By Waheed
November 23 2004

An Analysis of Modern Test Cricket from 70s to the present day, looking at the great teams in each era and ranking them using a Points System I have developed. A 4 part installment, by the end of which I hope to have identified the Top Teams and the Star Players that led them to be successful. Introduction:

An Analysis of Modern Test Cricket from 1970s to the present day, looking at the great teams in each era and ranking them using a Points System I have developed.

This will be a four part installment, By the end of this series I hope to have identified the Top Teams and the Star Players that led them to be successfull.

We should also be able to see the changing fortunes of Pakistan and see how their success has fluctuated with the performance of Star Players and see which Pakistani side was the best in terms of results.


Background:

To start with I had to decide on a time frame to judge a team, a decade is too long, and two years is too short a time. A successfull team will often play together for a number of years with the same group of players, where as a poor team will chop and change personnel with regular frequency. After doing some research I decided Five years was the best time span to judge a team, during this time the team should have had the opportunity to play home and away against all major teams.

Next a points system needed to be devised which would reward teams for successfull series and penalise team for poor results, I wanted a points system to reward teams for winning Tests and Test Series away from Home, since this was more difficult and challenging than winning at home.

I wanted the result of every Test to be counted, but some countries play more tests than others so the points at the end of the series had to be normalised so that all countries played a 5 Test Series.

I also included separate ranking to give an indication of whether the Team was on the Up or on the decline over the 5 year period, using a decay factor which placed more emphasiz on recent results than results in the 1st year.

For the first version of the Ranking Points System these are two Factors I have used, as I wanted to see if this would give a fair indication of where each team stood. For the next version I intend to look at the opposition rating and use that as a factor in the calculations, but that will have to wait untill I get back to writing some C# programming...


Points System:

Points System____per Test______per Series
Home Win________ 2____________ 2
Home Draw_______ 1____________ 1
Home Lost______ -2___________ -2
Away Win________ 4____________ 4
Away Draw_______ 2____________ 2
Away Lost______ -1___________ -1


Year____________Depreciation Factor
current year___ 1
1 year ago_____ 0.9
2 year ago_____ 0.8
3 year ago_____ 0.7
4 year ago_____ 0.6


1970_1974 Test Series Results:

1970 SAF v AUS ---> SAF 4-0
1970 AUS v ENG ---> ENG 2-0
1970 WIN v IND ---> IND 1-0
1970 NZL v ENG ---> ENG 1-0
1971 ENG v PAK ---> ENG 1-0
1971 ENG v IND ---> IND 1-0
1971 WIN v NZL ---> Drawn 0-0
1972 ENG v AUS ---> Drawn 2-2
1972 IND v ENG ---> IND 2-1
1972 AUS v PAK ---> AUS 3-0
1972 NZL v PAK ---> PAK 1-0
1972 WIN v AUS ---> AUS 2-0
1972 PAK v ENG ---> Drawn 0-0
1973 ENG v NZL ---> ENG 2-0
1973 ENG v WIN ---> WIN 2-0
1973 AUS v NZL ---> AUS 2-0
1973 WIN v ENG ---> Drawn 1-1
1973 NZL v AUS ---> Drawn 1-1
1974 ENG v IND ---> ENG 3-0
1974 ENG v PAK ---> Drawn 0-0
1974 IND v WIN ---> WIN 3-2
1974 AUS v ENG ---> AUS 4-1


What stands out from 1970-74 is the relatively few number of Test Series played only 22 for all the Test Playing Nations. England and Australia dominated the Test Calendar playing 13 and 8 Test Series respectively. This was the period where 5 Test was the norm, and indeed England and Australia played 6 and 7 Tests in a Series.

The outstanding results form this period were India's 1-0 Test Series Victories away to West Indies and also away to India.
With Bishan Bedi and Venkataraghavan taking 5 wickets and Gavasker scoring 2 Fifties two setup victory over the Windies.
However the both England and West Indies quickly regained revenge with England white washing India 3-0 and West Indies winning 3-2 in India.

In an era where no team dominated Australia had the slight edge with 4 series vitories including a 3-0 hammering of Pakistan.

Pakistan's only series victory was away to New Zealand where the completly outclassed the New Zealanders by an innings and 166 runs.
Mushtaq Mohammed and Asif Iqbal setting up the victory with 350+ run partnership with Mushtaq scoring a double century. Mushtaq also picked up 5 wickets in the second innings, but it was Intikhab Alam also bowling his leg breaks who was the chief destroyer with 11 wickets for 130 runs.

Two hard fought draws against England at home and away from home boosted Pakistan confidence going into the mid 1970's.

The Australian team was built around the Chappell brothers Ian and Greg, Doug Walters and Redpath also proving the backbone of their solid batting line up with all of them averaging between 40 and 50.

