Staggering Test stats from 2018

Cape Town - Many will argue with an ever mounting heap of evidence that Test cricket is dying a quick death and T20 is the future.

The ICC Test rankings show a mere 12 countries in the world (out of 195) play the five-day game - and let's be honest, Ireland and Afghanistan don't really count.

But stats at least show that for cricket purists, 2018 was an entertaining Test year.

48 Tests were played in 2018, with 43 producing results.

The only five draws were: 2 due to rain (West Indies v Sri Lanka and New Zealand v Sri Lanka), 2 due to last two wickets saving the Test (New Zealand v England and Australia v Pakistan) and 1 dull batting paradise (Bangladesh v Sri Lanka).

The last calendar year with just five (or fewer) stalemates was all the way back in 1970 - some 48 years ago!

Of the 43 Tests to have produced a result, a staggering 33 (77%) were won by the team batting first and only 10 by the team taking guard second.

And, staggeringly, 27 Tests (63%) finished inside four days - or quicker.

Test match results last 3 years
2016: P 47, Won bat 1st 27, won bat 2nd 13, Drawn 7, <=4 days: 16
2017: P 47, Won bat 1st 26, won bat 2nd 14, Drawn 7, <=4 days: 23
2018: P 48, Won bat 1st 33, won bat 2nd 10, Drawn 5, <=4 days: 27

— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) December 30, 2018

2018 has witnessed just five draws from 48 Tests

2 due to Rain (WI-SL and NZ -SL),
2 due to last two wickets saving the TEST ( NZ-ENG and AUS-PAK)
1 dull batting paradise ( Bang-SL)

Last instance of five draws or less in a year was way back in 1970. #2018

— ESPNcricinfo stats (@ESPNcric_stats) December 30, 2018