There was a fair chunk of despair after Australia’s capitulation to India in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, and among the more depressing articles was the assertion that maybe Australia just weren’t as good as India.
At 1-1 in a four-Test series, this was possibly premature pessimism, but it did get me thinking. With Dave Warner out with injury and Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne showing us that they are fallible after all, the rest of the top six aren’t really capable of taking up the slack.
The following tables prove it. They look at the averages of Smith and Labuschagne in the 2019 Ashes compared to the rest of the top six.
We then add Dave Warner to Smith and Labuschagne for the 2019-20 home summer and compare again. The results suggest that we have a batting order problem.
| Ashes Test | Smith and Labuschagne average | Rest of top six average | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Edgbaston | 143.0 | 27.5 | Win |
| 2. Lord’s | 75.5 | 14.6 | Draw |
| 3. Headingley | 77.0 | 17.7 | Loss |
| 4. Old Trafford | 92.8 | 12.5 | Win |
| 5. The Oval | 41.3 | 25.6 | Loss |
| Overall | 85.8 | 19.6 | Draw |
| Test | Warner, Smith and Labuschagne average | Rest of top six average | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan (Brisbane) | 114.3 | 60.3 | Win |
| Pakistan (Adelaide) | 266.5 | 42.0 | Win |
| New Zealand (Perth) | 52.3 | 25.3 | Win |
| New Zealand (Melbourne) | 42.2 | 49.0 | Win |
| New Zealand (Sydney) | 98.6 | 22.5 | Win |
| Overall | 114.8 | 39.8 |
Now, I know statistics can be moulded to fit a story, and I also know that it’s logical your best batsman will perform better than your worst batsman. It’s not just that Smith and Labuschagne – and Warner in domestic conditions – have performed better than the rest of the line-up in recent times. That was to be expected. What wasn’t to be expected was the huge chasm between the two groups.
Steve Smith (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
The Oval in particular showed us that if Smith and Labuschagne perform below their best against strong bowling attacks, Australia loses. This is what happened in the second Test at the MCG and what would have happened in Adelaide without from some bowling heroics.
So maybe Australia just aren’t as good as India if Smith and Labuschagne aren’t cracking big scores. Of course they are likely to go to the SCG and both score centuries. The media pack will fade away and everything will be right with the Australian cricket team.
In reality, though, they would be papering over some big cracks in the Australian batting order. Hopefully the selectors have begun to address this.
Joe Burns was in horrible form and had to go. Cameron Green shows the all-round potential we haven’t seen in the Australian team for a long time and will be retained. The whispers are growing louder for Will Pucovski, who should be selected for Sydney – he is a tremendous talent and should be guaranteed an extended run.
Who goes? Probably Travis Head. But I’m not convinced Matt Wade should be there in the long term either. Sheffield Shield averages are not to be trusted this year given they are generally being played on flat tracks, but selectors will be looking at youth, including Ben McDermott and Matt Renshaw. If Renshaw attracted the same opportunities as Joe Burns, he may still be in the Australian set-up.
Australia may go on to win back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but if we do, it will likely be on the back of something brilliant from Warner, Labuschagne or Smith. To rival our best batting line-ups over the last 25 years, some major change is required.
Austy
Guest
And all this discussion and gnashing of teeth is based on 3 complete innings, after very little red (or pink) ball cricket in the last year, in a series that is tied at 1-1. I'm surprised that some aren't calling for Steve Smith's head after 3 ordinary outs in a 7000 run career where he has dominated. I think some are worried waaaay too much. This is a pretty good Indian attack to face after all and people seem to be forgetting a little number. "36". Are things as bad as that? Form is temporary. Class is permanent. Expect normal service to resume either this week or at the GABBA..............
Paul
Roar Guru
are they though? Pant is inconsistent at best, which is why he was not in the original team while Rahul's averages in his past 7 series have been 28.66, 7.50, 54 ( one innings against Afghanistan), 29.90, 18.50, 11.40 and 25.25. Rohit kills it in India but has only averaged more than 40 away from home once, in his Test career. There's no doubt about their abilities in white ball cricket, but they are no better than Australian batsmen when it comes to Tests.
