Australia: Fast Bowling Graveyard?

[Tibarn]

So S. Rajesh posted an article on Cricinfo detailing how Pak's fast bowlers have a relatively horrible history in Australia. 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/1072733.html

 

However there were some general stats that applied to all cricketing nations. I found this one  interesting:

 

TEAM-WISE STATS FOR FAST BOWLERS IN AUSTRALIA SINCE JAN 1999

Team	Mat	Wkts	Average	Econ	SR
Australia	102	1297	27.04	2.96	54.7
South Africa	15	188	35.57	3.34	63.7
England	21	226	37.30	3.55	62.9
India	19	167	45.89	3.88	70.7
Pakistan	9	75	45.94	3.67	75.0
New Zealand	12	103	49.20	3.72	79.2
West Indies	14	111	50.12	3.66	82.0
Sri Lanka	7	45	58.64	3.77	93.1
Zimbabwe	2	9	77.77	4.69	99.3
Bangladesh	2	7	92.14	3.43	161.0

 

Since Jan 1999, no opposition team has averaged less than 30 in Australia. What's worse is that in combination with the high average is also a high strike rate. It takes the average South African/English pacer 63 balls bowled before picking up a wicket. After them the numbers jump to us being the 3rd best visitors, but it still takes almost 71 deliveries before picking up a wicket.

 

The only country whose fast bowlers perform well in Australia seems to be Australia's.

 

Do you guys think this is because the Aussies are just too unbeatable at home or is Australia no longer a fast bowling friendly country? 

 

[kosingh]

Considering that this is the period of Aus being number 1 in the world for much of this period, it's probably natural that opposing players (batsman and bowlers) will perform worse than normal in Australia

[MechEng]

Australia has no abrasive pitches, which makes it unfriendly for reverse swing. Cricket is played in Australia during summers, which means no cold winds or overcast skies for movement in the air. The only advantage a bowler can get in Aus is that of steep bounce but that advantage is also almost obsolete since Australian batsmen are trained to be very strong backfoot players since school cricket. Which why you will see any run off mill Aussie batsman from Sheffield Shield can pull/hook Shoaib Akhtar bouncer for four runs without any difficulty, while Ganguly struggled against standard short ball throughout his career.

 

 

[express bowling]

In the last 5 years, quite a few bowlers have averaged below 30 while bowling in Australia

 

It has not been easy for the touring teams while facing the Australian quicks like Johnson, Harris, Starc, Hazlewood, Siddle, Hifenhaus and Pattinson.  All of them average between 20 ans 27 in the last 5 years.

 

 

Overall figures

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	5	10
KJ Abbott (SA)	2016-2016	2	4	74.5	19	193	13	6/77	9/118	14.84	2.57	34.5	1	0
JM Bird (AUS)	2012-2016	4	7	111.0	33	312	17	4/41	7/117	18.35	2.81	39.1	0	0
BW Hilfenhaus (AUS)	2011-2012	7	13	281.3	81	708	34	5/75	8/97	20.82	2.51	49.6	2	0
K Rabada (SA)	2016-2016	3	6	108.1	20	336	15	5/92	7/170	22.40	3.10	43.2	1	0
MG Johnson (AUS)	2012-2015	13	26	477.0	99	1653	72	7/40	9/103	22.95	3.46	39.7	3	0
RJ Harris (AUS)	2012-2015	10	20	370.2	108	938	38	5/25	8/61	24.68	2.53	58.4	1	0
PM Siddle (AUS)	2011-2016	19	38	640.0	177	1852	75	5/49	9/104	24.69	2.89	51.2	2	0
JL Pattinson (AUS)	2011-2016	7	12	217.4	34	741	29	5/27	6/108	25.55	3.40	45.0	1	0
JR Hazlewood (AUS)	2014-2016	13	23	472.5	112	1376	53	6/70	9/136	25.96	2.91	53.5	3	0
MA Starc (AUS)	2012-2016	13	23	456.2	83	1605	59	6/154	8/209	27.20	3.51	46.4	2	0
SCJ Broad (ENG)	2013-2014	5	9	161.5	24	578	21	6/81	8/136	27.52	3.57	46.2	1	0
M Morkel (SA)	2012-2012	3	5	109.0	23	399	14	5/146	8/196	28.50	3.66	46.7	1	0

