Partnership (cricket)

Strong batting in partnership are widely considers to be an important aspect of cricket. Generally top-order batters are superior to low-order batters, therefore partnerships are usually greater when between two top order batters. Many believe that a key to a successful partnership is when to batters have differing playing styles.[4] For instance, Marcus Trescothick, known for aggressive style of batting [5]and Mike Atherton,[6] known for a defensive approach, formed successful opening partnerships for England. Likewise, batters differing physical appearance may also contribute to a successful partnership. An example of this is Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Crawley is a tall right-hander batter, whereas Duckett is a much shorter left-handed batter.[7] It is encouraged that they "rotate the strike," allowing each other to face the bowler regularly, and effective communication in calling runs is considered preferable for a successful partnership. [8][9]

Lower order partnerships are usually much smaller than those for the early partnerships.[10] Middle order and low-order batters often tend to score at a higher strike rate. This so to score as many runs as possible before running out of batting partners.[11] Batters, such as Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Flintoff are widely regarded as some of the best middle-order batters. [12] Similarly, in a citation were there are no recognised batters remaining, tail-end batters may often play often play aggressively, with the purpose of more runs before the team is all out. Another citation, in which there is one not out recognised batter and one tail-end batter, in this case the recognised may often seek to be on strike as much as possible. An example of this is in test cricket, was when Ben Stokes and Jack Leach scored a partnership of 75 to win the match, at Headingly, during the 2019 Ashes Series.[13]

Large partnerships do more than simply add runs to the scoreboard, they may also serve to exhaust and demoralise the fielding team. Both of these were major factors at the famous Test match at Eden Gardens in 2001, when India's V. V. S. Laxman and Rahul Dravid put on a fifth wicket stand of 376 runs, staying at the crease for the entire fourth day's play without being dismissed. Despite having forced their opponents to follow on, Steve Waugh's highly regarded Australians were left emotionally and physically drained, slumping to a shock heavy (171 run) defeat. Even if nowhere near as damaging numerically, larger-than-expected last wicket stands can still be very demoralising, especially because as soon as the Number 11 batsman walks out of the pavilion, many of the fielders expect to be batting within minutes and start their mental preparations. If the last wicket partnership lasts much longer than they expect, it has an adverse effect on their preparation and composure, as well as their energy level deteriorating from extra time on the field. It is also damaging to the confidence of the bowlers if they are unable to dismiss a team's worst batsman relatively easily. A good example of this came in the First Test between Australia and New Zealand at Brisbane Cricket Ground in 2004. The Kiwis performed well for the first two days, and while the Australians did recover strongly on the third, the New Zealanders were still well in the hunt when Glenn McGrath, the Australian fast bowler and notoriously poor batsman, came to the crease to accompany fellow tail-ender Jason Gillespie with nine wickets down. Incredibly, the pair put on 114 runs, both achieving half centuries (McGrath's first in a long Test career in which he has never averaged more than 8 with the bat). The humiliated New Zealanders lost energy and focus, and when they finally removed McGrath and went in to bat, their batting order was devastated, collapsing to 76 all out, giving Australia an innings victory with a day to spare. During the second Test of the 2005 Ashes, Australia's tailenders Shane Warne, Michael Kasprowicz and Brett Lee famously held out during their second innings after the top order had been decimated by England's bowlers and nearly won a tightly contested match, losing by a mere 2 runs, the narrowest margin in Ashes history.

Two bowlers may be said to be bowling in tandem when they bowl all of a certain set of consecutive overs.[14]

James Anderson and Stuart Broad hold the record for most wickets in a bowling partnership. They have taken 1039 wickets together.

Correct as of 1 November 2021[15]

Correct as of 1 November 2021[16]

* = unbroken partnership

Correct as of 1 November 2021[17]

* = unbroken partnership

Percy Holmes, left, and Herbert Sutcliffe shake hands in front of the scoreboard after a first wicket stand of 555 at Leyton, 1932. The players' autographs can be seen on the photo.

Correct as of 1 November 2021[18]

* = unbroken partnership.

Correct as of 1 November 2021[19]

* = unbroken partnership

Correct as of 1 November 2021[20]

* = unbroken partnership

• 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 Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine