Australia’s batting line-up faces a significant challenge in the remaining two Tests of the year: they need to score centuries to avoid recording their lowest century tally this century.
The team has only two Tests left in 2024 to improve their century count.
Captain Pat Cummins remains optimistic, expressing confidence in strong performances from Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja in the upcoming Brisbane Test, starting on Saturday.
Both Smith and Khawaja are experiencing their longest stretches without a century. Smith’s drought has extended to 24 innings, while Khawaja’s has reached 27 innings. Their most recent centuries were during the 2023 Ashes.
The struggles of Smith and Khawaja highlight a broader issue in Australia’s batting this year, with the team managing only three centuries in seven Tests.
Travis Head has scored two of those centuries, while the injured Cameron Green contributed the other. This performance is notably below Australia’s usual batting standards.
Excluding 2020—a year disrupted by the pandemic with only three Tests played—Australia’s century tally this year is their lowest in decades.
The team needs at least two more centuries in the remaining Tests to surpass the four centuries scored in 2018, a year affected by the ball-tampering controversy, which saw Smith and David Warner miss six Tests.
Historically, from 2000 to 2023, Australian batters have averaged 1.31 centuries per Test. This year, however, the average has dropped significantly to one century every 2.33 Tests, underscoring the decline in Australia’s century-scoring rate.
Cummins believes Smith and Khawaja are on the verge of a turnaround. Their experience and resilience will be crucial for reviving Australia’s batting performance.
Cummins said, “If you look at (Smith’s) record, stats would suggest (a big score) is not far around the corner,” he said. “He’s looking fantastic in the nets, looking really sharp, like he’s got plenty of time. He got caught down leg-side in the last game, I don’t think you can look too much into that … I think a big score is just around the corner.”
“I think similar to Smithy in some ways, he’s (Usman Khawaja) looking fantastic in the nets, and last week in Adelaide he looked really sharp,” he said. “He did a lot of that hard work on that first night – it was tricky, brand-new ball under lights with fresh bowlers. Cummins said in a pre match conference.
The third Test, being played in Brisbane, offers an opportunity for redemption. Fans and the team alike are hopeful for a strong batting display to end the year on a positive note.
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