 

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;host=2;orderby=bowling_average;qualmin1=10;qualval1=wickets;spanmax1=17+Dec+2016;spanmin1=17+Dec+2011;spanval1=span;template=results;type=bowling

 

Edited December 17, 2016 by express bowling

[express bowling]

This is how touring side batsmen have done in Australia in the last 5 years.  Only 9 batters average over 50 and 4 of them are South African, who are used to playing the pace and bounce in their own country.

 

 

Overall figures

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
KS Williamson (NZ)	2015-2015	3	6	1	428	166	85.60	642	66.66	2	1	0	59	0
F du Plessis (SA)	2012-2016	5	9	3	499	118*	83.16	1068	46.72	2	2	0	74	1
LRPL Taylor (NZ)	2015-2015	3	6	1	405	290	81.00	520	77.88	1	0	1	59	0
V Kohli (INDIA)	2011-2015	8	16	0	992	169	62.00	1672	59.33	5	2	1	111	2
M Vijay (INDIA)	2014-2015	4	8	0	482	144	60.25	905	53.25	1	4	1	53	6
AM Rahane (INDIA)	2014-2015	4	8	1	399	147	57.00	628	63.53	1	2	1	52	0
JH Kallis (SA)	2012-2012	3	6	0	339	147	56.50	640	52.96	1	1	0	40	3
Q de Kock (SA)	2016-2016	3	5	0	281	104	56.20	393	71.50	1	2	0	37	3
AB de Villiers (SA)	2012-2012	3	6	1	276	169	55.20	629	43.87	1	0	0	31	3
DM Bravo (WI)	2015-2016	3	5	0	247	108	49.40	550	44.90	1	1	0	36	0
KC Brathwaite (WI)	2015-2016	3	5	0	229	94	45.80	404	56.68	0	2	0	25	1
JA Warrican (WI)	2015-2016	3	5	5	44	21*	-	75	58.66	0	0	0	6	0
HM Amla (SA)	2012-2016	6	11	0	475	196	43.18	814	58.35	2	0	1	50	3
GC Smith (SA)	2012-2012	3	6	0	255	122	42.50	470	54.25	1	1	1	31	0
JP Duminy (SA)	2012-2016	4	5	0	184	141	36.80	333	55.25	1	0	0	25	1
SR Tendulkar (INDIA)	2011-2012	4	8	0	287	80	35.87	518	55.40	0	2	0	38	1
SC Cook (SA)	2016-2016	3	5	0	179	104	35.80	447	40.04	1	0	1	16	0
BA Stokes (ENG)	2013-2014	4	8	0	279	120	34.87	549	50.81	1	0	0	35	4
TM Dilshan (SL)	2012-2013	3	6	0	208	147	34.66	392	53.06	1	0	1	30	0
CA Pujara (INDIA)	2014-2014	3	6	0	201	73	33.50	471	42.67	0	1	0	26	0
AN Petersen (SA)	2012-2012	3	6	0	200	64	33.33	402	49.75	0	2	0	25	0
T Bavuma (SA)	2016-2016	3	5	0	162	74	32.40	373	43.43	0	2	0	20	0
TWM Latham (NZ)	2015-2015	3	6	0	187	50	31.16	429	43.58	0	1	0	22	1
KP Pietersen (ENG)	2013-2014	5	10	0	294	71	29.40	591	49.74	0	2	0	25	5
AD Mathews (SL)	2012-2013	3	6	0	175	75	29.16	379	46.17	0	1	0	25	0
RG Sharma (INDIA)	2014-2015	3	6	0	173	53	28.83	387	44.70	0	1	1	16	5
MA Carberry (ENG)	2013-2014	5	10	0	281	60	28.10	695	40.43	0	1	2	45	1
S Dhawan (INDIA)	2014-2014	3	6	0	167	81	27.83	272	61.39	0	1	1	17	0
DPMD Jayawardene (SL)	2012-2013	3	6	0	166	72	27.66	369	44.98	0	2	1	24	1
R Ashwin (INDIA)	2011-2015	6	12	2	276	62	27.60	466	59.22	0	2	1	33	2
VD Philander (SA)	2012-2016	5	9	2	192	73	27.42	358	53.63	0	1	0	24	4
JE Root (ENG)	2013-2013	4	8	1	192	87	27.42	577	33.27	0	1	0	19	0
BB McCullum (NZ)	2015-2015	3	5	0	137	80	27.40	167	82.03	0	1	0	18	2
D Ramdin (WI)	2015-2016	3	5	0	133	62	26.60	271	49.07	0	2	1	14	0
IR Bell (ENG)	2013-2014	5	10	1	235	72*	26.11	525	44.76	0	2	1	24	6
V Sehwag (INDIA)	2011-2012	4	8	0	198	67	24.75	257	77.04	0	2	1	29	0
AN Cook (ENG)	2013-2014	5	10	0	246	72	24.60	539	45.64	0	3	1	27	0
R Dravid (INDIA)	2011-2012	4	8	0	194	68	24.25	551	35.20	0	1	0	25	0
FDM Karunaratne (SL)	2012-2013	3	6	0	140	85	23.33	262	53.43	0	1	0	14	1
D Elgar (SA)	2012-2016	4	7	0	161	127	23.00	435	37.01	1	0	3	20	1
MD Craig (NZ)	2015-2015	3	5	1	91	26*	22.75	136	66.91	0	0	0	11	2
G Gambhir (INDIA)	2011-2012	4	8	0	181	83	22.62	445	40.67	0	1	1	22	0
TA Boult (NZ)	2015-2015	3	5	3	45	23*	22.50	80	56.25	0	0	0	6	1
Mohammed Shami (INDIA)	2014-2015	3	4	1	67	34	22.33	90	74.44	0	0	0	7	2
MS Dhoni (INDIA)	2011-2014	5	10	2	170	57*	21.25	295	57.62	0	1	1	19	1
JO Holder (WI)	2015-2016	3	5	0	101	68	20.20	154	65.58	0	1	1	9	2
SCJ Broad (ENG)	2013-2014	5	10	2	155	42	19.37	172	90.11	0	0	2	17	6
VVS Laxman (INDIA)	2011-2012	4	8	0	155	66	19.37	390	39.74	0	1	1	17	0
WP Saha (INDIA)	2012-2015	3	6	0	111	35	18.50	294	37.75	0	0	1	7	2
MJ Prior (ENG)	2013-2013	3	6	0	107	69	17.83	211	50.71	0	1	2	17	0

