Comments on: Australian Test batting averages

By: James

James — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:16:08 +0000

What a funny article, saying that Ponting & Hayden’s averages aren’t a true reflection. Perhaps Andrew Strauss (who has an a current Test average of around 43) average is really worth 60 because England’s bowlers aren’t that great. Let’s reduce all Australian batting averages & increase English batting averages, therefore obviously England has better batters. Let’s adjust averages to “pressure”.
Conversely you could say that Australia’s good batters make their bowlers look good, because if Australia gets a first inning score of 450 – 500 this takes the pressure off the Aussie bowlers who can bowl more relaxed, therefore maybe Warne & McGrath’s averages aren’t a true reflection because the batters with their big first innings lead took the pressure off them. On top of that the opposition batters would have been in a pessimistic frame of mind chasing such a big total & therefore got out because of the pressure or hopelessness of the situation. So Warne & McGrath’s real test bowling average should be about 35-40.
Thanks for the laugh, you must be Irish. Obviously you’re right both Australian batting & bowling averages are very deceptive.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:35:27 +0000

Who the hell writes this crap!? Is there a cricketing nation that wouldn’t have liked to have Matthew Hayden in the opening position for them in the past ten years? I don’t think so! He’s sadly out of touch at the moment and may not ever regain his dominance over bowlers, but in his prime he was murderous against opposition bowlers and breathtaking to watch – unless you were one of the said bowlers.

By: the librarian

the librarian — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:51:27 +0000

perhaps he should watch out for me… (does “in season” pertain to cricket or rugby? because right now I’m in cricket season.)

By: King Cricket

King Cricket — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:29:59 +0000

Watch out for Andrew Symonds, The Librarian.

By: e normous

e normous — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:47:43 +0000

A while back, when the NZ-Eng series was on, I stated (elsewhere) that it would be a really good thing if Daniel Flynn had his head knocked off. This sort of happened. A tooth, at least. Sadly it never, ever happens with Hayden, which just makes me hate him more and more and more. I don’t think this blog hates Hayden enough, actually.

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:29:50 +0000

Surely another important factor with Aussie batsmen is that they play half their tests in Australia which are far easier to bat on than English pitches.

By: Ged Ladd

Ged Ladd — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:13:50 +0000

Excellent point – if Alan Mullally had been able to bowl, perhaps he would have had a decent batting average too.

By: the librarian

the librarian — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:52:49 +0000

so the fact that I’m not the world’s greatest batsman is all because I don’t play in the same team as the worlds greatest bowler. Interesting. I always thought it was because I’ve got the coordination and grace of a beached manatee.

By: Ceci

Ceci — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:15:44 +0000

Am always a smidgen disappointed when it’s a read more link – somehow expect something a little ruder or more outrageous to be revealed…

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:53:34 +0000

I think Hayden’s one of the all-time great Test batsmen. Certainly among bear-like, orphan-eating fuckheads, anyway.