Cricket Partnership

Two batters bat in a partnership, although only one is a striker at any time. The collaboration between two batsmen will end when one is dismissed or retires, or the innings comes to a close, usually due to victory, a declaration, a time or over limit being reached, or the match being abandoned. In exceptional cases, if one of the original batters is injured, a player may run between the wickets on behalf of the injured batter. However, any runs scored by the injured batter will be recorded as being in partnership with the two original batters. A partnership may refer to two bowlers bowling from each end of the wicket.

Strong batting cohesion in partnerships is widely considered to be an important aspect of cricket. Generally speaking, top-order batters are superior to low-order batters; therefore, partnerships are usually greater when between two top-order batters, although it is relatively common for a lower-order batter with good defense to intelligently coordinate strike rotation to preserve wickets in hand and keep runs ticking over, a strategy that is common in both one-day cricket and Test cricket. A key to a successful partnership is when batters have differing playing styles. For instance, Marcus Trescothick, known for an aggressive batting style, and Mike Atherton, known for a defensive approach, formed successful opening partnerships for England. Likewise, batters' differing physical appearances may also contribute to a successful partnership. An example of this is Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Crawley is a tall right-hander batter, whereas Duckett is a much shorter left-handed batter. It is encouraged that they rotate the strike, allowing each other to face the bowler regularly, and effective communication in calling runs is considered preferable for a successful partnership.

Lower-order partnerships are usually much smaller than those for early alliances. Middle- and low-order batters often score at a higher strike rate in specific scenarios. The batter is to score as many runs as possible before running out of batting partners, a tactic usually employed when a Test team is considering a declaration or when a one-day innings is closing in on its conclusion. Batters such as Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Flintoff are considered some of the best middle-order batters. Similarly, in a citation where no recognized batters remain, tail-end batters may often play aggressively for more runs before the team is all out. Another example, as alluded to earlier, is where there is one not-out recognized batter and one tail-end batter; in this case, the recognized may often seek to be on strike as much as possible. A specific example of this was in Test cricket when Ben Stokes and Jack Leach scored a crucial partnership of 75 to win a match at Headingley during the 2019 Ashes Series.

In red-ball cricket

During opening partnerships, the primary focus is often on seeing off the new ball in test and first-class cricket. Later partnerships, emphasize consolidation, facing an aging ball, spin bowling, and eventually, the second new ball.

Batting in partnership becomes even more crucial when only one recognized quality batsman remains. In such cases, their responsibility includes guiding the lower-order batters while attempting to score as many runs as possible or simply trying to save the game. Minimizing risk is vital, often achieved by exposing the lesser batters to as little bowling as possible. Boundaries and twos are preferred, and singles are avoided, especially in the early parts of an over. However, scoring a single or three runs on the last ball of the over may be necessary to counteract the change of bowling ends.

In white-ball cricket

In t20 and ODI cricket, batters will often look to score at a higher strike rate. The higher strike rate is more apparent in the powerplay.

West Indies Team held the record for the highest partnership against Zimbabwe at Canberra on 24 Feb 2015. Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle scored 372 for the 2nd wicket.

Large partnerships do more than add runs to the scoreboard; they may also serve to exhaust and demoralize the fielding team. Both of these were significant factors at the famous Test match at Eden Gardens in 2001, when India's V. V. S. Laxman and Rahul Dravid put on a fifth-wicket stand of 376 runs, staying at the crease for the entire fourth day's play without being dismissed. Despite forcing their opponents to follow on, Steve Waugh's highly regarded Australians were left emotionally and physically drained, slumping to a shock-heavy (171 runs) defeat. Even if nowhere near as damaging numerically, larger-than-expected last-wicket stands can still be very demoralizing, mainly because as soon as the Number 11 batter walks out of the pavilion, many of the fielders expect to be batting within minutes and start their mental preparations. Suppose the last wicket partnership lasts much longer than they expect. In that case, it hurts their preparation and composure, and their energy level deteriorates from extra time on the field. It also damages the bowlers' confidence if they cannot easily dismiss a team's worst batter.

An excellent example was the First Test between Australia and New Zealand at Brisbane Cricket Ground in 2004. The Kiwis performed well for the first two days. While the Australians did recover strongly on the third, the New Zealanders were still well in the hunt when Glenn McGrath, the Australian fast bowler, and notoriously poor batsman, came to the crease to accompany fellow tail-ender Jason Gillespie with nine wickets down. Incredibly, the pair put on 114 runs, both achieving half-centuries (McGrath's first in a long Test career in which he has never averaged more than 8 with the bat). The humiliated New Zealanders needed more energy and focus. When they finally removed McGrath and went into the bat, their batting order was devastated, collapsing to 76 all out, giving Australia an innings victory with a day to spare. During the second Test of the 2005 Ashes, Australia's tail-enders Shane Warne, Michael Kasprowicz, and Brett Lee famously held out during their second innings after England's bowlers had decimated the top order and nearly won a tightly contested match, losing by a mere two runs, the narrowest margin in Ashes history.

Two bowlers are bowling in tandem when they bowl all of a particular set of consecutive overs.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad hold the record for most wickets in a bowling partnership. They have taken 1039 wickets together.

Correct as of 1 November 2021

Correct as of 1 November 2021

* = unbroken partnership

Correct as of 1 November 2021

* = unbroken partnership

 

Correct as of 1 November 2021

* = unbroken partnership.

Correct as of 1 November 2021

* = unbroken partnership

Correct as of 1 November 2021

* = unbroken partnership