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;home_or_away=2;host=2;orderby=batting_average;qualmin1=3;qualval1=matches;spanmax1=17+Dec+2016;spanmin1=17+Dec+2011;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

 

 

[rkt.india]

16 minutes ago, express bowling said:

In the last 5 years, quite a few bowlers have averaged below 30 while bowling in Australia

 

It has not been easy for the touring teams while facing the Australian quicks like Johnson, Harris, Starc, Hazlewood, Siddle, Hifenhaus and Pattinson.  All of them average between 20 ans 27 in the last 5 years.

 

 

Overall figures

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	5	10
KJ Abbott (SA)	2016-2016	2	4	74.5	19	193	13	6/77	9/118	14.84	2.57	34.5	1	0
JM Bird (AUS)	2012-2016	4	7	111.0	33	312	17	4/41	7/117	18.35	2.81	39.1	0	0
BW Hilfenhaus (AUS)	2011-2012	7	13	281.3	81	708	34	5/75	8/97	20.82	2.51	49.6	2	0
K Rabada (SA)	2016-2016	3	6	108.1	20	336	15	5/92	7/170	22.40	3.10	43.2	1	0
MG Johnson (AUS)	2012-2015	13	26	477.0	99	1653	72	7/40	9/103	22.95	3.46	39.7	3	0
RJ Harris (AUS)	2012-2015	10	20	370.2	108	938	38	5/25	8/61	24.68	2.53	58.4	1	0
PM Siddle (AUS)	2011-2016	19	38	640.0	177	1852	75	5/49	9/104	24.69	2.89	51.2	2	0
JL Pattinson (AUS)	2011-2016	7	12	217.4	34	741	29	5/27	6/108	25.55	3.40	45.0	1	0
JR Hazlewood (AUS)	2014-2016	13	23	472.5	112	1376	53	6/70	9/136	25.96	2.91	53.5	3	0
MA Starc (AUS)	2012-2016	13	23	456.2	83	1605	59	6/154	8/209	27.20	3.51	46.4	2	0
SCJ Broad (ENG)	2013-2014	5	9	161.5	24	578	21	6/81	8/136	27.52	3.57	46.2	1	0
M Morkel (SA)	2012-2012	3	5	109.0	23	399	14	5/146	8/196	28.50	3.66	46.7	1	0