The bowling lineup was led by the pace quarted of Lillee, Thompson, Massie and Walker with Mallet providing the variety with his off spin.

Jeff Thompson having a strike rate of ~45 balls for his wickets at ~20 runs a piece. His partner in crime Dennis Lillee being less imressive with a strike rate of ~60 and wickets costing him ~25 runs.

For West Indies, Gary Sobers was appraoching the end of an illustrious career but new batsmen in the form of Alvin Kalicharran and Clive Lloyd were establishing themselves in a dominant batting lineup along with the likes of Fredricks and Rohan Kanhai. All averaging 40+ with Rowe and Davis averaging ~70.

But where the West Indies struggled was in the bowling with no bowler being able to provide any wicket regularly with only two bowlers having a strike rate of less than 75. The spin twins Gary Sobers and Lance Gibbs providing over a 100 wickets between them during this period.

Andy Roberts made his debut in 1974, Robert's would be the first of a production line of fast bowling greats to come from the Islands to change the fortunes of West Indian cricket.

For Pakistan it was a similar problem to the West Indies dependable batsmen in the form of the experienced Mushtaq Mohammed, Asif Iqbal and Majid Khan along with new comers Sadiq Mohammed and the classy and elegant Zaheer Abbass but lack of bowling options resulted in few and far Test victories.
Intikhab Alam and Mushtaq Mohammed provided the spin threat but the pace line was led by young Sarfraz Nawaz and one Imran Khan was about to announce himself on the world stage in 1974.


Rankings for 1970-1974:

Team__Points__Series__Normalised
AUS___61.21___8_______153.03
ENG___94.52___13______145.42
WIN___41.67___6_______138.90
PAK___33.33___5_______133.32
IND___29.33___5_______117.32
NZL___6.17____6_______20.57



Team___Form Guide (Deviation during Period)
AUS____19.83
WIN____12.67
PAK____12.88
ENG____12.04
NZL____ 1.95
IND___-21.34

Australia's results improved towards the end of the 5 year cycle, where as India were on the way down after 2 Test defeats in 1974.


Players:

Australia:
Player_________Inns___NO___50s__100s___HS___Runs___Avg
G S Chappell___46_____6____10___7___*247___2077___51.93
I R Redpath____47_____7____14___3___171____1991___49.78
I M Chappell___60_____3____10___8___196____2420___42.46
R Edwards______22_____1____6____2___*170___868____41.33
K D Walters____51_____5____12___5___112____1877___40.8


West Indies:
Player___________Inns___NO___50s___100s___HS___Runs___Avg
L G Rowe_________17_____1____2_____5___ 302___1131___70.69
C A Davis________21_____5____4_____3___ 183___1065___66.56
G S A Sobers_____28_____4____4_____5___ *178__1256___52.33
A I Kallicharran_29_____2____7_____5___ 158___1376___50.96
R C Fredericks___44_____3____11____3___ 163___1907___46.51
R B Kanhai_______29_____3____6_____3___ *158__1171___45.04
C H Lloyd________36_____2____8_____3___ 178___1434___42.18

Pakistan:
Player___________Inns___NO___50s___100s___HS___Runs___Avg
M Mohammad_______24_____1____8_____4_____201___1258___54.7
S Mohammad_______26_____0____5_____3_____166___1196___46
Majid Khan_______24_____0____5_____2_____158___1086___45.25
Zaheer Abbas_____24_____1____2_____2_____274___939____40.83
Asif Iqbal_______24_____1____2_____3_____175___865____37.61



Player________W____5w___10w___Avg_____S/R
J R Thomson___24___2____0_____20.67___45.71
R A L Massie__31___2____1_____20.87___56.1
M H N Walker__62___4____0_____22.89___67.84
K D Walters___30___1____0_____24.43___57.33
D K Lillee____63___4____1_____24.79___60.94
A A Mallett___62___3____0_____26.48___68.87


Player__________W____5w___10w___Avg_____S/R
A M E Roberts___21___1____0_____21.19___47.67
K D Boyce_______45___2____1_____25.82___51.89
V A Holder______41___0____0_____29.15___82.02
B D Julien______27___1____0_____29.67___75.11
G S A Sobers____42___0____0_____31.5____100.79
L R Gibbs_______67___3____0_____32.22___98.33


Player___________W___5w___10w___Avg_____S/R
M Mohammad_______26___1___0_____26.62___60
Intikhab Alam____53___3___1_____31.32___70.23
Saleem Altaf_____28___0___0_____31.36___75.04
Sarfraz Nawaz____27___0___0_____36.96___87.07
Asif Masood______27___1___0_____38.3____75.74


Pakistan X1 1970-1975
Sadiq Mohammad
Majid Khan (c)
Zaheer Abbas
Mushtaq Mohammad
Asif Iqbal
Intikhab Alam
Wasim Raja
Wasim Bari (k)
Saleem Altaf
Sarfraz Nawaz
Asif Masood



