Stats: Kumar Sangakkara and Rahul Dravid averaged 60+ in Tests in six away countries
Sri Lanka’s most prolific run-getter in Tests and ODIs, Kumar Sangakkara retired from International cricket after the second test against India at P Sara Oval in Colombo. He had a batting average of more than 60 in six away countries apart from his home country Sri Lanka.
Kumar Sangakkara averaged 60.33 in Australia, 78.38 in Bangladesh, 61.00 in New Zealand, 86.87 in Pakistan, 62.00 in UAE and 140.50 in Zimbabwe. Similarly Rahul Dravid also averaged more than 60 in six away countries – 70.00 in Bangladesh, 68.80 in England, 63.83 in New Zealand, 78.57 in Pakistan, 65.69 in West Indies and 79.16 in Zimbabwe.
No other player apart from Dravid and Sangakkara averaged more than 60 in that many away countries. Ken Barrington and Ricky Ponting averaged more than 60 in five away countries.
Batsman |
Country 1 |
Country 2 |
Country 3 |
Country 4 |
Country 5 |
Country 6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kumar Sangakkara |
60.33 in Aus |
78.38 in Ban |
61.00 in NZ |
86.87 in Pak |
62.00 in UAE |
140.50 in Zim |
Rahul Dravid |
70.00 in Ban |
68.80 in Eng |
63.83 in NZ |
78.57 in Pak |
65.69 in WI |
79.16 in Zim |
Rahul Dravid had this huge an average in four non-Asian countries while Sangakkara had it in three non-Asian countries.
Sangakkara averaged more than 60 in his home country Sri Lanka as well (60.44).
Rahul Dravid’s average in his home country India was 51.35.
Batsman |
Country 1 |
Country 2 |
Country 3 |
Country 4 |
Country 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ken Barrington |
69.73 in Aus |
96.28 in Ind |
73.50 in NZ |
76.33 in Pak |
101.60 in SA |
Ricky Ponting |
95.50 in Ban |
60.33 in NZ |
119.00 in Pak |
97.00 in UAE |
61.05 in WI |
Ken Barrington played in six away countries only, and in five of those he averaged more than 60. He only missed the mark in West Indies where he averaged just 44.25. In his home country England, he averaged 50.71.
Ricky Ponting’s average in Australia was 56.97 and in two countries he had an average less than 40 – India (26.48) and Zimbabwe (31.00)
Batsman |
Country 1 |
Country 2 |
Country 3 |
Country 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Waugh |
74.22 in Eng |
103.00 in UAE |
68.50 in WI |
151.00* in Zim |
Younis Khan |
100.66 in Ban |
76.80 in Ind |
65.28 in NZ |
73.00 in Zim |
Adam Gilchrist |
78.00 in Ban |
81.16 in NZ |
65.37 in SA |
70.50 in WI |
Gautam Gambhir |
76.20 in Ban |
89.00 in NZ |
60.50 in SA |
72.00 in Zim |
Graeme Smith |
67.00 in Ban |
67.75 in Eng |
70.83 in UAE |
73.00 in WI |
Misbah-ul-Haq also averaged more than 60 in four away countries, but that includes UAE which is a neutral venue and almost a home venue, since no international cricket is being played in Pakistan.
Mohammad Yousuf is the other player to average more than 60 in four countries, which includes his home country Pakistan as well.
The players in the table above didn’t average more than 60 in their home countries.
Don Bradman played in only two countries in his career – Australia and England. He averaged 98.22 in Australia and 102.84 in England.
Though the highest run getter Sachin Tendulkar doesn’t feature in the above tables, he is the one and only player to average more than 40 in all the ten countries in Test cricket. No player has done that from among all ten countries.