In this week’s Cricket Nerd feature in The Telegraph, Andrew Fifield used CricViz data to analyse how teams succeed in Sri Lanka
Unsurprisingly, there is a strong bias towards spin-bowling in Sri Lankan conditions, with the data showing that no country offers more deviation, on average.
Fifield points out that ‘no country boasts a better average for spin bowlers’ and that, ‘in the six series wins for visiting teams in Sri Lanka since the start of 2010, spinners have bowled 53 per cent of the overs.’
However, Fifield also highlights the role the seamers could play in Sri Lanka, noting that, ‘since 2010, in Tests won by the visiting side, their pace bowlers average 24.44 in the first 20 overs, considerably lower compared to matches they have lost or drawn. It means there will be a key role for James Anderson and Stuart Broad in the Tests they play.’
Finally, Fifield draws attention to the importance of first innings runs in Sri Lanka, stating that, ‘since the start of 2010, visiting teams have averaged 42.36 runs per dismissal in the first innings in Sri Lanka. Of all host countries, teams have averaged better in the first innings only in Bangladesh and India.’
Read the full article here