Comparison of ODI career stats - Smith/Williamson

I tasked myself to analyse Kane Williamson's ODI career compared to that of Steve Smith (after a Twitter tragic posted stats about Smith.)  It was quite an enlightening event and some great similarities.

 The stats are separated into first half of their careers (2010-2014) and the second half  (2014 to 2017)



Kane
 (2010 - 2014)
48 innings
7 NO's
3/100's
11/50's
1707 runs
41.63 Average


(2014- 2015)

51 Innings
4 NO
5/100's
19/50's
2621 Runs
55.77 Average

Steve Smith
(2010-2014)
27 Innings
4 NO
1/100's
0/50's
591 Runs
24.63 Average



(2014-2017)
56 Innings
8 NO
7/100's
15/50's
2625 Runs
54.68

Kane is well and truly the better performed in first half of career and continues to perform. But give him his dues, Steve is on a par with Kane's latter career (check runs scored).  Be interesting for someone to compare stats with captaincy??  Maybe another day.

Edited to add my research stats into Both Kane and Steve's reign since both attained captaincy. There are a plethora of similarities.

They both have been captains of their sides for the same period (early 2016)

Their innings in both ODI's and Tests match (give or take  a couple of innings)

Runs Scored and averages are close.

Steve Smith

ODI's  32 innings 5 NO,  9 x 50's  3 x 100's scoring 1225 runs at 45.37

Kane Williamson

ODI's  28 Innings  1 NO,  9 x 50's,  2 x 100's  scoring 1174 at 43.50

Steve Smith

Tests  32 innings  4 NO,  7 x 50's  9 x 100's, scoring 1746 runs at 62.4

Kane Williamson

Tests  25 innings  3 NO,  6 x 50's,  4 x 100's  scoring 1219 runs at 55.40


A clear case of nice being close (except Smith's exceeding Kane in Test 100's but remember Kane has played 7 test innings less than Smith.)

Poor Selections in Champions Trophy

So where have the high flying  Kiwi cricketers gone in the ODI world.  A less than inspiring tri series in Ireland should have given the management something to think about leading into the CT17.  Yes, given our top cricketers were away on IPL duty, but losing to Bangladesh then (and subsequently in the CT17) suggested management were not in touch with cricketing reality.


So what of the CT17 form.  Well simply put the middle and lower orders failed.  Broom, Neesham, Santner and Anderson failed to fire, the latter, bat and ball. deGrandhomme not a go to man when his recent form suggests he should be a permanent fixture, 5 with bat and slow bowler option. Anderson playing at 7 (Ronchi at 6 with Tom Latham opening)  After two games Santner was obviously out of his depth, so more experienced Patel a better option not used.

Saddest news - Blackcaps don't have a test/ODI until 2018 ish with a T20 tri-series in Feb with England/Australia.  Not a good look for them.  There is no programmed international cricket for a team that needs competition to rectify the twin losses recently to Bangladesh (On our conditions).

I'm not sure who has the final say in game day selections but Hesson/Williamson desperately need to get savvy with selections and consequently positive results.  Historically we have always had  a great Middle order and there has to be either a better performing incumbents or cut and thrust selections (George Worker at 5, deG 6 maybe)??

So having failed against England (with results similar to earlier Tri Series,) a chance opened for wholesale changes to ensure the Bangladesh result.  On a seam friendly pitch a good chance to go with 4 seamers (Boult, Southee, Milne and Henry) and deG & Patel.  Fair to say Ronchi isn't an opener and could better be used at 6 or 7 as a closer with the older ball. If our team's not doing it with the Bat  then we need a bowling team to help carry the weight a bit.

Winning in Black, over Gold, on Green Fields

Three ODI's down, two important tests to follow.  So what of this Aussie/Kiwi rivalry?  Well it's hardly surprising that just about any game between the two is bathed in controversy, and all are well documented.  My thoughts are this on all the matters.  Shit happens.  To err is human and more so when the Colosseum is heavily laden with two teams who hate losing and partisan crowds seeking that win as well.

And that leads to me writing about my team.  A winning team by and large at that.  In fact since Brendon McCullum was controversially handed the reins from Ross Taylor the Blackcaps have turned around from being a lower to mid table team in all formats to now being top 3 in most. And many players dot the player rankings as well.  It took a little while for them to draw the fans back but with a coach and captain  and a team driving the train on the straight and narrow and not losing often (yes I could have said Won many but that consistency still not at 100%).

So where to the future doth we ply our winning craft?  Common knowledge Kane will soon be the new captain with Brendon's retirement and the likely retirement of Ross in the coming years, where does this team go? Well to be honest I see only continuing success and giving the fans even more silverware and reasons to come to games.

And given the public has bought into the team.  Diehard fans have been vindicated.  The remainder nearly filling stadiums are a breath of fresh air.  NZ Cricket must be feeling great about the turnaround and so they should be.  And with Australia here and in fine form on matters not necessarily cricket related (whingers) we can now rightfully ride our wave and get the most from our game.

Test cricket??  The onslaught continues.  "Go Blackcaps!!"

West Island Cleared by Customs and ready to Play

Unlike PNG, it's near neighbour did manage to get their Visas in order.  This is good and bad, dependent on how you see it.  Being here means they have to play cricket against us.  Being here also means some 9 months later an errant night of drowning their sorrows will see another solo kiwi mother off to be Australia-ised.

But that's by the by.  It's about a month of cricket with 2nd ranked test nation up against 6th placed us. And the Chappell/Hadlee sees 1st placed Aussie up against rapidly rising 3rd place us.  Mouth watering indeed.  3 ODI's and 2 tests (yes I rue not having a third one) seems short, but with a compressed ODI/Test series leading into this series and then WT20C teams off to India on the back of this one, something had to give.

So what of this pesky little Aussie tour? Intriguing and probably a good gauge how both teams go with forced changes (NZ some batting changes, Aussie a weakened bowling attack.).  The ODI's will be fun if for the fact it is the first time in ages (It Seems) we have played it here.  Trainspotters will clarify that.  My blog though isn't about test cricket and ODI in particular.  Well it is actually but with a twist.  I have trawled CricInfo for the highest Test Batting score for both teams in both forms on NZ soil. I have also delved and found the best bowling figures for each country in tests and ODI in NZ.

Tests

Australia

Batting HS  KD Walters 250                      

Bowling  BBI  D Lillee 6-72

ODI

Australia

Batting HS  M Hayden 182

Bowling BBI  M Starc 6/28

New Zealand

Tests

Batting HS Bruce Edgar 161

Bowling BBI  Daniel Vettori 7/87

New Zealand ODI

Batting HS Craig McMillan and Ross Taylor share 117.

 









Bowling BBI Shane Bond 5/25

So there you go.  Mouth watering look at a series.