Reason for lack of 50+ averaging batsmen in Test cricket in this era?

[Titan24]

So as the thread says other than:

Kohli
Smith
Williamson
Pujara

None of the batsman with 20+ tests averages over 50. In the previous eras the percentage was a lot more with Sanga, Kallis, Younus, Greame Smith (Finished at avg of 48), Tendulkar, Chanderpaul, Dravid, Yousuf, Inzi, Ponting, Hayden, Pietersen (Not exactly 50 but still close enough) etc.

So the point being what exactly has happened? Is it the lack of technique pf the batsmen of pitches not being as good as before?

 

[Ab Fan]

Influence of limited overs has led to weaker defense games of the modern era players and hence the lack of great test batters.

 

[geraltofrivia]

but in reverse you have loads of bowlers with great averages, compared to the 2005-15 era when there was only Steyn.

 

[topspin]

There are simply too many home track specialists. This is exactly the reason why Warner isn't averaging 50+.

There are very few batsmen who you can tick as being proficient against all of the following bowling styles: pace, bounce, swing, seam, finger and wrist spin.

Limited Overs cricket has enhanced the scoring rates of the batsmen, but it certainly doesn't test your all-round technique like Test match cricket does.

 

[King_Kohli]

One reason could be impact of t20.
Some payers have no intention to stay long in crease and playing fancy shots.

 

[Sidilicious]

Wasn’t it this way in the 90s.

IIRC, only 3-4 batsmen had a 50+ average, and 7-8 bowlers had a sub 25 bowlers.

Is it possible that after a batsmen dominated decade, we are going back to a bowler dominated.
OR
We are starting to get some truly exceptional bowling talents.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

What about Ross Taylor ?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

So as the thread says other than:

Kohli
Smith
Williamson
Pujara

None of the batsman with 20+ tests averages over 50. In the previous eras the percentage was a lot more with Sanga, Kallis, Younus, Greame Smith (Finished at avg of 48), Tendulkar, Chanderpaul, Dravid, Yousuf, Inzi, Ponting, Hayden, Pietersen (Not exactly 50 but still close enough) etc.

So the point being what exactly has happened? Is it the lack of technique pf the batsmen of pitches not being as good as before?

Close is not good enough. Smith , Pietersen and Inzi don't belong in that list.

Also we are in an era that is harder for batting than the previous one.

 

[Bhaijaan]

2005-2015 was quite pathetic era of test cricket. All batsmen who operated at their peaks in that 10 years time have exaggerated career averages of at least 5 compared to those who operated at their peaks in 1990s and Post 2015-Presenr.

Those people who grew up watching cricket in 1990 know.

 

[Mamoon]

Root is also a 50 average batsman. He may not be averaging 50 right now, but he has the pedigree and it is inevitable that he will average 50+ again.

His average has dropped below 50 only recently, after hovering around 50-55 for years.

 

[Officer Barbrady]

Bowling attacks are generally better than they were in those days and that directly impacts batting averages.

India probably have never had a better pace attack. England’s attack is as good as it’s been in decades. New Zealand is probably their best ever. Australia is excellent.

DRS is probably another reason.

 

[Sin Nombre]

Close is not good enough. Smith , Pietersen and Inzi don't belong in that list.

Also we are in an era that is harder for batting than the previous one.

Sehwag deserves to be in that list way more than most of those names.


The current era is closest to the 90s in terms of bowling talent.

How many batters were averaging about 50 in the 90s?

Tendulkar, Waugh, Lara, Gooch and Dravid just below at 49.96

We have Smith, Kohli, KW, Pujara now.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Sehwag deserves to be in that list way more than most of those names.


The current era is closest to the 90s in terms of bowling talent.

How many batters were averaging about 50 in the 90s?

Tendulkar, Waugh, Lara, Gooch and Dravid just below at 49.96

We have Smith, Kohli, KW, Pujara now.

Yeah that's what. 2007-2015 had only 1 truly great bowling attack and that was of the Saffers. Quality of bowling has been much higher of late.

 

[barah_admi]

So as the thread says other than:

Kohli
Smith
Williamson
Pujara

None of the batsman with 20+ tests averages over 50. In the previous eras the percentage was a lot more with Sanga, Kallis, Younus, Greame Smith (Finished at avg of 48), Tendulkar, Chanderpaul, Dravid, Yousuf, Inzi, Ponting, Hayden, Pietersen (Not exactly 50 but still close enough) etc.

So the point being what exactly has happened? Is it the lack of technique pf the batsmen of pitches not being as good as before?

You are talking about a golden generation of batsmen the likes of which, in terms of stats and skills we have never seen before or since (collectively speaking). Ponting, Tendulkar, Lara, Inzy, Sanga, Jayawardene, Younis, Yousuf., Hayden..these were remarkable batsmen, some of them played through the golden generation of fast bowlers, just to rub it in a bit more.

That generation is done and in the decade that has followed, we have/had AB, Amla, Kohli, KP, Smith, Root, Williamson and a few others but looking at some of those numbers, could they have survived throughout the 90s and early 00s?

 

[Arya]

Pitches around the world have been the hardest this decade. It is extremely hard to score away from home, and Kohli and Smith have been an exception. Even Williamson and Pujara have been below average to poor in a lot of countries.

 

[tyron_woodley]

superior fitness
advanced technology
better bowlers
better nutrition
too many t20s
too many games to be played
fatigue

 

[dildilpak]

Emergence of T20. Apart from India, Australia & some extent England, no country is focussing on developing test cricket & both the board & players are increasingly focussing on making the biggest buck. If players can make more money by improving their strike rate instead of test averages, well what can we say?