Nobody, including the modest Western Australian, would speak of Adam Voges and The Don in the same breath.
But cricket is all about averages, and before the third day of the first Test between New Zealand and Australia starts at Basin Reserve in Wellington, Voges’ career average is 100.33. The Don’s is 99.94.
The only reason why Voges is not on top of Cricinfo’s best career averages is 20 Test innings is the minimum qualification – Voges is currently in his 19th.
He resumes on 174 not out, his third successive unbeaten Test dig after 269 and 108 against the West Indies at Hobart and the MCG – 551 runs without troubling the umpires.
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I hope I’m not putting the mocka on him, but if Voges doesn’t score another run in Wellington and a duck in his 20th innings, his average will be 93.14, officially second to the greatest batsman to ever strap on pads and well ahead of South African legend Graeme Pollock’s 60.97 which is second best.
Whichever way you view Voges’ batting feats, it’s in rarefied air.
There are 63 names on the Cricinfo highest all-time Test averages list. Come what may, Voges will be the 64th after his next innings.
There are nine current batsmen among the all-time greats, headed by the Australian skipper Steve Smith with 3661 runs at 58.11. England’s Joe Root has made 3406 runs at 54.93.
South Africa’s Hashim Amla is next with 7358 runs at 51.45, followed by Usman Khawaja and David Warner.
Khawaja’s average was 25 until he was resurrected against New Zealand and the West Indies where he’s scored four Test tons in six visits to more than double his average – 1021 runs at 51.05.
Warner’s scored 4472 with an average of 50.81, just ahead of South African skipper AB de Villiers’ 8074 at 50.46.
Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews is next with 4015 at 50.18 from Kiwi Kane Williamson’s 3911 at 49.50.
Pakistan’s Misbah Ul Haq is the ninth current Test batsman with 4352 at 48.89 as Cricinfo await Voges’ 20th Test dig to insert his name and incredibly high average right up underneath The Don’s.
Not bad for a batsman who had to wait until he was 35 before the Australian selectors bothered to award him a baggy green.
But Adam Voges says it was worth the wait.
twodogs
Guest
A distinct possibility for example could be that in The Dons era, most of the bowlers were pie chuckers, and all the other batsmen were rubbish. Making his average not artificially inflated for he was still twice as good as the rest. Therefore it stands to reason Voges is near twice as good as the rest at present. I say not but seems better at not getting out. ?
mattyb
Guest
Playing the media,I sign of a player well and truly at the top of his game. Well played again Adam.
HB
Guest
He said in an interview after play today that he didn't hear the call and would have tried to hit it if he had.
Gordon Smith
Guest
And 140 run out last shield innings before test - No one is suggesting he is Bradman but people were writing blogs up to this test saying he was a rookie under pressure - How is Burns going ?
Don Freo
Guest
A 20 innings "anomaly" following a Shield season in which he also averaged over 100. The longest lasting anomaly you'll see for quite some time.
anon
Guest
This is nothing more than a statistical anomaly. Over time he will revert to his first class average of 46. Especially when he begins playing challenging test teams rather than the West Indies or New Zealand.
mattyb
Guest
Quite obviously Voges was getting a feel for the pitch and took the no ball opportunity to see what line he could let go and what he would need to defend. His a very experienced cricketer which led him to this decision. Being so experienced and in such fine form allowed him to do this. The proof is the following day he batted for that entire day and scored 200.
HB
Guest
His being in a defensive mindset doesn't explain why hearing that it was a no ball would make him decide to leave it rather than deciding to block it. Both of those options are equally defensive on a no ball. I'm certain that he would have left that ball even if the umpire hadn't made the call.
Matth
Guest
Even if he had been given out, his average would still be around 80, so the rest of David's article still stands.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
I was only pointing out that he was on 7, not 17. However, I certainly don't believe he left the ball because he heard the call. That's just plain ridiculous. I don't see that NZ have "dropped their bundle" either. They seem to have just got on with it. Also, being out to a no-ball that isn't given is entirely different to being reprieved for a no-ball that wasn't. I can't even remember the last time I saw an umpire give a no-ball for overstepping when it wasn't. But I know umpires are forever missing no-balls. I think it won't be too many years from now that the no-ball decision will be taken out of the on-field umpires' hands...
mattyb
Guest
He left the ball because it was the last over,he was in a defensive mindset. As Ronan has pointed out though the bigger issue is the kiwi leadership after such things occur.
HB
Guest
That doesn't make sense to me. Why would he choose to leave the ball on the basis that it was a no ball? Surely hearing the no-ball call gives a batsman *more* reason to hit the ball than he would otherwise have had?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
And Warner was incorrectly out off a Bracewell no-ball in the second dig of the Adelaide Test...yet Australia shook off that stroke of bad luck and won the match. The last two times NZ have had a decision go against them they've seemed to drop their bundle and have let Australia take the ascendancy.
mattyb
Guest
I believe he heard the no ball call and left the ball accordingly due to it being the third last ball. Hardly Voges fault the umpire made an error. If the umpire had not made the call Voges would have simply blocked the ball back to the bowler.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
I believe he was on 7 when bowled off a non no-ball on the 3rd last ball of the 1st day...
Bobbo7
Guest
I like Voges and well done to him but its hard to get into this love in when he was cleaned bowled for 17. Not his fault the umpire stuffed up but still hard to swallow
Jack
Guest
He's done exceptionally well after being clean bowled in this innings. He should've failed in this dig (17 wasn't he when the umpiring blunder occurred. One of the worst in living memory) but the mark of the player is that he's currently 200 odd! Well done
Adsa
Guest
A ripper knock by him at the Basin Reserve Lordy, and he is enjoyable to watch, a full range of shots, never seems flustered at the crease, well done Selectors.