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Top 4 Cricketers With Lowest Strike-Rate Since 2008

Sonanchal Gautam

In the longest and purest form of cricket, the strike rate is not giving much importance. Strike rate is considered as an irrelevant factor to judge batsmen’s capabilities to score runs in Test cricket. Test cricket is all about survival, A batsman is given the freedom to bat as long as he can and score crucial runs for the team. However, in modern-day cricket, some batsmen try to do aggressive batting in Test cricket but most of them unable to generate big scores.

A tough draw in Test cricket is equally important as a victory. Batting for long hours and scoring big runs is a skill, however, defending against aggressive pacers and saving the team from losing the match is a skill that not many possess. In the history of the purest form of the game, there have been several batsmen who have defended under tough conditions and handed over the draw to their team.

Let’s have a look at cricketers with the lowest strike rate in first-class cricket since 2008 (Min: 200 balls):

4. AB de Villiers vs AUSTRALIA, 2012 | (33 off 220) Strike Rate 15.00

Photo Credit: (ESPN Cricinfo)

Legendary proteas batter ABD is often recognized for his aggressive batting on the crease. He even holds the record for the fastest century in the One Day Internationals. Whenever ABD is on the crease he goes berserk against bowlers. De Villiers posses the quality to bat with a massive strike rate across all three formats.

Notably, Once Ab de Villiers showed his completely different avatar while batting in the purest form of the game. The match was the 2nd Test of Adelaide on Nov 22 – 26, 2012 The South Africa tour of Australia. This Test match is mainly known for the sensational debut of legendary Proteas batsman Faf Du Plessis. However, in the second innings, Ab De Villiers played a slow knock which will be remembered for ages.

Ab failed to make a mark in the first innings but while batting in the second innings he saved South Africa from losing the game. Ab faced 220 balls and scored only 30 runs with an astonishing strike rate of 15. In the end, he lost his wicket to Siddle but he left the team in a very good position.

3. AB de Villiers vs INDIA, 2015 | (43 of 297) Strike rate 14.47

 

The attacker turned into a defender, the fierce six-hitters turned into a classy protector. Ab de Villiers once again showed his versatility against the Indian squad in a marquee Test match. Ab de Villiers made sure to give everything he has got to save the team from losing the high-profile battle. However, he was unable to save his team from defeat against the strong opposition.

The 4th Test match at Delhi, Dec 3 – 7, 2015 South Africa tour of India. Indian batting line-up showed a classy batting and batted beautifully in both the innings. The Indian batters managed to score 334 & 267/5d however these runs turned out to be a mountain for Proteas batters.

South Africa got dismissed at the score of just 121 in the first innings. However, while batting in the second innings star batsman Ab De Villiers tried his best to lead the team towards the draw but he failed in the task.

He defended 296 deliveries scoring just 43 runs at the strike rate of 14.47. Meanwhile, he got dismissed against Ashwin in the 297th delivery. In the end, India won the match by 337 runs

3. Hashim Amla vs HAMPSHIRE, 2021 | (37* off 278) Strike Rate 13.30

The retired Proteas Hashim Amla is a legendary batsman. Amla’s blockathon helped his team, Surrey, to draw the game against Hampshire. Amla played his last few international games against Sri Lanka and then announced his retirement in the year 2019. However, he made himself available to play domestic cricket.

Amla’s sensational defending skills helped the team to achieve a remarkable draw. The 38-year-old batted non-stop the whole day at The Rose Bowl. He managed to score an unbeaten 37 from 278 balls as his team Surrey finished at the score of 8-128.

Hampshire fell just two wickets short to claim the victory. In the country cricket championship Hampshire scored 488 runs in the first innings. Meanwhile, Hampshire bowled out Surrey at the score of 72 and handed over them the follow-on. While following on Surrey once again batted terribly but Amla came to the rescue.

1. Hashim Amla vs INDIA, 2015 (25 of 244) Strike Rate 10.24

Hashim Amla

The underrated Hashim Amla holds the record of batting with the lowest strike rate in first-class cricket. Amla achieved a lot of heights in the legendary career run with South Africa. On the ODI side, he is the fastest ever to score 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 ODI runs. Amla also became the fastest cricketer to reach the 10 ODI centuries milestone.

The 4th Test match Delhi, Dec 3 – 7, 2015, South Africa tour of India. The same match where Ab De Villiers showed his defensive masterclass. Amla stood on the crease like a wall. The bowlers tried every bit to bowl out Amla but he kept defending the ball. Amla was like the ball-eating machine he consumed 244 balls and scored just 25 runs. In the long 244 ball innings, Amla hit only three fours.

However, the wall was broken by the memorable spell of Indian spinners. In the first innings, Ravindra Jadeja picked a 5 wicket haul and Ashwin did the same thing in the second innings. Notably, the spin bowling duo of Jadeja and Ashwin got the wickets of Amla and AB De Villiers in the second innings of high profile clash.

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