KEN PIESSE has a timely reminder for one-eyed Steve Smith fans that Don Bradman remains in a stratosphere of his own:
STEVE Smith’s story of a leg-spinning No.8 becoming the finest batsman in world cricket is truly exhilarating. He has been simply fabulous and the most pivotal player yet again in another Australian soil demolition of an international visitor.
His performances have been truly Bradmanlike… well almost.
The bottom line in any debate revolving around the virtues of Australia’s champion batsmen is that Bradman is on a line of his own and the rest are way below.
Name any of the “post war” greats: Neil Harvey, Greg Chappell, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith… they all trail… badly, in almost any comparison with the greatest batsman ever.
I don’t deny Smith’s wonderful record since becoming captain, but another Bradman? Absolutely not. No-one is.
One little known, most illuminating stat in addition to the Don’s unparalleled career average of 99.94 is the fact that Don Bradman also tops the charts for facing most balls (162) before being dismissed.
No long-serving Australian comes near him as an occupier of the crease. And only a few (including present Test vice-captain David Warner) have scored at a superior lick.
Smith’s average of facing 114 balls on average before being dismissed is commendable but trails badly behind the Don.
Steve Waugh and Mike Hussey are among the few to also average more than 100 balls per innings before being dismissed.
Some early scorebooks have disappeared over the years — including the tied Test scoresheets — so it has been impossible to calculate everyone’s “Balls Faced” average.
Allan Border would also have to be high up — but nowhere near the Don’s 162.
He’s the King. Always has been. Always will be.
PS: for those who really love their stats the record for the most balls faced by any Test batsman belongs to India’s Rahul Dravid with 31,258 balls in 286 innings — at an average of 123 balls per dismissal!
THE ART OF CREASE OCCUPATION
(Career runs, runs per 100 balls, average balls faced before dismissal.)
| Past greats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Bradman 1928-48 | 6,996 | 61 | 164 |
| Sid Barnes 1938-48 | 1,072 | 41 | 153 |
| Steve Waugh 1985-2004 | 10,927 | 48 | 109 |
| Mike Hussey 2005-13 | 6,235 | 50 | 102 |
| Ricky Ponting 1995-2012 | 13,378 | 58 | 88 |
| Michael Clarke 2004-15 | 8,643 | 55 | 87 |
| Current Australians | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith 2010-18 | 6,057 | 55 | 114 |
| David Warner 2011-18 | 6,146 | 73 | 68 |
| The Best of the Rest | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bert Sutcliffe (Eng)1924-35 | 4,555 | 37 | 163 |
* Exact balls faced are unknown for many old champs including Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Bill Ponsford and Bill Woodfull
KEN PIESSE has covered cricket and football for more than 30 years in Melbourne. Despite that setback, Ken has written, published and edited 86 books on cricket and AFL football to become Australian sport’s most prolific author.
His latest cricket book is David Warner, The Bull, Daring to be Different with Wilkinson Publishing, out now
www.cricketbooks.com.au
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