Cricket Punt
My initial research on the Hundred batsman came up with a few names like Hain, Bell-Drummond and Luke Hollman. One name that kept coming out though was Ian Cockbain, so I am going to take a closer look at his numbers over the last three seasons to see what we can learn about this player.
1. Role change : From Anchor to Destroyer (and potential Finisher)
Ian Cockbain is a unique cricketer who can fill any roll for his team and bat in any position. He can open, play the hardest role at 3 and 4 or be a finisher.
The numbers Ian Cockbain clocked up with match winning knocks in the 2020 blast at number 3 were truly exceptional. On the back of solid 2018 and 2019 games, Cockbain’s job was to anchor the innings, score at a steady rate whilst accumulating runs then explode at the end if he was still in at the 16th over (a feat he managed in 36% of games). He would then take down the bowling at a 205 Strike Rate (Blast average over same period 150 SR) and finding a maximum with 16.1% of the deliveries he faced in the last 5 overs.
Cockbain was the classic anchor and a superb one at that. However, his numbers in the 2020 Vitality blast show there was unlocked potential that was has finally been unleashed, as shown by his 205 strike rate at the death in overs 16-20. In 2020 it looks like his role has changed from anchor to destroyer. Let's take a closer look.
Rather than taking 10 balls to get set and then slowly accelerating through the innings, Cockbain, now starts to go from about ball 7. His strike rate in 2020 after facing 7-10 balls is a world class 212!
Strike Rate | 1st 10 balls | PP | Over 7-10 | Over 11-15 | Over 16-20 | Six % | Overall |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cockbain 2018-19 | 98 | 121 | 101 | 129 | 205 | 4.2 | 128 |
Cockbain 2020 | 170 | 149 | 175 | 212 | 155 | 9.2 | 170 |
Average | 1st 10 balls | PP | Over 7-10 | Over 11-15 | Over 16-20 | Six % | Overall |
Cockbain 2018-19 | 59 | 41 | 23 | 85 | 42 | 4.2 | 39.0 |
Cockbain 2020 | 71 | 72 | 36 | 91 | 18 | 9.2 | 46.2 |
What is amazing about this role change in 2020 after the Powerplay is twofold. He still averages 72 in the Powerplay and then when he enters the middle phase he doesn’t slow down, he gets even quicker, targeting the 4th and 5th change bowlers.
If we take a closer look at his Strike Rate in the late middle or pre launch phase of 11-15, his 212 SR was the 7th best in the world in 2020 to face at least 50 balls. The average domestic player in this period goes at 129 SR.
If we look at his numbers in the death, his Strike rate drops off a bit to 155. Over the last four years his overall strike rate in overs 16-20 is 184 so perhaps last year was a bit of natural variation. Alternatively, there is perhaps an element of tiredness that has played a part and I would recommend that he looks at this as part of his development.
So Cockbain could equally come in at 5 or 6 and be the finisher and have the perfect skill set for that role.Since 2018, he was in at the death in 11 games and hit a six with 17.1% of the deliveries faced with a 193 strike rate. Should a franchise require him to play the finishing role Cockbain will be ready to deliver.
2. Hundred draft – where does he rank versus his peers?
Cockbain’s last 3 years of performances compared to the other players being selected is excellent. The table below shows how Cockbain ranks compared to the Blast players who came in at position 3 or 4 in the 2020 season.
A- Strike Rate 1st 10 balls faced
B - Average 1st 10 balls faced
C - Death Strike Rate - Overs 16-20
D - Death Balls per Wicket - Overs 16-20
E - Death Average - Overs 16-20
F - Overall Strike Rate
G - Overall Average
H - Six percentage
I - Strike Rate once set (after 18 balls)
2018-2020 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ian Cockbain | 111 | 63 | 192.7 | 16.4 | 32.6 | 141.2 | 41.5 | 5.80% | 172.3 |
Rank | 54th | 5th | 7th | 18th | 12th | 19th | 6th | 23rd | 9th |
Cockbain 2018-19 | 98 | 59 | 129 | 63 | 85 | 128 | 39 | 4.20% | 170 |
Cockbain 2020 | 143 | 46 | 212 | 43 | 91 | 170 | 46 | 9.20% | 176 |
2020 Rank | 5th | 12th | 5th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 9th |
Will Jacks | 132.2 | 24.4 | 229 | 31 | 72 | 146.7 | 24 | 7.41% | 176.5 |
Will Smeed | 31.6 | 12 | 227.3 | 11 | 25 | 114.3 | 17.5 | 5.95% | 164.5 |
Josh Cobb | 92.8 | 20.9 | 217.6 | 11.3 | 25 | 130.6 | 30 | 7.60% | 163.1 |
Luis Reece | 100 | 21.9 | 214.3 | n/a | n/a | 117.5 | 21 | 3.93% | 131.4 |
Ian Cockbain | 170 | 46.2 | 212 | 43 | 91 | 170 | 46.2 | 9.20% | 176 |
Chris Cooke | 111.2 | 28.5 | 209.8 | 17.6 | 38 | 137.9 | 27 | 7.08% | 156 |
Ben Raine | 122.5 | 15.9 | 201.9 | 8.8 | 18.5 | 150.6 | 23.8 | 8.92% | 210.9 |
Alex Blake | 133 | 19.1 | 189.3 | 9.3 | 17.7 | 148 | 21.6 | 7.82% | 193.8 |
Dan Lawrence | 131.1 | 34.2 | 186.9 | 8.7 | 16.3 | 143.3 | 30.1 | 6.60% | 155.9 |
Adam Hose | 115.3 | 27.9 | 186.7 | 9 | 18 | 141.8 | 34.4 | 5.89% | 167.9 |
Will Fraine | 142.7 | 25.6 | 185.1 | 13.4 | 25 | 154.1 | 20.6 | 8.18% | 50 |
Sam Hain | 95.7 | 41.6 | 182.6 | 15.3 | 30.2 | 127.9 | 41.6 | 3.52% | 155.5 |
Laurie Evans | 104.2 | 47.9 | 182.5 | 14.9 | 28.9 | 135.1 | 45.7 | 5.00% | 164.9 |
Dan Lincoln | 98.6 | 18.5 | 181.3 | 16 | 30 | 106.8 | 16.1 | 1.94% | 140 |
Ravi Bopara | 103.8 | 25.2 | 180.1 | 14.3 | 27 | 127.1 | 31.2 | 4.12% | 162.5 |
Sam Billings | 114.4 | 29.2 | 178.2 | 18.3 | 35 | 139.8 | 31.1 | 5.02% | 167.2 |
Tom Moores | 110.6 | 33.5 | 178.1 | 9.1 | 17.6 | 138.1 | 27 | 7.04% | 195.7 |
Dawid Malan | 101.5 | 23.7 | 176.9 | 10.8 | 19.7 | 129.9 | 29 | 4.25% | 162.7 |
James Bracey | 117.4 | 28.4 | 175.9 | 7.3 | 12.8 | 122.9 | 21 | 2.58% | 118.9 |
Alex Hales | 133.7 | 33.1 | 174.1 | 27 | 49 | 141 | 31.9 | 5.76% | 134.3 |
Jack Taylor | 136.4 | 23.7 | 173.6 | 15.8 | 28.5 | 148.6 | 27.1 | 7.01% | 100 |
Adam Rossington | 109 | 26.5 | 170.6 | 8.5 | 14.5 | 127.8 | 24.2 | 3.19% | 118.1 |
Wayne Madsen | 125.3 | 50.6 | 169.8 | 21 | 38 | 140.2 | 37.7 | 3.52% | 159.8 |
Andy Balbirnie | 126.2 | 21.2 | 168.8 | 8 | 14 | 146.2 | 29.7 | 4.40% | 177.8 |
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harry Brook | 138.3 | 48.2 | 166.7 | 9.5 | 17.7 | 140.5 | 24.8 | 5.57% | 113.5 |
Harry Finch | 112.7 | 31.5 | 166.7 | n/a | n/a | 109.2 | 16 | 2.30% | 88.2 |
Nick Gubbins | 125.2 | 28.2 | 166.7 | 3 | 5 | 125.9 | 21.5 | 2.47% | 148.1 |
Ross Whiteley | 117.3 | 18.6 | 166.3 | 10.1 | 17.6 | 142.3 | 21.9 | 6.38% | 147.8 |
Tom Abell | 113.3 | 33.7 | 165.7 | 17.5 | 31 | 143.8 | 37.2 | 3.23% | 162.4 |
Keaton Jennings | 110.3 | 67 | 165.7 | 22.3 | 37.7 | 118.4 | 51.5 | 2.20% | 132.5 |
David Wiese | 119.9 | 32.3 | 165.5 | 14 | 24 | 140.6 | 29.8 | 6.61% | 188.1 |
Ian Bell | 112.7 | 45.8 | 163.3 | 7.5 | 14.3 | 131.7 | 43.9 | 3.29% | 137.7 |
Ben Cox | 101.9 | 55.6 | 163 | 24.3 | 41 | 118.7 | 29.6 | 3.22% | 171.8 |
Heino Kuhn | 111.4 | 22.5 | 162.2 | 11.3 | 18.6 | 129.6 | 26.4 | 2.71% | 165.6 |
Matt Critchley | 105.4 | 20.1 | 161.4 | 8.8 | 14.4 | 112.1 | 16 | 2.47% | 100 |
Ben Duckett | 120.4 | 30.6 | 160.7 | 11.2 | 18 | 136 | 31.6 | 3.32% | 155.9 |
Leus du Plooy | 121.5 | 34.2 | 160 | 15 | 25 | 134.8 | 29.5 | 3.87% | 145.3 |
Liam Livingstone | 126 | 36.8 | 159.2 | 12.3 | 19.8 | 141.3 | 29.5 | 8.45% | 158.2 |
Ryan ten Doeschate | 107.1 | 30.1 | 158.7 | 18.4 | 30.3 | 127.4 | 30.8 | 4.17% | 153.7 |
Sam Northeast | 87.7 | 33 | 158.5 | 8.2 | 13.6 | 104.3 | 23.9 | 1.22% | 122.9 |
Steven Croft | 101.7 | 20.8 | 158.2 | 6.9 | 11 | 121.8 | 28.2 | 5.41% | 136.9 |
Cameron Delport | 124.2 | 31.5 | 158.2 | 13.8 | 22 | 140.3 | 25.7 | 6.38% | 168.9 |
Brydon Carse | 153.4 | 34.2 | 157.9 | 10.9 | 18.4 | 144.6 | 22.8 | 6.76% | 40 |
Samit Patel | 112.8 | 25.3 | 157.8 | 14.2 | 22.6 | 124.5 | 24.7 | 2.53% | 126.9 |
Jonathan Tattersall | 112.9 | 28 | 156.3 | 12.9 | 20.6 | 124.9 | 24.9 | 1.10% | 165.5 |
Ryan Higgins | 119.2 | 34.3 | 153.8 | 15.1 | 25.3 | 130.3 | 27.7 | 4.65% | 139.8 |
Joe Weatherley | 103.4 | 25.2 | 153.1 | 5.3 | 8.5 | 110.9 | 16.6 | 1.98% | 146.2 |
Graham Clark | 139.5 | 36.8 | 147.5 | 8 | 12.4 | 145 | 29.2 | 4.33% | 142.3 |
James Vince | 121.1 | 28.4 | 147.4 | 11.1 | 16.7 | 132.2 | 29.8 | 3.24% | 143.4 |
Rory Burns | 147.8 | 29.4 | 147.1 | 8.5 | 13.5 | 145.9 | 35.5 | 2.70% | 115.6 |
Ben Foakes | 129.6 | 23 | 142.4 | 19.7 | 30 | 130.7 | 27.9 | 2.81% | 125.6 |
Joe Root | 121.3 | 88 | 140 | 25 | 40 | 139.3 | 43.9 | 1.97% | 142.2 |
Colin Ackermann | 120 | 42.6 | 139.3 | 12 | 18.7 | 129.5 | 30.3 | 3.43% | 134 |
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joe Denly | 118.6 | 41.5 | 138.5 | 13 | 18 | 130.9 | 34.2 | 3.81% | 143.5 |
Dane Vilas | 128.8 | 28.3 | 136.5 | 12.2 | 17.5 | 132.9 | 26.4 | 3.91% | 132.3 |
John Simpson | 125.9 | 77.4 | 129.8 | 10.1 | 13.8 | 130.3 | 30.7 | 6.55% | 131.3 |
Calum MacLeod | 92.1 | 25.1 | 128.6 | 5.6 | 7.8 | 111.6 | 25.3 | 2.10% | 146.9 |
Brett D'Oliveira | 118.6 | 17.7 | 127.9 | 8.7 | 11.4 | 127.9 | 18.9 | 2.90% | 151.1 |
Ian Holland | 108.1 | 29 | 126.1 | 15.3 | 20.7 | 127.5 | 37.2 | 4.35% | 147.2 |
Jake Libby | 130.8 | 71.5 | 125 | 15 | 23.3 | 130.3 | 39.8 | 1.92% | 123.1 |
Arron Lilley | 152.5 | 34 | 124 | 8.3 | 11.7 | 152.2 | 23.5 | 7.18% | 158.3 |
Will Rhodes | 113.9 | 23.8 | 120 | 11.7 | 16.3 | 119.3 | 17.1 | 3.07% | 166.7 |
Billy Godleman | 126.7 | 36.9 | 118.5 | 27 | 37 | 113.2 | 35.3 | 2.77% | 108.5 |
Jordan Cox | 107.4 | 18.2 | 118.2 | 11 | 13.2 | 110.7 | 17.6 | 1.64% | 121.4 |
Varun Chopra | 107.7 | 37.5 | 116.7 | 3 | 6 | 123 | 33 | 3.87% | 119.9 |
Aaron Thomason | 90.3 | 15.8 | 109.7 | 15.5 | 18 | 110 | 20.4 | 2.22% | 152.9 |
Tom Westley | 132.3 | 58.2 | 100 | n/a | n/a | 129.9 | 27.4 | 2.61% | 140.8 |
James Hildreth | 133.5 | 41.3 | 89.2 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 134.2 | 27.6 | 3.94% | 136.6 |
David Willey | 113.4 | 29.4 | 50 | 4 | 2 | 126.7 | 26.8 | 6.44% | 161.9 |
Paul Stirling | 131.1 | 29.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 141.2 | 22.6 | 5.71% | 131.1 |
Chris Dent | 135.1 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 151 | 34.9 | 4.08% | 153.8 |
Kiran Carlson | 104 | 31.6 | n/a | 1 | 0 | 131.5 | 21.3 | 4.28% | 186.2 |
Steven Davies | 121.1 | 14.3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 136.5 | 18 | 1.69% | 144.4 |
Joe Clarke | 133.3 | 31.3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 150.7 | 30.1 | 6.76% | 150.7 |
David Bedingham | 108.5 | 26.3 | n/a | 1 | 0 | 128 | 22.6 | 4.49% | 137.5 |
