Correlation between Pujara's declining SR and declining Average

[Texan]

Pujara's critics point to his slow scoring ability, while his supporters counter with the arguments that he "holds one end up", "always batted this way and was successful", etc. However it is very interesting to see how his declining average over the last couple of years correlates to a declining SR over the same period.

 

Pujara was not really a stoic stroke-less wonder during most of his career. Sure, his SR was generally below other batsmen in the team, but up until the end of 2019, his SR was 47, which is very acceptable for a Test batsman batting at 3. During this time, his average was around 49.

 

Pujara career from start to end of 2019: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/32540.html?class=1;spanmax2=31+Dec+2019;spanmin2=01+Jan+2000;spanval2=span;template=results;type=batting

 

During the last two years though, he has become even slower to the point where he is often missing scoring opportunities. During this time, his average is 28 and SR is 31.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/32540.html?class=1;spanmax2=31+Mar+2021;spanmin2=01+Jan+2020;spanval2=span;template=results;type=batting

 

What he really needs to do here is to work on getting his scoring ability back. Look for scoring opportunities and not just play a block-a-thon. If he works on this, runs should follow.

[Vijy]

34 minutes ago, Texan said:

Pujara's critics point to his slow scoring ability, while his supporters counter with the arguments that he "holds one end up", "always batted this way and was successful", etc. However it is very interesting to see how his declining average over the last couple of years correlates to a declining SR over the same period.

 

Pujara was not really a stoic stroke-less wonder during most of his career. Sure, his SR was generally below other batsmen in the team, but up until the end of 2019, his SR was 47, which is very acceptable for a Test batsman batting at 3. During this time, his average was around 49.

 

Pujara career from start to end of 2019: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/32540.html?class=1;spanmax2=31+Dec+2019;spanmin2=01+Jan+2000;spanval2=span;template=results;type=batting

 

During the last two years though, he has become even slower to the point where he is often missing scoring opportunities. During this time, his average is 28 and SR is 31.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/32540.html?class=1;spanmax2=31+Mar+2021;spanmin2=01+Jan+2020;spanval2=span;template=results;type=batting

 

What he really needs to do here is to work on getting his scoring ability back. Look for scoring opportunities and not just play a block-a-thon. If he works on this, runs should follow.

a good observation, but other deficiencies have also crept in. his reflexes have slowed and his unique way of skipping down the track to defend (a hard thing to do, but which pujara specalised in) requires swift footwork, which is now gone. as a result, he is trapped in the crease (especially to quicker spinners) and thrusts his pad out hopefully like a drowning man clutching a piece of wood, and then gets LBWed. this is close to the end of his career, unless he finds a way to radically improve his fitness and/or batting technique.

[zen]

Puj is not in the best of form of late. His greatness is that despite that he is able to make an impact. Followed up the great series in Aus with an impactful one only a few weeks ago, scoring 3 50+ scores in the last 4 innings (2 in 4th innings under pressure), while serving as a virtual opener in the first two tests when Shaw and Mayank failed to capitalize. Earlier in NZ, he did relatively well in the top order in tough conditions (getting out to good balls). 

 

As he is among the most experienced batsman in the side and the pillar of batting, he keeps a huge price tag on his wkt. I guess, his goal is to forge partnerships with key specialist batsmen, trying to stay for as long as possible. If still around and once batting with the tail, he bats differently. 

 

The beauty of test cricket is that it is played in sessions with multiple strategies/tactics in play. It allows various players to play to their strengths. A Pant can play aggressively, a Pujara can grind the bowlers down. However, those on the couch get heart attacks when a Pant is swinging (wanting him to be more circumspect) and impatient (as if there is a RRR pressure) when a Pujara is batting (wanting him to play more aggressively). Judging one player as Afridiesue and the other as Dravidesque.Test cricket allows fans to enjoy both type of cricket. 

 

To get back to his best, Pujara should stop worrying about carrying the burden of Indian batting. And enjoy his batting. The IPL stint may help him to get more relaxed with the thought of getting out. Ind's Dark Knight is probably a knock away from his best! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vijy]

1 minute ago, zen said:

Puj is not in the best of form of late. His greatness is that despite that he is able to make an impact. Followed up the great series in Aus with an impactful one only a few weeks ago, scoring 3 50+ scores in the last 4 innings (2 in 4th innings under pressure), while serving as a virtual opener in the first two tests when Shaw and Mayank failed to capitalize. Earlier in NZ, he did relatively well in the top order in tough conditions (getting out to good balls). 

 

As he is among the most experienced batsman in the side and the pillar of batting, he keeps a huge price tag on his wkt. I guess, his goal is to forge partnerships with key specialist batsmen, trying to stay for as long as possible. If still around and once batting with the tail, he bats differently. 

