To Open Or Not

Have u ever wondered how successful were Sri Lankan middle order batsman when they were required to open the innings. Mahela, Dilshan are the most recent examples of this case. Earlier it was Jayasuriya and Kalu's time. Well here are the stats for it

Sri Lanka's newest makeshift openers

These are the stats of some local middle order-opener players

Sanath Jayasuriya	innings	runs	average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Opener	383	12740	34.61	92.49	28	66
Middle Order	50	690	14.68	72.63	0	2

Romesh Kaluwitharana	innings	runs	average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Opener	112	2798	26.14	78.72	2	22
Middle Order	69	913	15.21	74.71	0	1

Tillakaratne Dilshan	innings	runs	average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Opener	58	2605	48.22	98.11	9	9
Middle Order	127	2923	28.65	79.79	1	13

Mahela Jayawardena	innings	runs	average	Strike rate	100s	50s
Opener	11	618	61.80	93.49	3	2
Middle Order	315	9115	32.43	77.32	12	56

Kumar Sangakkara	innings	runs	average	SR	100	50
Opener	21	823	41.15	77.05	4	2
Middle Order	256	8562	37.88	75.34	7	62

In all 5 cases

• They have had more sucess (average and strike rate) in opening than playing in middle order
• All 5 of them had started their carrers as middle order players
• the first 3 became 

Now Here is the interesting Fact

Adam Gilchrist	innings	runs	average	Strike rate	100s	50s
Opener	259	9200	36.50	98.02	16	53
Middle Order	27	419	26.18	78.02	0	2

Darren Lehman	innings	runs	average	Strike rate	100s	50s
Opener	4	287	143.50	88.30	1	2
Middle Order	113	2791	36.24	80.68	3	15

Damien Martyn	innings	runs	average	Strike rate	100s	50s
Opener	9	434	72.33	89.48	2	1
Middle Order	173	4912	39.29	76.84	3	36

•  These 3 players have had more sucess in opening than the earlier 5
• Though Martyn and Lehman has massive average increses they never became permanent openenrs same as Sanga and Mahela

BECAUSE THEY BATTED IN THE POSITION WHERE THE TEAM NEEDED THEM MOST AND NOT IN THE PLACE WHERE THEY ARE MORE COMFORTABLE......
THAT IS CRICKET. IT's ALL ABOUT THE TEAM..........................