India146;s 3-6 vs Pak146;s 6-11

Going by history, and reports ahead of the Multan Test, it8217;s obvious that partnerships are going to play a significant role in determin...

Going by history, and reports ahead of the Multan Test, it8217;s obvious that partnerships are going to play a significant role in determining the outcome of the match. So, with the ODIs out of the way and the traditional format taking centrestage, we take a look at the partnerships Pakistan and India construct and the ones they allow to develop when bowling.

Before crunching numbers, though, we need to get the basics cleared. India8217;s last 20 Tests include the ones played in West Indies, England, New Zealand at home and away and Australia. India have won five 25, lost five 25, and drawn 10. Pakistan, in roughly the same timeframe, have played 19 and won 58 per cent 11 Tests. But there8217;s a more important qualitative difference: while they have swept series against Bangladesh twice and Zimbabwe, they have been swept away in Australia and South Africa.

8226; The graphics provide a good enough idea of what the top orders of either side can do. India 40.7 is quite some distance ahead of Pakistan 34.3 when it comes to their first innings averages. But the difference is closed out in their second essays. Pakistan average 33.7, while India hit up 32.9.

8226; India8217;s strength, as is rightly felt, is the middle order. Wickets three, four and five for India average 51.4, 60.0 and 66.2 through the period, while Pakistan average 47.5, 48.6 and 34.1. But for Pakistan, wickets one and two average 41.5 and 42.9, and six and seven average 38.6 and 31.3.

8226; Though we keep hearing about India8217;s brittle lower order, first innings wickets 7, 8 and 9 average 23.9, 23.2 and 21.6 for India.

8226; But there8217;s one reason why pundits give Pakistan a greater chance of winning the Test series. When they bowl, Pakistan concede an average of 27.30 per wicket, compared to India8217;s 38.98. That8217;s an additional 100-odd runs, crucial when batting last on a dodgy wicket.

In the first innings, India concedes 41.67 Pak: 32.50 and in the second, 33.02 Pak: 20.60. And that8217;s where the difference might crop up in the three Tests.