Top four×four

Love this image from the Herald, from an article extolling the strengths of our exciting top four, McCullum, Ryder, Guptill and Taylor, showing them all flourishing their blades.

The Indians of course have brought along debatably the best ODI top order currently in service. (That would be a fiery debate however.)

Let’s see how the two top four compare head to head.

1. Jesse Ryder
Rank: 82
Average: 33
SR: 82.91		 Virender Sehwag
Rank: 15
Average: 33.47
SR: 100.31
2. Brendon McCullum
Rank: 27
Average: 28.08
SR: 89.29		 Sachin Tendulkar
Rank: 21
Average: 43.93
SR: 85.39
3. Martin Guptill
Rank: 72
Average: 60.2
SR: 88.26		 Gautam Gambhir
Rank: 12
Average: 38.47
SR: 83.84
4. Ross Taylor
Rank: 16
Average: 39.51
SR: 83.16		 Yuvraj Singh
Rank: 3
Average: 37.7
SR:88.62

Not entirely flattering to the New Zealanders in terms of ranking, with an average of about 50 compared to an average of about 12 for the Indians. However, the stats don’t look vastly different (except maybe the rather unfair comparison between McCullum and Tendulkar). Based on these averages, we’d expect the Indians to score about 150 from about 29 overs. Whereas the New Zealanders will score 160 off about 31 (admittedly rather skewed by Guptill’s stats). Pretty much dead even.

Indian have an extremely good middle order in Dhoni alone, but NZ have Vettori and Mills in their bowling line up. You’ve got to expect this to be a close run series. I’m picking 3-2 to New Zealand.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 at 12:23 pmand is filed under Ind in NZ 08/09. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “Top four×four”

  • Nesta Says:
    March 3rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    The Kiwis are always better than their stats indicate because their is no measurement for desire and commitment to each other. They’ll give a good account of themselves and were truly unlucky in not claiming the Chappell/Hadlee last month.

    If India think Vettori’s men will be pushovers they’ll get just as big a suprise as they did in the T20s.

    As they say, you’re only as good as your last outing. Here’s to the Black Caps causing another upset.

  • dan b Says:
    March 3rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    I’m picking 3-1 NZ with the rain winning 1.

  • Ben Says:
    March 3rd, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    I’m picking 3-1 NZ with the rain winning 1.

    Very prescient Dan. Should have checked the forecast myself.

    Any Indian fans want to give their predictions for the series score?

  • Suresh Says:
    March 4th, 2009 at 10:58 am

    Well, as an indian fan i predict 4-1 or 3-2 in favor of India.

    Obviously this is after seeing the Indian win in the 1st match. :-)

Leave a Reply