It’s been well established through countless recent failures on the subcontinent, and more recently in the 2-1 Test defeat to South Africa, that Australia’s batsmen have become flat-track bullies.
Indomitable in perfect batting conditions, yet impotent if there’s so much as a hint of swing, seam or spin on display.
Less profound is the impact our bowlers are having in conditions that are supposed to be ideally suited to their individual strengths. But it’s becoming clearer and clearer.
It seems unthinkable that a bowler could be referred to as a flat-track bully: after all, pitches offering no life or lateral movement are hardly conducive to wicket-taking. But look at Australia’s bowling records across all formats in recent times, and it’s a theory that appears to have merit.
Across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 summers, Australia went undefeated in Tests at home and in similar conditions in New Zealand, winning 2-0 in series against India, New Zealand, the West Indies and the Kiwis again.
In ten of the 12 Tests played, Australia racked up over 500 in the first innings, the only exceptions being the almost-washed-out Sydney Test of 2016 and the inaugural day-night Test of 2015. In only one of those same ten Tests did the opposition gain a first innings advantage – New Zealand on a gun-barrel straight WACA strip late last year.
With the increased instance of flat pitches in Australia, both in international and state cricket, our bowlers have become accustomed to dealing with the same. They’ve become adept at it. Mitchell Starc’s raw pace has been able to jag through opposition batsmen on even the most docile of wickets, while Josh Hazlewood’s unerring accuracy has led countless batsmen unstuck. Even Nathan Lyon had, in that time period, always been able to chip in with a handy wicket or two.
In ODI cricket too, excluding the 5-0 annihilation in South Africa where neither Starc nor Hazlewood played, Australia have become flat-track masters. It was on display throughout the 2015 World Cup, where only once did Australia allow an opponent to rack up more than 300 (against Sri Lanka, Xavier Doherty’s only match of that World Cup), and it’s been on display in our two recent matches against New Zealand. On wickets that have allowed Australia to post monolithic scores, our bowlers have always prevented the opposition dining out on the same riches available.
Yet in conditions that have offered something to the bowlers, such as in England last year, Sri Lanka this year or even in the Tests against South Africa, our bowlers have been outplayed.
In Sri Lanka, Nathan Lyon looked second-rate next to Rangana Herath and Co., even in conditions supposedly favourable towards spin bowling.
In the 2015 Ashes, England were able to rack up scores of 281 and 391 on pitches Australia’s inept batsmen could only manage 136 and 60. Starc was too loose, Hazlewood too full, and while each was able to pick up wickets, the prevailing conditions and the nature of the pitch should have yielded greater rewards.
And in our recent series against South Africa, most notably in Hobart, the Proteas managed a first innings score of 326, on the same wicket that the Aussies could only manage 85.
Of course, most of the blame in each of these cases should be heaped on the batsmen. But if a team can be wrapped up for under 150 on so many occasions, chances are the pitch is doing something for the bowlers. And at the moment, our attack seems unable to take advantage.
Perhaps it’s too many lifeless pitches in the Shield. Perhaps it’s the influx of ODI and Twenty20 cricket, where flat tracks are the norm. But for whatever reason, our bowlers have become masters of dead wickets, and fail to capitalise like their rival attacks when a bit of life seeps through.
Don Freo
Guest
And they tried to get Troy Cooley to show the Oz bowlers how to do it. They could have got us to do it far cheaper...well, I would have been cheap.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I used to go for the newer balls in training, then one day they were all gone and I picked up a rubbish old one and put lots of work into it and it started reversing nicely. After that I regularly went for older balls in training.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I think you are both half right. He was certainly under done but that wasn't all due to the policy. He was meant to play more lead up but after the rest he got that gash which prevented it. Starc got better as the Perth test went on. Something that hasn't been mentioned is Australia's recent record batting second. Without going back through the records since the last Indian tour, my feeling is if Australia bats second and are chasing much over 300-350 in the first innings we faulter. Win the toss and elect to bat first and we usually go a long way to winning most of the time.
