Cricket Low Strike Rates

Test cricket is that format of the game in which solely outscoring the opponent is not enough to win the game. Certain situations demand the batsman to consume an ample number of deliveries and to not lose their wicket to earn their team a draw. This aspect of Test cricket makes the game so enthralling as the game is not over until every wicket falls and there is always a chance for the batting team to put up a fighting display resulting in the match ending up as a draw.

Below is a list of such innings that feature some of the lowest strikes in Test cricket batting in which batsman has consumed several deliveries, and has shown great application and concentration during his stay at the batting crease.

1 Hashim Amla (South Africa, 2015) Strike Rate 10.24

In a Test match against India during which South Africa was faced with a target of 481 runs in the 4^th innings of a Test match. Hashim Amla and AB de Villers put on one of the most resilient partnerships in the history of Test cricket. The South African duo was part of a 27 run partnership during which they faced 253 balls before dismissal. Amla just score 25 runs off 244 balls that he faced at a strike rate of just 10.24, which became the innings with the lowest strike rate in Test cricket history(over 100 balls faced). Despite his effort, India ended up winning the Test match.

2 Jack Russell (England, 1995) Strike Rate 12.34

He played out one of the best innings in Test history as England avoided defeat against South Africa in 1995. Having set a target of 479 runs for England, South Africa was well on their way to dismiss the English batsmen until along came Russell. He showed great resilience as he remained unbeaten on 29 not out after facing 235 balls at a strike rate of just 12.34. England ended up with a score of 351 for 5, with the match ending as a draw.

3 Jos Butler (England, 2021) Strike Rate 12.56

The English wicket keeper batsman is well known for his incredible striking ability. But in this Ashes Test series, he played an innings that nearly helped England draw the Test match. Having to chase 468 runs in the 4^th innings, England was staring defeat as wickets fell at regular intervals but Butler seemed resilient. Playing a defiant knock he managed to score a total of 24 runs after facing 207 balls at a strike rate of just 12.56.

4 Arvinda de Silva (Sri Lanka, 1994) Strike Rate 14.13

He etched his name in history books when he played an innings that was strikingly different from his normal style. In the 2^nd Test match with Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka was in a bit of trouble having to follow on after being dismissed in their first innings for 218 runs. The start of 2^nd innings for Sri Lanka was just bad as their first innings as the team lost early wickets. However, Arvinda de Silva batted out skillful innings in which he scored 27 runs after facing 191 balls at a strike rate of just 14.13. Sri Lanka was able to save this Test match.

5 AB de Villiers (South Africa, 2015) Strike Rate 14.47

As mentioned in 1 above he and Hashim Amla were involved in a 27 run partnership during which they faced 253 balls, before they were dismissed. In this innings, de Villiers batted out a patient knock, when he scored 43 runs in 297 balls at a strike rate of just 14.47. The effort of the South African duo went in vain as India went on to win the match by 337 runs, but this partnership of Amla and de Villiers is widely regarded as one of the most resilient partnerships in the history of the game. Their innings came on the turning track of Delhi in 4^th innings. In such batting conditions, the efforts and concentration required to play out such a skillful knock by South African batsmen is truly a herculean feat that will be hard to emulate in the times to come.

Surprisingly, no Indian batsman is there in this list of top 5 batsmen with the slowest strike rates.

I hope you will find the above information quite interesting.

Waiting for your views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

25^th February 2022