Friday 22 November 2013

Virat Kohli & Vivian Richards: A Statistical Comparison at 5000 ODI Runs

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Kohli equalled Richards' record of reaching the landmark in the least number of innings.
By The Stat Guy | Yahoo Cricket – 1 hour 36 minutes ago


Virat Kohli and Vivian Richards played in vastly different eras. Back then, the bats were lighter, the boundaries bigger, bowling attacks menacing, protective equipment scant, and scoring runs much tougher. It was a mind-boggling feat then for Richards to average in the 50s in both formats of the game. But if there's anything that ties Sir Viv with Virat, it's the love of scoring big runs while dominating their opponents.

We compared their careers at the point each crossed 5000 ODI runs. Richards did it back in 1987 when there were just four-odd years left in his career. Limited overs cricket hadn't yet proliferated and it took a full career to achieve those many runs. In fact, Richards was the first man to pass 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 ODI runs. His final tally of 6721 runs was a record later overtaken by team-mate Desmond Haynes.

In Kohli's case, 5000 runs may constitute a fraction of what is turning out to be a great career. He's only 25. Who knows where he might finish?

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