Those days are gone: Australia play down low returns

Perth Now

10-07-2025

Australia's batting coach Michael Di Venuto has hit back at critics of the top order, pointing out runs are drying up across the world and not just in Australia's Test team.
Di Venuto conceded this week that the top order had not been functioning as a unit in recent years, but insisted recent criticism of his team was off the mark.
Questions linger over Australia's batting ahead of the Ashes, with low returns during the Frank Worrell Trophy against West Indies and last month's Test Championship final.
Usman Khawaja has one score above 20 in six innings, while neither Sam Konstas or Marnus Labuschagne have scored beyond 25 opening alongside him.
Cameron Green got a much-needed half-century in the second innings in Grenada last week, while Steve Smith's return of 71 proved invaluable.
Australia's top order will face another tough examination in Jamaica from Sunday (AEDT), with a day-night Test at Sabina Park after lights were approved by the ICC.
Those returns have prompted criticism from the likes of Stuart Broad and Ian Healy, but Di Venuto insisted the lack of runs was not a problem exclusive to Australia.
"Test cricket is hard and when you get conditions that we've had probably in the last couple of years in Australia, it's really hard," Di Venuto told media in Jamaica."It's around the world as well, batting has been difficult in the last couple of years, give or take a few series here and there.
"Gone are the days, the era that I played, where they're flat wickets. You had 15, 20 blokes averaging 50, 60, 80, 100 in domestic cricket and the same in Test cricket.
"The legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets as well.
"Conditions have changed (and) balls have changed."
Di Venuto also urged patience with Konstas, whose returns continue to capture attention since his sparkling 60 on debut against India on Boxing Day.
The 19-year-old has made scores of three, five, 25 and a duck in Australia's two Test wins, albeit in matches where runs have been difficult and no player has scored a century.
"(Konstas) showed some encouraging signs in the last Test match and it will take time," Di Venuto said.
"If we think back to some of our greats, Steve Waugh took 27 Tests before he got his first hundred.
"We're asking a young man to go out and have instant success. The game doesn't work like that.
"Sometimes it does, and he did really well in his first Test match and first innings. But the game is hard and there's some skilful bowlers out there."