Humiliated in Australia only 19 days ago, Sri Lanka created shock waves by defeating South Africa in South Africa 2-0 in a Test series.
They became only the third country – after England and Australia – and the only Asian country – to win a Test series in South Africa.
What an incredible turnaround involving four countries – Australia, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa – in the last three months! Topsy-turvy results indeed.
India beat Australia 2-1 in the four-Test series in Australia. It could have been 3-1 but for rains in the final Sydney Test. Australia retaliated by thrashing Sri Lanka 2-0 in the 2-Test series in Australia.
Then Sri Lanka got back in their groove by beating South Africa 2-0 in another two-Test series in South Africa.
To me, the common factor in these results was: no century, no victory! Let me explain.
Three Indians scored five centuries in the series against Australia concluding in January 2019. Man of the Series Cheteshwar Pujara registered three of them; 123 in the first Test in Adelaide, 106 in the third Test in Melbourne and 193 in the fourth Test in Sydney.
Skipper Virat Kohli hit 123 in the second Test in Perth and wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant an unbeaten 159 in Sydney.
Not one Australian could register a hundred.
It was quite the reverse in the series against Sri Lanka. Four centuries were belted by four Aussie bats: Joe Burns 180, Travis Head 161, Kurtis Patterson 114 not out and Usman Khawaja 101 not out –in the Canberra Test.
Not one Sri Lankan could reach three figures in either Test. And Australia won the series 2-0 by huge margins.
Same pattern was noted when Sri Lanka toured South Africa this month. Man of the Series Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera made a majestic and unbeaten 153 which resulted in a shock one-wicket win in the first Test in Durban.
But no South African could score a century in either Test to prove my theory of centuries contributing to victories in these successive Test series.
Has this ever happened before in three Test series involving four countries in succession?
Not that bowlers did not contribute to their countries’ recent victories: India’s Jasprit Bumrah against Australia, Australia’s Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc against Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka’s Suranga Lakmal against South Africa.
But the common contributing factor in these three Test series was: “No ton, no series won.”
Kersi Meher-Homji
Expert
Thanks for proving my theory for more series in 2018-19. You are knowledgeable and far from being a nuisance!
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
2018 Aussies in South Africa , 1st Test neither side scored a ton but Mitch Marsh came close at 96. Australia won. Next 3 Tests something like 5 centuries by South Africa , none from Australia . SA won all 3 games.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Expert
Ah, what a shame! A quartet of centurions missed by a solitary run!
James
Guest
Whenever i think centuries i think of the time Mark Waugh got out for 99 as a number 4 at Lords after Taylor (111), Slater (152) and Boon (164no) had shown him what to do. Apparently Waugh was sent a betting slip in the change room that was now useless that would have won the guy an obscene amount of money if the top 4 Australian batsmen had all reached triple figures.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Expert
Interesting addition, RobPeters. Thanks.
RobPeters
Roar Rookie
You could add to that the recently concluded West Indies series victory over England where the WI scored a double and a century in the first test to seal a win, and England only could only find one century in the series in the third test to claw one back.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Expert
JohnB, yes; Test cricket springs many surprises.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
While this isn't what your article is about, you don't have to go back too far for a series where a ton almost as stunning as Perera's turned around and ultimately won a series - the last SL v Australia series in SL. In the first test Mendis' second innings 176 coming in at 2 down and still about 80 behind, having been rolled for 117 in the first innings took them from likely heavy defeat to a strong win, and then to 3 nil in the series.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Expert
Thank you DaveJ and Rajesh Kumar.
Rajesh Kumar
Guest
Superb piece, Kersi. Enjoyed going through the article thoroughly. Rajesh
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
As you say Kersi, a quirky observation rather than a trend or law. Statistically speaking, because teams that score fewer runs overall in a series tend to lose (surprise) then once in a while the losing team will score no centuries.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Expert
Good observation, Anindya.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
An excellent observation Kersi. As usual, the quirky doesn’t escape your sharp eyes! In these last 3 series, this certainly holds true. Is there a real correlation, I am not sure. But in the SA-SL series, the batting overall other than From Kusal, left much to be desired, particularly from SA. SL to be honest, other than the grit they showed to win the first Test didn’t bat sensationally. SA was just rubbish. In that context the century certainly made a difference.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Expert
You are correct, Bush. Over all, my "theory" does not hold true. I was referring only to these successive Test series -- Australia vs India and Sri Lanka and SL vs South Africa played in succession within three months. A quirky observation in these three series, not an established fact. More often than not, bowlers win matches.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Kersi, Yet Australia won in Brisbane against Sri Lanka without scoring any centuries and the only test we won against India we didn't score any centuries, yet Kohli did score one... India beat Australia 2 - 1 in India in 2017 scoring scoring only two centuries in the whole series, and they both came in a single innings in a match that resulted in a draw. Yet Steve Smith scored three centuries alone across the series and we lost. I've never bought into this belief that centuries are somehow so uniquely special that they warrant particular consideration. I'll take the batsman who gives me 40 runs ever innings, as opposed to a guy that gives me 190 followed by single digit scores over and over.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Expert
Thank you, Paul. My hats off to the Sri Lankan cricketers.
Paul
Roar Guru
Thais a very interesting point Kersi. People can point to bowler friendly pitches in South Africa, but only one side batted to the conditions in both Tests with the bat and that was Sri Lanka, with two not out batsmen well set in the last Test. South Afrca had their chances, especially in the First Test, to register a century but didn't do so. All credit to Sri Lanka for both an entertaining and emphatic series win.
Targa
Guest
That's why NZ has risen so far in the test rankings (now no 2). Kane Williamson has obviously scored a lot of 100s, and with Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor (admittedly quiet with the bat in tests in 2018), Jeet Raval (yet to score a hundred yet), BJ Watling, and Colin De Grandhomme NZ has formed a world-class top 7 (pushed by likes of Rachin Ravindra, Will Young and Tom Blundell who are trying to make the side).