Shane Watson retirement: Statistical analysis of international career runs

Shane Watson retirement: Statistical analysis of international career runs

Shane Watson entertained his fans throughout his career irrespective of format, match situation, opposition, bowler, pitch, and other conditions. His career came to an end when he played his last international innings yesterday on March 27, 2016 at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali in what was do-or-die contest against India. He was one of the most destructive Australian batsmen of his era. Watson is the only Australian player to score at least one century in all formats of the game. The cricket world will no longer see Watson smash those reckless boundaries in international cricket. On this occasion of his retirement, let’s analyse Shane Watson’s international career runs. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Australia, Super 10 Group 2, Match 31 at Mohali

Watson’s international career:

Shane Watson’s firsts in international cricket:

First innings: 2 vs South Africa at Centurion on March 24, 2002

First fifty: 77* vs Kenya at Nairobi on September 5, 2002

First hundred: 126 vs West Indies at Grenada on June 29, 2008

Shane Watson’s last in international cricket:

Last innings: 18* vs India at Mohali on March 27, 2016

Last fifty: 64* vs Pakistan at Adelaide on March 20, 2015

Last hundred: 124* vs India at Sydney on January 31, 2016

Watson’s distributions of runs – format wise:

Watson has proved himself in each and every format and his strike rate and average in all formats shows us that he was one of the great batsmen of Australian cricket. READ: Shane Watson retirement: End of a career replete with unfulfilled promise

Watson’s distribution of runs, by opposition:

Watson has scored more than 1,000 runs against four countries in his career — England, India, Pakistan and West Indies. READ: T20 World Cup 2016: Shane Watson’s retirement makes Australia’s dream of becoming T20I superpower more difficult

Watson has an average of more than 35 against all oppositions barring South Africa and Sri Lanka. He has scored most runs and hit most hundreds against England in his career.

Watson’s distribution of runs, by country:

Watson has scored more than one century in Australia, England, India and South Africa. He has scored a century in Bangladesh, UAE. and West Indies.

His average is above 30 in all countries barring Malaysia that showed us that he was a decent batsman in any conditions.

Watson’s Home vs Away record:

As is evident, there is not much difference in his home and away performance in terms of average.

Watson runs yearly distribution:

Watson did not score many runs till 2007 but from 2009 to 2013, he scored more than 1,000 runs in each year and that shows his consistency as a batsman. He scored 4 centuries in 2009 and 5 in 2013. He also got 2 in 2011. READ: Shane Watson vs James Faulkner: Who is the better all-rounder?

Watson’s distribution of runs – under different captains:

Watson was most successful under Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.

Watson’s distribution of runs – as captain and not as captain

Shane Watson has captained Australia in 11 matches and as a captain, he scored a century and two half-centuries but he was quite effective, when he was not the captain of Australia as above numbers just proving this statement right.

Watson’s distribution of runs – batting position wise:

Shane Watson has always preferred to open the batting for Australia because at opening position, he averaged more than 36 and in other positions, he averaged less than 36. He has also smashed 10 centuries while opening the innings for Australia.

Watson’s distribution of runs, split by result:

Shane Watson has performed decently in all type of matches as he hit 6 centuries in day matches, 7 centuries in day/night matches and a century in night matches.

Watson’s batting performance in big tournaments and major trophies:

Shane Watson has been known as an impact player throughout his career and his average of 53.58 in ODI World Cups, 41.18 in ICC Champions trophy and 42.48 in The Ashes, easily

Thank you, Watto for a glorious career and your contribution will be remembered forever!

(Umang Pabari is an Indian mechanical engineer and a cricket enthusiast. Rahul Dravid and AB de Villiers are his role models.)