 

The beauty of test cricket is that it is played in sessions with multiple strategies/tactics in play. It allows various players to play to their strengths. A Pant can play aggressively, a Pujara can grind the bowlers down. However, those on the couch get heart attacks when a Pant is swinging (wanting him to be more circumspect) and impatient (as if there is a RRR pressure) when a Pujara is batting (wanting him to play more aggressively). Judging one player as Afridiesue and the other as Dravidesque.Test cricket allows fans to enjoy both type of cricket. 

 

To get back to his best, Pujara should stop worrying about carrying the burden of Indian batting. And enjoy his batting. The IPL stint may help him to get more relaxed with the thought of getting out. Ind's Dark Knight is probably a knock away from his best! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am more concerned about pujara's home form than overseas form. overseas he can put his body on the line and cop blows. in home conditions, against quicker spinners, his footwork is not what it used to be. thus, it's possible that he can avg 35 or so and eat up balls, which is okay. but this is hard in home conditions - I wrote a bit more about the technical details in an earlier post on this thread.

[zen]

27 minutes ago, Vijy said:

I am more concerned about pujara's home form than overseas form. overseas he can put his body on the line and cop blows. in home conditions, against quicker spinners, his footwork is not what it used to be. thus, it's possible that he can avg 35 or so and eat up balls, which is okay. but this is hard in home conditions - I wrote a bit more about the technical details in an earlier post on this thread.

 

When a player is not at its best, it can look that way. In the first test at Chennai, he made a 70 odd, getting out in a freak manner. If not for that, he could have batted out a few more sessions, requiring Ind to bat for less time in the 4th innings. 

 

We have many HTB so not concerned about home performances, esp. if the pitches are going to be difficult to bat on w/ games getting over in 3-4 days. 

 

Additionally, he is also one of the select players to have played 7 or more tests since 2020 (the date OP selected):

Primary team India

Start of match date greater than or equal to 1 Jan 2020

Qualifications matches played greater than or equal to 7

Ordered by batting average (descending)

 

Overall figures

Player	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
RR Pant	9	15	2	604	101	46.46	835	72.33	1	4	0	69	15
Shubman Gill	7	13	2	378	91	34.36	644	58.69	0	3	2	51	5
CA Pujara	10	18	0	504	77	28.00	1611	31.28	0	5	2	54	0
AM Rahane	10	18	1	471	112	27.70	1087	43.33	1	1	2	51	3
V Kohli	7	12	0	288	74	24.00	655	43.96	0	3	2	34	0
R Ashwin	8	13	1	271	106	22.58	586	46.24	1	0	2	35	2
JJ Bumrah	7	11	3	25	10*	3.12	70	35.71	0	0	4	4	0

 

So despite being in a relative "rut", he has scored 5 50s in only 18 innings (28%). Compare that to Rahane who as 2 in 18 (11%) and Kohli, who haa 3 in 12 (25%). Rohit has been in purple patch but only played in Ind and in the last 2 tests in Aus, missing out on the tough first two tests and NZ to form an opinion ... On top of that Pujara has played most balls, many of them in tough overseas conditions, resulting in test wins such as in Aus ... As I said, making an impact despite not being at his best

 

 

PS Truly, Ind's Dark Knight:

 

 

 

 

Edited March 6, 2021 by zen

[Vilander]

Poster above is a self-aggrandising shamelessly self promoting gujrati , pujara is a serious studious nerd good boy not comparable to any dark knight or any knight for that matter any thing remotely macho lol..... knight my arse..hehe

[rkt.india]

Pujara, Kohli, Rahane all three have declined in this period.

[express bowling]

4 hours ago, zen said:

 

When a player is not at its best, it can look that way. In the first test at Chennai, he made a 70 odd, getting out in a freak manner. If not for that, he could have batted out a few more sessions, requiring Ind to bat for less time in the 4th innings. 

 

We have many HTB so not concerned about home performances, esp. if the pitches are going to be difficult to bat on w/ games getting over in 3-4 days. 

