Re-evaluating the Pujara series in Aus 2018/9

[zen]

Evaluating a player based on overall career stats (unless you are way ahead of your peers) can be pointless at times. Every match, every series, every opposition (even form can change from series to series) is different. TV channels, cricket websites, etc. use overall career stats because they have to be diplomatic - Can they even suggest that a stats against BD is not the same as the stats versus a strong Aus? No, they have to pretend to look at every series and match equally. 

 

In 2018, India won its first test series in Australia. The key architect was Pujara, who scored 500+ runs with 3 100s. In the first test at Adelaide, he fought like a lone wolf especially in the first inning, a priceless performance as India tends to start poorly by losing the first test. In the 2nd test at Perth, Pujara failed, India lost. With the momentum with Aus, Ind headed to the boxing day test at Melbourne. Pujara took the initiative back for India, hitting another invaluable 100. India went 2-1 up. Heading to Sydney for the last test, India was at the cusp to create history - win its first series in Australia (in fact, the first for any Asian team). Before 2018, India made the following tours to Australia:

 

• 1947/8: Vinoo Mankad hit 2 100s in this series
• 1967/8: The one eyed Pataudi hit a memorable 75 
• 1977/8: The famous series that went down the wire with Aus winning 3-2
• 1980/1: A drawn series. Kapil Dev took 2 5-ers 
• 1985/6: Another drawn series where Gavaskar hit 2 100s 
• 1991/2: Aus 4-0. Sachin hit 2 100s ... Shane Warne's debut series 
• 1999/2000: Aus 3-0 (whitewash) 
• 2003/4: A drawn series. Dravid hit a 200 and Agarkar picked up a 5-er at Adelaide to win Ind a test 
• 2007/8: Aus won 2-1 
• 2011/2: Aus won 4-0 (whitewash)
• 2014/5: Aus won 2-0

 

70 years and 11 tours later, India needed to draw the game at Sydney to create history. Australians had been mentally scarred by Pujara's performances but they were good enough to make a strong comeback. Australia somehow manages to do that but not this time. Pujara again stepped up to register a 193, virtually shutting Aus out of the game, and paving the way for India's first series win in Australia. With Australia tiring, Pant also registered his first 100 in Australia. 

 

 

If I run a statsguru and do stats "diplomatically" assuming every series, every match, and every inning to be similar like TV channels and popular cricket sites, Pujara's number would state the following for SENA:

Opposition team Australia  or England  or New Zealand  or South Africa

Home or away away (home of opposition)

Career averages

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
unfiltered	2010-2022	95	162	9	6713	206*	43.87	15169	44.25	18	32	11	806	15
filtered	2010-2022	38	74	2	2415	193	33.54	6392	37.78	5	13	6	295	3

 

5 100 and 13 50s, give us 18 50+ scores in 72 completed innings (scored a 50+ in 1/4 innings). 

 

 

However, I know that not every series, every match, every inning, and every opposition is similar. Pujara has helped India create history after numerous attempts in Australia. To me that series is worth all the series before it. To draw parallels, it can be like Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay surmounting the hostile Mount Everest. Much like on Mount Everest, it is like planting the Indian flag on Australia soil, the strongest test team over a period of time since Bradman's Invincibles. Those 3 100s have 10x value in SENA for the history changing impact that these performances created. In terms of impact, his 521 runs with 3 100s & 1 50 in 7 innings with 10x weightage (easier calculations as well) makes him a batsman with 7,104 runs, 32 100s, and 22 50s, roughly with an average of 99 in SENA. Add to that his exploits in Asia and therefore the most impactful test batsman to play for India since 1990!! Indian cricket and its true fans will forever be indebted to Pujara for his impactful performances. 

 

Edited January 15, 2022 by zen

[Vijy]

7 minutes ago, zen said:

Evaluating a player based on overall career stats (unless you are way ahead of your peers) can be pointless. Every match, series, opposition (even form can change from series to series) is different. TV channels, cricket websites, etc. use overall career stats because they have to be diplomatic - Can they even suggest that a stats against BD is not the same as the stats versus a strong Aus? No, they have to pretend to look at every series and match equally. 

