Adaptively pre-fetching data includes collecting a first set of statistics based on a number of avoidable read-misses in which data exists that is prior to data being read, collecting a second set of statistics based on a number of avoidable read-misses in which data exists that follows data being read, and collecting a third set of statistics based on said first and second sets of statistics. On the basis of the second set of statistics, a pre-fetch technique is selected from a first technique that pre-fetches data following data being read and a second technique that pre-fetches data before and following the data being read. The first and third set of statistics may be used to determine when to pre-fetch data.