Does anyone have a smaller percentage of not out innings (apart, of course, from batsmen who've never been not out) than Brian Lara? Six not outs in 232 innings. Interestingly, within the six not outs are contained two of Test cricket's immortal innings - the 153 and the 400.
Even without statistics, no one would deny the claim that Lara has played in some pretty underwhelming sides. Statistics sharpen this picture, and starken (does this word even exist?) the contrast with batsmen from other teams.
Number of not outs is a reasonable measure of the effect playing for a good or bad team can have on a batsman. But it isn't foolproof; for instance, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has played alongside Lara for much of his career, has 32 not outs in 121 Tests.
On the other hand, number of declarations is a direct measure of a team's batting strength. During Lara's 131-Test career, West Indies declared fifteen times.
Let's apply the same measures to two other batting greats, who averaged over 50 like him, and whose careers ran parallel to his:
Sachin Tendulkar has played 147 Tests so far, and has 27 not outs in 261 innings. In those 147 Tests, India has declared 47 innings closed.
Steve Waugh played 168 Tests, batted 260 times, was not out 46 times, and Australia declared 65 times during his career.
What might have happened if fate had stuck Lara in the Indian or Australian line-up?
Nobody can say with any degree of certainty that batsman A would bat the same way if he were part of team X instead of team Y. It's still an intriguing thought.
Something tells me Lara would have averaged over 60 in a better batting line-up. Everything about his game - his method, his personality, his range of shots - would have ensured him top dog status in any line-up.
That leads me to another intriguing thought: Would Chanderpaul average as much, and be as hard to dismiss, if he was Indian or Australian?
The answer, I think, is yes - provided the selectors pick someone of his aesthetic otherness. He'd love being away from the limelight, he'd be the perfect guy for domineering types to bat in partnership with, and he has so much hunger for runs that it wouldn't diminish one bit even if he was batting in a team where every other batsman was Bradman.
What do you think?
Even without statistics, no one would deny the claim that Lara has played in some pretty underwhelming sides. Statistics sharpen this picture, and starken (does this word even exist?) the contrast with batsmen from other teams.
Number of not outs is a reasonable measure of the effect playing for a good or bad team can have on a batsman. But it isn't foolproof; for instance, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has played alongside Lara for much of his career, has 32 not outs in 121 Tests.
On the other hand, number of declarations is a direct measure of a team's batting strength. During Lara's 131-Test career, West Indies declared fifteen times.
Let's apply the same measures to two other batting greats, who averaged over 50 like him, and whose careers ran parallel to his:
Sachin Tendulkar has played 147 Tests so far, and has 27 not outs in 261 innings. In those 147 Tests, India has declared 47 innings closed.
Steve Waugh played 168 Tests, batted 260 times, was not out 46 times, and Australia declared 65 times during his career.
What might have happened if fate had stuck Lara in the Indian or Australian line-up?
Nobody can say with any degree of certainty that batsman A would bat the same way if he were part of team X instead of team Y. It's still an intriguing thought.
Something tells me Lara would have averaged over 60 in a better batting line-up. Everything about his game - his method, his personality, his range of shots - would have ensured him top dog status in any line-up.
That leads me to another intriguing thought: Would Chanderpaul average as much, and be as hard to dismiss, if he was Indian or Australian?
The answer, I think, is yes - provided the selectors pick someone of his aesthetic otherness. He'd love being away from the limelight, he'd be the perfect guy for domineering types to bat in partnership with, and he has so much hunger for runs that it wouldn't diminish one bit even if he was batting in a team where every other batsman was Bradman.
What do you think?
