While listening to the Australians playing South Africa in the first test, I noticed Sarwan made 291 and West Indies 9/749. This was only a couple days after Younis Khanmade 316 for Pakistan against Sri Lanka and Pakistan 6/765.
I looked up on Cricinfo and found that the rate at which sides scored more than 700 runs prior to the year 2000 was eight innings out of 5349. Since 2000, there have already been eight such innings out of 1573.
So the rate has more than tripled.
Also, this decade has produced the highest ratio of test triple centuries.
Prior to first test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Karachi, only one Test match in history had both sides scoring over 600 in an innings. It was an Ashes Test in 1964 (which ended in a draw). Now, with the Karachi Test (draw) and the Barbados Test, that total is at three.
If Test cricket is going to continue to produce these high scoring matches, there will come a time when a side will just bat all five days. And with these lifeless wickets, the great Test batsmen will average more than 70, not 50, which is considered the benchmark of greatness.
I wonder what Bradman would think if he was still alive.
It’s time for the ICC to step in, otherwise the history of Test cricket will be destroyed.
challa
Guest
The sub-continent specialises in dead pitches. It is an ego thing. The view over here is that it is better to have pitches favouring a draw rather than risk a loss. Note that Australia rarely plays in these high scoring matches. Note also that some so called top batsmen from the sub-continent have averages largely inflated because of this reason. While bowlers over here are very hard done by.
sheek
Guest
Andy, A recent survey found only 47% of Australian first class cricketers still considered winning the baggy green cap (for tests) as the ultimate. This is hugely worrying. But why should the cricketers themselves worry? These days you can make the national team in 3 forms of cricket - test, one day & T20. And it seems, make money in reverse proportion! As for the 700 plus scores, there's a perception that over the past decade, or certainly since the new century kicked over, most teams have been stronger in batting than bowling. A rule of thumb might be to slice 2-3 percentage points of the leading batsmen's average, in order to bring them in line with averages of players from say, the 50s through to the 80s. Going way back 100 years ago, you might need to add 7-8 percentage points to find a level playing field. Consequently, Ponting's true average might be 53.8 (level with G.Chappell) instead of 56.8. Similarly, Trumper's true average might be 47.1 (level with Lawry) instead of 39.1. But these are merely perceptions. With all the proliferation of cricket, it might be the bowlers are suffering more than batsmen. Sure, they're limited in the number of overs they bowl in one day T20 cricket, but there are also so many more of these games, giving bowlers little respite. It's been proven you can't be all things to everybody. By trying to make money out of so many forms of cricket might be a cash cow in the short term, but long term the quality is going to suffer. And that in turn will effect the quantity of matches, & ultimately revenue streams. Unfortunately, I reckon test cricket is on thin ice,. At least I can console myself I've had the opportunity to follow test cricket first hand for just over 40 years up to now. I might even get to 50 years of watching test cricket, but after that..........?
Brett McKay
Expert
Andy, I think Bradman would think it was a shame he never got to bat on tracks so flat!! Also, as much as I generally disagree with Geoff Lawson, his artcile yesterday "Green wickets are vital for Test cricket" is the obvious antidote to the beneign, lifeless decks that are mostly served up these days. Even the Australian pitches are beginning to lose their individual characteristics. As Geoff says, it's all to do with administrators wanting Tests that last five days, but we all know no-one will go on day 5 if both first innings go well into day 4. The South African fans didn't go on day 5, even with the home team having some (albeit faint) chance of winning!!