Where does Ravindra Jadeja stand as a bowler in Tests on various parameters?

Ravindra Jadeja has been one of the sculptors of the Indian brownwash of Australia in 2012-13. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at Jadeja’s stature in the history of the sport.

Ravindra Jadeja has been one of the sculptors of the Indian brownwash of Australia in 2012-13. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at Jadeja’s stature in the history of the sport.

Several eyebrows were raised when MS Dhoni had opted for Ravindra Jadeja as the Test all-rounder in the fourth Test against England. Jadeja didn’t exactly take the world by storm in the Test, but he did a decent containing job with the ball. In the Australia series that followed, though, he was a revelation.

The series has propelled Jadeja’s numbers to 27 wickets from five Tests. He averages a spectacular 19.85, has a strike rate of 58.5 balls per wicket, and has conceded only 2.03 runs per over. His series numbers (4 Tests, 24 wickets at 17.45, a strike rate of 48.3, and an economy rate of 2.16) have been matched by few in the history of Indian cricket.

But where does Jadeja stand in Indian history?

Indian bowlers by average

If we put a 25-wicket cut-off, Jadeja actually leads the bowling averages in the history of Indian cricket. In fact, along with Jasu Patel, he is the only one who averages below 25.

Player	M	Balls	R	W	Ave	SR	Econ	5WI	10WM
Ravindra Jadeja	5	1,580	536	27	19.85	58.5	2.03	1	–
Jasu Patel	7	1,725	637	29	21.96	59.4	2.21	2	1
Praveen Kumar	6	1,611	697	27	25.81	59.6	2.59	1	–
Mohammad Nissar	6	1,211	707	25	28.28	48.4	3.5	3	–
Ravi Ashwin	16	5,433	2,625	92	28.53	59	2.89	9	2
Bishan Bedi	67	21,364	7,637	266	28.71	80.3	2.14	14	1
Bapu Nadkarni	41	9,165	2,559	88	29.07	104.1	1.67	4	1
Subhash Gupte	36	11,284	4,403	149	29.55	75.7	2.34	12	1
Kapil Dev	131	27,740	12,867	434	29.64	63.9	2.78	23	2
Anil Kumble	132	40,850	18,355	619	29.65	65.9	2.69	35	8

Using the same cut-off, Jadeja ranks fourth among all Indian bowlers. However, it must be remembered that seamers have historically had a better strike-rate than spinners, and the three bowlers above Jadeja — Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Nissar and Chetan Sharma — are all seamers.

Player	M	Balls	R	W	Ave	SR	Econ	5WI	10WM
Umesh Yadav	9	1,485	1,040	32	32.5	46.4	4.2	1	–
Mohammad Nissar	6	1,211	707	25	28.28	48.4	3.5	3	–
Chetan Sharma	23	3,470	2,163	61	35.45	56.8	3.74	4	1
Ravindra Jadeja	5	1,580	536	27	19.85	58.5	2.03	1	–
Irfan Pathan	29	5,884	3,226	100	32.26	58.8	3.28	7	2
Ravi Ashwin	16	5,433	2,625	92	28.53	59	2.89	9	2
Jasu Patel	7	1,725	637	29	21.96	59.4	2.21	2	1
Praveen Kumar	6	1,611	697	27	25.81	59.6	2.59	1	–
Zaheer Khan	88	17,612	9,545	295	32.35	59.7	3.25	10	1
Roger Binny	27	2,870	1,534	47	32.63	61	3.2	2	0

Indian bowlers by economy rate

Jadeja ranks third in terms of economy rate with a cut-off of 25 Test wickets.  The leader, as expected, is Bapu Nadkarni, and the only other person above him is Polly Umrigar. Among the others in the top 10, almost none (other than Venkathapaty Raju, who had made a brief appearance) has played cricket in the high-scoring 21st century.

Player	M	Balls	R	W	Ave	SR	Econ	5WI	10WM
Bapu Nadkarni	41	9,165	2,559	88	29.07	104.1	1.67	4	1
Polly Umrigar	59	4,725	1,473	35	42.08	135	1.87	2	–
Ravindra Jadeja	5	1,580	536	27	19.85	58.5	2.03	1	–
Lala Amarnath	24	4,241	1,481	45	32.91	94.2	2.09	2	–
Vinoo Mankad	44	14,686	5,236	162	32.32	90.6	2.13	8	2
Bishan Bedi	67	21,364	7,637	266	28.71	80.3	2.14	14	1
Ghulam Ahmed	22	5,650	2,052	68	30.17	83	2.17	4	1
Jasu Patel	7	1,725	637	29	21.96	59.4	2.21	2	1
Dilip Doshi	33	9,322	3,502	114	30.71	81.7	2.25	6	–
Venkathapaty Raju	28	7,602	2,857	93	30.72	81.7	2.25	5	1

Post-1990 bowlers by average

Let us now stretch to the world. Since the advent of 15-over powerplays has revolutionised One-Day International batting, and hence batting all over, it has obviously affected the runs scored — and hence the averages and economy rates of bowlers. If we consider a 25-wicket cut-off on post-1990 bowlers, Jadeja actually comes third after Vernon Philander and Bruce Reid.

