Statistical analysis of Brendon McCullum’s Test career runs

Brendon McCullum – the cricketer who entertained the fans throughout his career irrespective of the format, match situation, opposition, bowler, pitch, conditions, etc. has played his last Test innings today on February 22, 2016 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. We can easily call him the most destructive New Zealand batsman of this century.

One of only two batsmen to score more than 6000 Test runs for New Zealand, Brendon McCullum played 101 Test matches which yielded 6453 runs at a decent average of 38.64. He scored 12 centuries and 31 fifties with the career best of 302.

The cricket world will no longer see Brendon McCullum smash those fearless boundaries in international cricket. On this occasion of his retirement, let’s analyse Brendon McCullum’s Test career runs.

Brendon McCullum’s Test career:

Brendon McCullum’s first in Tests:

First innings – 57 vs South Africa at Westpac Park, Hamilton on March 10, 2004

First fifty – 57 vs South Africa at Westpac Park, Hamilton on March 10, 2004

First hundred – 143 vs Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka on October 19, 2004

First double hundred –225 vs India at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on November 12, 2010

First triple hundred – 302 vs India at Basin Reserve, Wellington on February 14, 2014

Brendon McCullum’s last in Tests:

Last innings – 25 vs Australia at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on February 22, 2016

Last hundred – 145 vs Australia at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on February 20, 2016

Brendon McCullum’s distribution of Test runs – Opposition wise

Brendon McCullum has scored more than 1000 runs against two countries England and India in his Test career.

He has scored most fifties against England (10) and his best Test batting average is against India (68.00)

McCullum’s distribution of Test runs – Country wise

He has scored more than one century only in New Zealand (8). He has scored a century in India, Bangladesh, UAE and Zimbabwe.

His average is above 40 in four countries in Tests – UAE (69.40), India (50.78), New Zealand (47.88) and Bangladesh (43.86).

Split-up of every 25 Test innings:

McCullum became a more consisten batsman after the 75th inning of his Test career as in his first 75 Test innings he scored only 2270 runs while in his next 100 innings he scored 4128 runs.

Every 1000 Test runs

He began his Test career with a half century and also completed his 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 runs in Tests with a half century or a century in the particular innings.

He scored half centuries in that innings when he completed his 2000th, 4000th and 6000th Test run while he scored a double century in the innings when he completed his 3000th Test run and a triple century in that innings when he completed his 5000th Test run.

McCullum’s distribution of Test runs

He has scored more than 41 runs 51 times in his career while 40 times he has scored between 20 to 40 runs and 67 times he has scored runs from 1 to 20.

Dismissal pattern

Brendon McCullum’s Home vs Away record

By seeing his stats, one can see that there is not much difference in his home and away performance barring his average which is a proof that he has been in love with New Zealand pitches to score runs quickly throughout his career to make an impact on the game or to help New Zealand to win the game.

Year wise runs distribution:

McCullum has scored his runs at an average of 70 and above in two calander years which is 2010 when he scored 758 runs from 6 matches at an average of 75.80 and in 2014 when he scored 1164 runs from 9 matches at an average of 72.75.

He has only once scored more than 1000 runs in a calendar year in Tests. He scored 1164 runs in 2014 from 9 matches at an average of 72.75.

Innings wise distribution of runs:

He has similar averages in second and fourth innings nearer to 30 while he averaged more than 40 in 1st and 3rd innings. He averaged more than 40 in Tests in New Zealand’s 1st innings and notched up 9 centuries while in his team’s 2nd innings he had scored one century, one double century and one triple century.

Batting position wise runs distribution:

His preferred batting position in Tests is opening, no.5 and no.7 and he has scored more than 1000 runs at those batting positions.

Record in wins, losses and draws:

He averaged more than 45 in New Zealand’s wins and draws and below 25 in New Zealand’s losses. (In last table, his last Test match numbers are not added, it will be added after the Test match.)

The numbers easily prove Brendon McCullum’s impact in the Test cricket as a player.

Thank you, Brendon for a glorious career and your contribution will be remembered forever!