Howdy folks. It's been a while since we had a draft.
So, rules are simple. You have to pick 11 players who debuted after the conclusion of World War II (We aint letting in any stat paddlers like Bradman and Spofforth ). Teams must consist of two genuine openers, a wicket keeper and at least 4 bowlers (with one of them being a spinner).
Order to be randomized once sign ups are complete.
The winner will be determined partly (50%) based on Muga's sim (if the dude can still get it up.......and running ) and 50% based on popular vote
Please do mention your willingness to engage in this absolutely useless exercise below.
Let's do a vote since there's division on this issue. Keep in mind this is about white ball cricket. Most countries prepare pitches to suit their bowling attacks in Test cricket. I don't think this is a huge issue, but you can discuss about SL pitches for Test cricket as well. The poll is about pitches for ODI and T20I.
Big three cricketing nations in talks to split tests into two divisions
Australia, England, India and the International Cricket Council’s new chair Jay Shah are in talks to split test cricket into two divisions so the big three nations can play each other more often in series like the just-completed Border-Gavaskar blockbuster.
Shah, Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird and England Cricket Board chair Richard Thompson are set to meet later this month. According to two sources with knowledge of talks, a two-tier structure for test cricket is firmly on the agenda.
Their discussions have been given further impetus by enormous crowds and broadcast audiences for Australia’s five matches against India over the past two months, the fourth-best attended series ever in this country and reportedly the most-watched test series ever played.
Any plan for a move to two divisions in test cricket would kick in after the end of the current Future Tours Program in 2027, a year which will also feature a 150th anniversary test match between Australia and England at the MCG.
Objective:
To investigate whether there has been a decline in Sri Lanka’s batting outcomes over the years, particularly against spin, and to identify the key factors influencing these trends.
Findings:
Bada and I analyzed data to see if Sri Lanka’s batting had declined against spin in recent years. Initially, I hypothesized that SL’s batting performance had dropped, but the data revealed a slightly different story.
• Overall Trends:
o From 2005 onwards, we observed a sharp decline in batting averages.
o The batting average grew steadily from 1980-1984 (19.61) to a peak in 2005-2009 (41.70), showcasing a period of strength in SL's batting lineup.
o However, the average declined significantly in 2015-2019 (27.98), reflecting struggles in transitioning batting lineups and adapting to changing conditions.
• Key Influences on the Decline:
o The retirement of iconic batters like Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, and Kumar Sangakkara played a pivotal role in the decline.
o These retirements left gaps in the lineup, forcing the team into a transitional phase.
• Recent Stabilization:
o The data shows a slight recovery in batting averages in recent years.
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Analysis 2: Bowler Averages (Spinners vs. Fast Bowlers)
Objective:
To compare the performance of spinners and fast bowlers (both SL and visiting teams) over time, focusing on their bowling averages to understand how their contributions have evolved.
Findings:
• Decline in Fast Bowlers:
o Both SL and visiting fast bowlers (FB) have seen a decline in effectiveness post-2005. This is evident from their rising averages, indicating reduced dominance in matches.
o SL’s reliance on spin and the evolving nature of Sri Lankan pitches appear to have diminished the impact of fast bowlers.
• Critical Periods of Change:
o 2005-2009:
SL spinners (SP) reached their peak dominance, recording their best average of 21.33. This period marked a clear shift towards spin as the primary bowling weapon in Sri Lanka.
o 2015-2019:
Visiting spinners (SP) closed the gap on SL spinners, achieving their best average of 28.37, highlighting their adaptation to spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka.
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Analysis 3: Wickets Taken by Spinners and Fast Bowlers
Objective:
To evaluate how the contribution of spinners and fast bowlers (both SL and visiting) has evolved over successive 5-year periods, focusing on the total wickets taken.
Findings:
• Spinners’ Growing Dominance:
o Both SL and visiting spinners have increasingly dominated the wicket tally since 2000 onward. This highlights a shift in strategy towards spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka.
o Key Turning Points:
1995-1999: SL spinners emerged as a significant force, with their total wickets jumping to 161.
2000-2004: SL spinners took control, peaking at 341 wickets, marking their most dominant phase.
2015-2019: Visiting spinners matched SL spinners in effectiveness, taking 268 wickets, demonstrating their ability to adapt to Sri Lanka's spin-friendly pitches.
• Decline of Fast Bowlers:
o SL fast bowlers are struggling, with their contributions decreasing significantly over time.
o Visiting fast bowlers, while impactful in earlier years, have also seen their influence wane.
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Analysis 4: Workload Analysis
Objective:
To assess the workload of spinners and fast bowlers (both SL and visiting teams) over time, analyzing the average number of overs bowled to understand how reliance on each type of bowler has shifted.
Findings:
• Spinners' Ascendance:
o Both SL and visiting spinners have seen a consistent increase in their workload over time.
o SL spinners' average overs bowled per match have risen significantly, peaking at 122.15 overs per match (2020-2025). This underscores their growing importance in Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
• Adaptation by Visiting Teams:
o Visiting teams have increasingly relied on spin in Sri Lanka, with visiting spinners now contributing more overs than their fast bowlers.
o This adjustment aligns with the spin-friendly conditions of Sri Lankan pitches.
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Analysis 5: Performance of Spinners (SL and Visiting Teams)
Objective:
To examine the performance of spinners (both SL and visiting teams) by analyzing total wickets and wickets per match over successive 5-year periods, highlighting their growing influence in Sri Lankan cricket.
