In the fast-paced realm of T20 cricket, where bowlers constantly seek to find ways to outwit batters with an array of deliveries, mastering the good length ball is often regarded as the ultimate challenge. Bowlers strive to find that sweet spot on the pitch, where the ball neither bounces too high nor skids too low, creating a dilemma for batters whether to go on to the front foot or back foot. Or they want to pitch the ball to that old-school length of Yorker that still to this date is the only delivery probably where the batter can’t get under the ball and hit it for six or four easily. However, amidst this battleground of cricketing prowess, certain batters have risen above the fray, showcasing exceptional skill and adaptability in tackling deliveries pitched at a good length. In this analysis, we delve into the statistical tapestry of the past nine years to unveil the remarkable feats of the top 10 batters who have outshined against the daunting challenge of the good length delivery and Yorker.
What do the numbers say?
As we embark on this journey through the numbers, we’ll unravel the secrets behind their success, exploring key metrics such as total runs scored, deliveries faced, control shots played, wickets taken, boundary hits, strike rates, batting averages, and control shot percentages. Each statistic offers a unique insight into the batting prowess of these cricketing stalwarts, showcasing their ability to conquer the most formidable deliveries with finesse and flair. Join us as we dissect the data and celebrate the brilliance of these elite batters who have left an indelible mark on the T20 landscape by mastering the good-length ball
Masters of the Good Length Deliveries
Virat Kohli
Leading the pack is the ever-green Virat Kohli, who has piled up an astounding 3,593 runs when the ball has been on a good length. Kohli’s ability to remain in control of his shots (2,314 in-control shots) and his unparalleled strike rate of 126 have made him a nightmare for bowlers worldwide. The Indian maestro’s consistency is further highlighted by his impressive batting average of 44, which is the highest among the top 10 batters.
Jos Buttler
Closely following Kohli is the Jos The Boss Buttler, who has scored 2,975 runs in these situations. Buttler’s fearless approach and ability to clear the boundary ropes (119 sixes) have made him a fan favorite and a constant threat to opposing teams. The English wicket-keeper batter’s strike rate of 125 is a testament to his attacking mindset, while his control shot percentage of 76% showcases his ability to pick the right deliveries to go after.
Babar Azam
Babar Azam, The Pakistani Classic Star, rounds out the top three with 2,962 runs. Azam’s consistency and technical prowess have allowed him to maintain a control shot percentage of 80%, showcasing his mastery of the crease and the number of times he won over the bowler. The 263 boundaries he has scored on good length deliveries are a testament to his ability to find the gaps.
He lacks the ability in this shipment of top batters to hit sixes and he is the sole batter in the list with less than 75 sixes (40), yet his mastery of finding the gaps and rotating the strike is what makes him the different. He and KL Rahul have the lowest strikes in this elite list of 122. Here Glenn Maxwell is boasting the highest strike rate of 133 to be the only player in the list to have a strike rate more than Virat’s 126. Kohli, Babar, and KL are the only batters with a control shot rate of greater than 80. Babar’s 263 fours are just behind Virat’s 281.
Virat and Babar are the only players to average more than 40 when the ball was pitched on the Good Length area, which shows the authority of these guys in coping with the best attack.
Other notable mentions include Faf du Plessis, who has scored 2,750 runs with an impressive average of 30, and Rohit Sharma, whose 105 sixes have left many a spectator in awe. Shikhar Dhawan’s 252 boundaries and Colin Munro’s strike rate of 121 are also worthy of praise, as they have consistently performed against good length delivery.
Yorkers:
Leading in performance against yorker-length deliveries is Kieron Pollard, who has scored a total of 152 runs from 169 deliveries.
Following Pollard is the explosive Andre Russell, who has scored 132 runs from 202 deliveries. Russell’s fearless approach is evident in his 65 strike rate and 48% control shot percentage. He has hit 11 fours but has been dismissed 16 times, highlighting the high-risk, high-reward nature of his batting against Yorkers.
Jos Buttler stands out with his 124 runs from 141 deliveries, maintaining a high control shot percentage of 60%. His strike rate of 88 and only 10 dismissals indicate his effectiveness in managing yorker-length deliveries. He is one of 3 batters in the last 9 years who has hit sixes on yorker length twice (the other two are Tim David and Darcy Short) Buttler’s consistent boundary-finding ability with 10 fours underlines his skill.
Glenn Maxwell has scored 121 runs from just 124 deliveries, boasting the highest strike rate of 98 among his peers. With a control shot percentage of 68% and only 7 wickets lost, Maxwell’s aggressive yet controlled approach has paid dividends. His 9 fours are a testament to his boundary-hitting capability against Yorkers.
Hardik Pandya matches Maxwell with 121 runs, though from 143 deliveries. His strike rate of 85 and control shot percentage of 61% reflect his balanced approach. With 9 fours and 8 wickets lost, Pandya demonstrates a solid ability to handle the yorker length effectively.
David Miller’s 102 runs from 108 deliveries come with a high strike rate of 94 and a control shot percentage of 56%. Despite being dismissed 6 times, Miller’s 8 fours indicate his proficiency in scoring quickly off yorkers.
Nicholas Pooran has accumulated 98 runs from 110 deliveries, maintaining a strike rate of 89 and a control shot percentage of 57%. With only 5 wickets lost and 8 fours and a six, Pooran showcases a stable and effective technique against yorkers.
Shimron Hetmyer has scored 93 runs from 117 deliveries with a strike rate of 79. His high control shot percentage of 66% and 4 fours indicate a cautious but effective approach, even though he has been dismissed 5 times.
Marcus Stoinis stands out with a perfect strike rate of 100, scoring 89 runs from 89 deliveries. His 73% control shot percentage is the highest in this list, and with only 2 wickets lost and 7 fours, Stoinis exemplifies precision and control against yorker-length deliveries.
Faf du Plessis has also scored 89 runs, but from 102 deliveries, yielding a strike rate of 87. His control shot percentage of 59% and only 3 dismissals highlight his reliability. With 7 fours, du Plessis consistently finds the boundary, demonstrating his adeptness against yorkers.
Sixes On Yorkers:
Surprisingly only 3 batters in this list are those who were able to hit even a single six against Yorker. In the last 9 years in T20 Cricket there have been only 38 instances when a batter hit a six on yorker length, Darcy Short, Tim David, and Jos Buttler are the only batters in the last 9 years in overall T20 cricket who have hit more than 1 six on Yorkers, in bowlers Lungi Ngidi, Daniel Sams and Mohammad Irfan are only bowlers who have conceded more than one six on Yorkers.
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