Alastair Cook has come up with a rather curious comment, putting James Anderson and Dale Steyn in “the same class.” Abhishek Mukherjee explains why the comparison was a ludicrous one.
Though he is out-of-form off late, Alastair Cook is a fine batsman; a lot of critics had once vouched for him as the man who would go past Sachin Tendulkar’s records for most runs and hundreds. He was a struggling captain until recently, but he has found his groove back with back-to-back victories against India at Southampton and Old Trafford. Despite the criticism during the Ashes whitewash and the home series defeat against Sri Lanka, Cook is generally loved by all and sundry (including this columnist).
However, the same Alastair Cook has come out with a recent statement, comparing Dale Steyn and James Anderson: “You would put both of them in the same class.” While encouraging your spearhead is something expected of a captain, it is not a good idea to go overboard.
Let us compare the two men, who have been in the battle for the next man to the 400-wicket mark for some time now.
M
I
W
Ave
SR
5WIs
10WMs
W/I
W/M
James Anderson
99
184
378
29.83
58.3
16
2
2.05
3.82
Dale Steyn
75
142
383
22.56
41.7
24
5
2.70
5.11
Ratio
1.32
1.40
1.31
1.34
Let us have a look at the ratios: Steyn has a 32% better average than Anderson, and a 40% better strike rate. His wicket-per-match and wicket-per-innings are also over 30% when compared to Anderson’s. The comparison is really not a serious one. But, wait for a moment — did Cook want to say “in recent times” and had missed out on the phrase?
Year
Steyn
Anderson
Ave Ratio
SR Ratio
M
W
Ave
SR
M
W
Ave
SR
2010
11
60
21.41
39.0
12
57
22.96
48.7
1.07
1.25
2011
5
28
19.57
38.2
7
35
24.85
50.8
1.27
1.33
2012
10
39
29.71
58.5
14
48
29.50
70.7
0.99
1.21
2013
9
51
17.67
42.0
14
52
31.82
61.3
1.80
1.46
2014
6
33
19.03
37.9
8
38
22.89
50.8
1.20
1.34
Since 2010
41
211
21.42
43.1
55
230
26.60
56.8
1.24
1.32
Steyn has a 24% better average and a 32% better strike rate. Let alone better, Anderson’s numbers are not even comparable to Steyn’s! What did Cook imply then? An opposition-wise break-up? Did he intend to mean that Anderson’s records are better than Steyn’s against certain opponents (barring Bangladesh and Zimbabwe)?
Opposition
Steyn
Anderson
Ave Ratio
SR Ratio
M
W
Ave
SR
M
W
Ave
SR
Australia
14
69
27.13
45.8
23
77
36.96
67.0
1.36
1.46
England
11
46
32.63
56.3
India
12
63
20.93
40.4
19
80
27.41
55.1
1.31
1.36
New Zealand
10
58
17.05
34.3
10
46
25.04
43.5
1.47
1.27
Pakistan
10
47
21.82
44.3
7
32
17.65
46.5
0.81
1.05
South Africa
17
57
38.07
71.5
Sri Lanka
7
35
23.45
41.2
8
30
30.30
62.3
1.29
1.51
West Indies
6
35
18.68
34.3
11
36
27.72
59.9
1.48
1.75
Once again, the numbers are not comparable. Pakistan is the only country against whom Anderson has a better average, and even against them Steyn has a better strike rate. What, then, induced Cook to make the statement? Was it about venues (once again, we are leaving out Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, but including UAE)?
Opposition
Steyn
Anderson
Ave Ratio
SR Ratio
M
W
Ave
SR
M
W
Ave
SR
Australia
6
30
28.03
48.1
13
43
38.44
69.3
1.37
1.44
England
5
23
31.65
55.4
58
248
26.53
53.3
0.84
0.96
India
5
26
20.23
34.5
7
22
29.81
62.9
1.47
1.82
New Zealand
3
9
26.55
66.8
5
18
36.27
58.6
1.37
0.88
Pakistan
2
9
24.66
37.0
South Africa
40
214
21.39
39.9
5
18
38.72
65.6
1.81
1.64
Sri Lanka
4
21
24.71
39.0
4
11
40.72
74.0
1.65
1.90
UAE
4
14
32.78
65.2
3
9
27.66
71.8
0.84
1.10
West Indies
3
15
18.13
33.0
4
9
38.00
86.0
2.10
2.61
Anderson is certainly a better bowler at home (and has a better average at UAE, though Steyn has a better strike rate; Anderson has a better strike rate in New Zealand as well, but Steyn is easily the better bowler across venues. Let us add three more parameters, then, to be sure.
Parameter
Steyn
Anderson
Ave Ratio
SR Ratio
M
W
Ave
SR
M
W
Ave
SR
Matches won
40
269
15.89
31.3
44
207
22.63
44.9
1.42
1.43
Overseas (Away + Neutral)
35
169
24.05
43.9
41
130
36.13
67.9
1.50
1.55
In Asia
17
84
22.64
39.7
14
42
32.71
67.7
1.44
1.71
Surely there cannot be a comparison, Alastair Cook. But hang on, has Anderson been even the second best since 2010? Let us check (using a 100-wicket cut-off) and sort them by average:
M
I
W
Ave
SR
5WIs
10WMs
W/I
W/M
Dale Steyn
41
79
211
21.42
43.1
13
2
2.67
5.15
Vernon Philander
26
51
115
21.57
45.8
9
2
2.25
4.42
Ryan Harris
24
46
103
22.56
48.3
5
0
2.24
4.29
Saeed Ajmal
30
56
157
26.45
61.7
10
4
2.80
5.23
James Anderson
55
104
230
26.60
56.8
9
2
2.21
4.18
If we use strike rates, on the other hand, Anderson is not even the top English bowler from the last five years.
M
I
W
Ave
SR
5WIs
10WMs
W/I
W/M
Dale Steyn
41
79
211
21.42
43.1
13
2
2.67
5.15
Vernon Philander
26
51
115
21.57
45.8
9
2
2.25
4.42
Mitchell Johnson
29
55
127
26.74
47.5
8
2
2.31
4.38
Ryan Harris
24
46
103
22.56
48.3
5
0
2.24
4.29
Tim Southee
28
52
108
27.49
54.5
3
1
2.08
3.86
Morne Morkel
40
77
143
27.95
56.3
5
0
1.86
3.58
Stuart Broad
50
92
190
28.22
56.6
9
2
2.07
3.80
James Anderson
55
104
230
26.60
56.8
9
2
2.21
4.18
I’m sorry, Alastair Cook, but like many others, you have erred by comparing a once-in-a-generation bowler to a very good one. Steyn will be a contender for an all-time World XI by the time he retires; Anderson will struggle to make it to an all-time English XI.
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