Sachin, Lara, Sangakkara, Kallis, Ponting: Who is the greatest Test match-winner?

Performance in wins versus performance overall

This analysis will help us understand how these batting greats stepped it up when it mattered. Although Test matches are ultimately won by bowlers, it is the batsmen who need to set the platform. A century in the first innings usually ensures that the team is on the front foot for much of the contest.

Also, these top batsmen were renowned for producing those extraordinary back-to-the-wall knocks when the team was in a tough spot. Ponting, who has one of the finest records in the final innings, and Lara, who often shepherded a poor West Indies team, were among the best in pressure situations.

Dravid, whose magnificent 233 lifted India to a remarkable win over Australia in Adelaide, played numerous quality innings in Indian wins.

Tendulkar, who for much of his career played in a weak Indian team that could never quite match his consistency to ensure a win, found strong support in the latter half of his career and produced many vital knocks, including a century against England in Chennai to help chase down 387.

When we consider the percentage of overall runs scored in wins, Ponting comes up well on top (67%). This clearly reflects the exceptional quality of the Australian team he was part of. Kallis comes a distant second (45%) while three others (Sangakkara, Dravid and Tendulkar) have corresponding numbers between 30% and 40%.

Lara, who was unlucky to be part of a steadily declining West Indian outfit, scored just 23% of his runs in wins. Interestingly, when it comes to the comparison of performance in wins versus the overall performance, Sangakkara and Dravid come out on top. The average ratio (wins to overall) is 1.30 for Sangakkara and 1.24 for Dravid.

Tendulkar and Lara have maintained about the same level of performance in wins as they have done in their overall career (1.08 and 1.11 respectively).

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