Analysing Kohli’s match winning ability in tests outside India

[jf1gp_1]

All it proves is when middle order contribute we win.

[express bowling]

1)   @Forever Indian     Could you please post similar stats excluding the weak teams of today  ...  WI and SL.

 

2)   The problems I see with Kohli in tests.

 

a)  As captain  ... his strange team selections ... defensive field placements  ... his limited thinking ability ... there is no accountability even if he fails.    Big problems.

 

b)  He is not a good chaser in the 2nd innings of test matches, especially away from home.  Either gets out early or does not take his team home even if he scores 50+.  This is a cause for concern.

 

c)  Sometimes when other batsmen assume responsibility in away test matches, he does not score as heavily as he usually does.  This could be a derivative of the pressure he feels as the primary run-scorer away from home.  Could reduce if contributions from other batters become a regular feature.

 

 

3)  The stats in the OP do not, by themselves, carry much significance.  A batsman scores heavily in tough situations, other batters fail ...   like it happened in Perth and the first test in England ... team loses.  That is a creditable thing for Kohli and not a weakness.

 

The pertinent stats are ... whether Kohli is scoring enough in the big wins.  He was the highest scorer for us in 2 of the 3 wins in SENA countries this year.   

 

 

So ... let us focus on the real problems he has which need to be plugged or are unplugable.  I outlined them in point 2 above.  He needs to be a better chaser in tests.  Point  c )  above would resolve itself if others score more regularly.  And he will never be a good captain.

 

But his superlative batting as a lone warrior in tough away conditions in tests this year (  many of which have resulted in losses as other batters have failed )   ... is a big plus and not a weakness.  Cricket is a team game after all.

 

Edited December 19, 2018 by express bowling

[Forever Indian]

4 hours ago, express bowling said:

1)   @Forever Indian     Could you please post similar stats excluding the weak teams of today  ...  WI and SL.

 

2)   The problems I see with Kohli in tests.

 

a)  As captain  ... his strange team selections ... defensive field placements  ... his limited thinking ability ... there is no accountability even if he fails.    Big problems.

 

b)  He is not a good chaser in the 2nd innings of test matches, especially away from home.  Either gets out early or does not take his team home even if he scores 50+.  This is a cause for concern.

 

c)  Sometimes when other batsmen assume responsibility in away test matches, he does not score as heavily as he usually does.  This could be a derivative of the pressure he feels as the primary run-scorer away from home.  Could reduce if contributions from other batters become a regular feature.

 

 

3)  The stats in the OP do not, by themselves, carry much significance.  A batsman scores heavily in tough situations, other batters fail ...   like it happened in Perth and the first test in England ... team loses.  That is a creditable thing for Kohli and not a weakness.

 

The pertinent stats are ... whether Kohli is scoring enough in the big wins.  He was the highest scorer for us in 2 of the 3 wins in SENA countries this year.   

 

 

So ... let us focus on the real problems he has which need to be plugged or are unplugable.  I outlined them in point 2 above.  He needs to be a better chaser in tests.  Point  c )  above would resolve itself if others score more regularly.  And he will never be a good captain.

 

But his superlative batting as a lone warrior in tough away conditions in tests this year (  many of which have resulted in losses as other batters have failed )   ... is a big plus and not a weakness.  Cricket is a team game after all.

 

SL has become weak only in last couple of years, before that they were tough to beat at home, and infact Pujara helped us the series decider after many years there. But even if we were to consider only SENA away matches, the stats are:

KOHLI:

Wins avg: 44.6

Loss/Draws avg: 51.4

Difference: + 6.8

 

PUJARA:

Wins avg: 43.1

Loss/Draws avg: 28.3

Difference: - 14.8

 

RAHANE:

Wins avg: 44.8

Loss/Draws avg: 39.6

Difference: - 5.2

 

Just for comparison sake I am adding the stats of our yesteryear match winners in SENA:

DRAVID:

Wins avg: 73.1

Loss/Draws avg: 45.0

Difference: - 28.1

 

LAXMAN:

Wins avg: 55.5

Loss/Draws avg: 37.5

Difference: - 18.0

 

SACHIN:

Wins avg: 53.7

Loss/Draws avg: 51.0

Difference: - 2.7

 

As the stats show, Kohli is the only one amongst them with a positive average of 6.8 in Losses/Draws. Dravid and Laxman who were our biggest match winners in SENA have average negative difference of 28 and 18 respectively and even Sachin has a negative difference of almost 3. Take example of any good test player and you will see the similar pattern in majority cases.

 

I am not saying Kohli's batting well in draws/losses is bad, but people here saying Kohli wins matches on his own so he can get away with being a bad captain or drop players at his peril is certainly not ON. He is much lesser a match winner than yesteryear players and may be just on par with players like Pujara and Rahane.

Edited December 19, 2018 by Forever Indian

[goose]

if you have a consistent scorer with an inconsistent scorer. the sum of the two will more often translate into a win when the inconsistent scorer has a good day. 

[sportzcraazy]

Victory of a team depends on every team player.It is not only the failure of a team but also a failure in selection. Have a look at

blog by Sportzcraazy to know about 5 reasons Why India Lost the Test Match at Perth.

[Forever Indian]

1 hour ago, goose said:

if you have a consistent scorer with an inconsistent scorer. the sum of the two will more often translate into a win when the inconsistent scorer has a good day. 

Sorry, but that doesn't at all co-relate in Kohli's case. These are his scores when Rahane and Pujara won us critical games:

Lords 2014 - 25, 0

Colombo 2015 - 18, 21 (final test coming in 1-1)

Adelaide 2018 - 3, 34

 

Edited December 19, 2018 by Forever Indian

[sensible-indian]

Kohli's match winning ability in India is more flawed than overseas.