1975-1979 Test Series Results:

1975 PAK v WIN ---> Drawn 0-0
1975 NZL v ENG ---> ENG 1-0
1975 ENG v AUS ---> AUS 1-0
1975 AUS v WIN ---> AUS 5-1
1975 NZL v IND ---> Drawn 1-1
1975 WIN v IND ---> WIN 2-1
1976 ENG v WIN ---> WIN 3-0
1976 PAK v NZL ---> PAK 2-0
1976 IND v NZL ---> IND 2-0
1976 IND v ENG ---> ENG 3-1
1976 AUS v PAK ---> Drawn 1-1
1976 NZL v AUS ---> AUS 1-0
1976 WIN v PAK ---> WIN 2-1
1976 AUS v ENG ---> AUS 1-0
1977 ENG v AUS ---> ENG 3-0
1977 AUS v IND ---> AUS 3-2
1977 PAK v ENG ---> Drawn 0-0
1977 NZL v ENG ---> Drawn 1-1
1977 WIN v AUS ---> WIN 3-1
1978 ENG v PAK ---> ENG 2-0
1978 ENG v NZL ---> ENG 3-0
1978 PAK v IND ---> PAK 2-0
1978 AUS v ENG ---> ENG 5-1
1978 IND v WIN ---> IND 1-0
1978 NZL v PAK ---> PAK 1-0
1978 AUS v PAK ---> Drawn 1-1
1979 ENG v IND ---> ENG 1-0
1979 IND v AUS ---> IND 2-0
1979 IND v PAK ---> IND 2-0
1979 AUS v WIN ---> WIN 2-0
1979 AUS v ENG ---> AUS 3-0

Australia started the 1975 season from where the left off in the previous season, and hammered the West Indies 5-1 in a 6 Test Match Series at home. Greg Chappel scoring over 700 runs in the series with 3 Tons. Lillee, Thompson and Gary Gilmour did the damage with the ball picking up 20+ wickets each in the series.

This was to be the high point for the Australians and the turning point in West Indian cricket. Indeed the West Indies went on to win 5 of the next 6 series and in the process defeating the Australian both home and away.

The key to the Westindian success was the quartet of tall fast bowlers in the form of Roberts, Holding, Croft, Garner, with Wayne Daniels and Sylvester Clarke providing backup. Roberts taking 119 wickets in the 5 years with Garner, Croft and Holding taking 50+ wickets each costing ~24 runs.

Fredricks, Kallicharran and Lloyd continued to score heavily scoring 2000+ runs in the five year peiod at an average close to ~50, but they were outshone by the new middle order batsmen Vivian Isaac Richards scoring nearly 2500 runs at an average of ~58 runs. It was also to be the start of one of the greatest ever oppening partnerships of all time, Greenidge and Haynes. Greenidge scoring nearly 1500 runs at ~46 and Haynes making his debut averaging ~44 in his first season.


A resurgent England was also to inflict heavy defeats on the Australians with 3-0 and 5-1 home and away series victories. In a low scoring series with only a young David Gower averaging more than 40 in the series, England bowling attack of Botham, Wison, Millar, Hendricks and Emburey caused all the problems with nearly 20 wickets each.

For Pakistan it was a period where they challenged all countries and fought out hard fought draws against the West Indies, Australia and England. Losing only 2 series to West Indies narrowly 2-1 and away to England 2-0. While winning at Home to India and both home and away to a weak New Zealand team.

The away series draw against Australia came on the back of winning the third and final test, which was a remarkable achievement considering Pakistan went into the test with 3 front line bowlers Sarfraz Nawaz, Imran Khan and Iqbal Qasim. Imran Khan shouldered the responsabilities of the bowling attack single handedly destroying the Australians with super figures of 6-107 in the 1st innings and 6-63 in the 2nd innings. Asif Iqbal with a century also helping to set up victory for Pakistan.

Indeed when Imran Khan was missing due to injuries or the Packer affair Pakistan fortunes also suffered with 2-0 series loss to England.

The 2-0 Home Series win over Arch Rivals India was setup by Zaheer Abbass and Javed Miandad going on an run spree and scoring 583 and 357 runs respecitively from 5 innings, averaging 194 and 178 in the series.
Sarfraz Nawaz and Imran Khan taking the wickets in the series with 17 and 14 wickets each.

During the 5 year period Miandad topped the averages for Pakistan scoring over 2000 runs at an average of ~64, bettering the record of Richards. He was ably supported by Asif Iqbal, Zaheer Abbas and Majid Khan. Sadiq Mohammed and Mushtaq Mohammed form was however on the decline towards the end of their careers averaging in the mid 30's.

Imran and Safraz each took 93 wickets but their strike rates were less than impressive in the mid 60's.


