Print

[tejasapatel]

I'd say scoring a hundred on a fast bouncy pitch against someone like Johnson is a feat in its own right.

It takes skill to play on quick pitches.

But most South African do take great pleasure from scoring runs on turning pitches, as for years we where hopeless at it!

Yes, Gerry absolutely agree with you.

On the same note scoring a hundred against a good subcontinent spin attack is a feat in its own right even when scored by an Asian player.

[petehosk]

There are some statistics that don't tell the whole truth. But I reckon Gerry has a point.
Most have been on flatter, more dosile wickets. And he has not been as good against Aus, SA and English pace attacks and greener or bouncier wickets!
But on the other hand, statistics also show that he averages over 70 with the bat when he's not keeping. And in any conditions that's pretty good!!! Along with Jaya, he'll be sorely missed and he is an elegant and classy batsman when he's in full flow!
Maybe Gerry is right and his average does flatter him somewhat? But I still think he's amongst the top 20 current batsmen!

[MD2812]

Gerry had a point, however I can't help but laugh his 2 arguments in this thread seem to have been:

Bowling performances only count against South Africa or Australia

Batting performances rarely count in Asia

[joeljonno]

He averages. 34 in the West Indies and  35.5 in South Africa.

Everywhere else is above 40.

Bully, maybe. At least he is consistent. There is nowhere you would truly say he has 'failed'.

[Manormanic]

Most have been on flatter, more dosile wickets. And he has not been as good against Aus, SA and English pace attacks and greener or bouncier wickets!

So, hold me if I'm misreading this....in conditions less favourable to batting he averages less than in conditions that are?

Revelation!

[uknsaunders]

He averages. 34 in the West Indies and  35.5 in South Africa.

Everywhere else is above 40.

Bully, maybe. At least he is consistent. There is nowhere you would truly say he has 'failed'.

he averaged just 30 in England before this tour.

Sent from my Lenovo B6000-F using Tapatalk

[petehosk]

I'd still have him in my Test World 15 squad though 

[joeljonno]

he averaged just 30 in England before this tour.

Sent from my Lenovo B6000-F using Tapatalk

But until the most recent tour of South Africa, he averaged 40 in that country (give or take half a run). 

You can either take all the information, or pick a piece to suit, either way, there will be another stat that someone else can take in the same vain.

End of the day, there is nowhere he has truly 'failed'.

[Gerry SA]

Another failure for Alastair Cook, once again out hanging the bat out outside off pole and gives catching practice to Sangakkara at 2nd slip.

23 digs without a Test hundred now. Gotta be getting close to panic stations for the England captain...

Dare I say it, #BlameShane...

[Sam]

Slightly disappointing final hour or so there but we're still in a fairly good position. Cook looks to be in a bit of a situation, I think he'll be given the India series and if he doesn't go big at all in that they'll be forced to take some sort of action, just a problem with having no one really being set up for captaincy yet, would have to go to Bell/Prior (if he has the form).

Just curious Gerry, do you have any opinions/thoughts on young(ish) South African bowler Kyle Abbott? Just been watching him at Hampshire a bit this season and wondered what your thoughts were on him as a South African.

[Buzz]

bell is an adept captain, with more experience than Cook.

Robson looks ok, very patient, pretty dull, but this bowling attack is only of county standard so players should be filling their boots.

really frustrated with Moeen's dismissal, someone will have to make way for Stokes against India and that will be tough as there is no spin option, you don't need 5 seamers and none of the front line bowlers have done badly. I really want to see him do well.
glad I am not a selector in this instance.

ballance looks a quality player.

[potzy248]

A troll? Really.

Every statement I make is backed up by statistical proof.

Bury your head in the sand if you want.

Gerry ladies and gentleman... (crickets chirping)

So he grows up playing on Asian wickets and scores more runs on Asian wickets? I'm shocked!
He scores double tons against SA in Sri Lanka and you think he is a bully? Do the SA and Aussie bowlers suddenly become village cricketers when they tour Asia?

Sanga is one of the greatest of all time and anything to the contrary is a classic example of tall poppy syndrome.

[Gerry SA]

Gerry ladies and gentleman... (crickets chirping)

So he grows up playing on Asian wickets and scores more runs on Asian wickets? I'm shocked!
He scores double tons against SA in Sri Lanka and you think he is a bully? Do the SA and Aussie bowlers suddenly become village cricketers when they tour Asia?

Sanga is one of the greatest of all time and anything to the contrary is a classic example of tall poppy syndrome.

Flat dead pitches that having nothing for fast bowlers.

Balls bouncing ankle high.

Yeah Sangakkara's an 'all time great' at piling up runs on flat tracks. No more.

He's levels behind batsmen such as Kallis, Ponting, Lara, Tendulkar etc.

[Gerry SA]

Just curious Gerry, do you have any opinions/thoughts on young(ish) South African bowler Kyle Abbott? Just been watching him at Hampshire a bit this season and wondered what your thoughts were on him as a South African.

I'm a big fan of Kyle Abbott mate.

He's a Durban boy, so I've seen a fair bit of him.

He's very skilled, but due to Philander's extraordinary Test record, it's hard for Kyle to get an extended run in the side.

In the future Abbott, de Lange and Hendricks could be SAs Test attack.

[Sam]

Yeh, he's been pretty class in the county championship, bit hit and miss in T20 so far, sometimes he'll pull it off brilliantly and sometimes he'll get hit for 40 odd!
_________________________

Just to add to discussions, averages in Sri Lanka  :

Lara : 100.85
Tendulkar : 67.94
Sangakkara : 63.27
Ponting : 48.20
Kallis : 35.33

You're clearly going to feel more comfortable and therefore more than likely score more heavily in your home country, however over factors may come in.