It wasn’t until JRod pointed out that Mitchell has better figures than Anderson that I got to thinking a statistical analysis could be insightful on the bowlers in this series to date. I’ve uploaded my working here if you want to take a look in Excel.
Mitchell Johnson is in terrible form, you can read about it here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and according to google there are 520 more such stories here.
However, when one looks at aggregated bowling figures, Johnson has 8 wickets and is just trailing Hauritz (9) and Hilfenhaus (9) for series honours.
Mithcell’s bowling average of 41.38 looks terrible, until you consider the roads prepared to date and observe that he’s ranked 5th best in the series, ahead of JM Anderson (42.1), PM Siddle (45.1), GP Swann (56.1), SCJ Broad (64.1), MS Panesar (115.1) and all the part timers.
Johnno’s overall economy rate is poor at 4.00, with just Collingwood (4.47) and Onions (4.55) returning inferior resutls. Still, I haven’t read too many stories calling for Onions to be chopped.
On paper his bowling to date is more than acceptable, it’s impressive. He’s taken 8 out of 34 English wickets, namely Strauss, Cook (twice), Bopara, Flintoff, Prior, Broad (on 19) and Anderson (on 29) so there’s no ’soft’ ones padding his stats, unlike SuperFred.
Are we asking too much of a guy who’s had the ’spearhead’ label placed on him after 3 good spells and an injury to Lee? If we’re going to drop any bowler for Clark to come in then Siddle should be first in line.
absolutely spot on mosey!!
[Reply to this]
Its interesting that Flintoff only has 7 wickets in the series to date!
[Reply to this]
Moses Reply:
July 29th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Indeed, a surprisingly low number for the messiah of English cricket.
Read his press it would appear he can legitimately claim any wickets taken from the other end, even when he’s not bowling…
[Reply to this]
Deepak Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Hahaha.
[Reply to this]
Well I suppose he is a national hero!
It’s also noting that the pie chuckers in the England team (Panesar & Swann), only have 5 wickets between them.
No danger of spinning us out then!
[Reply to this]
Stats can go and take a walk. Laid low by the Curse of the Mom, he doesn’t figure in my Old Delhi Lane XI either.
Som ´s last blog ..Just not cricket!
[Reply to this]
Moses Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I hear what you’re saying Som, but to me if he comes out this match and bowls to form, then ends up with 4/160 I actually wont be upset.
It’s just like having Macgill back, a wicket taking pie chucker.
[Reply to this]
Johnson is a legend
[Reply to this]
Moses, your right in test match cricket its all about wickets and bowling sides out, economy rates don’t matter so much!
[Reply to this]
Hey Moses. Well put together mate, although I have to admit I had a good laugh at the ‘here, here, here and here’ part.
I think the reason this has been pushed so hard by the media is simply due to Mitchell’s outstanding performances over the last couple months. And with the off-field issues well in the public space, it hasn’t helped him. But also the inconsistency in his deliveries have been bloody all over the place (very obvious when you see Brad Haddin playing leap frog) which is more evident than eg. Jimmy Anderson’s bowling, who has been statistically less impressive than Mitch, but isn’t spraying it.
He’ll fix it, just think back to that ball that he took Matt Priors stumps with in the 1st Test, Englands 1st innings. That was sensational. If he gets the consistency, the Poms will be taken.
Brad Haddin out of the mix is upsetting, but good shot the South Aussie to grab his chance as the 411th Baggy Green player! No Stuart Clark, a bit upset…Sid’s gives it his all, but would agree with you there mate that he should have given way for Stu. But Sid’s could step up here.
Like the new site look.
Ian @Baggy Green´s last blog ..HISTORY AND CHANGE EXCITE THE 3rd TEST
[Reply to this]