Sachin, Lara, Sangakkara, Kallis, Ponting: Who is the greatest Test match-winner?

Scores distribution

Do the top batsmen actually raise their level of play in wins and avoid dismissals for low scores? Do they ensure that the fifties get converted into big centuries? We often think so. What do the numbers say?

The answer is that all batsmen considered fall below 50 in more than 50% of the innings (wins only). Kallis and Tendulkar have the highest % of innings where they have fallen under 50 (57% and 56%). However, when they do get a start, opposition teams are made to pay. Lara has made scores between 50 and 99 in 31% of the innings while Dravid and Sangakkara follow, with 24% each.

Only 6 of Lara’s 34 Test centuries came in wins and one of them was a magnificent 213 at Jamaica in 1999 against the powerful Australian team led by Steve Waugh. In 12 % of his innings, he made 100+ scores. Leading the way in this category, however, are Ponting (16%) and Dravid (14%).

While every batsman had a higher proportion of sub-50 scores in the career as compared to wins, Dravid, Ponting and Kallis are the ones who had a higher % of 100+ scores in wins as compared to their overall career figures.