 

Additionally, he is also one of the select players to have played 7 or more tests since 2020 (the date OP selected):

Primary team India

Start of match date greater than or equal to 1 Jan 2020

Qualifications matches played greater than or equal to 7

Ordered by batting average (descending)

 

Overall figures

Player	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
RR Pant	9	15	2	604	101	46.46	835	72.33	1	4	0	69	15
Shubman Gill	7	13	2	378	91	34.36	644	58.69	0	3	2	51	5
CA Pujara	10	18	0	504	77	28.00	1611	31.28	0	5	2	54	0
AM Rahane	10	18	1	471	112	27.70	1087	43.33	1	1	2	51	3
V Kohli	7	12	0	288	74	24.00	655	43.96	0	3	2	34	0
R Ashwin	8	13	1	271	106	22.58	586	46.24	1	0	2	35	2
JJ Bumrah	7	11	3	25	10*	3.12	70	35.71	0	0	4	4	0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sundar should be in this list 

 

Averages 64+

[zen]

30 minutes ago, express bowling said:

 

 

Sundar should be in this list 

 

Averages 64+

For the topic (as mentioned in the post), I am mainly looking at the 3 experienced players who played in the tough NZ tour + the difficult pink ball test in Aus (with 7 or more tests for a relatively decent sample size)

Edited March 7, 2021 by zen

[Vilander]

19 minutes ago, zen said:

with 7 or more tests

 

exactly 7 not 6 or 8 ?... very impressive.

[express bowling]

34 minutes ago, zen said:

For the topic (as mentioned in the post), I am mainly looking at the 3 experienced players who played in the tough NZ tour + the difficult pink ball test in Aus (with 7 or more tests for a relatively decent sample size)

 

 

We should look at all prominent batsmen in the period to get a true picture of the batting ability of all batters.

 

Sundar has been more impactful than most others. 

[zen]

18 minutes ago, express bowling said:

 

 

We should look at all prominent batsmen in the period to get a true picture of the batting ability of all batters.

 

Sundar has been more impactful than most others. 

Yeah, but the topic is on Pujara, who has played in some tough tests like in NZ and the pink ball test in Aus and compared to his counterparts like Kohli and Rahane (as mentioned in that post), who also played in most of the tests during the period (as selected by the OP) 

Edited March 7, 2021 by zen

[rtmohanlal]

he should be phased out at the earliest ..... as if there  are no other talented  rookies in the country,,,

[Texan]

Pujara's strokeless wonder innings continue. He is just letting the bowlers to get on top by playing such innings. This adds pressure to other batsmen as well. If he fails in the second innings as well or doesn't up his SR, we should do away with him. 

[The Realist]

He's done. Past the point of contributing consistently to the team. He's been a good player but nowhere near a great. Great players can go through the gears and adapt to the match situation. 

 

Pujara plays stuck in one gear (reverse) unable to do anything but block. The point of cricket is actually to score some runs.

 

I cannot stand watching him no more - would rather go and do something else when he comes out to bat. Sport is supposed to be entertaining and a distraction not a slog and a grind as Pujara makes it out to be in every single effing innings, life has enough of that at the moment. 

[Majestic]

The problem with Pujara is that even after getting good starts, if we are at 95-2 which is a good position in an away test, he will still look to block and survive which is not acceptable. A world class elite test batsman will expand the start that openers have given and ensure that he hits a hundred at a 55-60 strike rate and take his team past 300 in that inning.

 

What Pujara does is that he takes a score of 91/2 at lunch to 147/4 at tea and it doesn't help the course of the match, his innings basically go nowhere. In subcontinent, he plays spinners more and he has enough shots to play at a good rate Vs spinners but in SWENA Vs pace, he finds it hard to rotate strike.

 

Overall, a very good batsman but the inability to make the opposition fear of taking the game away when he comes to bat at 95-2 stops him from being tagged as a "world class batsman" and puts him behind some of the padosis batsman like Younis, Yousuf and Inzamam.

Edited June 20, 2021 by Majestic

[Serpico]

I'll still play him until the end of South African series. He's better than vihari and mayank who are next in line and has good experience in England and SA

[raki05]

Pujara always play to survive lately. He make evry pitch looks like green mamaba. Even if batsmen alongside him playing with ease. I am not talking about yday but in past 2 years or so he never looked comfortable playing pace or spin both in India and abroad.

[prudent_kreeda]

There is too much romanticism about taking blows and completely downing the shutters without runs . Its fine in very few tests as per situation but not most of the time .

Modern game requires that runs are accumulated as hardly any match results in Draw.  In such cases what would be more useful 30 runs in 150 balls or 60 runs in 150 balls ?

Pujara was one of the best players of spin when bowlers use to flight the balls at slow pace . Every ball he would come down the wicket  and get runs . Nowadays very few spinners bowl in that fashion and Pujara also regressed . As one poster mentioned above , nowadays he just lunges forward without any intention of scoring runs . 

Its time India invests in couple of youngsters and start replacing pujara first & then Rahane .

Invest in Eashwaran , Shaw ,Sundar ,Jaiswal, KL ( for middle order) 

And make  GILL india's permanent  No.3 .

  

 

[Lord]

Exactly the point I was raising in match thread'

 

No one is asking him to bat in ODI mode but even after a good start he dead bats everything and things start to look tougher than they are,bowlers find their rythm back