World Series Cricket Stats

[Line and Length]

When comparing ATGs, it is often easy to overlook the fact that, with the advent of WSC, a number of fine players have had a significant slice of their careers overlooked as these matches haven't been included in discussions and/or career stats. In all, there were 16 so called Super Tests involving Australia, West Indies and Rest of the World.

A number of big names appear when we look at most runs, batting averages, most wickets and bowling averages.

	RUNS	AVERAGE
Greg Chappell	1415	58.23
Viv Richards	1281	56.60
Ian Chappell	893	35.72
David Hookes	771	38.55
Gordon Greenidge	754	35.90
Clive Lloyd	683	37.94
Bruce Laird	630	25.20
Roy Fredericks	621	34.50
Lawrence Rowe	570	43.85
Barry Richards	554	79.14
	WICKETS	AVERAGE
Dennis Lillee	67	26.87
Andy Roberts	50	24.14
Ray Bright	42	29.71
Michael Holding	35	23.09
Joel Garner	35	24.77
Colin Croft	30	28.87
Len Pascoe	30	32.00
Max Walker	28	25.42
Imran Khan	25	20.84
Gary Gilmore	23	34.87

What needs to be considered is that Australia played in 15 of these "Tests" while the West Indies played in 11 and The Rest of the World in just 6. (Of these, the Rest of World side won 5, Australia 4 and WI 3 with 4 Aust v WI games drawn.)
This makes the figures of Barry Richards and Imran all the more impressive. It should also be noted that Garth le Roux took 17 wickets at just 15.88 and Mike Proctor 14 @ 16.07

Clearly, these figures justify Viv Richards, Greg Chappell and Barry Richards being rated highly when discussing ATG batsmen.

Similarly, Imran's bowling figures are outstanding while it is noticeable that the trio of WI quicks in Holding, Roberts and Garner compare more than favourably with Lillee.

 

[Daemon]

Always held that these should just be added into Test stats.

They must’ve been awesome to watch back in the day. So many epic names.

 

[Line and Length]

Always held that these should just be added into Test stats.

They must’ve been awesome to watch back in the day. So many epic names.

I saw the Perth games live and was glued to the TV for the remainder.

 

[Burgey]

I loved how the World XI in that comp drew players from the WI team when they weren't playing.

And that classic Tony Cozier commentary when Viv and Barry Richards were batting together and going beserk in one game where he said "For those viewers at home with black and white TVs, Barry is the one in the helmet...."

 

[Burgey]

I saw the Perth games live and was glued to the TV for the remainder.

Yeah it was pretty compelling stuff as a kid. Changed everything really.

 

[Immenso]

What about the Rest of The World XIs that did tours in place of cancelled apartheid era South African tours?

Seeing as the ICC Wold X1 was given test status back in 2005 for that match, I wonder if these should be given retrospective test status? (I mean, all the early test cricket between Australia and England was given test status retrospectively).


England 1970

Rest of the World cricket team in England in 1970 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

.

World XI in Australia, 1971-72: 'Test' Statistics

Cricinfo Australia is Cricinfo's dedicated homepage for scores, news and articles about Australian cricket

static.espncricinfo.com

Australia 1971/72 - 5 'test' series:

Rest of the World cricket team in Australia in 1971–72 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Stats: http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/A...RLD-XI_IN_AUS_NOV1971-FEB1972_TEST-STATS.html

 

[Burgey]

John Benaud played in the ROW series in Aus. He's one of the great "what if" stories of Aus cricket. Barely played a game but was a quality player.

Famously dropped from a game because he wore rubber soled shoes.

 

[_00_deathscar]

What were the pitches like? The bowling averages for quite a few are worse than their career averages, while the batsmen’s are more in line or better.

 

[Burgey]

Do you mean in WSC? In the first series they weren't allowed access to regular grounds so they used the first ever drop in pitches at the Sydney Showground and (I think) the old VFL Park at Waverley. I think in the second season they were at the usual venues.

