fakhar who attacks. once Pakistan finds a more solid middle order, Imam will win many matches for Pakistan

I agree.

I used to criticize him but I feel he is needed for this Pakistan team.

 

[srh]

But you have a batsman in every team who plays like this early in the innings. Kane Williamson, Smith, recently Warner, rohit sharma, etc. England is the only exception bit even there root is slower compared to most

Pakistan also should only have one such batsman (Babar Azam), instead Pakistan has multiple such batsmen and Imam is the worst among them

 

[srh]

ODI batsman averaging 45+ since 2010 (min 30 ODI)
[table=width: 500, class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Player [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Ave [/td][td]SR [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AB de Villiers (SA) [/td][td]135 [/td][td]64.2 [/td][td]109.76 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JM Bairstow (ENG) [/td][td]68 [/td][td]47.16 [/td][td]105.99 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fakhar Zaman (PAK) [/td][td]40 [/td][td]48.94 [/td][td]97.5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]105 [/td][td]47.79 [/td][td]96.12 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Q de Kock (SA) [/td][td]112 [/td][td]45.21 [/td][td]95.34 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]V Kohli (INDIA) [/td][td]215 [/td][td]60.55 [/td][td]93.93 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RG Sharma (INDIA) [/td][td]168 [/td][td]53.38 [/td][td]90.1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]HM Amla (SA) [/td][td]157 [/td][td]49.53 [/td][td]89.29 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KJ Coetzer (SCOT) [/td][td]48 [/td][td]45.47 [/td][td]89.01 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]F du Plessis (SA) [/td][td]140 [/td][td]46.03 [/td][td]88.36 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JE Root (ENG) [/td][td]137 [/td][td]51.99 [/td][td]87.87 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Babar Azam (PAK) [/td][td]68 [/td][td]50.91 [/td][td]86.11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MS Dhoni (INDIA) [/td][td]190 [/td][td]49.8 [/td][td]85.83 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KC Sangakkara (SL) [/td][td]142 [/td][td]52.96 [/td][td]84.7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]LRPL Taylor (NZ) [/td][td]149 [/td][td]54.94 [/td][td]84.22 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Haris Sohail (PAK) [/td][td]35 [/td][td]45.79 [/td][td]83.05 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KS Williamson (NZ) [/td][td]143 [/td][td]47.36 [/td][td]82.18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MJ Clarke (AUS) [/td][td]82 [/td][td]48.19 [/td][td]81.28 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]32 [/td][td]55.29 [/td][td]80.18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AT Rayudu (INDIA) [/td][td]55 [/td][td]47.05 [/td][td]79.04 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]IJL Trott (ENG) [/td][td]64 [/td][td]51.36 [/td][td]77.57 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]SD Hope (WI) [/td][td]59 [/td][td]50.68 [/td][td]75.65 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]106 [/td][td]45.55 [/td][td]70.98 [/td][/tr]
[/table]

why some batsmen are in green and blue colours?

 

[muqarrab]

Tamim Iqbal and Imam Ul Haq are prime example, they score tons of runs in bilaterals but can't accelerate to save their lives. Tamim especially is supposed to have reputation for being aggressive, but he's easily the slowest batsman in Bangladesh team.

Their high average at low SR means they play too many dot balls to score their useless runs, and put pressure on opposition batsmen. Dhoni does it too, but Dhoni can at least hit sixes when in good touch.

Bangladesh and Pakistan are being held back due to their regressive mentality towards SR, all they care about is batting average. Look at Australia, NZ, England or India, they have several batsmen who can produce 100 off 70 balls on a given day.

Bangladesh has improved a lot but they reached their glass ceiling. 330 is the highest they can score no matter how flat the pitch is. Players like Tamim are holding them back.

Problem is not imam and babar, problem is lack of clutch players after them

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Misbah - average 45 and s/r 70.

I feel we need more of these types of players.

Let them infuse our batting culture and management. Misbah should be CEO of PCB.

Then we can at least score 200-250 every game.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

His knock in Mohali saved us from embarrassment.

Thank God he was careful and at one time like 3 off 19 balls or something, regardless of the required run rate, and like 15 off 40 at another stage.

Pakistan needs more players like this.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

I'm happy he was at least rewarded later with captaincy for this magnificent performance.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

It's shocking how we are doing so badly at this world cup, despite this obvious meritorious rewarding of players.

 

[saeedhk]

In today’s cricket, strike rates are more important than averages. Misbah is a prime example of how poor strike rates impact a team’s winning odds.

He played out too many dot balls and sucked out all of the momentum of the innings. As long as he was on the crease, the opposition was in the driving seat.

 

[Abdulm123]

Misbah used to have a high sr in odis and would always score quick runs for the team and had a sr of about 110. When he came back he changed his play style and started tuk tuking which screwed us up and built a time machine putting us back to 1970s cricket. That was a dark age...

 

[Sunny_majoka]

why some batsmen are in green and blue colours?

Lowest strike rates