Batting Partners

A partnership in cricket refers to the collaboration between two batters and the runs they accumulate together, including extras. While both batters are involved in a partnership, only one is the striker at any given time. A partnership between two batters ends when one of them is dismissed, retires, or when the innings concludes. An innings may end due to a victory being achieved, a declaration, the expiration of a time or over limit, or the abandonment of the match. In exceptional circumstances, if one of the original batters is injured, a substitute runner may complete runs on their behalf. However, any runs scored will still be recorded as part of the partnership between the two original batters. The term partnership may also refer to two bowlers delivering alternate overs from opposite ends of the wicket.

Strategy in cricket

Strong batting cohesion in partnerships is widely regarded as an important aspect of cricket. Generally, top-order batters are superior to lower-order batters; therefore, partnerships are usually more substantial when formed between two top-order batters. However, it is relatively common for a lower-order batter with strong defensive skills to intelligently rotate the strike, preserving wickets while maintaining the scoring rate—a strategy frequently employed in both One Day Internationals and Test cricket.

Many believe that a key to a successful partnership is the contrast in playing styles between the two batters. For instance, Marcus Trescothick, known for his aggressive batting style, and Mike Atherton, renowned for his defensive approach, formed successful opening partnerships for England. Similarly, differences in physical appearance may also contribute to an effective partnership. An example of this is Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett—Crawley is a tall right-handed batter, whereas Duckett is a much shorter left-handed batter. It is encouraged that batters rotate the strike regularly, allowing both players to face the bowler, while effective communication when calling runs is considered crucial for a successful partnership.

Lower-order partnerships are generally much smaller than those formed earlier in an innings. In certain scenarios, middle- and lower-order batters tend to score at a higher strike rate. This approach aims to maximise runs before running out of batting partners, a tactic commonly employed when a Test team is considering a declaration or when a one-day innings is nearing its conclusion.

Batters such as Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Flintoff are widely regarded as some of the best middle-order players in cricket history. Similarly, when no recognised batters remain, tail-end batters often adopt an aggressive approach to add as many runs as possible before the team is all out. Another common scenario occurs when one recognised batter remains alongside a tail-end batter; in such cases, the recognised batter may attempt to retain strike as frequently as possible. A notable example of this strategy occurred in Test cricket during the 2019 Ashes Series at Headingley, where Ben Stokes and Jack Leach produced a crucial 75-run partnership to secure a dramatic victory for England.

In red-ball cricket

In Test and first-class cricket, the primary focus of an opening partnership is often to negotiate the new ball, which typically offers greater movement and bounce. In later partnerships, the emphasis shifts towards consolidating the innings, facing an ageing ball and spin bowling, and eventually preparing for the second new ball.

The importance of batting in partnership becomes even more crucial when only one recognised quality batter remains. In such situations, their role includes guiding the lower-order batters while attempting to accumulate as many runs as possible or, in some cases, simply trying to save the match.

Minimising risk is essential, often achieved by shielding the lesser batters from strike as much as possible. Boundaries and twos are preferred, while singles are generally avoided, particularly early in the over. However, it may become necessary to take a single or three runs on the final delivery of the over to manage the change of ends and maintain strike.

In white-ball cricket

In T20 and One Day International ( ODI) cricket, batters often aim to score at a higher strike rate, with this approach being particularly evident during the powerplay.

The West Indies hold the record for the highest partnership in ODI cricket, achieved against Zimbabwe in Canberra on 24 February 2015. Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle shared a 372-run partnership for the second wicket.

Effect on the opposition

Large partnerships contribute more than just runs to the scoreboard; they can also exhaust and demoralise the fielding team. This was particularly evident in the famous Test match at Eden Gardens in 2001, when India's V. V. S. Laxman and Rahul Dravid shared a 376-run partnership for the fifth wicket, occupying the crease for the entire fourth day's play without being dismissed. Despite having enforced the follow-on, Steve Waugh's highly regarded Australian side was left emotionally and physically drained, ultimately succumbing to a shocking 171-run defeat.

Even if not as numerically significant, unexpectedly large last-wicket stands can still be highly demoralising. When the number 11 batter walks out to bat, many fielders anticipate a swift conclusion and begin mentally preparing for their own innings. If the final-wicket partnership extends much longer than expected, it can disrupt their focus, drain their energy, and undermine their composure. Additionally, failing to dismiss a team’s weakest batter with ease can damage the confidence of the bowlers.

A notable example occurred in the first Test between Australia and New Zealand at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in 2004. New Zealand performed well over the first two days, and although Australia recovered strongly on the third, the match remained finely balanced when Glenn McGrath—a fast bowler and notoriously poor batter—joined fellow tailender Jason Gillespie with nine wickets down. Against expectations, the pair put on a remarkable 114-run partnership, with both batters reaching half centuries—McGrath’s first in a long Test career in which he never averaged more than eight with the bat. The deflated New Zealand side lost energy and focus, and when they finally dismissed McGrath and went in to bat, their batting order collapsed to 76 all out, handing Australia an innings victory with a day to spare.

Another famous example came during the second Test of the 2005 Ashes. Australia's tailenders Shane Warne, Michael Kasprowicz, and Brett Lee defied England’s bowlers in a tense final innings, nearly pulling off an improbable victory. Despite their top order being dismantled, the lower order held firm and took the game to the brink, ultimately falling just two runs short—the narrowest margin of victory in Ashes history.

Bowling partnerships

Two bowlers are said to be bowling in tandem when they deliver all the overs in a specific sequence of consecutive overs.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad hold the record for the most wickets taken in a bowling partnership, having claimed a total of 1,039 wickets together.

Test record partnerships by wicket

Correct as of 11 October 2024

Top 10 Test partnerships (for any wicket)

Correct as of 11 October 2024

* = unbroken partnership

First-class record partnerships by wicket

Correct as of 1 November 2021

* = unbroken partnership

Top 10 first-class partnerships (for any wicket)

Correct as of 1 November 2021

* = unbroken partnership.

One-Day International record partnerships by wicket

Correct as of 1 November 2021

* = unbroken partnership

Top 10 One-Day International partnerships (for any wicket)

Correct as of 1 November 2021

* = unbroken partnership

References

A few marathon partnerships
from ''The Hindu''

Partnerships
from Howstat

List of record partnerships in Tests
from ESPN.com
Tests - Partnership Records
from cricinfo.com

first-class partnership records from CricketArchive
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225137/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/Firstclass/Overall/Highest_Partnerships.html , date=3 March 2016

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