{"id":16487,"date":"2026-10-09T10:43:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T02:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/?p=16487"},"modified":"2026-10-09T10:43:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T02:43:18","slug":"once-the-envy-of-the-world-where-has-australias-batting-talent-gone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/once-the-envy-of-the-world-where-has-australias-batting-talent-gone\/","title":{"rendered":"Once the envy of the world, where has Australia\u2019s batting talent\u00a0gone?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tonight, the Australian men\u2019s cricket team starts its three-match Test series against South Africa with serious question marks over most of its batting lineup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite its number-one Test ranking, Australia\u2019s batting was seriously exposed during an underwhelming drawn series at home against Bangladesh in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many critics pushed for change in the batting lineup but others pointed out there was scarce talent dominating at lower levels. This raised a startling but fair question: what has happened to Australia\u2019s once enviable batting stocks?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those under the pump<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Only Cameron Green (61) and Steve Smith (52) averaged more than 30 against Bangladesh. Despite these low numbers, selectors announced a very similar squad for the tour against second-ranked South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young Western Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly was the only recognised batsman added to the squad that played against Bangladesh. However, just before the series, Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper were added after injuries to Green and Josh Inglis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marnus Labuschagne will the player under the most pressure in South Africa. He has not scored a Test century since July 2023, and has averaged just 24.69 during this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respected commentators such as Ricky Ponting called for him to be axed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labuschagne was considered lucky to not be dropped alongside Jake Weatherald during the Bangladesh series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What has happened to Australia\u2019s batting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Australia\u2019s all-conquering Test teams of the 1990s and 2000s regularly had multiple players averaging more than 50 runs per innings. An average above 50 is considered elite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve Waugh (51.06), Ponting (51.85), Michael Hussey (51.52) and Matthew Hayden (50.73) are good examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, Smith (56.00) is Australia\u2019s only player with a career average of more than 45.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same trend is apparent at the level below Test cricket, the Sheffield Shield. Historically, numerous players averaged more than 50 in a season without ever breaking into the Australian Test team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tasmanian opener Jamie Cox did it eight times in a row between 1992 and 2000, but was stuck behind legends such as Mark Taylor, Michael Slater and Justin Langer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It led Australian batting great Ponting to once famously say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you were averaging 35 when I was playing, your dad would go and buy you a basketball or a footy and tell you to play that.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Last season none of the top ten Sheffield Shield run-scorers averaged more than 40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The list of leading run-scorers in the Sheffield Shield from last season really is extraordinary.

None of the top 11 averaged 40! pic.twitter.com\/UfmD6eL3zQ<\/a><\/p>— Yas Rana (@Yas_Cricket) August 17, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>