What makes Sachin Tendulkar a truly great player? There is no objective answer to this question. Every cricketer and cricket fan will have their own answers and augments. In this age of data we have a better chance to identify components of Sachin's greatness. Below I provide one such analysis.
I have plotted few descriptors of batting for 50 top run getter in both Test matches and ODIs. The seven descriptors I am using are
Not Out [panel A]
Cumulative Runs [panel B]
Highest Score [panel C]
Batting Average [panel D]
Centuries [panel E]
Fifties [panel F]
Zeros [panel G]
Specifically I am interested in knowing if there is any correlation between any of the above descriptors and number of matches played. It is kind of obvious that if you are a batsman then more matches you play more runs and centuries you will get.
In the two figures below the top one belongs to ODI matches and the lower one belongs to Test matches. Each player is marked with a colored circle. The color for each player is mentioned on the far right.
Indeed cumulative Runs scored has a correlation of 0.89 (ODI) and 0.84 (Test) with number of matches played [panels B in the figures below].
Same holds for number of 50s with a correlation of 0.74 (ODI) 0.89 (Tests) [panels F in the figures below].
In test matches even number of 100s scored is highly correlated with number of matches (correlation 0.84). This is not so true for ODI (correlation 0.57). This analysis shows that Sachin's centuries in test matches are more or less predicted by his longevity. However, his count of ODI centuries is indeed a signature of his class and greatness.
The analysis also shows that in ODIs there is a weak but significant correlation between longevity and batting average. Similar trend is seen in Test matches but that more because of Sir Don Bradman.
Other descriptors are not correlated with longevity.
In both the pictures Sachin's stats are marked with a green circle and a small blue circle. For a comparison in test matches I have marked Don Bradman with a blue circle.
In summary, Sachin's runs and centuries and fifities in Test matches and runs and fifties in the ODIs are just a simple case of statistics. Any of the player shown in the figure would have matched that feat. Sachin's true brilliance shows up in the fact that he has scored so many centuries in ODIs.
Overall, this data suggests that largely Sachin's greatness is nothing but his longevity.
right arm over
Arvind
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ReplyDeletehe is truly atop d list by virtues of gentleman's cricket. 50s, 100s, 6s, 4s are actually non-descriptors of greatness of cricketing. 'Average' could be a factor for a match winner, but we all know that he is not seen as a match winner...
ReplyDeletebut, this analysis helps to clear wrong notions about him among d Indian mass...bowl on arvie..!!