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.
Andy
Guest
Interesting to note that everyone criticises Nevill with the bat, But I have not seen 1 comment about the 6 batsman before him who also have failed to deliver on their job description over the last 5 test matches. confidence comes from the top order and when your top 6 batsmen are not performing, it puts incredible pressure on the number 7 to deliver. I would point out that in a couple of those matches nevill was the second highest scorer.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Zoehrer and Dyer were stop gaps. Phillips was the main first choice between Marsh and Heals and he was a batsman who kept, and we all know how that period turned out for Australia. Zoehrer had a good first class record as well if I remember.
Sam Hartmann
Roar Rookie
Hi Rellum, I agree Re: Rod Marsh. There was a period after Marsh in the 80s but before Healy where there were a few keepers, Zoehrer and Dyer, where their averages were around 20. As for Nevill, I take your point that glovework is the first priority but Nevill cannot just rest on that. Runs are part of the job description. It will be interesting to see if the runs don't come what will happen to the glovework. After all confidence in cricket flows through all disciplines.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Spot on Rell' non competive batting wicketkeepers are pretty rare in the Australian annals. Pretty much on par with the world. Don Tallon was also a good bat having a test 92. Oldfield was 40 odd not out and about 43 years old when sconed by Larwood, missing a pull shot.. The only non batting one I can think of was Brian Taber.
Rellum
Roar Guru
So Rod Marsh was the first Aussie wicket keeper to score a century and every keeper since then has been at least decent with the bat. So I don't know what you mean by a pre-Healy era. I think Nevill should be a lock for the foreseeable future unless his keeping drops off. Keepers need to keep first, score runs second. Nevill is the best keeper outside of Hartley in Aus cricket and we know they are not going to pick Harts so Nevill it has to be,
Sam Hartmann
Roar Rookie
Hi Captain, Thanks for your comment. Nevill first class figures are interesting. In 2015, he was picked for the Australian team with a healthy first class average in the 40s. However since being exposed to better quality bowling in test cricket that has fallen down to 37. Now Nevill trails Wade (average 39.70). Interesting prediction with the 33 run average for the Summer. To meet your prediction Nevill would roughly have to double his 376 test runs. It's a big ask. Time will tell if he can do it.
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
Agree on the Marsh point, although not on the bat at 5 point. The selection of Marsh continues to befuddle. Australia are simply not getting enough from him with either willow or leather. A batting average of 24 and a bowling average of 36 are simply not good enough. Australia have had this all rounder at any price mentality since 2005. Andrew Flintoff had the series of a lifetime and Australia's selectors have been spooked ever since. Batting at 5 is not the answer. Firstly, who gets the chop? Voges to 6? The proper answer, of course, would be to get that sort of exposure at first class level, but this just doesn't happen with international cricket being what it is these days. The more pragmatic answer, that you have alluded to, is to have six proper batsmen in the side to being with, something that hasn't existed in the Australian team more many years.
Captain
Guest
Mr Hartmann, Captain here - long time listener, first time commentator. These are good points you've raised however you've failed to consider Nevill's batting pedigree. At FC level, he averages 37 with six 100s and a highest score of 235. Most of his failures with the bat at Test level have come in difficult English conditions and in Sri Lanka recently. Back at home, on true wickets and facing faster bowlers, I think Nevill retains his spot for the summer's 6 Tests and averages above 33.
Correct sometimes
Guest
He will come good
Sam Hartmann
Roar Rookie
Agreed that Marsh not performing is raising the pressure as well. I'm not convinced that sending Nevill up the order is the answer. The top five of Marsh, Warner, Usman, Smith, Voges should settle in for the summer. Six is an option, but he needs to turn over the strike more and not get bogged down. It's going to be challenge for him.
Brasstacks
Guest
On their performances till date, our tail starts at Mitch Marsh and that has increased pressure on Neville. Fielding a proper batsman at number six and sending Neville to bat up the order at possibly five for just 3 or 4 matches makes sense. It will give the bloke the time he needs to bat properly and when under much lesser pressure (he will walk in when we are three down and not the present five down with Marsh as company). Once he gets a couple of fifties or maybe even a hundred and feels that he belongs at this level, he can go back to number seven. And it is always better to give him this opportunity when playing at home.