Findings:
• SL Spinners’ Growth:
o SL spinners have become increasingly dominant, with their total wickets and wickets-per-match steadily rising over time.
o Key Periods of Change:
2020-2025: SL spinners continued to play a critical role, taking 226 wickets at an impressive 13.29 wickets per match.
• Visiting Spinners’ Adaptation:
o Visiting spinners have effectively adapted to Sri Lankan conditions, showcasing consistent improvements in performance:
2015-2019: Visiting spinners reached their peak performance, taking 268 wickets, nearly equaling SL spinners' contribution.
2020-2025: They maintained their influence with 153 wickets, showcasing their ability to exploit spin-friendly conditions.
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Analysis 6: FB/SP Ratio Analysis
Objective:
To analyze the ratio of wickets taken by fast bowlers (FB) to spinners (SP) over successive 5-year periods, highlighting the shifting dominance between the two types of bowlers.
Findings:
• The Shift Toward Spin:
o By 1995-1999, the FB/SP ratio had dropped to 0.51, marking the beginning of spinner dominance.
o The ratio remained below 1.0 from 2000-2004 onward, showcasing a steady reliance on spinners over fast bowlers.
• Spinner Dominance from 2000 Onward:
o The FB/SP ratio reached 0.83 (2000-2004), further dropping to 0.35 (2020-2025), the lowest point recorded. This underscores the increasing dominance of spin bowling in Sri Lanka.
• Recent Trends (2015-2025):
o From 2015-2019, the FB/SP ratio dropped sharply to 0.47, indicating a pronounced shift toward spin.
o The trend continued in 2020-2025, with a further decline to 0.35, solidifying the prominence of spinners in Sri Lankan cricket.
Implications:
• The steady decline in the FB/SP ratio highlights the strategic focus on spin-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka.
• Visiting teams have also adapted to these conditions, contributing to the growing importance of spinners on both sides.
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Analysis 7: Shift to Galle
Objective:
To examine Galle’s rise as a key Test venue in Sri Lanka and its strategic importance in driving spin-dominated results, including how external factors like COVID-19 restrictions influenced its prominence.
Findings:
Decline of Other Venues:
o Venues like Kandy and Moratuwa have been phased out over the years, consolidating Galle’s position as a primary alternative to Colombo-based venues.
• Galle’s Increasing Usage:
o Timeline:
Galle hosted its first matches during 1995-1999, emerging as a significant venue.
By 2020-2024, Galle had become the most frequently used venue, hosting 14 matches during this period.
• Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions:
o Around 2020, COVID-related travel and logistical restrictions led to Galle being prioritized as a main Test venue.
Impact on Match Outcomes
• Dramatic Shift in Results:
o 2000-2004: Matches with results increased sharply, with 24 out of 31 matches (77%) producing wins or losses. Galle hosted 9 matches during this period.
o 2005-2019: Galle maintained high win/loss rates:
2005-2009: 82% of matches had a result (18 out of 22 matches).
2015-2019: Galle hosted 9 matches, achieving a perfect 100% result rate, with all 24 matches in this period producing results.
• Recent Years (2020-2024):
o Galle hosted 14 matches, contributing to an 84% result rate (16 results out of 19 matches). The venue’s role became even more prominent during this period due to its suitability under COVID-19 restrictions.
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Reduction in Draw Rates
• Pre-Galle Era (1980-1994):
o The average draw rate during this period was 42%, reflecting slower pitches and a less result-oriented style of play.
• Post-Galle Era (1995-2024):
o The average draw rate dropped to 17%, driven by Galle’s spin-friendly conditions and its increased usage during critical periods like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Overall Insights
1. Spin Dominance: Spin-friendly conditions have reshaped Sri Lanka’s cricketing strategy, with spinners becoming the primary weapon for both SL and visiting teams.
2. Decline of Fast Bowlers: The contribution of SL and visiting fast bowlers has steadily decreased, reflecting their reduced impact on Sri Lankan pitches.
3. Venue Strategy: Galle has become central to Sri Lanka’s success, offering conditions that maximize the impact of spinners and ensure high result rates.
4. Adapting Visiting Teams: Visiting teams have increasingly relied on spinners to compete effectively in Sri Lanka, with noticeable success since 2015.
). Teams must consist of two genuine openers, a wicket keeper and at least 4 bowlers (with one of them being a spinner).
![[Image: Runs-and-Batting-AVG2.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/3N5HXpHq/Runs-and-Batting-AVG2.png)
![[Image: SP-v-FB-SL-and-Visiting-Bowl-Averages2.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/CK5YSSNc/SP-v-FB-SL-and-Visiting-Bowl-Averages2.png)
![[Image: SP-and-FB-Tot-Wkts-Breakdown2.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/Qd0s2HpB/SP-and-FB-Tot-Wkts-Breakdown2.png)
![[Image: Average-Overs-Bowled-by-SP-v-FB2.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/FK6vK8CN/Average-Overs-Bowled-by-SP-v-FB2.png)
![[Image: SL-v-Visiting-Spinners-Tot-Wkts-and-Wkts-Per-Match2.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/mDFs1jKM/SL-v-Visiting-Spinners-Tot-Wkts-and-Wkts-Per-Match2.png)
![[Image: FB-SP-Ratio-of-wickets-Taken2.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/Nf8QxNFk/FB-SP-Ratio-of-wickets-Taken2.png)
![[Image: Trend-of-matches-moving-to-galle.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/wxZkkVZM/Trend-of-matches-moving-to-galle.png)
![[Image: Draw-Won-Lost-1982-2024.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/GhDxgDnQ/Draw-Won-Lost-1982-2024.png)
