Marus North's catching stats compared to Aussie fielders.

There is a debate curently taking place on Twitter about Marus North and whether he deserves his place in the Australian side. Most people are saying he can't catch after dropping a pretty easy catch in Pakistan's first innings. I thought I would take a look at his stats compared to other players.

Player	Innings	Catches	CPI
North	22	8	0.363
M. Waugh	245	181	0.738
Warne	281	125	0.444
Ponting	275	162	0.589
Clarke	111	52	0.468

Post a comment if you would like to see any other players added to the table.

Nathan Hauritz vs Shane Warne

Nathan Hauritz, who got his first 5-wicket haul today had been challenged earlier in the week to stand up and take last innings wickets. there was even pressure by the PM Kevin Rudd on Warne to come back and play for Australia. While Warne is a legend and one of the best bowlers of all time he didn't start his test career bamboozling batsmen and taking tons of wickets. With that in mind, let's take a look at the stats for both Warne and Hauritz at the same point in their respective careers (11 Tests).

Player	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Average	Strike Rate	R.P.O
Warne	373.3	955	31	30.80	72.2	2.55
Hauritz	438.2	1295	41	31.58	64.1	2.95

We can see that Hauritz has bowled a lot more than Warne did in his first 11 games. This is because he has been bowled in 21 innings compared to 16 for Warne. We also see that while Warne got his wickets at 1 run less per each, Hauritz has so far taken his wickets 8 balls less per than Warne did. Hauritz has a long way to go but if he can keep improving as he has been recently and Australia's batsmen score enough runs to allow him to bowl with attacking fields he may just become a great.

Stats: Retirees and the series.

Retirees

Shane Warne will finish his career with the unwanted record of most test runs without a century (3154) Unless he is sent in early he will finish his career with batting stats of Matches: 145 Innings: 199 Not Outs: 17 Runs: 3154 High Score: 99 Average: 17.32 paulyt Average*: 15.84 Balls Faced: 5470 Strike Rate: 57.65 Centuries: 0 50's: 12 Ducks: 34 Fours: 353 Sixes: 37
Bowling Stats: Overs: 6784.1 Maidens: 1761 Runs: 17995 Wickets: 708 BB/I: 8/71 BB/M: 12/128 Average: 25.41 Economy Rate: 2.65 Strike Rate: 57.4 5/I: 37 10/M: 10

Glenn McGrath also has an unwanted record, most ducks by an Australian (35). His career stats (again assuming he doesn't come out early) Matches: 124 Innings: 138 Not Outs: 51 Runs: 641 High Score: 61 Average: 7.36 paulyt Average: 4.64 Balls Faced: 1570 Strike Rate: 40.82 100's: 0 50's: 1 Ducks: 35 4's: 51 6's: 1

Bowling - Overs: 4874.4 Maidens: 1470 Runs: 12186 Wickets: 563 BB/M: 8/24 BB/I: 10/27 Average: 21.64 Economy Rate: 2.49 Strike Rate: 51.9 5/I: 29 10/M: 3

Justin Langer: Matches: 105 Innings: 182 Not Outs: 12 Runs: 7696 High Score: 250 Average: 45.27 paulyt Average: 42.28 Balls Faced: 14192 Strike Rate: 54.22 100's: 50's: 30 Ducks: 11
4's: 912 6's: 40

Series Stats
Highest Batting Averages:

1. Hussey - 91.60 (458 runs 7 innings 2 not outs)
2. Ponting - 82.28 (576 runs 8 innings 1 not out)
3. M. Clarke - 77.80 (389 runs 7 innings 2 not outs)
4. Symonds - 58.00 (232 runs 4 innings 0 not outs)
5. Pietersen - 54.44 (490 runs 10 innings 1 not out)

Most Runs

1. Ponting - 576 (8 innings)
2. Pietersen - 490 (10 innings)
3. Hussey -458 (7 innings)
4. Collingwood -433 (10 innings)
5. Hayden - 413 (9 innings)

Highest Scores

1. Collingwood - 206
2. Ponting - 196
3. Pietersen - 158
4. Symonds - 156
5. Hayden - 153

Highest Strike Rates

1. Gilchrist - 101.77
2. S. Clark - 85.00
3. Warne - 71.27
4. Langer - 70.79
5. Symonds - 66.09

Back later with bowling stats
*paulyt Average = Runs divided by total innings. Normal average is runs divided by times out.

Warne Retires.

I was shocked to hear that Warne has retired. He has said a few times in the past he would only play if he was enjoying the game. The way he appealed and celebrated when Australia won the 3rd test looked to me like a man enjoying his cricket. He is going to honour his final 2 years of his Hampshire contract. I saw no reason for him to retire as he was still bowling magnificently. Australia will miss him dearly. I feel privileged that I can say I grew up watching Shane Warne.

Links
Warne confirms it's over - Fox Sports

More valuable than The Don? You bet - Fox Sports

Steve Waugh: Fizz is unique. - Fox Sports

Warne confirms retirement - ABC Sport

Shane Warne ends his test Career - BBC

Cricket stars hail legend Warne - BBC

What people have been saying:

Steve Waugh - It's very hard to judge across eras but Warne would sit pretty comfortably as the second best player ever. He has been responsible for winning more Test matches than anyone else I have seen or played with.

Merv Hughes - Whatever you say about Shane Warne it isn't enough. His performances have not only shaped cricket in Australia but worldwide. Most people go through a purple patch and Shane Warne has had a purple patch for 15 or 16 years

Richie Benaud - Shane Warne is without doubt the finest legspinner the world has ever seen. You would certainly have Warne right up there as one of the greatest Australians to ever step on the field.

Ian Chappell - I think it's perfect timing for a champion player. If you make a mistake it's best to get out a little early than a little late.

Allan Border - Bradman - it's hard to make comparison with that guy's record, but on the next level of cricketers, Warne is right there. He's been a breath of fresh air, what he's brought to the game is immeasurable.

Geoff Lawson - I thought he might still have another three, four years left in the game and in fact I've lost a lot of money because I backed him to take 1000 Test wickets and it's not going to happen now.

Mark Taylor - Not only is he a great bowler but he's also a great thinker. He got a lot of people out with wonderful deliveries but also out-thought a lot.

James Sutherland - There are a generation of Australians who were privileged enough to see Bradman. We are the generation that will always say we were privileged to see Warne.

Adam Gilchrist - As a wicket-keeper there's no better spot to be than standing behind the stumps to Shane Warne

Videos
Shane Warne speaks about his famous wickets, along with their clippings, includes the famous gatting dismissal.

1994 Boxing Day Test - Hat Trick

Warne's 600th Wicket



Pictures