Do you think England players Test average hurt due to playing lots of Tests per year?

[Ab Fan]

There is no denying that England plays the most number of tests per year compared to any other team. India and Australia are second in this regard and about same while SA and rest follows after this three only.

It is also a fact that England haven't produced a batsmen with an average over 50 and bowler with an average under 25 since last many years.

Do you think playing lots of tests affect this and this is the reason why England haven't been able to produce any player meeting the mentioned conditions?

A simple example to explain this can be if one player plays 15 tests in any year, his average of 70 can be considered better than other player who might have played 8 tests only but averaged 75 for that year.

Do you think the statistical standards for comparison should be lowered for teams who play so many tests like England?

Discuss!

 

[Mamoon]

There are both pros and cons of playing a lot of Tests like the English players.

On the plus side, you have the opportunity to accumulate longevity records (Anderson, Cook) and capitalize on good form.

However, you also risk burning out quickly and there is no where to hide when you are going through a rough patch.

Players from other countries can go on a 6 month layoff when they are out of form, but the English players usually do not have that luxury.

Someone like Root is clearly out of touch at the moment. If he was sitting at home now instead of fighting it out in the Caribbean, he would not have been dubbed a HTB and what not.

 

[CricFan2012]

Not really, but their average does take a hit due to playing like half their games on the more bowler friendly places in England.

 

[The Viper]

I do think their average does take a hit playing on tough surfaces at home. Look at Cook for example who has done well in India and UAE.

 

[Ab Fan]

I do think their average does take a hit playing on tough surfaces at home. Look at Cook for example who has done well in India and UAE.

Then same goes for South Africans. But SA players have produced batting avg over 50 as well as lot of bowlers averaging under 25. Tough batting conditions and easy bowling conditions is a whole lot different debate. England don't even have any bowler to average under 25.

I believe burn out is one issue and someone like Joe Root had to face it more than anyone else as he is a pivotal member in all formats of the game. Cook at least didn't had to play LOs.

 

[Ab Fan]

There are both pros and cons of playing a lot of Tests like the English players.

On the plus side, you have the opportunity to accumulate longevity records (Anderson, Cook) and capitalize on good form.

However, you also risk burning out quickly and there is no where to hide when you are going through a rough patch.

Players from other countries can go on a 6 month layoff when they are out of form, but the English players usually do not have that luxury.

Someone like Root is clearly out of touch at the moment. If he was sitting at home now instead of fighting it out in the Caribbean, he would not have been dubbed a HTB and what not.

It becomes even harder when you have to play all three formats of the game and you are a pivotal member in all of them. Atleast, Cook and Jimmy had this luxury to keep themselves focussed only on tests and have some breathe when LOs or big ICC tournaments like WC, CT, WT20 were going around.

Joe Root has to deal with an altogether different workload issues. He plays all formats and plays tests more than any other team. I also feel the same is the issue with Indian players as well. Indian players also play a lot(good number) of tests and there are so many limited overs going around(Asian players play more ODIs than others) that the workload is always a concern.

 

[big_gamer007]

England have not produced top quality batsmen ever.. They have had some good players however they do not have had an elite batsmen yet.. KP for all his talent could have been the one but he had his own struggles not related to cricket.

If a player like Lara, Sachin, kallis, Dravid was English he would still be averaging 50+..

 

[Hitman]

England have not produced top quality batsmen ever.. They have had some good players however they do not have had an elite batsmen yet.. KP for all his talent could have been the one but he had his own struggles not related to cricket.

If a player like Lara, Sachin, kallis, Dravid was English he would still be averaging 50+..

Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond, Len Hutton.

 

[big_gamer007]

Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond, Len Hutton.

Amateur era bro they were best of their no doubt but cricket has grown so much that today's reserve bowlers have better batting technique than them. I was talking about professional era where cricket is a competitive sport.

 

[Savak]

Maybe England should look to adopt a rotation policy for its test players and not look to play a full strength playing eleven for every game