 

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;host=2;orderby=bowling_average;qualmin1=10;qualval1=wickets;spanmax1=17+Dec+2016;spanmin1=17+Dec+2011;spanval1=span;template=results;type=bowling

 

Most of them are Australian. Rabada and Abbott played for the first time and they got some good pitches for bowling this time. I don't like to compare or look at stats for 5 years or 10 years because they can be misleading as nature of the pitches can vary even series by series.  

[express bowling]

7 hours ago, rkt.india said:

Most of them are Australian. Rabada and Abbott played for the first time and they got some good pitches for bowling this time. I don't like to compare or look at stats for 5 years or 10 years because they can be misleading as nature of the pitches can vary even series by series.  

 

This topic is about the pitches in Australia  in general and not about any particular series.

 

The Australian fast bowlers have usually been able to take wickets at a good rate in the last 5 years. They know how to use those pitches and the touring side seamers, apart from some SA seamers, don't know how to do that.  

 

When you average 20 to 27 over 5 years on those pitches then they are not that flat in general.

 

 

Edited December 17, 2016 by express bowling

[rkt.india]

4 minutes ago, express bowling said:

 

This topic is about the pitches in Australia  in general and not about any particular series.

 

The Australian fast bowlers have usually been able to take wickets at a good rate in the last 5 years. They know how to use those pitches and the touring side seamers, apart from some SA seamers, don't know how to do that.  

 

When you average 20 to 27 over 5 years then those pitches are not that flat in general.

 

 

You will have to take in account the performance venue wise too. Perth and Gabba have mostly been seam friendly while Adelaide have been prepared to help seamers since they have started playing d/n test there. Exclude last 2 d/n test at Adelaide and see the performance of Aussie bowlers there. 

[express bowling]

2 minutes ago, rkt.india said:

You will have to take in account the performance venue wise too. Perth and Gabba have mostly been seam friendly while Adelaide have been prepared to help seamers since they have started playing d/n test there. Exclude last 2 d/n test at Adelaide and see the performance of Aussie bowlers there. 

Why pick specific venues while discussing about pitches of a country in general ?

 

Every country has some helpful and some flat pitches.

 

Also, a pitch which looks flat when a certain set of bowlers are bowling may look quite potent when another set of bowlers are bowling.

[jf1gp_1]

no wonder they haven't produced a batsman in years ; sure smith is scoring runs but you cant compare him with even say a Clarke

[express bowling]

4 minutes ago, jf1gp_1 said:

no wonder they haven't produced a batsman in years ; sure smith is scoring runs but you cant compare him with even say a Clarke

Why  ?  Smith has scored runs in every country he has played in.   Has good averages everywhere.  I think he is better than Clark.

[MCcricket]

Australia certainly the tracks have slowed down n are not green anymore, also I think the kookaburra ball is part of the problem.

Think it's the worst ball for cricket n bowlers, no seam, no purchase n ball gets useless after 15 overs also is bad for spinners

[jf1gp_1]

22 hours ago, express bowling said:

Why  ?  Smith has scored runs in every country he has played in.   Has good averages everywhere.  I think he is better than Clark.

i was talking in terms of style.Smith is effective but ugly its like comparing lara and chanderpaul.

