Are Test cricket batters getting worse? The stats say yes
Test batters are averaging less, scoring more quickly and getting out more often — and we have the charts to prove it.
Recently, Australia's men's head cricket selector George Bailey highlighted the struggles of their Test number three batter, Marnus Labuschagne. Bailey admitted that the entire batting group, not just Labuschagne, has not been performing as effectively as desired. With Australia set to face South Africa, New Zealand, India, and England in the upcoming Tests, the batting line-up will be under intense scrutiny.
From January 2024, Australia has played 18 Tests, with only three batters averaging over 40: Steve Smith (49.4), Travis Head (46.25), and Alex Carey (40.3). The remaining batters average 30.16 or less. Australia's bowlers have consistently incapacitated the batters, contributing to the team's 13 wins out of the 18 matches. However, Australia's batters are not the only ones facing difficulties.
Across all 12 Test-playing nations, the game has drastically changed, with batters fading and bowlers dominating. This shift in the game can be traced back to a period between 2002 and 2016, when the average batting average peaked before declining back to the low 30s. The rise of T20 cricket, improved balls, and seaming wickets are some of the factors contributing to this transition.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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