A statistical preview of the second Test between India and Pakistan in Kolkata beginning on November 30, 2007
George Binoy29-Nov-2007
India have played 34 Tests at Eden Gardens of which they’ve won eight and lost as many. Four of those wins, however, have come in the last six Tests; two against Australia, and one each versus South Africa and Pakistan.
Pakistan have played twice in Kolkata in the last ten years. They staged a remarkable comeback after being reduced to 26 for 6 in the first innings to win in 1998-99 but lost in 2004-05.
Like several other Indian venues, batting first will be the way to go at Eden Gardens. The captain winning the toss has batted first in 29 out of 34 Tests and no team has opted to bowl first in the last nine Tests in Kolkata.
The decision to bat is backed up by the fact that the average runs per wicket drops drastically from 32.21 in the first innings to 24.68 in the last six Tests at Eden Gardens.
Batting averages across innings at Eden Gardens (Last 10 years)
Innings
Runs
Avg
100s
1st
1933
32.21
3
2nd
2328
42.32
6
3rd
2254
41.74
6
4th
790
24.68
0
Spinners have played a significant role in the fourth innings in Kolkata. Since 1997, the spinners have bowled 175.4 overs in the final innings and taken 23 wickets at an average of 18.65 and a strike-rate of 45.8, a massive improvement from their figures in the first three innings.
Spinners in each innings at Eden Gardens (Last 10 years)
Innings
Overs
Wickets
Avg
Strike-rate
1st
260.4
20
36.20
78.2
2nd
317
20
51.05
95.1
3rd
316.2
23
40.65
82.5
4th
175.4
23
18.65
45.8
On the whole, however, there isn’t much to choose from between spin and pace. Spinners have taken 86 wickets in 1069.4 overs at an average of 36.15 while fast bowlers have fared marginally better.
Spin v Pace at Eden Gardens (Last 10 years)
Type of bowler
Overs
Wickets
Avg
Strike-rate
5wi
Spin
1069.4
86
36.15
74.60
6
Pace
1193.4
103
35.46
69.5
2
Opening batsmen have prospered at Eden Gardens. The first-wicket partnership has averaged 52.50 in 22 innings with four century stands and five half-century partnerships. The highest was 191 between VVS Laxman and Navjot Sidhu against Australia in 1998.
VVS Laxman’s 281 against Australia in 2001 is the highest individual score at Eden Gardens. He also has the best record among the Indian batsmen in Kolkata, scoring 786 runs in seven Tests at an average of 71.45. Rahul Dravid had a fantastic outing in the last Test played here; he scored twin centuries against Pakistan in 2004-05 to set up India’s victory.
Current Indian batsmen at Eden Gardens
Batsman
Matches
Runs
Avg
100s
HS
VVS Laxman
7
786
71.45
2
281
Rahul Dravid
7
785
65.41
3
180
Sachin Tendulkar
8
555
42.69
1
176
Sourav Ganguly
7
292
24.33
0
65
Pakistan’s batting hinges on Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, both of whom have scored centuries at Eden Gardens. Yousuf is the only player in the team to have played more than one Test in Kolkata and he’s scored 184 runs at an average of 46.60 while Younis scored 147 runs in his only Test in Kolkata in 2004-05.
Anil Kumble took ten wickets in 2004-05 to bowl India to victory against Pakistan but it’s Harbhajan Singh who has the best record among India’s bowlers. Harbhajan has taken 33 wickets from five Tests at Eden Gardens at an average of 20.87.