This is another post about batting partnerships in the 2013-2014 Ashes Series.
Data here follow the pattern shared after the Third Test. These data are extracted from ESPNcricinfo’s Partnership Graphs (2013a, 2013b, 2013c, 2013d) to compile information about:
- The number of batting partners for each player.
- The number of runs scored in total in each partnership.
- The numbers of balls faced in total by each partnership.
Partnerships By Runs Scored
Twenty-six batsmen (N=26) have batted in the four Test Matches (N=4) played to date in the 2013-2014 Ashes Series. Data from ESPNcricinfo’s Partnership Graphs for each Test Match were recorded to compile Table 1. In this Table, players are ranked by the total runs scored in the partnerships in which they were involved.
Table 1
Players ranked by total runs scored in partnerships in which they were involved
Partnerships By Balls Faced
In addition to totals runs scored, I am very interested in the ability of partnerships to ‘occupy the crease’ in an innings. Table 2 ranks the twenty-six batsmen by the number of balls they and their partners faced in total during the four Test Matches in the 2013-2014 Series to date.
Table 2
Players ranked by total balls faced in partnerships in which they were involved
Partnership Curves
I have been monitoring Ashes Batting Partnership Curves since the 2010-2011 Series in Australia.
Figure 1 plots the comparison between Australia and England in the 2013-2014 Series after four Test Matches. The data for these curves are included in the Figure as a data table.
Figure 1. A Comparison of the Number of Batting Partnerships Compiled by Australia and England in Four Test Matches in the 2013-2014 Ashes Series.
The extent to which the partnership curves for Australia and England have shifted from 2010-2011, to 2013 and to 2013-2014 can be seen in Figures 2 and 3 and in Tables 3 and 4.
Figure 2. A Comparison of the Number of Batting Partnerships Compiled by Australia in Three Ashes Series: 2010-2011, 2013, and 2013-2014.
The data for these curves are presented in Table 3.
Table 3
Total Number of Australian Batting Partnerships in Three Ashes Series: 2010-11, 2013 and 2013-2014
Partnership curves for England are presented in Figure 3 and data for these curves in Table 4.
Figure 3. A Comparison of the Number of Batting Partnerships Compiled by England in Three Ashes Series: 2010-2011, 2013, and 2013-2014.
Table 4
Total Number of England Batting Partnerships in Three Ashes Series 2010-11, 2013 and 2013-2014
Discussion
ESPNcricinfo provides a rich source of secondary data from which to analyse partnership trends over three Ashes Series.
It is interesting to note the impact David Warner, Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers have had in the current series (see Tables 1 and 2). Partnerships these players have had with their team mates have generated 2350 runs. They have been involved in partnerships that have faced 4044 balls. (Note that there is duplication here as David Warner and Chris Rogers open the Australian innings.)
Australia leads the 2013-2014 Series 4-0. Figure 1 compares both teams’ Partnership Curves in the Series. England has three times as many partnerships of nine runs or less compared to Australia. At the other end of the curve, Australia has had seven partnerships over 100 runs compared to England’s 1. In the 2010-2011 Series in Australia, England players compiled eleven partnerships over 100 compared to Australia’s four.
Data from the 2013-2014 Ashes Series indicate the shifting batting partnership curves of both teams.
The final Test Match of the 2013-2014 Series takes place at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 3 January 2014.
References
ESPNcricinfo. (2013a). [Partnership Graphs First Test Match, Brisbane, November 2013.] [Graph]. Retrieved from http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/engine/match/592397.html?view=partnership
ESPNcricinfo. (2013b). [Partnership Graphs Second Test Match, Adelaide, December 2013.] [Graph]. Retrieved from http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/engine/match/592398.html?view=partnership
ESPNcricinfo. (2013c). [Partnership Graphs Third Test Match, Perth, December 2013.] [Graph]. Retrieved from http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/engine/match/592399.html
ESPNcricinfo. (2013d). [Partnership Graphs Fourth Test Match, Melbourne, December 2013.] [Graph]. Retrieved from fromhttp://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/engine/match/592400.html
Photo Credits
Boxing Day Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground (Iain Mullen, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Chewie with Billy the Bugle (Stuart Hamilton, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)