Player	M	Balls	R	W	Ave	SR	Econ	5WI	10WM
Vernon Philander	16	3,279	1,525	89	17.13	36.8	2.79	9	2
Bruce Reid	9	2,193	948	51	18.58	43	2.59	5	2
Ravindra Jadeja	5	1,580	536	27	19.85	58.5	2.03	1	–
Curtly Ambrose	81	18,408	6,860	345	19.88	53.3	2.23	21	3
Brett Schultz	9	1,733	749	37	20.24	46.8	2.59	2	–
Glenn McGrath	124	29,248	12,186	563	21.64	51.9	2.49	29	3
Shane Bond	18	3,372	1,922	87	22.09	38.7	3.41	5	1
Allan Donald	72	15,519	7,344	330	22.25	47	2.83	20	3
Wasim Akram	75	16,424	7,130	320	22.28	51.3	2.6	20	4
Dale Steyn	65	13,666	7,523	332	22.65	41.1	3.3	21	5

Post-1990 bowlers by economy rate

Alternatively, if we consider the economy rates of bowlers since 1990, once again Jadeja is up there at the second spot — after Hansie Cronje. The way he has taken wickets and put a stranglehold on batsmen is remarkable.

Player	M	Balls	R	W	Ave	SR	Econ	5WI	10WM
Hansie Cronje	68	3,800	1,288	43	29.95	88.3	2.03	–	–
Ravindra Jadeja	5	1,580	536	27	19.85	58.5	2.03	1	–
Curtly Ambrose	81	18,408	6,860	345	19.88	53.3	2.23	21	3
Tim May	17	4,580	1,711	50	34.22	91.6	2.24	3	–
Venkathapaty Raju	28	7,602	2,857	93	30.72	81.7	2.25	5	1
Nathan Astle	81	5,688	2,143	51	42.01	111.5	2.26	–	–
Craig Matthews	18	3,980	1,502	52	28.88	76.5	2.26	2	–
Arshad Khan	9	2,538	960	32	30	79.3	2.26	1	–
Willie Watson	12	2,827	1,073	36	29.8	78.5	2.27	1	–

Left-arm spinners, all time

After I went up to this, I wondered — should we go back in time, and check for all-time bowlers? Let us begin with left-arm spinners. Jadeja is fourth — after Bobby Peel, Johnny Briggs, and Colin Blythe — none of whom played cricket after 1910.

Player	M	Balls	R	W	Ave	SR	Econ	5WI	10WM
Bobby Peel	20	5,216	1,715	101	16.98	51.6	1.97	5	1
Johnny Briggs	33	5,332	2,095	118	17.75	45.1	2.35	9	4
Colin Blythe	19	4,546	1,863	100	18.63	45.4	2.45	9	4
Ravindra Jadeja	5	1,580	536	27	19.85	58.5	2.03	1	–
Johnny Wardle	28	6,597	2,080	102	20.39	64.6	1.89	5	1
Ted Peate	9	2,096	683	31	22.03	67.6	1.95	2	–
Lindsay Kline	13	2,373	776	34	22.82	69.7	1.96	1	–
Pervez Sajjad	19	4,145	1,410	59	23.89	70.2	2.04	3	–
Michael Bevan	18	1,285	703	29	24.24	44.3	3.28	1	1
Hedley Verity	40	11,173	3,510	144	24.37	77.5	1.88	5	2

Spinners, all time

What if remove the left-arm criterion, then? Amazingly, only one more bowler comes in above Jadeja — Billy Bates — along with Peel, Briggs, and Blythe.

Player	M	Balls	R	W	Ave	SR	Econ	5WI	10WM
Billy Bates	15	2,364	821	50	16.42	47.2	2.08	4	1
Bobby Peel	20	5,216	1,715	101	16.98	51.6	1.97	5	1
Johnny Briggs	33	5,332	2,095	118	17.75	45.1	2.35	9	4
Colin Blythe	19	4,546	1,863	100	18.63	45.4	2.45	9	4
Ravindra Jadeja	5	1,580	536	27	19.85	58.5	2.03	1	–
Johnny Wardle	28	6,597	2,080	102	20.39	64.6	1.89	5	1
Jim Laker	46	12,027	4,101	193	21.24	62.3	2.04	9	3
Joey Palmer	17	4,517	1,678	78	21.51	57.9	2.22	6	2
H Trumble	32	8,099	3,072	141	21.78	57.4	2.27	9	3
Jasu Patel	7	1,725	637	29	21.96	59.4	2.21	2	1

  

Left-arm bowlers, all time

Comparing seamers and spinners is almost like comparing chalk and cheese, but why not compare Jadeja with the all-time left-arm bowlers? Jadeja comes sixth this time — with John Ferris and Bert Ironmonger making appearances along with Peel, Briggs, and Blythe.

