Aussie performances - Test vs Aussie domestic comp

[Seamer]

I made this statement in another thread

Originally Posted by Seamer

Test tons are easier to get than Pura cup tons - the Pura cup being of a higher standard and quality than the international test scene, but i reckon these two tons he has scored are the sweetest for him

I am providing the stats to support my claim, and have compiled them from these two sites
Cricinfo - Players - Australia - Caps
Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup Career Bowling Averages



I will highlight the better performances in blue and have selected Aussie batsman and and bowlers of note from the last 15 years.
Batsman

Ponting
Test-9424runs @ 59.27
Pura-4807runs @ 62.42

Gilchrist
Test- 5353 @ 48.66
Pura-3196 @ 38.97

Hayden
Test - 7782 @ 52.93
Pura – 7578 @ 54.51

Hussey
Test – 1730 @ 82.38
Pura – 7282 @ 42.49

S Waugh
Test- 10927 @ 51.06
Pura- 6609 @ 49.69

M.Taylor
Tests-7525 @ 43.39
Pura- 6090 @ 42.49

M.Waugh
Test- 8029 @ 41.41
Pura- 7232 @ 51.65

D Martyn
Test- 4406 @ 46.37
Pura- 6847 @ 44.71

J.Langer
Test- 7696 @ 45.27
Pura- 7983 @ 52.86

M.Slater
Test- 5312 @ 42.83
Pura- 4890 @ 38.20


D Lehmann
Test- 1798 @ 44.95
Pura- 12804 @ 55.56

M. Clarke
Test- 1657 @ 46.02
Pura- 2415 @ 43.52

Bowlers
S McGill
Test-200 @ 27.65
Pura- 275 @ 34.14

J.Gillespie
Tests- 259 @ 26.13
Pura- 147 @ 22.15

D.Flemming
Tests- 75 @ 25.90
Pura- 224 @ 30.75

G.McGrath
Test- 563 @ 21.64
Pura- 87 @ 26.56


P Reiffel
Tests- 104 @ 26.56
Pura- 318 @ 25 51


S.Warne
Tests- 708 @ 25.41
Pura- 151 @ 34.26

[Seamer]

After looking at these stats, it seems to me that the Aussie domestic scene and the international scene are on a par, as opposed to the Aussie domestic scene being superior.

Still, it does paint a fairly telling picture, and perhaps explains why Australia is dominating International cricket. If anyone wishes to add their own spin or stats to this thread then by all means do so

[Ottayan]

Don't Test cricketers play less of domestic cricket?

Alternatively, they play domestic tournaments to complete mandatory commitments.

It could be one of the reasons why they average less in Pura cup.

[acker]

Another might be they often come back through the domestic competition after a injury or form lapse.

Then they are straight back into the Test side when they regain the lost touch.

[greg]

Maybe a fairer way would be to loook at their Pura Cup record at the time they became established as a test player.

[flanflinger]

David Gower had an excellent Test record, but was average at County Level..the same was the case with Ian Botham.

Michael Vaughan's First Class average (including some easy runs against the Universities) is lower than his Test average.. does this mean that County Cricket is superior? No..

Some players respond better to the big occasion, and play better than when playing in front of a couple of old men and a dog called shep (I doubt Pura cup crowds are any better).

As pointed out also the stats will also be skewed by return from injury, finding form and early games in a career, all of which may mean the Domestic Stats are not telling the full story.

[Rachael]

In fairness to county batsmen of the past... they have generally plied their trade on more sporting wickets: this is seen less commonly now.. but even 10-20 years ago most Test pitches were unspeakably true (and usually throughout the entire 5 days)... whilst many county wickets (especially away from the main ground) could be quite "interesting".

Even now, in the days of grounds like Taunton tradimg their groundsman for a road-builder.... I suspect the same is true.

[Milo]

What it does show is that Michael Vaughan was not a great batsman before he played test cricket. If he had been allowed to go back to the county championship and score runs against the county bowling on offer in he last five years (apart from having to play at the start of the season to get his eye ready for test matches), his record would be better.

To be honest though, many counties have much better bowling line ups than Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and West Indies.

For the sake of the argument, I am pretty much convinced that Pura cup is IN GENERAL better than test cricket. Of course, some tours are harder than playing South Australia, but much of the test cricket around the world is not all that challenging. Just have a look at the performances of State sides when they play against test teams in Australia. They almost always outperform the touring sides now.

Then again, some Australians perform better in test cricket than they did in england's county game. Michael Clarke and Stuart Clark (dare I mention Shaun Tait) never really set the county circuit alive. Does this mean that English county cricket is better than test cricket?