 

In 2018, India won its first test series in Australia. The key architect was Pujara, who scored 500+ runs, hitting 3 100s. In the first test at Adelaide, he fought like a lone wolf especially in the first inning, a priceless performance as India tends to start poorly by losing the first test. In the 2nd test at Perth, Pujara failed, India lost. With the momentum with Aus, Ind headed to the boxing day test at Melbourne. Pujara took the initiative back for India, hitting another invaluable 100. India went 2-1. Heading to Sydney for the last test, India was in a position to create history - win its first series in Australia (in fact, the first for any Asian team). Before 2018, India made the following tours to Australia:

 

• 1947/8: Vinoo Mankad hit 2 100s in this series 
• 1967/8: The one eyed Pataudi hit a memorable 75 
• 1977/8: The famous series that went down the wire with Aus winning 3-2
• 1980/1: A drawn series. Kapil Dev took 2 5-ers 
• 1985/6: Another drawn series where Gavaskar hit 2 100s 
• 1991/2: Aus 4-0 ... Shane Warne's debut series 
• 1999/2000: Aus 3-0 (whitewash) 
• 2003/4: A drawn series. Dravid hit a 200 and Agarkar picked up a 5-er at Adelaide to win Ind a test 
• 2007/8: Aus won 2-1 
• 2011/2: Aus won 4-0 (white wash)
• 2014/5: Aus won 2-0

 

70 years and 11 tours later, India needed to draw the game at Sydney to create history. Australian had been mentally scarred by Pujara's performances but they could make a strong comeback. Pujara again steps up to register a 193, virtually shutting Aus out of the game, and paving the way for India's first series win in Australia. With Australia tiring, Pant also registered his first 100 in Australia. 

 

 

If I run a statsguru and do stats "diplomatically" assuming every series, every match, and every inning to be similar like TV channels and popular cricket sites, Pujara's number would state the following for SENA:

Opposition team Australia  or England  or New Zealand  or South Africa

Home or away away (home of opposition)

Career averages

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
unfiltered	2010-2022	95	162	9	6713	206*	43.87	15169	44.25	18	32	11	806	15
filtered	2010-2022	38	74	2	2415	193	33.54	6392	37.78	5	13	6	295	3

 

5 100 and 13 50s, give us 18 50+ scores in 74 innings (score a 50+ in 1/4 innings). 

 

 

However, I know that not every series, every match, every inning, and every opposition is similar. Pujara has helped India create history after numerous attempts. To me that series is worth all the series before it. Those 3 100s are like 10-11 100s in SENA for the history changing impact that these performances created. In terms of impact, his 521 runs with 3 100s & 1 50 in 7 innings with 10x weightage makes him a batsman with 7104 runs, 32 100s, and 21 50s, roughly with an average of 99 in SENA. Add to that his exploits in Asia and therefore the most impactful test batsman to play for India since 1990!! India cricket and its true fans will forever be indebted to Pujara for his impactful performances. 

 

 

Hazare also made 2 100s in the first Oz tour. he and merchant were our first great batters; pity the latter did not get to play enough tests

[zen]

Just now, Vijy said:

Hazare also made 2 100s in the first Oz tour. he and merchant were our first great batters; pity the latter did not get to play enough tests

 

Yep, great cricketers in my book! 

[Sandeep99]

Absolutely and without Pujaras contributions we would have lost that series to a so called 2nd string Australian eleven who I think will be enough to beat every other side in the word. Pujara and Bumrah were at their peak during that series. 2 of the greatest match winners of this generation. Good times.. sigh

[Vijy]

40 minutes ago, Sandeep99 said:

Absolutely and without Pujaras contributions we would have lost that series to a so called 2nd string Australian eleven who I think will be enough to beat every other side in the word. Pujara and Bumrah were at their peak during that series. 2 of the greatest match winners of this generation. Good times.. sigh

our batting was pretty strong back then. Chepu was obviously the biggest contributor, but Pant scored lots of useful knocks down the order and run amok. And even Virat scored an excellent 100 on a tough pitch. Rahane also scored some useful runs and here, e.g., in Adelaide.

 

In comparison, the 2021 team vs SA has declines greatly.

[Majestic]

Pujara was excellent in that series but that was the only series overseas where he was anything special. For someone who has played 92 tests, one good away series doesn't count for much.

 

He has been a great player of spin but he genuinely lacked scoring options vs pace in his career and his WTC Final performance just showed that if you pack your team with five seamers in overcast conditions, he becomes even more hopeless.

 

In that series, Indian batters had a slight advantage in that most Aussies bowlers used to get tired early because their batters won't bat long enough. As good as that series is, ultimately he dominated just one series outside Asia.

 

It is same as Michael Vaughan, a 41 averaging player, dominated only one series in his entire career, Ashes 2002-03 against an attack of McGrath and Warne where he scored bucketload runs. Does that make him a great batsman? No although that's besides the point that Vaughan also has a great legacy as an England captain which Pujara never got.

Edited January 16, 2022 by Majestic

[zen]

11 minutes ago, Majestic said:

It is same as Michael Vaughan, a 41 averaging player, dominated only one series in his entire career, Ashes 2002-03 against an attack of McGrath and Warne where he scored bucketload runs.

 

As discussed in the OP, such examples are not apples to apples -> No Asian team in has won a series in Aus. Ind itself won after 70 years and 11 series for the first time in Australia, the premier test playing country over a period of time. What Pujara did is unique in the history of Indian cricket, and the occasion cannot be replicated.  