Player	M	Balls	R	W	Ave	SR	Econ	5WI	10WM
John Ferris	9	2,302	775	61	12.7	37.7	2.01	6	1
Bobby Peel	20	5,216	1,715	101	16.98	51.6	1.97	5	1
Johnny Briggs	33	5,332	2,095	118	17.75	45.1	2.35	9	4
Bert Ironmonger	14	4,695	1,330	74	17.97	63.4	1.69	4	2
Colin Blythe	19	4,546	1,863	100	18.63	45.4	2.45	9	4
Ravindra Jadeja	5	1,580	536	27	19.85	58.5	2.03	1	–
Brett Schultz	9	1,733	749	37	20.24	46.8	2.59	2	–
Johnny Wardle	28	6,597	2,080	102	20.39	64.6	1.89	5	1
Alan Davidson	44	11,587	3,819	186	20.53	62.2	1.97	14	2
Frank Foster	11	2,447	926	45	20.57	54.3	2.27	4	–

  

All bowlers, all time

Okay, so what about all bowlers? Where does Jadeja stand in the all-time history, for bowlers with 25 or more wickets? As expected, he drops out of the top ten, but does make it to a very respectable 16th position. Mind you, of these bowlers, only Mike Procter, Philander, Bob Appleyard, Goofy Lawrence, and Frank Tyson have played after the Second World War.

Player	M	Balls	R	W	Ave	SR	Econ	5WI	10WM
George Lohmann	18	3,830	1,205	112	10.75	34.1	1.88	9	5
John Ferris	9	2,302	775	61	12.7	37.7	2.01	6	1
Albert Trott	5	948	390	26	15	36.4	2.46	2	–
Mike Procter	7	1,514	616	41	15.02	36.9	2.44	1	–
Billy Barnes	21	2,289	793	51	15.54	44.8	2.07	3	–
Billy Bates	15	2,364	821	50	16.42	47.2	2.08	4	1
Syd Barnes	27	7,873	3,106	189	16.43	41.6	2.36	24	7
Charlie Turner	17	5,179	1,670	101	16.53	51.2	1.93	11	2
Bobby Peel	20	5,216	1,715	101	16.98	51.6	1.97	5	1
Vernon Philander	16	3,279	1,525	89	17.13	36.8	2.79	9	2
Johnny Briggs	33	5,332	2,095	118	17.75	45.1	2.35	9	4
Bob Appleyard	9	1,596	554	31	17.87	51.4	2.08	1	–
Walter Lees	5	1,256	467	26	17.96	48.3	2.23	2	–
Bert Ironmonger	14	4,695	1,330	74	17.97	63.4	1.69	4	2
Goofy Lawrence	5	1,334	512	28	18.28	47.6	2.3	2	–
Fred Spofforth	18	4,185	1,731	94	18.41	44.5	2.48	7	4
Frank Tyson	17	3,452	1,411	76	18.56	45.4	2.45	4	1
Colin Blythe	19	4,546	1,863	100	18.63	45.4	2.45	9	4
George Finley-Bissett	4	989	469	25	18.76	39.5	2.84	2	–
Alex Kennedy	5	1,683	599	31	19.32	54.2	2.13	2	–
Ravindra Jadeja	5	1,580	536	27	19.85	58.5	2.03	1	–
Harry Boyle	12	1,743	641	32	20.03	54.4	2.2	1	–
Tip Snooke	26	1,620	702	35	20.05	46.2	2.6	1	1
Brett Schultz	9	1,733	749	37	20.24	46.8	2.59	2	–
Johnny Wardle	28	6,597	2,080	102	20.39	64.6	1.89	5	1

All in all, Jadeja has made an excellent start to his career. Let us not forget that he has three First-Class triple-hundreds — and if he makes it big with the bat at Test level and keeps up the good work with the ball, an extraordinary future lies ahead of him.
 
(Abhishek Mukherjee is a cricket historian and Senior Cricket Writer at CricketCountry. He generally looks upon life as a journey involving two components – cricket and literature – though not as disjoint elements. A passionate follower of the history of the sport with an insatiable appetite for trivia and anecdotes, he has also a steady love affair with the incredible assortment of numbers that cricket has to offer. He also thinks he can bowl decent leg-breaks in street cricket, and blogs at http://ovshake.blogspot.in. He can be followed on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ovshake and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ovshake42

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