Best and worst oppositions of current fab five in cricket

Even as those players have dominated teams, a few sides have managed to hit their blind spots on a consistent basis.

Published - 16 Mar 2020, 18:15 IST | Updated - 16 Mar 2020, 18:15 IST

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Steve Smith. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Cricket over the years have evolved to quite a large extent. Though it remains to be a batsman’s game, the bowlers have also managed to stamp their authority. A number of batters have emerged over the years, but some of them have managed to stand out.

Those few names have shown consistency and have mostly thrived under extreme pressure instead of throwing the towel. Numbers speak for them and they have managed to rule the roost as far as the ICC rankings are concerned.

However, amidst their sheer dominance, a few teams have also managed to identify their blind spots. Most times when the prolific run-scorers step on the field, those teams try and cash in on their shortcomings. But the same players have been able to decimate opponents at times.

In the article, let’s take a look at look at the best and worst opponents of the fab five: –

5. Ross Taylor

Best Opposition

West Indies

Ross Taylor, the veteran New Zealand batsman, has taken a liking to the West Indies bowling attack over the years. In 13 Tests, the 36-year-old has 1,127 runs at an average of 66.29. In ODIs, the average is 54.23 with 705 runs to show for his efforts. In T20Is, Taylor averages 36.28 against them having mustered 254 runs in 11 innings.

Stats

Tests

Matches- 12, Runs- 1,127, Average- 66.29, Centuries- 4, Highest score- 217*

ODIs

Matches- 18, Runs- 705, Average- 54.23, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 110

T20Is

Matches- 11, Runs- 254, Average- 36.28, Centuries- 0, Highest score- 63

Worst Opposition

South Africa

Taylor has had his travails against South Africa. In eight Tests, the seasoned campaigner averages a mere 25.88 with not a single half-century. In ODIs, the average is 35.18, way low than his overall average of 48.44. Taylor has forgettable figures against the Proteas in T20Is, scoring 111 runs at 22.20.

Stats

Tests

Matches- 8, Runs- 233, Average- 25.88, Centuries- 0, Highest score- 48*

ODIs

Matches- 13, Runs- 387, Average- 35.18, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 102

T20Is

Matches- 5, Runs- 111, Average- 22.20, Centuries- 0, Highest score- 62

4. Babar Azam

Best Opposition

New Zealand

Babar Azam, the talented Pakistan batsman, has decent numbers against New Zealand. In five Tests, the Lahore-born has 409 runs against them at an average of 58.42. In the ODI format, Babar has 415 runs versus the Kiwis with an unbeaten ton in the 2019 World Cup. In six T20Is, he has 235 runs.

Stats

Tests

Matches- 5, Runs- 409, Average- 58.42, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 127*

ODIs

Matches- 11, Runs- 415, Average- 41.50, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 101*

T20Is

Matches- 6, Runs- 235, Average- 47.00, Centuries- 0, Highest score- 79*

Worst Opposition

Australia

Babar has to work on his overall numbers against Australia. After seven Tests, Babar averages a paltry 31.46 against them, though he got a few decent scores versus them of late. In ODIs and T20Is, his numbers are worth envying, but he needs to get his overall numbers up against the opposition.

Stats

Tests

Matches- 7, Runs- 409, Average- 31.46, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 104*

ODIs

Matches- 6, Runs- 312, Average- 52.00, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 100

T20Is

Matches- 6, Runs- 278, Average- 69.50, Centuries- 0, Highest score- 68*

3. Kane Williamson

Best opposition

Bangladesh

Kane Williamson, the New Zealand all-format skipper, loves to face the Bangladesh bowling attack. In six Tests, the Black Cap has an average of 113.83, more than double than his career number of 50.99. In ODIs, he has 422 runs at 52.75. Even in T20Is, Kane averages 62.33 against the Tigers.

Stats

Tests

Matches- 6, Runs- 683, Average- 113.83, Centuries- 2, Highest score- 166

ODIs

Matches- 11, Runs- 422, Average- 52.75, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 108

T20Is

Matches- 5, Runs- 187, Average- 62.33, Centuries- 0, Highest score- 73*

Worst Opposition

India

Williamson strains against the Indian bowling attack. In 11 games, Kane has an underwhelming 728 runs at a poor average of 36.40. In 25 ODIs versus the same opponent, Williamson averages 39.36, though he is 16 runs short of completing 1,000 runs. In 11 T20Is, the average drops down to 29.54.

Stats

Tests

Matches- 11, Runs- 728, Average- 36.40, Centuries- 2, Highest score- 131

ODIs

Matches- 25, Runs- 984, Average- 39.36, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 118

T20Is

Matches- 11, Runs- 325, Average- 29.54, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 95

2. Steve Smith

Best Opposition

India

Steve Smith has a career Test average of 62.24, second only to Don Bradman. But that escalates to 84.05 against India. Even in the ODIs, Smith has 1123 runs against the same opposition at an average of 62.38. The run-machine also boasts of 10 international tons while facing the strong Indian attack.

Stats

Tests

Matches- 10, Runs- 1429, Average- 84.05, Centuries- 7, Highest score- 192

ODIs

Matches- 21, Runs- 1123, Average- 62.38, Centuries- 5, Highest score- 149

T20Is

Matches- 6, Runs- 106, Average- 21.2, Centuries- 0, Highest score- 46

Worst Opposition

South Africa

Smith doesn’t have overly audacious numbers against South Africa. In nine Tests, he averages a mere 41.53 with only century to show for his efforts. In 21 ODIs against them, Smith has 684 runs at an average of 40.23. Even in eight T20Is, Smith hasn’t scored a half-century with a top score of 45.

Stats

Tests

Matches- 9, Runs- 623, Average- 41.53, Centuries- 1, Highest score- 100

ODIs

Matches- 21, Runs- 684, Average- 40.23, Centuries- 2, Highest score- 108

T20Is

Matches- 8, Runs- 190, Average- 31.66, Centuries- 0, Highest score- 45

1. Virat Kohli

Best Opposition

Sri Lanka

Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, has incredible numbers against the Lankans. In nine games, the 31-year-old has over 1,000 runs with as many as five centuries. In ODIs, Virat averages 60 against the Islanders with eight tons to his name. In the T20I format, the average shoots up to a massive 84.75.

Stats

Tests

Matches- 9, Runs- 1,004, Average- 77.23, Centuries- 5, Highest score- 243

ODIs

Matches- 47, Runs- 2,220, Average- 60.00, Centuries- 8, Highest score- 139*

T20Is

Matches- 7, Runs- 339, Average- 84.75, Centuries- 0, Highest score- 82

Worst Opposition

England

Virat’s numbers against England aren’t shambolic, but they are a tad shoddy when compared to his figures against the others. In 12 T20Is, Kohli averages 31.45, lower than his career average of 50.80. In 30 ODIs, the Delhi-born has an average of 45.30, his lowest against the full-member nations.