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1. Batting Average

Table 1 provides details of runs scored and batting average of Left-Handers versus Right-Handers.

Of the 180 Players from 12 countries selected for the World Cup, 139 (77.22%) bat right-handed, and 42 (22.78%) bat left-handed. Of the 792 appearances by players in the 36 matches held until 10^th June '99, right-handers had the lion's share of appearances with 622 (78.54%), compared to only 170 (21.46%) by the southpaw batsmen.

Obviously then, as reflected in the following table, the bulk of the runs have been made by right-handers. However, if we compute the average runs per innings, the superiority of the left-handers is clearly borne out! Left Handers scored, on average, 9.28 runs more per innings, a whopping 41.37% over right-handers' average!

It is not a surprise then, that the top 10 batsmen contain 5 left-handers -- Lance Klusener, Ridley Jacobs, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Saurav Ganguly and Michael Bevan! Considering the number of players in the tournament, on average, there can only be between 2 & 3 left-handers!

Table 1: Batting Average

Batsman Type	Total Runs	Total Innings	Total Not Outs	Batting Average
Right Handers	8972	487	87	22.43
Left Handers	3583	147	34	31.71

 

2. Strike Rate

What use, one may ask, is scoring more runs, if they are scored slowly. Quickness in scoring runs is obviously very important in the One-Day game. How did the Lefties fare in this important criterion?

Table 2 reveals the strike-rate figures of left-handers versus their right-handed brethren.

Here too, the "leftists" rule! With a strike rate of a very healthy 69.83%, they score, on average, at a rate which is 12.45% quicker than right-handers.

It is no wonder then, that, among the 5 quickest scorers in the tournament so far (minimum for qualification, 50 runs), there are 3 southpaws -- Lance Klusener, Brian Lara, and Wasim Akram.

Table 2: Strike Rate

Batsman Type	Total Runs	Total Deliveries	Strike Rate (in per cent)
Right Handers	8972	14443	62.10
Left Handers	3583	5131	69.83

 

3. Half-Centuries & Centuries

The experts say that a batsman who gets a start in his innings must go on to make a big score. This way, say the pundits, the well-set batsman ensures that the team does not suffer a drop in the scoring rate with a newcomer having to waste time settling down?

Have the Left-Handers scored more 50s and Hundreds?

Yes, according to Table 3. The southpaws, on average score 12.93 fifties and 1.32 centuries per 100 innings. This works out to a superiority of 39.94% and 26.92% respectively over Right-Handers!

That's now one more important point to the "Lefties"! The score now? 3-0!

Table 3: Half-centuries & Centuries

Batsman Type	Total Innings	No. of Fifties (50s)	No. of 50s per 100 innings	No. of Centuries (100s)	No. of 100s per 100 innings
Right Handers	487	45	9.24	5	1.04
Left Handers	147	19	12.93	2	1.32

 

4. Boundary Hits

Entertainment is the name of the one-day game. And what is more thrilling than the sight of a batsman sending even good deliveries skidding past fielders, or, using the aerial route, flying over the boundary ropes for six?

Ever heard of the phrase "Lazy Elegance" attributed to Left-Handers. Must be many times. Left-Handers, it is generally said, prefer to score their runs in fours and sixes, rather than huff and puff and earn their runs in singles and twos (There certainly are notable exceptions like the extremely effective Michael Bevan and Neil Fairbrother, but they are, by and large, in the minority!)

Is there any truth in this theory that Left-Handers score more of their runs through boundaries? Judging by the performance in this tournament (634 innings is definitely a large sample!), by a small margin of around 5%, YES! Table 4 provides the details.

Close to half of Left-Handers' runs have come from boundaries in the first 36 matches of World Cup '99 -- and that, without Brian Lara firing on all cylinders!

It's 4-0 for the Lefties, and is definitely looking like a no-contest!

Table 4: Boundary Hits

Batsman Type	Total Runs	No. of Fours	No. of Sixes	Total Runs From Boundary Hits	Percentage of Total Runs in Boundary Hits
Right Handers	8972	819	87	3798	42.33
Left Handers	3583	337	41	1594	44.49

 

5. Not Outs

Lastly, we ask the question, "Can the southpaws last the distance?"

Table 5 says, "YES", by a significant , margin of 34.31%". Left handers remained not-out, on average, at least one-third more times than right-handers.

5-0 for the Left-handers, and this match can now be officially declared a "Southpaw Wash"

And Leftism triumphs!

Table 5: Not Outs

Batsman Type	Total Innings	Total Not Outs	Percentage of Not Outs
Right Handers	487	87	17.63
Left Handers	147	34	23.68