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It rained runs in all five ODIs between Australia and India this month.
In ten innings, the lowest total was 295 and the teams topped 300 eight times; a run rate varying from six to seven runs per over.
In all, 3159 runs were plundered for the loss of only 61 wickets, which worked out at roughly 52 runs per batsman. A total of 3159 runs in a bilateral five ODI series is a world record.
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The previous record for most runs in a series of five ODIs was held by England and New Zealand last year when the two teams amassed 3151 runs for 76 wickets at 41.46 runs per batsman.
All six instances of series scores of over 2800 runs in five ODIs have occurred after 2003; four times since 2014.
What are the reasons for this run glut in the last 12 years?
Could it be smaller boundaries and broader bats? Could it be the influence of Twenty20 cricket, where playing a dot ball is a big no-no?
Australia’s captain Steve Smith recently criticised the nature of home pitches this summer. He argued that the Gabba in Queensland and the WACA in Perth, among other grounds, have work to do to ensure they regain their natural characteristics in the future.
On Saturday, I discussed the current run glut with former Australian fast bowler Geoff ‘Henry’ Lawson in the SCG media room. He told me that white balls these days do not swing, giving fast bowlers and medium-pacers no assistance.
When I suggested that to keep up with broader bats we should have smaller sized balls to make it favourable for the bowlers, he only smiled at this suggestion and went back to his commentating assignment.
Coming back to the recently concluded run-rich ODI series between Australia and India, face it. Bowlers on both sides were below international standard.
Australia missed the retired Mitchell Johnson and the injured Mitchell Starc. But why rest Josh Hazlewood after playing only one ODI and exclude Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins?
If they were included would India have scored at 6.3 runs an over in all five internationals?
I very much doubt it.
India also lacked a bowler of international standard. Their best bowler, spinner Ravi Ashwin, was dropped after two ODIs for a reason I cannot fathom.
No wonder batsmen from both sides flourished.
The organisers were happy. Sixes, centuries and team totals of 300 plus attract spectators in a 50-overs ODI; not a tally of less than 200 with wickets falling in a heap.