Stats Dossier: Basin Reserve, Wellington
Rajneesh Gupta
Basin Reserve in Wellington is not one of India’s favourite grounds. The following table tells us why.
Two teams at Wellington
|
|
Mts
|
Won
|
Lost
|
Drawn
|
|
New Zealand
|
48
|
14
|
16
|
18
|
|
India
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
India’s Test matches at Wellington
|
#
|
Season
|
Result
|
Batted 1st
|
Batted 2nd
|
|
1
|
2002-03
|
NZ-10 wickets
|
Ind 161 & 121
|
NZ 247 & 36-0
|
|
2
|
1998-99
|
NZ-4 wickets
|
Ind 208 & 356
|
NZ 352 & 215-6
|
|
3
|
1980-81
|
NZ-62 runs
|
NZ 375 & 100
|
Ind 223 & 190
|
|
4
|
1975-76
|
NZ-Inns & 33 runs
|
Ind 220 & 81
|
NZ 334
|
|
5
|
1967-68
|
Ind-8 wickets
|
NZ 186 & 199
|
Ind 327 & 59-2
|
The Wellington pitch shows a very interesting trend. Initially the pitch assists the bowlers, but eases up a bit in the second innings. Third innings of the match produces the lowest runs per wicket ratio. But in the fourth innings batting becomes comparatively easy, which is very surprising.
The average runs per wicket ratio in various innings has changed over the years, but the pitch has not changed its behaviour a bit.
Average runs per wicket at Wellington
|
Runs / wicket
|
1st Inns
|
2nd Inns
|
3rd Inns
|
4th Inns
|
|
Overall
|
31.71
|
34.63
|
26.95
|
32.41
|
|
Since 2000
|
29.98
|
32.53
|
24.16
|
42.59
|
|
Last 5 Tests
|
23.12
|
32.96
|
25.69
|
31.7
|
|
Indian batting
|
19.63
|
27.5
|
19.24
|
20.75
|
Among the Indian batsmen, only Sachin Tendulkar has something to show against his name. His 113 in 1998-99 is in fact the second highest score by an Indian (and only the third century in five Tests) here. Even Rahul “The Wall” Dravid has struggled here with just one fifty in four innings. Sehwag managed the scores of 2 & 12 in his only Test (in 2002-03), while Laxman had an entirely forgettable outing as he bagged a pair in the same Test.
Indian batsmen at Wellington
(from the current squad)
|
Batsman
|
Mts
|
Runs
|
Avg
|
100/50
|
|
Sachin Tendulkar
|
2
|
219
|
54.75
|
1/1
|
|
Rahul Dravid
|
2
|
111
|
27.75
|
0/1
|
|
Virender Sehwag
|
1
|
14
|
7.00
|
0/0
|
|
VVS Laxman
|
1
|
0
|
0.00
|
0/0
|
New Zealand batsmen at Wellington
(from the current squad)
|
Batsman
|
Mts
|
Runs
|
Avg
|
100/50
|
|
Ross Taylor
|
1
|
108
|
54.00
|
0/2
|
|
Brendon McCullum
|
7
|
294
|
29.40
|
0/2
|
|
James Franklin
|
4
|
114
|
28.50
|
-
|
|
Daniel Vettori
|
16
|
502
|
26.42
|
0/4
|
|
James How
|
3
|
83
|
16.60
|
0/0
|
Pace versus Spin at Wellington
Pacers have done most of the harm in the Tests at the Basin Reserve than the Spinners. Of the 159 wickets which went into bowlers’ account in last 5 Tests, pacers accounted for as many as 85%, while spinners managed only 15%. Spinners have conceded 11 runs and bowled 26 deliveries more for each wicket in comparison to the pacers here.
Pace v Spin at Wellington
(Last 5 Tests)
|
|
Wkts
|
Avg
|
SR
|
Runs/Over
|
|
Pace
|
135
|
25.56
|
48.62
|
3.15
|
|
Spin
|
24
|
36.54
|
74.96
|
2.92
|
Statistically speaking Sachin Tendulkar enjoys the best bowling average for the Indians here. Interestingly little master hasn’t bowled at all on this tour! Among the regular bowlers only two – Zaheer and Harbhajan - have bowled on this surface before. Zaheer returned the figures of 5 for 53 in first innings of 2002-03 Test, which is the best performance by an Indian pacer at this venue.
Indian bowlers at Wellington
(from the current squad)
|
Bowler
|
Mts
|
Wkts
|
Avg
|
SR
|
5WI
|
|
Sachin Tendulkar
|
2
|
2
|
7.50
|
27.00
|
0
|
|
Zaheer Khan
|
1
|
5
|
13.20
|
33.60
|
1
|
|
Harbhajan Singh
|
2
|
2
|
53.50
|
147.00
|
0
|
New Zealand bowlers at Wellington
(from the current squad)
|
Bowler
|
Mts
|
Wkts
|
Avg
|
SR
|
5WI
|
|
Kyle Mills
|
4
|
15
|
23.93
|
53.40
|
0
|
|
Iain O'Brien
|
2
|
6
|
25.67
|
50.00
|
0
|
|
Chris Martin
|
9
|
40
|
26.45
|
47.53
|
4
|
|
James Franklin
|
4
|
17
|
28.00
|
49.71
|
1
|
|
Daniel Vettori
|
16
|
44
|
38.11
|
82.02
|
1
|