I don't think by reputation the first season decks were all that good, but tbf the blokes were terrific bowlers who were also bowling to ridiculous batting line ups. You had the Chappells with Greg at his peak, Walters at close to his, both Richards in their pomp, Greenidge, Lloyd, Asif. The allrounders then were guys like Imran, Procter, Greig and Gus Gilmour. FMD there were some serious players doing the rounds there.

 

[Immenso]

These are the averages of the 1970 Rest Of World XI tour:
(but stats are of 6 FC matches - as includes the invitation match at the end of the tour. The tour was 5 'tests' and 1 'other' match. But all recorded as FC matches in official stats. But gives you an idea

Batting: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...st_runs_career.html?class=4;id=2587;type=tour
Bowling: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...wickets_career.html?class=4;id=2587;type=tour

I'm sure - if Sobers, Barlow and Procter were of the stats-minded type - then they would love this tour to be recognised ...

 

[honestbharani]

Always held that these should just be added into Test stats.

Unless there is any fixing cloud around this, they should, IMO.

 

[Burgey]

I don't know that there is cos Australia kept getting pumped lol

I don't mind WSC being excluded tbh. As much as it was necessary (and inevitable it would happen somewhere), he fact is only select players were there. Thommo wasn't there for Aus, Gary Cosier was an incumbent and for some reason Packer hated him and didn't give him a game. No Kiwi or Indian players there (India was playing the establishment side that summer), so while it was no doubt elite cricket, I don't think it should go down as test cricket.

 

[Line and Length]

@Burgey - While I agree with your reasoning, one could claim that true Tests involving Australia at the time were devalued by the absence of Australia's elite.

 

[TheJediBrah]

What were the pitches like? The bowling averages for quite a few are worse than their career averages, while the batsmen’s are more in line or better.

Probably depends on the team they played for. If they played for the World XI their opposition was just a regular Aus team, but if they were playing against the World XI you'd expect their averages to be worse for obvious reasons

 

[_00_deathscar]

Do you mean in WSC? In the first series they weren't allowed access to regular grounds so they used the first ever drop in pitches at the Sydney Showground and (I think) the old VFL Park at Waverley. I think in the second season they were at the usual venues.

I don't think by reputation the first season decks were all that good, but tbf the blokes were terrific bowlers who were also bowling to ridiculous batting line ups. You had the Chappells with Greg at his peak, Walters at close to his, both Richards in their pomp, Greenidge, Lloyd, Asif. The allrounders then were guys like Imran, Procter, Greig and Gus Gilmour. FMD there were some serious players doing the rounds there.

Was more thinking along an older discussion on ATG teams playing each other that the bowlers would still win out more regularly in 2 ATG packed lineups because it just needs one ball to dismiss a batsman, and thus generally have low or averages similar to their current standing, while batsmen averages would slip down a bit.

Didn't really seem to have worked out that way so was curious re: pitches.

 

[Burgey]

@Burgey - While I agree with your reasoning, one could claim that true Tests involving Australia at the time were devalued by the absence of Australia's elite.

Yeah that's certainly true.

 

[OverratedSanity]

These are the averages of the 1970 Rest Of World XI tour:
(but stats are of 6 FC matches - as includes the invitation match at the end of the tour. The tour was 5 'tests' and 1 'other' match. But all recorded as FC matches in official stats. But gives you an idea

Batting: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...st_runs_career.html?class=4;id=2587;type=tour
Bowling: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...wickets_career.html?class=4;id=2587;type=tour

I'm sure - if Sobers, Barlow and Procter were of the stats-minded type - then they would love this tour to be recognised ...

What a freak Sobers was

 

[Burgey]

What a freak Sobers was

GOAT

Fmd GIMH and the like want to polish Flintoff's knob over his 05 Ashes series. Imagine averaging 70 over five tests with the bat and 21 with the ball. It's ****ing wrong.

 

[Line and Length]

Those CW members who are reluctant to acknowledge Barry Richards as an ATG due to how few Tests he played should look at his performances in WSC when facing the likes of Roberts, Holding, Garner and Lillee. Averaging almost 80 (in a competition in which only Viv Ricards and Greg Chappell were the only others to average over 50) speaks volumes.

 

[Burgey]

I love how nonchalantly he played the pull shot. Pace was not a problem for him, that's for sure.