Ive never seen great batsmen choke as much as Amla and ABDV

Thanks to the rain delay, I had some time to look through Amla's performances at the World Cup. Not surprisingly, we see that he has excelled in the group matches, but failed miserably in the knockout stages.

Amla has appeared in 2 World Cups, scoring a total of 639 runs in 15 innings at an average of 42.60 with 3 fifties, 2 centuries and a strike-rate of 91.41. On the surface - although below his career ODI average of 51.97 - these look like pretty good numbers. However, once you dig a little deeper and take a look at his performances in the knockout stages, the numbers look much different.

In 2011, South Africa lost in the quarter-finals to New Zealand. Amla was dismissed for 7.

In 2015, South Africa beat Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals, though Amla again failed, dismissed for 16. It was the same story in their semi-final loss to New Zealand as Amla was sent packing for 7.

A total of 30 runs in 3 knockout games for a paltry average of 10. Yes, its only three games, so the variance and signal-to-noise ratio is off the charts, but this is a consistent pattern with Amla in his career as evidenced by his performances in the World T20s:

In the 2012 World T20, Amla scored 71 runs in 5 innings at an average of 17.75. In what was a must win group stage match against Australia, Amla was out for 17.

In 2014, Amla scored 185 runs in 5 innings for an average of 37, but again came up small in the knockout stages, dismissed for 22 in the loss against India.

In 2016, Amla - playing on flat tracks that favoured batting - scored 120 runs in 4 innings for an average of 40. He scored fifties in two of his four innings, including a 58 off 31 balls against England in what was essentially a knockout match. This has been his only decent performance in a win or go home match. Unfortunately for South Africa, their bowlers inexplicably failed to defend 229.

How is the batting of :  de and du in the same Games ?

and JP has been pretty mediocre !

forget the Bowling failure at this point !

oh man  has JP been dull to say the least..the way his international career began I thought he was going to be another Graeme Pollock

Even thru the great Jacques Kallis day and Makhaya : that CHOKE  tag was applied !

Hash is a johnny come lately !

must be something in the afrikaner wartuh dat wet all sports in RSA.  CHOKE is general fuh dem.  in cricket fuh sure.

In 3 World Cup tournaments, ABdV has scored 1207 runs in 22 innings at an average of 63.52 with 4 centuries and 6 fifties.

In 2 World Cup tournaments, du Plessis has scored 529 runs in 13 innings at an average of 53.90 with 1 century and 4 fifties.

In 2007, ABdV scored 372 runs in 10 innings at an average of 37.20 with 1 century and 2 fifties. In what turned out to be a must-win match against England, ABdV scored 42 as South Africa chased down a paltry 154. In the semi-final match against Australia, ABdV scored just 15.

In 2011, ABdV scored 353 runs in 5 innings at an average of 88.25 with 2 centuries and 1 fifty. He was dismissed for 35 in the quarter-final loss to New Zealand.

In that same tournament, du Plessis scored 159 runs in 6 innings at an average of 39.75 with 1 fifty. Much like Amla and ABdV, he also failed to put up a big score, as he was dismissed for 36.

In 2015, ABdV scored 482 runs in 7 innings at an average of 96.40 with 1 century and 3 fifties. He was not required to bat in the quarter-final win over Sri Lanka, and finished 65 not out, batting first in their semi-final loss to New Zealand.

In that same tournament, du Plessis scored 380 runs in 7 innings at an average of 63.33 with 1 century and 3 fifties. He finished 21 not out in the quarter-final win over Sri Lanka, and scored 82 in the semi-final loss to New Zealand.

So in the knockout stages (or must-win matches), ABdV has scored 157 runs in 4 innings at an average of 52.33. Du Plessis has scored 109 runs in 3 innings at an average of 54.50.

World T20 numbers will be forthcoming shortly.

hhhmmmm....something does not compute dillinger

Years comparison appear different !


"In the 2012 World T20, Amla scored 71 runs in 5 innings at an average of 17.75

In 2014, Amla scored 185 run


In 2011, ABdV scored 353 runs in 5 innings at an average of 88.25 with 2 centuries and 1 fifty.

