Voges is second behind Bradman but under pressure
SPORTSVIEW with Gerard Walsh
WHAT do Sir Donald Bradman, Adam Voges and Steve Smith have in common?
They are the three batsmen in Australian cricket history with the highest average per Test innings.
The Don leads the way with 6996 runs at 99.94, Voges is second on the Australian and world lists with 1485 runs at 61.87 and Smith is third on the Australian list with 4212 runs at 57.69. The fourth on the Australian list, as printed on espncrickinfo.com is Greg Chappell with 7110 runs at 53.86.
The pressure is on Australian cricket selectors to drop Voges, retire him as the batsman with the second highest average in history. He has a better average than Graeme Pollock, George Headley and Herbert Sutcliffe, the only other three in world cricket history with an average over 60.
Some lists require a minimum 2000 runs and others say 20 innings. You just can't score a century in your first Test and go ahead on Bradman on averages.
The reality is there aren't too many Australian batsmen knocking down the selector's door with massive scores in the wake of two horror Test losses.
One player they should stick with Usman Khawaja. Perhaps we miss paceman Mitchell Johnson more as a batsman. As coach Darren Lehmann says, runs are needed in this round of Sheffield Shield cricket.
Let's also give credit to the South African bowlers.