 

Edited January 16, 2022 by zen

[Majestic]

8 minutes ago, zen said:

 

As discussed in the OP, such examples are not apples to apples -> No Asian team in has won a series in Aus. Ind itself won after 70 years and 11 series for the first time in Australia, the premier test playing country over a period of time. What Pujara did is unique in the history of Indian cricket, and the occasion cannot be replicated.  

 

It was replicated only two years later and that remains India's most memorable win given the odds that were stacked against us and also the fact that they had their full strength side back( or about 95%)

[zen]

17 minutes ago, Majestic said:

It was replicated only two years later and that remains India's most memorable win given the odds that were stacked against us and also the fact that they had their full strength side back( or about 95%)

I am not sure you understand what is being discussed. 
 

Please let those who get it, including the scope, participate! 

 

[Majestic]

5 hours ago, zen said:

I am not sure you understand what is being discussed. 
 

Please let those who get it, including the scope, participate! 

 

Yes, it is hard to figure out what exactly is the scope while discussing the only notable overseas performance that CDP has put up in his entire career, on relatively good batting wickets against tired bowlers( as their batters were completely futile in that series).

 

I am surely done and would let others try to figure this out maybe 

Edited January 16, 2022 by Majestic

[AnkurUpadhyay]

Great series by him!! No doubt about that but that was 1 good away series! Even Mohinder Amarnath had 1 great series against one of the best bowling attack of all time!! It doesn’t make him a great test player. Pujara was so limited as a player that he was never going to be considered as an ATG. I have never seen any world class player struggle to score as much as Pujara did (even in his prime). Even Dravid was way more free flowing.

[Serpico]

I thought this was the general consensus. Where is the re-evaluation

[prudent_kreeda]

6 hours ago, Majestic said:

Pujara was excellent in that series but that was the only series overseas where he was anything special. For someone who has played 92 tests, one good away series doesn't count for much.

 

He has been a great player of spin but he genuinely lacked scoring options vs pace in his career and his WTC Final performance just showed that if you pack your team with five seamers in overcast conditions, he becomes even more hopeless.

 

In that series, Indian batters had a slight advantage in that most Aussies bowlers used to get tired early because their batters won't bat long enough. As good as that series is, ultimately he dominated just one series outside Asia.

 

It is same as Michael Vaughan, a 41 averaging player, dominated only one series in his entire career, Ashes 2002-03 against an attack of McGrath and Warne where he scored bucketload runs. Does that make him a great batsman? No although that's besides the point that Vaughan also has a great legacy as an England captain which Pujara never got.

Proof that he was poor in english conditions can be gauged from the county performance  whenever he played there .Could not score against ordinary bowling of counties, the mail reason could be he just defended & defended and then one ball would get him . 

[Gambit]

One series wonder like Harbhajan Singh.

[New guy]

11 hours ago, Sandeep99 said:

Absolutely and without Pujaras contributions we would have lost that series to a so called 2nd string Australian eleven who I think will be enough to beat every other side in the word. Pujara and Bumrah were at their peak during that series. 2 of the greatest match winners of this generation. Good times.. sigh

You don't become the greatest match winner just becaue you played well in one series. Kuch bhi. I don't know why some indian fans have such low expectations. Even his own family members won't call Pujara one of the greatest match winners. 

 

Bhang kha kar post karte hai kuch log yahan 

[Lone Wolf]

There was a time when he was not Kunt Khujara but we know what happened after he became one

Edited January 16, 2022 by Lone Wolf

[Clarke]

There was a time when matchwinner was the fav term used by proponents of lahori logic in their pursuit of adopted sons to counter Sachin; Lara, Ponting, Amla etc were all adopted on a periodic basis. Sadly the logic has crossed over the LoC.

[zen]

15 hours ago, Sandeep99 said:

Absolutely and without Pujaras contributions we would have lost that series to a so called 2nd string Australian eleven who I think will be enough to beat every other side in the word. Pujara and Bumrah were at their peak during that series. 2 of the greatest match winners of this generation. Good times.. sigh

Amazing impact. Changed Indian cricket forever. And these guys have not even played 100 tests yet. 
 

 

[Sandeep99]

4 hours ago, New guy said:

You don't become the greatest match winner just becaue you played well in one series. Kuch bhi. I don't know why some indian fans have such low expectations. Even his own family members won't call Pujara one of the greatest match winners. 

 

Bhang kha kar post karte hai kuch log yahan 

for some, impact created > meaningless stats.  You can shove your opinion in your private parts for all I care. Agree to disagree and move on.

[zen]

There are these rusting fanboys of certain cricketers who are habitually obliged to write against other cricketers (appreciating other cricketers is less “devotional” you know). 

 

Tomorrow, if xyz does something exceptional, they will begin to write against xyz. 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2022 by zen