Aussies leapfrog India in rankings despite neither team playing, Starc returns to form in IPL
Australia have reclaimed top spot in the ICC's Test rankings, replacing India. Despite not playing since winning 2-0 in New Zealand in March, Pat…
The scene of Adam Voges’ greatest Test innings is likely to double as the cricket ground that ends his international career.
Voges compiled an unbeaten 269 in Hobart last year, hammering the West Indies’ attack to all parts of Bellerive as Australia marched towards the No.1 Test ranking.
Now, Australia are reeling from a fifth straight Test defeat and the 37-year-old’s career hangs in the balance after tallying 30 runs from four knocks in the current series against South Africa.
“Like everyone else, (he is feeling) down,” coach Darren Lehmann said, when asked about Voges.
“Adam’s been a very good player for us for 20-odd Test matches – end of the day, he’s got to go back and make runs like everyone else.
“We’d love someone to stand up and bat big. I think we’ve had two hundreds in the last five Test matches and they were both in one innings. So we haven’t had big runs from anyone.”
Voges’ Test batting average is an impressive 61.87 but he hasn’t passed 50 since the start of Australia’s four-Test losing streak earlier this year in Sri Lanka.
The 37-year-old was embarrassed on Tuesday in Hobart by a short-pitched delivery from Kyle Abbott in Australia’s second innings, awkwardly steering the ball to JP Duminy at gully to be out for two.
Skipper Steve Smith flashed a look of disbelief, as was the case when Callum Ferguson fell soon after.
Ferguson and recalled opener Joe Burns, who managed one run in the second Test, are also under immense pressure to keep their spots in the XI.
“I’m not really too concerned about individual selections,” Burns told ABC radio.
“I just want to be a part of winning teams for Australia.
“I feel like I’m hitting the ball really well.
“I’m really comfortable with where my batting’s at but, at the end of the day, you’ve got to get runs on the board.”
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