Stats highlights from the fourth day of the Lord’s Test
Bishen Jeswant20-Jul-20141 Number of away Tests that India have lost after setting their opposition a 300-plus target in Test cricket – versus Australia at Perth in 1977. There have been 22 other instances when India have set their opposition a 300-plus target in away Tests, off which India have won 11 and drawn 11.22.09 MS Dhoni’s strike rate during India’s second innings, when he scored 19 off 86 balls. This was his slowest innings for an innings of ten or more runs. His previous slowest innings was when he scored 25 off 112 balls against South Africa at Nagpur in 2010, at a strike rate of 22.32. Also, Alastair Cook’s strike rate of 23.65 later in the day was his personal slowest for an innings of 20-plus runs.8 Number of times that Ishant Sharma has dismissed Cook. Ishant has not dismissed any batsman more times, and Cook has not been dismissed by any bowler more than he has by Ishant. To boot, Ishant has dismissed Ian Bell six times as well. He may not be scoring fifties, but Ishant will be hoping to continue this bowling form.3 Number of fifties scored by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in this series. This is the highest number of fifty-plus scores in a series by a player batting at no. 9 or below. There are 13 players who have made two fifty-plus scores in a series while batting in these positions, but no player has managed to get three.42.83 Bhuvneshwar’s batting average in Test cricket. Among batsmen who have played more than five innings, this is the fourth highest average for a player batting at No. 9 or below. Bhuvneshwar’s 209 runs in this series, at an average of 69.66, is the second highest by any batsman from either side.3 Number of times in Test history that the fourth innings target has been identical to the chasing team’s first innings score. England scored 319 in their first innings here, and need 319 to win in the fourth innings. In a curious coincidence, in a Test between Australia and West Indies in 1973, West Indies scored exactly 319 in their first innings and were set 319 to win in the fourth. The only other such instance was when England scored 435 in the first innings against West Indies in 1976, and were later set 435 to win.10 Number of hundreds scored by Indian batsmen in the third innings of a Test in England (27 Tests) – four of these are at Lord’s. M Vijay almost scored the fifth such century at Lord’s, but was dismissed on 95. If he had scored five more runs, Vijay could also have become the fourth Indian batsman, after Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and Mohammad Azharuddin, to make hundreds in successive Tests in England.101 Number of balls that Vijay left alone during his innings of 95. He played 247 balls during his innings, which means 41% of all deliveries were left alone.13 Number of times that an Indian batsmen has scored 300-plus runs during a series in England. Vijay, who has currently scored 317 runs in this series, is the latest addition on this list. There are three Indians who have done this on two occasions each – Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly.9 Number of times that India’s last three wickets have posted 100-plus runs in the third innings of an away Test. Five of these nine instances have been in England.282 England’s highest score in a winning cause in the fourth innings of a Test at Lord’s. The highest here by any team is 344, by West Indies against England in 1984, which is the only instance of a 300-plus score being chased at Lord’s. For Tests anywhere in the world, 332 is England’s highest fourth innings score in a winning cause. If England were to win this Test, this would be the second highest chase in their Test history and also the second highest at Lord’s.1 Number of players from amongst the 22 players in this match who have not scored a Test fifty – Ishant Sharma. Before the start of this game, there were three such players. However, with Ravindra Jadeja scoring a crucial fifty in the second innings, and Liam Plunkett in the first, Ishant remains the only player yet to achieve this landmark.
