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.”
Amrit
Roar Guru
Well you remember that, perhaps that's why he was never hired in the ECB commentary box.
Amrit
Roar Guru
You can't say that, I 've seen Hick's batting, he's surely one of the top; It's just that Voges is not getting runs.
Immy
Guest
I just overhead a call between Hick and Andrew Strauss. At first Hick was laughing. "No they don't suspect a thing," he said. "Yeah, I will. I'll just keep telling them to bat like I did."
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Hicky is a Zimbab. The selectors often waited until he looked like scoring runs and then dropped him. Once dropped after scoring 64. Forever remembered for being declared on in Sydney by Atherton, at 98.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Great! Our test batsmen being coached by a South African, who played for England and only averaged 31 in test cricket. Is this not proof that at Cricket Australia, the inmates have taken over the asylum?
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Hick's appointment sure makes sense. If anyone knows about turning tremendous potential with the bat into moderate test performances. (test average 31), it is Hick. Rated as a master technician by some, Hick apparently masterful enough to finish his test career with even a decent batting average. To be fair to Hick, his first class average was 52 so he could bat. He just didn't have what it takes to make runs consistently at test level. In effect, he was the previous generation's Phillip Hughes.
dan ced
Guest
With Head being a selector favourite, it's quite possible we might see 2 Redbacks dropped for 2 Redbacks! (Ferg/Mennie>Head/Sayers) ...and if Nevill fails again, the in form young keeper is probably Alex Carey :P
Nick
Guest
What everyone seems to be overlooking is really obvious, really devious too. We've lost 5 tests in a row. We can't bat. Focusing on who should go in and out is micro. First the macro. And don't worry, I've found the source of all of Australia's batting ills. One man. Graeme Hick. It's quite obvious he is a Trojan Horse sent from England to whisper absolute nonsense and 1990s English filth in our batsmen's ears. How long has been our batting coach? From memory, for those 5 tests. Regardless of when he started, his style has swiftly been adopted by our bats. We're collapsing like the English in the 90s. We're turning on ourselves like the English in the 90s. All we need is to chop and change our team and we're... wait on, no we're in the process of doing that. Damn that Trojan Horse Hick! Cut him loose. He's been bitter and twisted ever since Atherton left him stranded on 98* in Australia... back in the 1990s. He's taking the ultimate revenge peeps. For the record, I'd pick and stick (mostly) Warner, Burns, K-man, Smith, Travis Head (yes, because we've blooded him in the one dayer's and he's got temperament and a stamp of class), Patterson for my top 6. I'd bring Wade back to strengthen things in the meantime, our spinner is not creating wicket-keeping chances anymore anyway. Sorry to the old boys but the senior pro method is only a short term fix as the past 6 years have proven. Time to work towards some modern English-like stability who have just blooded a 19 year old