Micko
Roar Rookie
What about Hussey?! :happy:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Agreed. India sure are producing some fine cricketers right now. :thumbup:
Andy
Guest
They’ve already identified the two most promising youngsters on the shield circuit and picked them. Let’s see how they go
U
Roar Rookie
They have to resort to some stopgap batsmen to shore the team over until younger players are ready to contribute consistently. Shaun Marsh and Khawaja have to be considered.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
And get over the Sydney 2008 test when you lost. Why didn't Laxman walk when he'd made not many? Because he wanted to score a century.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Remove that giant chip from your shoulder. What are your manners like? Perfect no doubt.
Jimmy
Guest
India found Gill. We all saw him dance down the track and hit Gary around in that first over. I couldn't believe what I was watching. India have buckets of talent. KL Rahul is the cleanest hitting and most technically gifted guy other than Kohli in the world and he can't even make it in the team Rohit sets records everytime he bats, but I think pant can replace him in white ball cricket. Sanju Samson would be the starting keeper in every team other than India, literally Not even counting pandya or that dude in RCB at the IPL They have enough talent to field two teams in world cricket and win most matches. Kohli didn't always pick the best guys. He beefs with Jadeja who is my favourite cricketer, he literally does everything you can do in cricket at a supreme level. Kohli keeps that guy viharo in there who's just his mate..
Aryan
Guest
The Aussie lineup isn't international quality...I don't think even Bangladesh or West Indies would welcome Travis head, Joe burns, Wade and Tim Paine with open arms Stark contrast to the days when Aussies boasted match winners through the order Hayden Langer Punter Martyn Clarke Gilly That's a proper scary top 6 in a test match... You'll be happy to get 5 out then bloody Gilly strides in and bangs an 80 Ball 100 to sap your hopes away This is karma for the Aussies after their disgraceful lack of manners and character in the 2008 series in that infamous Sydney test Australia showed they don't have manners aren't well raised and have that mean spirited convict streak alive... Karma is a Hindu principle and it's fitting it's come back to get the team now Namaste to India .. We love you
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Imagine how many runs Hussey would have scored had he got an opportunity from 22 or 23.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Smith and Labu batted fine together in the Ashes last year .... oops year before last now ...
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
' ... But I’m not convinced Matt Wade should be there in the long term either ... ' You don't say ...
Paul
Roar Guru
agreed about Renshaw and the way Puckovski's being handled. I'm not clear what the plan is for Renshaw. He's clearly good enough to play Tests if he can make a big hundred, but is he an opener, a middle order bat, a red ball only bat or what? If the Aussie selectors can work with him and his coach in Qld to decide what his role will be in Australian cricket, maybe he could live up to his early potential. Stll only 24, so plenty of time.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yeah they don’t handle being restricted, they got to ‘dominate’ sooo much. I see it as a weakness, like Kohli, I think you nail him down he’ll get himself out cause it frustrates them not being on top. Puc makes me nervous, I’d like him to do something Steve Waugh like. identify the weakness, just avoid the short ball shots. They bowl it, ‘na, I won’t engage’. Not sure they can play like that no more, coach’s sort of want them to dominate I feel. Some commentators hated Waugh playing like that. Look how it worked out. But I don’t know, I just got to have fait it work it out in time.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yeah we had standouts most every era, smith, Warner (at home mostly, labs (almost up there) are ours atm. In past when standout had a miss others picked up the ball. Our ‘other guys’ aren’t doing that atm. I don’t think it’s ‘maybe’. Maybe they don’t have the ability, maybe the shield cupboard is a little empty.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Great teams historically have had standout batsmen however the difference in talent & ability between them & their teammates isn’t as great as a team that struggles when the big guns don’t fire. Our dominant eras coincided with batsmen such as Love, Law & Siddons churning out huge Shield runs to no avail. In addition, Mike Hussey, Voges, Chris Rogers etc gained Test selection eventually however they were all well advanced in their careers when they gained their opportunities.
Anth
Roar Rookie
Great observations Paul. My concern is, particularly regarding Renshaw, he was identified as a young man, then brought into the Test side, was initially successful, then when he lost form they dropped him like a hot potato. I don't know the situation pertaining to him; but from afar it seems like he required a little nurturing that was ultimately not forthcoming. That being said, the powers that be obviously recognize Pucovski's talent and appear to be treating him with a little more empathy.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Exactly Paul, too much hit and giggle with a focus on rapid scoring. Even Steve Smith gets unnerved when he can't score regularly in a test innings, like with Wagner last year. Labuschagne on the other hand looked right at home facing Wagner, and wasn't worried about a lack of rapid scoring.
Paul
Roar Guru
exactly. You know a teams in trouble when the number 10 batsman has a better average than the number 4.