Who has been the worst specialist batter to play 100 Tests?

[Ab Fan]

Johnny Bairstow is currently playing his 99th test match in Ranchi Stadium and his batting average after the dismissal in first innings reads as 36.47.

His purple patch seems to be over now or perhaps it was restricted only in England. But of all the specialist batters that have played 100 tests ever, Bairstow might just be one test match away from achieving this feat.

Another England batsman, Mike Atherton who played 115 tests ended up with 37.9 average but he was an opener and played in arguably the toughest era for batting because of the world class pacers every team had back in 90s.

Can Bairstow achieve this feat at Dharmshala or will he get dropped and have to wait for some time or it maybe that England don't consider him for future either?

 

[BouncerGuy]

He is not criticised for his poor form recently. Slipping under the radar for some time now.

 

[James]

He’s not a specialist batter.

A fair few of his Tests were as wicketkeeper.

 

[JattMaula]

He’s not a specialist batter.

A fair few of his Tests were as wicketkeeper.

Over half in fact. His record is good as a keeper batter. Certainly not the "worst" player to play 100 tests.

I don't think a bad player can even play 100 tests.

 

[James]

Over half in fact. His record is good as a keeper batter. Certainly not the "worst" player to play 100 tests.

I don't think a bad player can even play 100 tests.

Spot on. Premise isn’t accurate for this thread.

 

[Ab Fan]

Over half in fact. His record is good as a keeper batter. Certainly not the "worst" player to play 100 tests.

I don't think a bad player can even play 100 tests.

Spot on. Premise isn’t accurate for this thread.

We are discussing who is the worst among 100 test clubs? And Bairstow is a pretty strong contender for this as he is sitting at 99 tests now.

 

[MP2011]

I don't think a bad player can even play 100 tests.

See the likes of Rahul getting to this mark in next few years.

 

[Energy]

Asad Shafiq comes to mind with 80 tests and averaging 38- contributing only as a specialist batsman at No. 6.

Bairstow's contribution has two facets.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

He's only played 44 games as a specialist batter and averages 35. It's not the worst record in the world for a batsman.

 

[James]

We are discussing who is the worst among 100 test clubs? And Bairstow is a pretty strong contender for this as he is sitting at 99 tests now.

Changing goalposts mate. Your thread title is “worst specialist batter to play 100 Tests”…

 

[James]

He's only played 44 games as a specialist batter and averages 35. It's not the worst record in the world for a batsman.

Spot on.

 

[Buffet]

He played the majority of games as keeper.

Normally, playing 100 games is not easy for a poor batsman. It will be hard to pick the worst among those who have played 100 tests.

There are only 2 batsmen who have played 100 plus tests in 1-6 batting positions below 40 average. Atherton and Hooper. Atherton was an opener so 37-38 is not a bad average. Hooper was an all-rounder. Everyone else has 40 plus average.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

We are discussing who is the worst among 100 test clubs? And Bairstow is a pretty strong contender for this as he is sitting at 99 tests now.

He is not, bcoz he isn’t a specialist batsman.

 

[shaz619]

Should have used a better example when we’re talking of specialists.

 

[Ab Fan]

Changing goalposts mate. Your thread title is “worst specialist batter to play 100 Tests”…

And what's the difference between the two statements? Does Bairstow deserve to play 100 tests? My answer is a Big No.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Can't believe he has already played 99 tests; mediocre batsman.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

If you were counting wicketkeepers then the likes of Healy, Boucher will come way ahead

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Mark boucher

 

[topspin]

It would have been Azhar Ali had he played just 3 more test matches.

 

[Ab Fan]

If you were counting wicketkeepers then the likes of Healy, Boucher will come way ahead

They were far better keepers than Bairstow.

 

[jeetu]

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Batting position 1-6 as non WK - only 2 batsman averages under 40 with over 100 tests played
Carl Hooper and Michael Atherton.
Batting Position 1-6 min 50 test with under 40 average

