Peter Nevill’s run in the Australian team has been tidy, unassuming and eminently forgettable. Fortunately for Nevill, this means no one has noticed that he is currently the worst performing keeper-batsman in world cricket.
The Australian Test team is at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to runs from its wicketkeeper. Over his 15-match Test career, Peter Nevill has only managed 376 runs and two half-centuries at a meagre average of 20.88.
Every other Test nation gets more out of its keeper. Nevill averages less and scores at a slower rate than every other incumbent Test wicketkeeper.
Nevill sub-par performances are placing Australia at its first consistent wicketkeeper runs disadvantage since the pre-Healy era.
At the moment, the Australian Test team’s tail begins at Peter Nevill. Worryingly, even if he manages to stick around at the crease, his strike rate of only 41.6 quickly raises the pressure on his partner.
Nevill stands in stark contrast to what we will see this summer with Quinton De Kock and Sarfraz Ahmed both prepared to counter-attack and change the game in a session.
De Kock has in just 15 innings, recorded a century, four half-centuries and posted an impressive average of 47.66. Australia most recently encountered De Kock’s in the last ill-fated ODI series.
His 178 off 113 balls will still be ringing in Steve Smith’s ears. The South African shapes as a key difference maker in the series, bringing not just quick runs but a hardness that South African cricket has lacked since Mark Boucher.
Later in the summer, Sarfraz Ahmed will be introduced to casual Australian cricket fans. Sarfraz is an accomplished batsman with an average of 43.33, three hundreds and the ability to change the tempo of matches that the best keeper-batsmen posses.
The Australian team has already acquainted themselves with Sarfraz. The Australians are likely still wishing they could forget the Dubai pummelling Sarfraz delivered, with his hundred coming off just 80 balls.
For now Nevill’s excellent glovework is keeping him in the side. His sneaky stumping in the recent Sri Lankan series was unlikely to be pulled off by his rivals.
However, underwhelming batting demands perfection with the gloves. It should not be forgotten that during the third Test, Nevill dropped Dhananjaya de Silva on his way to a century.
So what’s next for Nevill? Nevill’s talent should be there somewhere. You do not become a strong performer in Australian First Class cricket by accident. Whether this talent will be realised, is his challenge for the summer.
However, with every batting failure, every missed catch or stumping, or every quick run made by De Kock and Sarfraz the pressure will rise.
One thing is for sure, Nevill needs runs and he needs them fast.
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