Batting performances in England in the World Cup -- Part II

Continuing our look at how sides have fared with the bat in England, the average batting strike-rate in the first three World Cups have been 65.12 runs per 100 balls.

Not a high figure specially when the next three competitions (in the Indian subcontinent and Australasia) saw a steep increase in the run-rate to 77.26 runs per 100 balls in 102 matches. However, it should be noted that the matches played in England were of 60-overs-a side. This obviously explains the reasons for the slower run-rate. Table A below gives a comparison for the first three World Cups and for the last three.

Table A:

Venue	Matches	Runs scored	Wkts lost	Runs / wkt	Runs / 100 balls
In England	56	23376	818	28.58	65.12
Away from England	102	42854	1373	31.21	77.26
Total	158	66230	2191	30.23	72.49

A look at individual batting performances will reveal that despite difficult batting conditions in England, batsmen who were prepared to go for the bowling have always excelled. Table B lists batsmen with over 200-plus aggregate runs on the basis of best strike-rates, i.e. runs scored off every 100 balls in the WC matches played in England:

Table B:
Best career strike-rates among batsmen with over 200 runs in England
(in World Cup)

Player	Country	M	Ins	No	Runs	Avge	HS	100	50	R/100b
Kapil Dev	India	11	11	3	356	44.50	175*	1	-	106.91
SM Patil	India	8	8	1	216	30.86	51*	-	2	91.53
RW Marsh	Aust	11	11	4	220	31.43	52*	-	2	85.94
CH Lloyd	WI	17	11	2	393	43.67	102	1	2	84.88
DL Amiss	Eng	4	4	-	243	60.75	137	1	1	84.38
DI Gower	Eng	12	11	3	434	54.25	130	1	1	82.20
AJ Lamb	Eng	7	6	2	278	69.50	102	1	1	79.89
Zaheer Abbas	Pak	14	14	2	597	49.75	103*	1	4	78.35
A Turner	Aust	5	5	-	201	40.20	101	1	-	77.61
Javed Miandad	Pak	12	11	1	318	31.80	72	-	2	76.08
IVA Richards	WI	17	15	5	622	62.20	138*	2	2	75.21

A look at the other end of the scale will also reveal the batsmen with the worst aggregate strike-rates. Table C lists such batsmen. Interestingly, some of the names in the list would raise eyebrows!

Table C:
Worst career strike-rates among batsmen with over 200 runs in England
(in World Cup)

Player	Country	M	Ins	No	Runs	Avge	HS	100	50	R/100b
SM Gavaskar	Ind	12	12	2	261	26.10	65*	-	2	43.57
Mohsin Khan	Pak	7	7	-	223	31.86	82	-	2	44.16
M Amarnath	Ind	14	12	-	254	21.17	80	-	1	46.61
CJ Tavare	Eng	7	7	-	212	30.29	58	-	1	49.07
JG Wright	NZ	9	9	-	249	27.67	69	-	1	54.13
JV Coney	NZ	10	8	2	244	40.67	66*	-	2	54.59
RL Dias	SL	8	8	1	225	32.14	64*	-	2	54.74
DL Haynes	WI	12	12	1	384	34.91	88*	-	2	55.65
HA Gomes	WI	8	7	3	258	64.50	78	-	3	55.97
KJ Hughes	Aus	8	8	1	218	31.14	69	-	2	57.52
CG Greenidge	WI	15	15	2	591	45.46	106*	2	4	58.51