Definition The Wisden 20:20 control ratio monitors every shot which a batsman plays. When a batsman leaves the ball, avoids a bouncer, or middles a shot he is considered to be in command of his stroke. The batsman loses control when the bat is beaten, glove or pad is hit or the ball is edged. Using these criteria it is possible to calculate how controlled an innings has been.

Analysis

The Australian middle order have built their large totals on a platform of risk-free batting, with Damien Martyn in control of 88% of his strokes. Only one opening batsman, Matthew Hayden, features near the top of the control ratio. Of course, the openers are facing the new ball and fresh bowlers, so this is probably to be expected. Even those specialist batsmen who have not done so well have been more convincing than the bowlers. Graham Thorpe and Nasser Hussain, despite lack of match practice, controlled 72% and 71% of their shots respectively. The only specialist batsman who has performed worse than any of the bowlers is Usman Afzaal, who was in control of only 67% of his shots in his one brief appearance so far, and has been outdone by Craig White (71%), Dominic Cork (71%) and Jason Gillespie (68%).

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