‘35 is the new 45’: Why batting in Australia has become harder

'35 Is The New 45': Batting In Australia Has Gotten Brutally Tough

Josh Hazlewood dropped a quote that's got everyone talking—he reckons averaging 35 with the bat in Australia now = averaging 45 back in the day. "Wickets have changed that much," says the pacer. So, is batting really that bit harder down under? Sarah Waris digs into the numbers, and honestly, they back him up.

The feeling's backed by data

Everyone knows T20 scoring's on a rocket, but Test batting's gone the other way—low scores, balls jumping and swinging, batters getting beaten repeatedly. And there's no better lab than Australia. Since 2022, four of the last 20 Tests finished inside two days (Brisbane '22, Perth & MCG Ashes, Mackay vs Bankey this yr). Before 2022? Just ONE two-day finish in over 90 years—WI in Melbourne, 1931.

But the real story's in the Sheffield Shield. Batting avg crashed from 29.19 (2010s) to 25.87 in '23/24. Strike rate barely moved (50.71 → 49.40). Translation: batters aren't becoming more attacking—they're just getting out far more often. Test avg in Australia peaked at 43.49 in 2015, tumbled to 33.15 by 2019, kept sliding. Not a switch to aggression—same intent, fewer big knocks.

First 30 overs = the killer

Here's where it gets juicy. In 2014/15, 1st-innings Shield avg was 33.20, easing to 38.59 in the 2nd. By '24/25? Total flip—27.76 then 27.46. Bowling avg for the drop fell from 33.76 to 26.96. Seven-run swing for bowlers, six-run plunge for batters.

Steve Smith nailed it: "Since 2021, when they changed the Kookaburra ball, batting's got tougher. Wickets greener too. Perfect storm. The first 35 overs are brutal with that seam movement." Cricviz confirms—teams averaged under 25 in the first 30 overs of 1st innings over the last three summers, when the ball's hard, seaming, and pacers are fresh.

It's not just the ball—attacks are stacked

All five of the last five Test series in Australia saw opposition bowling avg below 35. Pacers averaged under 30 in 54% of series since 2020 (vs 39% in the 2010s). The game-changer? It's not just new-ball quicks—they've improved across the board. No more sitting back once the opening pair are gone.

But Aussie batters adapted smarter

Here's the twist. Since 2020, only Head averages 50+ in home Tests, Smith's at 47.32, Labuschagne the only other over 45. Team batting avg dropped 7.3% (34.11 → 31.63). But look—India fell 14.5%, SA 17.8%. England & Pakistan barely dipped but can't win games.

Australia avg 31.63 per wicket vs 24.13 for opponents—a 7.5-run gap. Their Test win/loss ratio jumped from 1.50 to 2.916. No other team's over 2 in six years.

The verdict

Hazlewood's got real merit. An avg of 35 doesn't LITERALLY equal 45 anymore, but in today's seaming, green-topped conditions? It means a whole lot more. Fewer superstar averages, but enough depth and grit to keep Australia on top. The game's evolved—and the best have evolved with it.

Source: Wisden

Source: Wisden