Player	Span	Mat	Runs	Avg	100	50
Mohammad Ashraful (BAN)	2001-2013	61	2711	23.99	6	8
KR Rutherford (NZ)	1985-1995	55	2445	27.16	3	18
SE Gregory (AUS)	1890-1912	52	2175	27.18	4	8
ADR Campbell (ZIM)	1992-2002	60	2759	27.31	2	17
MR Ramprakash (ENG)	1991-2002	50	2210	27.97	2	11
RS Mahanama (SL)	1986-1998	51	2576	29.27	4	11
GW Flower (ZIM)	1992-2004	67	3367	29.79	6	14
J Blackwood (WI)	2014-2023	54	2711	30.46	3	17
Habibul Bashar (BAN)	2000-2008	50	3026	30.87	3	24
MN Samuels (WI)	2000-2016	67	3473	31.57	6	22
MG Burgess (NZ)	1968-1980	50	2666	31.73	5	14
Ramiz Raja (PAK)	1984-1997	57	2827	31.76	2	22
BE Congdon (NZ)	1965-1978	61	3364	32.03	7	18
GM Wood (AUS)	1978-1988	59	3315	32.18	9	13
SL Campbell (WI)	1995-2002	52	2882	32.38	4	18
A Flintoff (ENG)	2000-2009	51	2111	32.98	3	17
GR Marsh (AUS)	1985-1992	50	2854	33.18	4	15
IT Botham (ENG)	1978-1992	77	3684	33.18	8	18
GA Hick (ENG)	1991-2001	60	3125	33.24	6	15
KL Rahul (IND)	2014-2024	50	2863	34.08	8	14
KC Brathwaite (WI)	2011-2024	89	5513	34.24	12	29
JR Reid (NZ)	1949-1965	57	3396	34.3	6	22
MA Butcher (ENG)	1997-2004	71	4260	34.63	8	23
T Bavuma (SA)	2014-2023	55	2805	35.06	2	18
RJ Shastri (IND)	1981-1992	62	3029	35.22	10	7
JM Bairstow (ENG)	2012-2024	72	4130	35.91	9	17
WJ Cronje (SA)	1992-2000	66	3608	36.08	6	22
A Ranatunga (SL)	1982-2000	90	4774	36.16	4	36
MW Gatting (ENG)	1978-1995	76	4353	36.27	10	21
BKG Mendis (SL)	2015-2024	61	3998	36.34	9	17
FE Woolley (ENG)	1909-1934	54	2836	36.35	4	21
SR Watson (AUS)	2005-2015	56	3644	36.44	4	24
AJ Lamb (ENG)	1982-1992	79	4628	36.44	14	18
DM Bravo (WI)	2010-2020	56	3538	36.47	8	17
NJ Astle (NZ)	1996-2006	81	4563	36.79	11	23
CL Hooper (WI)	1987-2002	101	5623	36.99	13	26
KR Miller (AUS)	1946-1956	55	2824	37.15	7	12
HM Nicholls (NZ)	2016-2023	56	2973	37.16	9	12
D Elgar (SA)	2012-2024	82	5162	37.4	13	23
Ijaz Ahmed (PAK)	1987-2001	56	3123	37.62	12	10
Mohammad Hafeez (PAK)	2003-2018	55	3652	37.64	10	12
BA Stokes (ENG)	2013-2024	96	5952	37.67	13	30
N Hussain (ENG)	1990-2004	93	5576	37.67	14	32
MA Atherton (ENG)	1989-2001	115	7694	37.71	16	46
KJ Hughes (AUS)	1977-1984	69	4387	37.81	9	22
JG Wright (NZ)	1978-1993	82	5334	37.82	12	23
AM Rahane (IND)	2013-2023	85	4959	37.85	11	26
ND McKenzie (SA)	2000-2009	57	3182	37.88	5	16
Mominul Haque (BAN)	2013-2023	59	3854	38.15	12	16
Mudassar Nazar (PAK)	1976-1989	73	4085	38.17	10	17
M Vijay (IND)	2008-2018	61	3982	38.28	12	15
Asad Shafiq (PAK)	2010-2020	77	4512	38.56	12	26
Majid Khan (PAK)	1965-1983	60	3707	38.61	7	18
AJ Stewart (ENG)	1990-2003	128	8025	38.76	15	42
Tamim Iqbal (BAN)	2008-2023	70	5134	38.89	10	31
BB McCullum (NZ)	2004-2016	67	4251	39.36	7	20
MS Atapattu (SL)	1990-2007	89	5494	39.52	16	17
Mushfiqur Rahim (BAN)	2005-2023	72	4492	39.75	9	20
KWR Fletcher (ENG)	1968-1982	59	3220	39.75	7	18
JC Adams (WI)	1992-2001	51	2670	39.85	6	11

 

[BouncerGuy]

They were far better keepers than Bairstow.

But the thread is about the batting record. and I think they are worse then Bairstow.

 

[Ab Fan]

But the thread is about the batting record. and I think they are worse then Bairstow.

They are specialist keepers. Bairstow isnt a specialist keeper, he is more of a batter who can be given gloves.

 

[BouncerGuy]

They are specialist keepers. Bairstow isnt a specialist keeper, he is more of a batter who can be given gloves.

But when we compare their batting, baristow edges out against them.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

They were far better keepers than Bairstow.

Are you talking about batting or wicketkeeping?
Coz this thread specifically mentions specialist batsman, and Barstow is a keeper

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Atherton is probably the worst batsman to play 100+ tests

 

[James]

The worst to play 50 Tests is almost certainly Ramprakash. At international level was an awful batsman.

 

[jnaveen1980]

If i remember correctly Ian Bell's name often came up in this list long back.

 

[James]

If i remember correctly Ian Bell's name often came up in this list long back.

With a 40+ average and 22 Test centuries, definitely shouldn’t. Got away tons in Australia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies and New Zealand, and two tons in South Africa. Had a solid record in most countries apart from India, where apart from his one big innings there he was sometimes quite disappointing. He could be a bit inconsistent at times but was a class player overall.

 

[James]

Nasser Hussain for 96 Tests didn’t have a great record, but he was affected by the captaincy like Mike Atherton was.

Atherton also had chronic back issues due to a degenerative spinal disease which meant that he had a weakness against short pitched bowling throughout his career.

Atherton probably did ok in the end to average 37 and score 16 Test centuries given that he could not duck bouncers for medical reasons and considering the quality of bowlers he played against. Although his batting average does look quite low still.

 

[Ab Fan]

Congratulations to Johnny Bairstow for his 100th test. Arguably the worst player to play 100 tests but let's not go there as he had his moments with the bat.

Good achievement and he has got a great chance to make this count on a belter on Day 1.