As the Ashes fever builds, Australia’s temporary skipper, Steve Smith, has delivered a pointed message to England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ brigade: their free-spirited attacking style might just hit a wall Down Under. Smith, stepping into the captaincy for the first Ashes Test in Perth due to Pat Cummins’ lumbar bone stress injury, highlighted the stark difference in Australian pitch conditions compared to what England’s batsmen are used to.
“The conditions here in Australia are a completely different beast, aren’t they?” Smith remarked to reporters at the Gabba, as reported by Fox Cricket. He elaborated on the challenging nature of Australian pitches in recent years. “I believe the last three or four years have tested batters like never before, especially the top order. Our bowlers are seasoned, exceptionally skilled, and they’ll make every run hard-earned. For any batsman, it will be tough, but if you’re attempting to go on the offensive relentlessly, it’s going to be incredibly difficult.”
Indeed, Australian Test venues have shown a clear lean towards seam bowlers over the past four years, a notable shift from the preceding decade. Since the 2021-22 Ashes, the top seven batsmen in Tests played in Australia have averaged just 30.22 runs per dismissal, with a modest 24 centuries scored across 20 matches. This stands in sharp contrast to the ‘Bazball’ era in England, which began in 2022 and has seen a higher average of 38.94 for batsmen.
While most batsmen have found the going tough, Travis Head has been a notable exception, thriving on home soil with an impressive average of 54.64, including six centuries and a blistering strike rate of 88.90. No other player has managed to average above 45.29 in Australia during this recent period.
Even Smith, renowned for his monumental scores, has seen his home average dip slightly to 45.26 over the last four Australian summers. Although still a formidable record, it’s a drop from his exceptional average of 63.20 during his first decade in Australian Test cricket, indicating the increased difficulty posed by these pitches even for the very best.
(Image: Steve Smith during a match)