Rankings for 1975-1979:

Team__Points__Series__Normalised
WIN___76.08___8_______190.20
PAK___77.83___10______155.66
ENG___101_____13______155.38
IND___53.08___10______106.16
AUS___64.17___13_______98.72
NZL__-13.67___8_______-34.18


Team___Form Guide (Deviation during Period)
WIN____2.19
PAK____7.67
ENG____1.46
IND____6.47
NZL____0.27
AUS___-6.10



Player___________Inns___NO___50s___100s___HS___Runs___Avg
I V A Richards___44_____1____9______8___ 291___2475___57.56
A I Kallicharran_60_____7____13_____6___ 187___2580___48.68
C H Lloyd________45_____3____9______5___ *242__2041___48.6
C G Greenidge____35_____3____8______4___ 134___1478___46.19
R C Fredericks___46_____4____11_____5___ 169___1902___45.29
D L Haynes________7_____1____3______0___ 66_____266___44.33


Player___________Inns___NO___50s___100s___HS___Runs___Avg
Javed Miandad____43_____11___10_____6___ 206___2059___64.34
Asif Iqbal_______42______4___5______7___ 166___1779___46.82
Zaheer Abbas_____40______3___7______4___ *235__1624___43.89
Majid Khan_______45______2___6______5___ 167___1798___41.81
Wasim Raja_______36______3___9______2___ *117__1302___39.45
Haroon Rashid____25______1___3______2___ 122____853___35.54
Sadiq Mohammad___33______2___4______2___ 105___1075___34.68
Mushtaq Mohammad_37______2___4______4___ 123___1191___34.03
Imran Khan_______35______4___1______0___ 59_____735___23.71


Player__________W____5w___10w___Avg_____S/R
C E H Croft____52____1____0____21.54___43.75
J Garner_______49____0____0____22.49___49.27
M A Holding____65____4____1____24.55___53.85
W W Daniel_____15____0____0____25.4____52.53
A M E Roberts__119___8____2____25.85___54.03
S T Clarke_____27____1____0____31.56___62.85
L R Gibbs______33____2____0____32.52___99.94




Player__________W____5w___10w___Avg_____S/R
Intikhab Alam___23___0____0___27.35____69.09
Wasim Raja______20___0____0___27.75____63.3
Sarfraz Nawaz___93___4____1___27.88____65.78
Sikander Bakht__57___3____1___28.61____59.05
Imran Khan______93___5____1___30.24____63.44
M Mohammad______39___2____0___30.79____68.95
Abdul Qadir_____14___1____0___34.14____101.14
Iqbal Qasim_____40___1____1___38.33____105.23


Pakistan X1 1975-1979
Majid Khan
Sadiq Mohammed
Zaheer Abbas
Asif Iqbal
Javed Miandad
Mushtaq Mohammad (c)
Wasim Bari (k)
Imran Khan
Sarfraz Nawaz
Iqbal Qasim
Sikander Bakht

-----------------------------------------------

Summary:

1. Australia narrowly the No. 1 Ranked team for 1970-1974 with 153 points.

Rankings for 1970-1974:

Team__Points__Series__Normalised
AUS___61.21___8_______153.03
ENG___94.52___13______145.42
WIN___41.67___6_______138.90
PAK___33.33___5_______133.32
IND___29.33___5_______117.32
NZL___6.17____6_______20.57


Australia's Series Results:

Series___________Tests___Results
1969 SAF v AUS___4_______SAF 4-0
1970 AUS v ENG___7_______ENG 2-0
1972 ENG v AUS___5_______Drawn 2-2
1972 AUS v PAK___3_______AUS 3-0
1972 WIN v AUS___5_______AUS 2-0
1973 AUS v NZL___3_______AUS 2-0
1973 NZL v AUS___3_______Drawn 1-1
1974 AUS v ENG___6_______AUS 4-1
----------------------------------
Total----8 Series--------AUS won 4


2. West Indies Number 1 Ranked Team for 1975-1979 with 190 points.

Team__Points__Series__Normalised
WIN___76.08___8_______190.20
PAK___77.83___10______155.66
ENG___101_____13______155.38
IND___53.08___10______106.16
AUS___64.17___13_______98.72
NZL__-13.67___8_______-34.18


Westindies Series Results:

Series___________Tests___Results
1974 PAK v WIN___2_______Drawn 0-0
1975 AUS v WIN___6_______AUS 5-1
1975 WIN v IND___4_______WIN 2-1
1976 ENG v WIN___5_______WIN 3-0
1976 WIN v PAK___5_______WIN 2-1
1977 WIN v AUS___5_______WIN 3-1
1978 IND v WIN___6_______IND 1-0
1979 AUS v WIN___3_______WIN 2-0
-------------------------------
Total-----8 Series-------WIN won 5