On this very day in 1948, Don Bradman was dismissed for 0 in his final test innings for an average of 99.94 over a career that lasted just under 20 years. 52 tests, 6,996 runs, 29 centuries, 13 fifties, 2 wickets and 32 catches would give him a total of 8,586 points in our leagues and a points-per-game in excess of 165.
Only one player in Leinster can top this points-per-game of Sir Donald Bradman. B. Thambi [Castleknock] has a points-per-game of 207, but it should be noted that this has come from a single game in which he scored 107 and took three wickets and not over a 20 year career.
However, Pat Collins [R&SPU] is having an annus mirabilis and continues to head our overall table with 1,983 points and his current lead is 109 points. Pat is also the leading run scorer with 943 and is in pole position to be the first to reach 1,000 runs for the season. 57 versus Pembroke this Saturday would see him there, although I am sure that Pat would rather get nought and win. Pat’s current tally of 1,983 points is made up of the
and bonus points of
Eddie Richardson [North County] is second overall, albeit 109 points behind. This is a sizable gap to be closed if Eddie is to catch Pat, but not insurmountable. One good game could see Eddie reach the top, but he would also need Pat’s standards to slip too. Pat and Eddie have three Division 1 games remaining.
Eddie Richardson [North County] is also currently second, but 89 runs behind, in runs scored. For Pat and Eddie to lead the table is achievement enough, but to do so when playing only Division 1 cricket demonstrates real talent.
Simon Rice [Greystones] continues to hold onto third place, but at 327 points behind the leader Simon may well be looking to just maintain his podium position, and, although he still is looking for that 50th victim, he leads the wicket takers with 49, with Adam Ellison [Rush] second in this category with 43.
Fiachra Tucker [Pembroke] is the busiest player in Leinster having appeared 30 times for various Pembroke sides and this does not count his appearances for Pembroke, Leinster and Ireland at Under 15 level. His 30 games have seen him score 1,527 and gain 8th place overall.
K. Ali [North County] is proving to be a difficult person to shift from the crease, as his Leinster-leading 9 not-outs demonstrate. Whilst not-outs do not earn any points in the table, K. Ali comes into the list at 132nd place.
6 half centuries is as much as any one has managed and five players have done so.
In total, 920 half centuries have been scored by 529 players.
As mentioned above, Pat Collins is the leading centurion with five to his name so far. L. Jansen [Rush] has managed three centuries to lie second in this category. A further dozen players have two centuries to their names,
102 players have reached three figures and 121 centuries registered.
Pat Collins does lead the runs category with 943, but 225,149 runs have come from the bats of many, with 1,976 players at least troubling the scorers for one run. Eddie Richardson is second with 854 runs and Lynel Jansen [Rush] has 832. Others with a chance of reaching 1,000 runs for the season would include
who all have already exceeded 700 runs.
Two players have 117 runs with only one dismissal to top the batting averages: B. Thambi [Castleknock] and Robin Chalissery [Ring Commons]. I. Cox [Walnut Taverners] is the other player to average three figures having only been out once. In fact his average of 103.00 is higher than his highest score of 99*. J.P. Rust [Halverstown] is fourth with 97.00 with J. Quinlan [Merrion], David Drane (I did say I'd probably get you in here somewhere David) [Greystones] and Pat Collins are all averaging above 80.
Andre Botha’s [Clontarf] 170 remains the highest score and is liable to do so for the rest of this season.
Padraig Flanagan [YMCA] is the most pressed upon bowler having delivered 169.5 overs. Ever-green Conor Gibbons [Malahide] is just 2.1 overs behind. These two must be the epitome of fitness. 95 players have crossed the 100 over threshold and a further 1,453 players have bowled at least one ball. Only C. Garry [North County] has figures of 1 ball and 1 wicket.
As mentioned above, Simon Rice [Greystones] is one wicket short of 50 and Adam Ellison [Rush] is 6 behind. 24 players have 30 or more and 105 have taken at least 20. 1,159 others have taken at least one wicket with the ball in hand and 11,209 wickets have fallen.
Adam Ellison [Rush] also leads the best analysis with 7/11 with a further four players also capturing 7 wickets: W. Richardson [Malahide], Pat Collins [R&SPU], U. Raees [Laois] and F. Khalid [Castelknock]. 26 players have a six wicket haul and 95 managed a five wicket haul.
Four players, Naveed Khan [Civil Service], A Farooqui [The Hills], I. Mohammad [North Kildare] and B. Adams [Phoenix] have all taken five wickets in a game three times, whilst another 13 players have done so twice.
1,292 players have held at least one catch, with Robert Forrest [Clontarf] leading with 24. However when stumpings are included for a dismissals category, Michael Cotter [Terenure Titans] has 26 (18+8) and Nic Pretorious [The Hills] has 25 (20+5). In stumpings alone, Michael Cotter [Terenure Titans] and Ross Watkins [Merrion] lead the way with 8. JJ Cassidy [YMCA] is one behind and a further 89 keepers have at least one stumping.
A. Mathew [Dundrum] has the most innings without a single not out (23).
Paul Ryan [Clontarf], S. Singh Sisodiya [Greystones], S. Chandra [YMCA], T. Dar [Castleknock], P. Wall [Adamstown], Jennifer Gray [Dublin University], J. James [Swords] and Eoghan Connolly [R&SPU] all shared the most innings without being dismissed - 2.
Will Lennon [Leinster] has the most overs without taking a wicket -29.
S. Hickson [The Hills], M. Wilson [Knockharley] and Eddie Bosano-Andrews [Dundalk] have the highest number of innings without scoring a run – 4.
E. Bowes [Clontarf] has the most runs without passing fifty at least once – 396.
Cameron Shoebridge [Malahide] has the most games without taking a single catch – 27.
85 players have now passed the 1,000 point barrier and surely last year’s total of 94 players achieving more than 1,000 points will be beaten in 2013. 43 players require less than 100 points to do so.
The 2012 season saw 199,161 runs scored, 11,815 wickets taken, 4,288 catches held and 287 stumpings. By comparison 225,149 runs have been scored (an increase of 13%), 11,209 wicket taken (5.1% behind), 4,324 catches held (1% increase) and 203 stumpings (29.3% behind). Is this the year of the bat?
Other than listing all 2,178 players I don’t think I can find any other ways to get more names into this week’s column. We are now down the business part of the season. Titles sought, promotions chased, relegations to be avoided. This is where it gets interesting.
As usual, should you want to see your own, your Club’s or the full listing of all players in Leinster, please contact me at craig@cricket.ie and you will be sent on the latest listing. You may also, for comparison, request your individual figures for the 2012 season.