Much has been written of England’s current top-order batting woes, with some saying the occupants of slots one, two and three are perhaps the worst combination ever.
This raises two problems for England.
First is that it’s contributing to their current run of five losses in seven Tests. Second it’s hiding the fact that, with the exception of a certain JE Root at four, positions five to eight aren’t exactly setting the world on fire.
On paper Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali and Sam Curran looks a reasonable combination. On the pitch, not so much so.
Bairstow is perhaps a little unfortunate – a victim of the selectors’ obsession with Buttler, the one-day phenomenon, being made into a five day player. In football terms that would be like picking a five-a-side player to play for Brazil in the next World Cup.
In his last 31 innings, Bairstow has no centuries, three fifties and an average of 21.34.
As a wicketkeeper, Bairstow has played 48 matches scoring 3028 runs at an average of 37.85 with 173 catches and 13 stumping.
Buttler has played 32 matches scoring 1544 runs at an average of 32.17 with 110 catches and a solitary stumping.
As a pure batsman, Bairstow has 1287 runs at 27.38, while Buttler has 1249 at 35.69.
Jonny Bairstow. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
From these numbers the selectors have concluded that Bairstow is the batsman and Buttler is the keeper.
At the risk of labouring the point, as a number seven Bairstow averages 38.59 and at six 37.19, while at positions higher only 27.98. Buttler at seven manages 29.70 while at six he averages 48.90.
Unfortunately, with Ben Stokes absent, as a specialist batsman he would need to play at five where he averages only 28.63.
Perhaps muddying the waters further, Bairstow is only playing because England’s current great hope Ollie Pope was injured.
Pope’s position, once fit, seems assured despite a batting average of 31.50 from his 882 runs after 19 Tests and a 2021 of 237 runs in 11 innings at 21.55.
Combine this with a run of 15 innings without a half-century and the oft-made comparison with Ian Bell seems a little hollow.
To give a little perspective, Bell’s first 19 Tests contained 1337 runs at 46.10 with five centuries compared to Pope’s one, and six fifties to Pope’s five.
Incidentally, in a 215 innings career, Bell’s longest run without a score of 50 or more was nine.
Due to the lack of batting, Ali has been drafted in at seven and spinner because of his superior batting to Jack Leach.
When Ali arrived in Australia for the 2017-18 Ashes, he was averaging 34.67 with the bat and a genuine all-rounder. From that moment he has scored 583 runs, no centuries, only two fifties, and averages 17.15 (a decline that coincides with his, and England’s, success in the limited-over formats).
Leach incidentally has one fifty and an average of 13.65 to go with a far superior bowling average in that period.
Finally we come to Sam Curran, another high-class one-day operator and seen as a potential long-term replacement for Stokes.
Or at least that’s the plan. Curran’s king pair at Lord’s was a historic first at the home of cricket. It also gives him six first-ball ducks in his Test career, putting him only three behind that batting great Chris Martin (it would be unfair to count his two run-outs without facing a ball).
Curran has played 48 matches fewer than the Kiwi by the way.
His selection was to strengthen the lower order and, as with Ali, to compensate for the absence of Stokes. Yet again the logic is a little shaky.
In his past 26 innings he has a top score of 44 and an average of 18.00 which, when combined with Ali’s 17.15, doesn’t even add up to Stokes’ 37.05 (I won’t even include Leach’s runs otherwise the equation is even more lop-sided).
All in all, though England’s top order are attracting deserved criticism, they are masking an equally worrying lack of runs from those below Root.
Gnasher
Guest
Not just England!
Paul
Roar Guru
I'd suggest it is rocket science, George. People said exactly the same thing when guys started playing lots and lots of ODI cricket, yet the standard of Test batting through the 90's in particular and early 2000's was high, with plenty of guys around the world averaging in the 40's & 50's.
George
Guest
I don't think it's rocket science folks. The problem with modern batsmen is they're now playing lots of T20 games. Purists warned too much of this form of the game would harm test cricket. We're now speaking about and seeing the fruits of their labour.
Johan
Guest
There are some good points raised in this article especially regarding Buttler who should not be in the side at all let alone keeping. Bairstow must play as a batter and Foakes should keep. Malan should bat at 3. When/If Stokes returns, the batting Top 7 should be as follows: Burns, Hameed, Malan, Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Foakes which is much stronger than the current top 7. Whether any of this will matter for Australia is still up in the air as the ECB have not committed to the Ashes tour later this year yet. Even if they do tour, their team will have to just consist of players who opt in as a number have already indicated that they may not tour.
Paul
Roar Guru
" If anyone has it in them to put together an article that is critical of England’s bowling". Why not? It's not that much more difficult.
Paul
Roar Guru
Completely agree TB, the standard of Test batting around the world now, is woeful in comparison to even a decade or two ago.
The Bush
Roar Guru
It's reflective of the weak standard of batting around the world. It's a fact that England's batting line up is a shambles. Sure Stokes is still to return, but if he's your second best batsman, you've got a very weak batting line up. The reason why England remain competitive is mainly because their opponents are only marginally stronger; Australia has Smith and Labuschagne, plus a fading Warner; a weak batting line up compared to the usual standard, but still stronger than England's. India have Kohli, a possibly fading Pujara and an inconsistent Rahane (also probably fading), plus a 'reborn' Sharma. This line up pale's in comparison to previous batting line ups of the last 25 years, but is still stronger than England's... when the best teams in the world only have a pair or maybe three test standard and proven batsmen, then a good bowling line up can really take advantage on most days. In short, it's all relative. This is in stark contrast to the great batting line ups of previous generations who could counter-punch at any point throughout top seven or even lower in some cases.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Very pleased to read this. It's a good news article and will all that is going on with Covid and climate change, it's brilliant to read an article about England's batting woes. If anyone has it in them to put together an article that is critical of England's bowling (much more difficult I know) I'd just about be putting a chardonnay on the ice to celebrate. I meanwhile still have nasty flashbacks to Andrew Strauss winning the ashes here in 2010.
Paul
Roar Guru
"First is that it’s contributing to their current run of five losses in seven Tests." This is a great example of stats not giving a clear picture. If we go back 8 Tests England has played, they flogged a full strength Indian team at their place by 227 runs and beat them so badly, they played on pitches that were doctored so badly, Test were barely lasting 2 and 3 days and the Indian batsmen were hardly better than their English counterparts. Go back 10 Tests and they beat Sri Lanka at their place 2 nil, were beaten by the top Test nation but played without 4 of their best players and in the current series, have pretty much matched it with India's batsmen, bar that 2 session collapse last Test. No argument they have issues with their batting, but even still, an understrength England is still being pretty competitive with the two best teams in Test cricket.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
"Finally we come to Sam Curran, another high-class one-day operator and seen as a potential long-term replacement for Stokes" Just turning 30, Stokesy shouldn't need replacing too soon, and I can just hear the Seekers singing "They'll never be another Ben Stokes!"
Soyaib Zihad
Roar Rookie
I like this article. Actually, England's batting order has been a real concern. I don't understand why England play Buttler as a keeper when Bairstow in the XI. Bairstow is a better keeper then Buttler. Also mention, England gave Buttler so many chances because of his explosive batting at the end of the innings. I am not sure if that worked though he did well in some occasions. Nothing against him but Ben foakes deserves a real run in the side. Curran's white ball batting has been developed significantly. But he did not play sufficient FC matches before this series. He is struggling probably because of lack of match time.