[MCcricket]

Sachin averages just 35 in Australia , wow.

[express bowling]

49 minutes ago, MCcricket said:

Sachin averages just 35 in Australia , wow.

No....  Sachin Tendulkar averages an impressive 53.2 in Australia.  That was just in the last 5 years.  He averages above 40 in every country he has played in.

 

                                                                                                                      AVERAGES

in Australia	1991-2012	20	38	4	1809	241*	53.20	6	7	3
in Bangladesh	2000-2010	7	9	3	820	248*	136.66	5	0	0
in England	1990-2011	17	30	1	1575	193	54.31	4	8	0
in India	1990-2013	94	153	16	7216	217	52.67	22	32	4
in New Zealand	1990-2009	11	18	1	842	160	49.52	2	5	1
in Pakistan	1989-2006	10	13	1	483	194*	40.25	1	2	0
in South Africa	1992-2011	15	28	3	1161	169	46.44	5	3	2
in Sri Lanka	1993-2010	12	19	2	1155	203	67.94	5	4	0
in West Indies	1997-2002	10	14	1	620	117	47.69	1	5	3
in Zimbabwe	1992-2001	4	7	1	240	74	40.00	0	2	1

 

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

 

 

 

[MCcricket]

2 hours ago, express bowling said:

No....  Sachin Tendulkar averages an impressive 53.2 in Australia.  That was just in the last 5 years.  He averages above 40 in every country he has played in.

 

                                                                                                                      AVERAGES

in Australia	1991-2012	20	38	4	1809	241*	53.20	6	7	3
in Bangladesh	2000-2010	7	9	3	820	248*	136.66	5	0	0
in England	1990-2011	17	30	1	1575	193	54.31	4	8	0
in India	1990-2013	94	153	16	7216	217	52.67	22	32	4
in New Zealand	1990-2009	11	18	1	842	160	49.52	2	5	1
in Pakistan	1989-2006	10	13	1	483	194*	40.25	1	2	0
in South Africa	1992-2011	15	28	3	1161	169	46.44	5	3	2
in Sri Lanka	1993-2010	12	19	2	1155	203	67.94	5	4	0
in West Indies	1997-2002	10	14	1	620	117	47.69	1	5	3
in Zimbabwe	1992-2001	4	7	1	240	74	40.00	0	2	1

 

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

 

 

 

Would be interesting to see his ave in last 3 or 4 years

[express bowling]

5 minutes ago, MCcricket said:

Would be interesting to see his ave in last 3 or 4 years

 

 

Career averages

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
unfiltered	1989-2013	200	329	33	15921	248*	53.78	29437+	54.04*	51	68	14	2058+	69	Profile
filtered	2009-2013	41	68	6	3148	214	50.77	5899	53.36	9	15	0	382	18

 

                                                                                          AVERAGES

in Australia	2011-2012	4	8	0	287	80	35.87	518	55.40	0	2	0	38	1
in Bangladesh	2010-2010	2	3	1	264	143	132.00	374	70.58	2	0	0	26	3
in England	2011-2011	4	8	0	273	91	34.12	520	52.50	0	2	0	41	0
in India	2009-2013	25	38	3	1608	214	45.94	3071	52.36	4	9	0	192	9
in South Africa	2010-2011	3	6	2	326	146	81.50	712	45.78	2	0	0	42	3
in Sri Lanka	2010-2010	3	5	0	390	203	78.00	704	55.39	1	2	0	43	2

 

 

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=default;spanmin1=15+Nov+2009;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

 

 

[fineleg]

12 hours ago, jf1gp_1 said:

i was talking in terms of style.Smith is effective but ugly its like comparing lara and chanderpaul.

Style is overrated (Rohit Sharma)

If he is scoring in all countries, then it is highly effective and he is indeed a top batsman. Rohit Sharma has style but is crap. So, runs (in different countries) are the first and foremost of criteria.

Edited December 18, 2016 by fineleg

[Tibarn]

For comparison over the same period:

In SA

South Africa is similar to Australia, except Australia also performs well there. Everyone else struggles.

 

In Eng

It appears other countries perform better in England in comparison.