He was dismissed for 35 in the quarter-final loss to New Zealand.

In that same tournament, du Plessis scored 159 runs in 6 innings average of 39.75

In 2015, ABdV scored 482 runs in 7 innings

This should make things a little easier to read and understand:

World Cup (50 over ODI) stats for Amla, ABdV and du Plessis:

In 3 World Cup tournaments, ABdV has scored 1207 runs in 22 innings at an average of 63.52 with 4 centuries and 6 fifties.

In 2 World Cup tournaments, du Plessis has scored 529 runs in 13 innings at an average of 53.90 with 1 century and 4 fifties.

In 2 World Cup tournaments, Amla has scored 639 runs in 15 innings at an average of 42.60 with 2 centuries and 3 fifties.

In 2007, ABdV scored 372 runs in 10 innings at an average of 37.20 with 1 century and 2 fifties. In what turned out to be a must-win match against England, ABdV scored 42 as South Africa chased down a paltry 154. In the semi-final match against Australia, ABdV scored just 15.

In 2011, Amla scored 306 runs in 7 innings at an average of 43.71 with 1 century and 2 fifties. ABdV scored 353 runs in 5 innings at an average of 88.25 with 2 centuries and 1 fifty. Du Plessis scored 159 runs in 6 innings at an average of 39.75 with 1 fifty.

Amla was dissmied for 7 in the quarter-final loss to New Zealand. ABdV was out for 35 and du Plessis also failed to put up a big score, as he was dismissed for 36.

In 2015, Amla scored 333 runs in 8 innings at an average of 41.62 with 1 century and 1 fifty. ABdV scored 482 runs in 7 innings at an average of 96.40 with 1 century and 3 fifties. Du Plessis scored 380 runs in 7 innings at an average of 63.33 with 1 century and 3 fifties.

In South Africa's quarter-final win over Sri Lanka, Amla scored 16, du Plessis finished 21 not out and ABdV wasn't required to bat. In the semi-final loss to New Zealand, Amla was dismissed for 7, du Plessis was out for 82 and ABdV finished 65 not out.

World T20 stats for Amla, ABdV and du Plessis:

In 29 World T20 innings, ABdV has scored 717 runs at an average of 29.87 with 5 fifties.

In 9 World T20 innings, du Plessis has scored 271 runs at an average of 30.11 with 2 fifties.

In 14 World T20 innings, Amla has scored 376 runs at an average of 31.33 with 3 fifties.

In his first World T20 in 2007, ABdV scored 50 runs in 5 innings at an average of 12.50. He was dismissed for 1 in South Africa's must-win match against India.

In 2009, ABdV scored 186 runs in 6 innings at an average of 37.20 with 2 fifties. He was dismissed for 1 in the 7-run semi-final loss to Pakistan.

In 2010, ABdV scored 153 runs in 5 innings at an average of 38.25. He did scored a brilliant 53 off 41 balls in South Africa's must-win match against Pakistan, though ultimately, they fell 11 runs short.

In 2012, ABdV scored 89 runs in 4 innings at an average of 22.25. Du Plessis played in just 2 matches, scoring one fifty in a losing effort against India. Amla scored 71 runs in 5 innings at an average of 17.75.

In the must-win group stage match against Australia, ABdV was dismissed for 21, while Amla was out for 17. Du Plessis was not selected to play in this match.

In 2014, ABdV scored 129 runs in 5 innings at an average of 32.25 with 1 fifty. Du Plessis scored 95 runs in 3 innings at an average of 31.66 with 1 fifty. Amla scored 185 runs in 5 innings at an average of 37.

ABdV was dimissed for 10 in the semi-final loss against India. Amla failed once more, out for 22. Du Plessis was again not selected to play in this match.

On batting friendly pitches in 2016, ABdV scored 110 runs in 4 innings at an average of 36.66 with 1 fifty. Du Plessis scored 98 runs in 4 innings at an average of 24.50. Amla scored 120 runs in 4 innings at an average of 40.

In the must-win match against England, ABdV scored just 16, du Plessis was dimissed for 17, while Amla scored 58.