Is Botham's 81 Ashes the greatest series performance?

[srbhkshk]

Whats the analysis meant to be based on?

1 wicket = 20 points , 1 run = 1 point. Adjusted for the number of matches played in the series (not strictly linear).

 

[Burgey]

Flintoff's right up there with Botham, isn't he? 400 runs and 24 wickets? Has nearly the same inspirational significance too.

Warne in the same series was actually better than Flintoff tbh but understandably and fairly Fred gets the biscuits (and plainly sampled them all) given his side won.

 

[honestbharani]

Yes, IMO.

 

[GIMH]

Warne in the same series was actually better than Flintoff tbh

He wasn’t

 

[Burgey]

Wrong

 

[subshakerz]

Wrong

Warne didn't just take 40 wickets but scored plenty of useful runs down the order. I agree he has as good if not better case than Flintoff.

 

[Coronis]

Yeah I didn’t realise but 249 runs + 40 wickets is pretty insane.

(Flintoff for comparison had 402 runs + 24 wickets)

And lets not forget Warne had 4 catches to Flintoff’s 3.

Despite the extra test, Botham scored less runs than Flintoff in their comparable Ashes. Unsurprisingly, the 81 series was a lot tougher for batting overall than 05.

 

[subshakerz]

Yeah I didn’t realise but 249 runs + 40 wickets is pretty insane.

(Flintoff for comparison had 402 runs + 24 wickets)

And lets not forget Warne had 4 catches to Flintoff’s 3.

Despite the extra test, Botham scored less runs than Flintoff in their comparable Ashes. Unsurprisingly, the 81 series was a lot tougher for batting overall than 05.

Close with Imran, 40 wickets and 247 runs.

 

[kyear2]

Marshall in India in '83 had 33 wickets @ 18, and 244 runs in the same 7 innings I believe.

Not as gaudy, but a match winning innings and defined the series with the ball.

 

[Fanboy375]

I think 1981 Ashes is the best ashes.2nd best may be 05

 

[Fanboy375]

As I said statistically, there may be several that beat it but Botham's ashes does have those two games where he single handedly turned certain defeat into a win.

Imran's 1982 series vs India is pretty crazy in terms of how far ahead he was of every other bowler. Insane numbers:

View attachment 40131

80s Imran is the best player in cricket.He wasn't good during 70s or early 90s.It is the 80s where he shines.If he was consist than he would be best all rounder and obviously best cricketer.He had bat ave of 50 and ball ave of 19.Even if you remove batsman out of him or bowler out of him he will still be one of the best in 80s

 

[mr_mister]

I'm partial to Smiths 2019 ashes, a)because it was returning from the year long ban and a lot of people thought he'd be nowhere near his best. And b) because when it looked like he might have been "figured out" during his 92(plus legit concussed so missed a test) he bounced back with a double ton.

 

[DrWolverine]

Since 1945

Most runs in Test series(5 or 6 Tests)
1. Mark Taylor : 839 runs in 11 innings
2. Neil Harvey : 834 runs in 9 innings
3. Viv Richards : 829 runs in 7 innings

Most runs in Test series(4 Tests)
1. Steven Smith : 769 runs in 8 innings
2. Jacques Kallis : 712 runs in 6 innings

Most runs in Test series(3 Tests)
1. Graham Gooch : 752 runs in 6 innings
2. Brian Lara : 688 runs in 6 innings
3. Muhammad Yusuf : 665 runs in 5 innings

Most runs in Test series(2 Tests)
1. Sanath Jayasuriya : 571 runs in 3 innings
2. Andy Flower : 540 runs in 4 innings

Most wickets in a series(3 Tests)
1. Richard Hadlee : 33 wickets
2. Harbhajan Singh : 32 wickets

Most wickets in a series(5 Tests)
1. Jim Laker : 46 wickets
2. Shane Warne : 40 wickets

 

[DrWolverine]

NewZealand have toured Australia 13 times and played 34 matches. They have won 1 series and 3 matches. That 1 series win was due to one person.

In 1985 tour NewZealand won 2-1.
Hadlee took 33 wickets in 6 innings.
1st Test : 9-52 and 6-71
2nd Test : 2-58 and 5-65
3rd Test : 5-65 and 6-90

 

[mr_mister]

Since 1945

Most runs in Test series(5 or 6 Tests)
1. Mark Taylor : 839 runs in 11 innings
2. Neil Harvey : 834 runs in 9 innings
3. Viv Richards : 829 runs in 7 innings

Most runs in Test series(4 Tests)
1. Steven Smith : 769 runs in 8 innings
2. Jacques Kallis : 712 runs in 6 innings

Most runs in Test series(3 Tests)
1. Graham Gooch : 752 runs in 6 innings
2. Brian Lara : 688 runs in 6 innings
3. Muhammad Yusuf : 665 runs in 5 innings

Most runs in Test series(2 Tests)
1. Sanath Jayasuriya : 571 runs in 3 innings
2. Andy Flower : 540 runs in 4 innings

Most wickets in a series(3 Tests)
1. Richard Hadlee : 33 wickets
2. Harbhajan Singh : 32 wickets

Most wickets in a series(5 Tests)
1. Jim Laker : 46 wickets
2. Shane Warne : 40 wickets

Most wickets in a 4 test series a curious omission!

 

[DrWolverine]

Most wickets in a 4 test series a curious omission!

33 wickets in 4 Tests by Alf Valentine. Not that impressive since I mentioned Hadlee already took 33 wickets in “just” 3 Tests

 

[Coronis]

Bradman’s 1930 Ashes is still pretty great too. For comparison vs Smith’s 2019 Ashes.

Bradman 7 innings 974
Smith 7 innings 774

Most runs by teammate:
Woodfull 7 innings 345
Labuschagne 7 innings 353

4 tons for Bradman, 5 for the rest of both teams. 3 tons for Smith, 4 for the rest of both teams.

Both England’s best batsmen in that series (Sutcliffe and Duleep - Hobbs and Hammond relatively struggled, like Root) only played 4 tests and 7 innings and ended up with 400ish runs, both less Stokes, though he played all 5 matches and 10 innings. Pitches probably a little friendlier in 19.

Hammond’s series of 905 came in quite a high scoring series. I’ve got no clue whether these are records, but they had 17 total centuries scored in that series (9 for Australia and 8 for England) by 11 different players (6 for Australia and 5 for England). I know it is second on the list for most total runs in a series, behind the 93 Ashes. Positions 1, 3, 4 and 5 are all taken by 6 test series.

 

[Swamp Witch Hattie]

NewZealand have toured Australia 13 times and played 34 matches. They have won 1 series and 3 matches. That 1 series win was due to one person.

In 1985 tour NewZealand won 2-1.
Hadlee took 33 wickets in 6 innings.
1st Test : 9-52 and 6-71
2nd Test : 2-58 and 5-65
3rd Test : 5-65 and 6-90


View attachment 43281

All 33 wickets (even though the cricket crazies here have probably already seen this video):

 

[Coronis]

All 33 wickets (even though the cricket crazies here have probably already seen this video):

People talking about Hadlee being too similar to McGrath really ought to watch some of the swing in this video.

 

[Chin Music]

Smith 2019 Ashes

In terms of individual performance yes, although in the end, Australia didn't win that series. The fact that England won that 81 series is probably why Botham would edge it.