Jan 22, 20223 min read

Ashes 2021-22 Review: Six Australia batters got 200+ runs as compared to Three England batters

Two Australia batters registered 300+ runs in Ashes 2021-22 as against one England batter

In the recently concluded Ashes series, Australia pinned down England by a huge margin of 4-0. Australia didn’t give any opportunity to the visitors to dominate in the series and defeated them in four Tests out of the five that were contested. Let's have a look at the batting numbers of both teams to have a look at where the Australia batters outperformed England batters.

Tea opening partnership in Ashes 2021/22

As we can see in the above chart, Australia’s openers scored slightly more than England openers in the series. However, there is not much difference between opening pairs of both teams. Australia’s openers registered two fifty-plus partnerships in the series whereas, England openers could add only one fifty-plus partnership. However, no opening pair from both teams could register any century partnership in the series.

Opening Partnerships in Ashes 2021-22

We can gauge from the above chart that Australia opened with David Warner and Marcus Harris in six innings of the Test series. Australia opened with one pair in most of the series, whereas England could not find any stable opening partnership throughout the series. The pair of Warner and Harris amassed 175 runs with an average of 29.16 and added two fifty-plus partnerships in the series.

Australia middle-order marginally outperformed England counterparts

Team Middle order (3rd-6th wicket) in Ashes 2021/22

If we take a look at the middle-order performance of both teams in the above chart, Australia’s middle-order scored more runs than their counterparts. Also, Australia’s middle-order batters averaged 36.93 in the series which is a good ten points more than the England middler-order. Both teams’ middle-order recorded three-century partnerships in the series, however, Australia’s middle-order registered six fifty-plus partnerships compared to only two from England’s middle-order.

Also, Australia’s middle-order scored their runs at a better run rate (3.32) compared to England’s middle-order (2.76) to dominate opposition bowlers.

Middle Order Partnership performance in Ashes 2021/22

If we take a look at partnerships, England batting pair of Dawid Malan and Joe Root was the most successful in the series with 397 runs at an average of 79.4. They added two century partnerships together. Also, in the middle-order of Australia, Travis Head and Marnus Labuchangne added two century partnerships in the series as a pair. Four of Australia’s middle-order batting pairs amassed over 100 runs, whereas three of England’s middle-order batting pairs amassed over 100 runs in the series.

Two Australia batters registered 300+ runs in Ashes 2021-22 as against one England batter

Individual batting performances in Ashes 2021/22

In terms of individual batting performances, Australia middle-order batter Travis Head was the highest run-scorer in Ashes 2021-22 followed by their one-down batter Marnus Labuschagne as shown in the above chart. Head accumulated 357 runs in the series with an average of 59.5 and two centuries in the series. Labuschagne amassed 355 runs with an average of 41.87. Also, the 27-year-old batter scored two half-centuries and one ton in the series.

England skipper Joe Root was the highest run-scorer in the series for his side with 322 runs in five Test matches with the help of three half-centuries. Jonny Bairstow was the lone century-maker for England in the series.

Six of Australia’s batters scored over 200 runs in the series, whereas only three England batters amassed over 200 runs in the series.

Australia opener Usman Khawaja scored twin centuries in the fourth Test match played at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Also, their regular opener David Warner scored 273 runs in the series with the help of two fifties. However, no England opener could find form in the series.

Overall, Australia’s batters outwitted England batters in the opening and middle-order departments at home.