Trev
Guest
Disagree with that, I know the ankle injury but Strac himself wanted more overs in the Shield before the Tests, add that he was rested from the ODI's in SA that's not a lot of bowling for a while. I mean last summer we had the situation where Pattinson was rushed back in and Coulter-Nile was a chance to debut despite not bowling a red ball all summer.
Don Freo
Guest
I could get it to go further and sharper with reverse in dip but only slight (but more useful) out reverse.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Starc's issue wasn't so much a managed workload at that point. He was recovering after suffering a rather severe gash to his leg that was really deep and required over 30 stitches. That was why he hadn't played a lot leading into the test, not because they were managing his workload.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It would be really good if Starc could work out how to get it going both ways with reverse swing. Lots of bowlers who only swing it one way with the new ball can get it going both ways with reverse swing. I know I always found that. I'd get an old ball going both ways, then take the new ball and it would only swing one way! But Starc seems to only swing it one way, even when going reverse. If he could get it going both ways with the old ball that would be really helpful for him!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Certainly get the feeling that our bowlers don't seem to get as much seam and swing as opposition often do in conditions conducive to seam and swing. But there's definitely also the pressure situation. If you are bowling in conditions that don't give you much and your batsmen have made a big score, then you know you just need to keep bowling consistently and build up pressure to get wickets. But when there's a bit of movement and the batting lineup has collapsed, there's a lot of pressure to run through the opposition in a similar way that can often lead to overbowling, trying too much, trying to make every ball a wicket taking ball rather than just keeping it in the right spot and being consistent.
Trev
Guest
I'd add in the fact our bowlers are going into Tests under done...I mean one Shield match before a Test series this summer? and Strac on a "managed workload", could tell it impacted him backing up in the second innings in Perth.
Simoc
Guest
If Cummins comes up to the standard of Hazelwood and Starc , Australia have an outstanding and improving attack. If the batters do as well and can make around 350 in the first innings of every test which they play, Australia will win most of those games.
Phil
Guest
During the group stage of the 2015 World Cup, Aus v NZ. In 'un-Australian' conditions, our batters made a meager 151. Off the back of Starc's incredible 6/28 at an economy of 3.11 - we almost defended the total, with NZ scraping to 9/152 thanks to a 45 not out from Kane Williamson and an earlier quick fire 50 from McCullum. That was Starc's best performance during the World Cup, despite being his only game away from OZ decks during the tournament.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Maybe in your examples what the opposition got was the par score and the Australian batting was just crap.
twodogs
Guest
Does he suck on mints too??
Craig Swanson
Guest
Dan. Hazey was by his own admission disappointing in Sri Lanka. He is still learning how to bowl effectively on the subcontinent. Since SL thou, Hazey has gone to another level. He is in the best form of his short career.. eevn better than his sensational first season wearing the Baggy Green.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Spot on- scoreboard pressure and the associated effects are profound
Dan
Guest
I think the incredibly talented Hazlewood has improved even more. He'll get wickets anywhere, as he showed in Sri Lanka.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Starc gets reverse swing for his Yorkers even on roads. Don't need a helpful wicket for that.
Jeffrey
Guest
This is arguably the weakest NZ team in the last twenty years.I don't think too many conclusions can be drawn from this meaningless series.
Don Freo
Guest
There is also the fact that some of our ineffectual bowlers have different names than our successful bowlers. Maybe it's all in the name. Starc and Hazlewood sound so much better than Mennie or Siddle or... Even Starc and Hazlewood...and Cummins in the future...bowl better with some consistent games under their belts. You watch them in the sub-continent next times with experience and partnership under their belts.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Yep, and there's also the pressure to factor in. When a bowling unit has to come out and defend under 150 on a seaming wicket, there is a heap of expectation on them to do it. Makes it much harder to bowl with any freedom. I think there is merit in the idea that our bowlers don't have the expertise to take full advantage of helpful conditions, tho.