The Steyn show

A statistical review of the two-Test series between South Africa and New Zealand

Mathew Varghese19-Nov-2007South Africa’s domination over New Zealand in Tests continued, as they completed a clean sweep of the two-Test series. For New Zealand, it was an entirely forgettable series – they are yet to win a Test series against South Africa.

South Africa-New Zealand head-to-head

Matches SA won NZ won Drawn

35 20 4 11Daniel Vettori’s side never scored more than 200 in any of the four innings. The lack of a fight in the contest is reflected in the figures for average runs per wicket, with New Zealand not even managing half of what South Africa did.

Average runs per wicket during the series

Team Average runs per wicket

South Africa 44.82 New Zealand 16.59New Zealand’s top order failed to score enough runs on the board in contrast to South Africa’s batsmen, who averaged over 60 in their partnerships.

Average partnership per dismissal

For wicket South Africa New Zealand

1-6 60.6021.04 7-10 15.258.38The South African fast bowlers outperformed their New Zealand counterparts on the bouncy wickets. New Zealand, though, did suffer due to the injuries to Shane Bond and allrounder Jacob Oram midway through the first Test.

Performance of pace bowlers

Team Wickets Average Strike-rate

South Africa 3516.0829.9 New Zealand 2039.3065.9The standout bowler in the series was Dale Steyn, who took 20 wickets – ten-wicket hauls in both matches – at a remarkable average of 9.20. In fact, it’s the best average for a bowler having taken 20 wickets in a series since 1970.

Best bowling averages in a series since 1970 (Min 20 wickets)

Player Series Matches Wickets Average

Dale Steyn New Zealand in South Africa, 2007-082209.20 Muttiah Muralitharan Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka, 2001-02 3309.80 Richard Hadlee New Zealand in Sri Lanka, 1983-84 32310.00Steyn also didn’t take too much time in taking those 20 wickets, striking every 16.8 deliveries. For bowlers with 20 or more scalps in a series, Steyn’s strike-rate is only second to England’s George Lohmann, who had a strike-rate of 14.8 against South Africa in 1895-96.

Best strike-rates in a Test series (Min 20 wickets)

Player Series Matches Wickets Average Strike-rate

George Lohmann England in South Africa, 1895-96 3355.8014.8 Dale Steyn New Zealand in South Africa, 2007-082209.2016.8 Bobby Peel Australia in England, 1888 3247.5418.4Jacques Kallis extended his run-scoring spree from the series in Pakistan, and became the first South African batsman to score 9000 Test runs. With his two centuries in the series, Kallis now has 29 in his career, and is in sixth place in the all-time list of highest centurions along with Don Bradman.In four Tests after the World Twenty20, from which Kallis was dropped, he has scored five hundreds in seven innings. It’s the second time he’s scored hundreds in four consecutive Tests. His consistency is also shown by the fact that he’s made fifties in five consecutive innings on three occasions. Kallis has been on a great run-spree this year, with over 1000 runs at an average of over 90. He’s scored a fifty in every Test he’s played this year.Hashim Amla also scored two hundreds during the series, with the unbeaten 176 in the first Test at the Wanderers his highest so far. He clearly enjoys playing New Zealand, averaging over 100 against them, and has scored all his three Test hundreds against them.Kallis and Amla scored 550 runs in two innings while batting together in the series, which is not far from the 614 New Zealand managed in their four innings. The next best pair – of Amla and Ashwell Prince – added 103 runs.With stands of 330 and 220, the two have now put on more than 1000 runs, and are one of the better South African pairings in Tests. Once set, the two have made it count, with five century stands and none between 50-99.

Best partnership averages for South Africa (Min 1000 runs)

Players Innings Runs Average 100 50

Gary Kirsten, Graeme Smith 11 1104100.3651 Bruce Mitchell, Dudley Nourse 20150583.6157 Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis 18 126574.4150