Delray Rawlins | 102 | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 129 | 22.3 | 7.20% | 154.3 |
Ricardo Vasconcelos | 108.3 | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 107.6 | 16.1 | 0.76% | 128.6 |
Jack Haynes | 135.8 | 45.5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 137 | 21.6 | 3.70% | 212.5 |
Joe Cracknell | 125.5 | 33.5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 137.4 | 27.6 | 3.30% | 143.8 |
Robert Yates | 156.8 | 61 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 155.2 | 23.5 | 10.34% | 0 |
Average all above | 118.5 | 33.7 | 155.6 | 13.7 | 23.4 | 132.7 | 28.3 | 6.55% | 144.9 |
Blast Batsman 3-4 | 115 | 32.7 | 164 | 13.4 | 23 | 131 | 29.4 | 4.40% | 153 |
Cockbain appears to be one of the most flexible players in domestic cricket. He has taken a look at his main weaknesses in 2018 and 2019 in my opinion and turned them in to strengths in 2020. Once the Powerplay has finished he has taken it on himself to carry the attack to the spinners. Being aggressive against the spinners is something that has worked for him as I show in the comparison below.
Cockbain ranks 5th in his Strike rate for the 1st 10 balls in an innings in 2020 Blast – very few can get off to a quicker start and punish the bowling early on. This means that he could even play the role of finisher should he be required. He also hits a six with 9.2% of deliveries he faces. Only Robert Yates hit at a higher rate (6 from 58 balls)
3. Seam v Spin – an improving cricketer
His record versus pace is well known and elite. However, to do improve his game Cockbain was weak in one area, Offbreak bowling. Oddly for a right hander Cockbain got in trouble by being too negative against Offbreak in previous years.
Offbreak | Legbreak | Pace | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average | SR | Average | SR | Average | SR | |
Blast Average 2020 | 23 | 116 | 23 | 119 | 24 | 124 |
Cockbain 2018-2019 | 15 | 110 | 36 | 116 | 42 | 154 |
Cockbain 2020 | 23 | 155 | 43 | 154 | 43 | 186 |
Cockbain 2017-2020 | 29 | 143 | 43 | 127 | 36 | 146 |
Cockbain has always been comfortable versus legbreak and able to pick it. However, one can see the difference in attitude and aggression towards spinners in his new destroyer role in 2020.
Offbreak | |||
---|---|---|---|
Period | Power | Over 7-15 | Six % |
Cockbain 2018-2019 SR | 144 | 100 | 0% |
Cockbain 2018-2019 Ave | n/a | 10.7 | |
Cockbain 2020 SR | 92 | 206 | 18.80% |
Cockbain 2020 Ave | 6.5 | n/a |
So Cockbain was aware of his sub par record against offbreak and has developed some new shots and footwork against offbreak bowling. His numbers in the 2020 Vitality blast show his attacking intent against Offbreak bowling has really paid off. Cockbain should now be considered an all round player with few if any weaknesses.
4. Conclusion
Ian Cockbain is coming into the peak of his powers as an elite t20 world batsman at 33 years of age, taking his power and attacking game to approaching world class level. He is aware of his strengths and has considerably improved on his weaknesses to become an elite player that can fill any role a coach or captain requires in t20 cricket. I'd probably use him as a number 3 or 4 in The Hundred, being a 16 over game.
Please comment or tweet me if you would like anymore in depth player analysis. I will try and do a few more before The Hundred starts
Thanks
neil@cricketpunt.com