Statistical comparison between Michael Clarke and Kevin Pietersen

The Ashes Numbers

For any player from Australia or England, the biggest Test is always the Ashes. Their careers are practically determined by how they play in an Ashes series. Even if they do not impress in other tours, a single good Ashes series means redemption. It is not so different in the case of Clarke or Pietersen, as a quick look at their Ashes stats will reveal:

Overall Ashes Statistics:

Player	Matches	Runs	Average	100/50s	Highest
Michael Clarke	35	2241	40.74	7/7	187
Kevin Pietersen	27	2158	44.95	4/13	227

Kevin Pietersen has undoubtedly excelled Clarke in the Ashes, playing 8 lesser matches but only scoring 83 runs lesser than him. His average is also more than 4 runs higher than Clarke. A quick look at the statistics home and away will also prove the same:

Ashes Statistics: Home

Player	Matches	Runs	Average	100/50s	Highest
Michael Clarke	15	945	41.08	4/2	148
Kevin Pietersen	12	1014	44.08	2/7	158

Ashes Statistics: Away

Player	Matches	Runs	Average	100/50s	Highest
Michael Clarke	20	1296	40.50	3/5	187
Kevin Pietersen	15	1144	45.76	2/6	227

Once more, the stats prove that Pietersen enjoyed a much better Ashes than Clarke, outscoring him completely at home. Away from home, Clarke has more runs than Pietersen, but only 152 runs in 5 matches. Pietersen has more fifties than Clarke both home and away, but Clarke has more number of hundreds. It is also interesting to note that Clarke does not have a double-century in the Ashes, while Pietersen’s highest Test score of 227 came in the Adelaide Oval in 2010.

But when the statistics for winning contributions are pulled, the honours are suddenly exchanged. While England have won 4 Ashes Tests with Pietersen making fifty runs or more, Australia have won no less than 7 Tests when Michael Clarke has done the same.

While Pietersen has scores of 71, 227, 51 and 64 at an average of 103.25, Clarke boasts much more consistent numbers of 91, 56, 124, 135*, 93, 113 and 148 at an average of 126.66. So it is clear that while Pietersen has better numbers than Clarke in the Ashes, Clarke has led Australia to more wins than Pietersen.

Final Say

It is apparent that there is no clear winner between Clarke and Pietersen when it comes to statistics alone. They are both very different batsmen - while one is watchful and meticulous, the other is dynamic and aggressive. While Clarke leads the way in Test matches played in countries like Australia, England, New Zealand and West Indies, Pietersen is arguably the better player in the subcontinent.

Contrastingly, Clarke has the better numbers in the subcontinent in the ODIs with a 50+ average against all subcontinent teams, but Pietersen is miles ahead of Clarke in South Africa, with an average of 84. While Pietersen has similar stats in both innings in ODIs, Clarke has extremely good numbers while chasing. But in Test matches, it is the direct opposite, as Clarke piles on the runs while batting first, but fails in the second innings.

Much like how the lives and careers of Clarke and Pietersen have no similarity between them, their statistics also show lots of contrasts and variations. The two will never play together again. Clarke has already hung up his boots. Pietersen waits forlornly for a call-back that might never come. If there is anything that can be agreed upon regarding the two cricketers, it is that the game of Cricket will be poorer without them.