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If Adam Voges cracks 133 in his next Test innings – and you’d be brave to back against it – the Western Australian run-machine will take over from the legendary Sir Donald Bradman as the proud owner of the world’s best batting average. Voges would average a neat 100.
Remember The Don required only four runs in his last Test innings at The Oval in 1948 to average 100, but was bowled by England leggie Eric Hollies for a duck.
So for 68 years, The Don’s 99.94 has been the world’s best, way ahead of the next best. Those figures are South Africa’s champion left-hander Graeme Pollock’s 60.97, West Indian George Headley’s 60.83, and England’s Herbert Sutcliffe’s 60.73.
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A total of 20 innings is the least qualification for inclusion in Cricinfo’s world’s best averages. Yesterday was Voges’ 19th Test dig, and with 1267 runs from 13 dismissals he has an average of 97.46 right now.
Even if Voges failed to trouble the scorers in his next dig, he will be knocking on The Don’s door with an average of 90.5 to be way ahead of Pollock, Headley, and Sutcliffe.
Even if Voges posted successive ducks in his next two digs, his average would be 84.47.
Three successive ducks – 79.19.
Four successive ducks – 74.53.
Five successive ducks – 70.39.
Six successive ducks – 66.68.
With Voges in his magnificent run-getting mode, there’s precious little chance of a string of noughts, but all that above exercise proves is the 36-year-old is right up there with the best of all-time even if there is a drought.
His last three digs have been extraordinary – 269*, 106*, and 239 – 614 runs for once out going for quick runs yesterday at Basin Reserve since the 28 against the Black Caps in Adelaide last November.
The 614 occupied a tick under 19 hours, facing 815 deliveries, and cracking 75 fours, and three late innings sixes, with the majority of his shot-making safely on the deck.
But Voges has been just one of five baggy greens who have plundered 10 centuries off the Black Caps’ attack this summer.
David Warner – 116, 163, and 253,
Usman Khawaja – 174, 121, and 140.
Voges – 119 and 239.
Steve Smith – 138.
And Joe Burns – 128.
New Zealand has retaliated with just three triple figures – Kane Williamson’s 104, and 166, and Ross Taylor’s superb 290.
The Australians have lost 51 wickets for 2737 runs, an average of 56.67 a wicket compared to the Kiwis’ 66 wickets for 2111 at an average 31.98.
But it’s Adam Voges who is in vogue.