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

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

 

[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.