5 star batters in BGT 2024-25 who are averaging less than 30 in Tests in 2024
The third 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test will begin at The Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday, December 14. India won the first Test played in Perth by 295 runs, thus registering their biggest Test win in terms of runs Down Under. Australia, however, made a strong comeback to level the series in Adelaide.
Bowlers have dominated proceedings in both the BGT 2024-24 Tests held so far. India were bowled out for 150 in the first innings in Perth, while the Aussies responded with 104. While the visitors scored 487-6 declared in their second innings, Australia were bowled out for 238 in a chase of 534.
In the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, India were bowled out for under 200 in both innings, while the hosts managed to post 337 in their first innings primarily on the back of Travis Head's 140 off 141 balls.
The underwhelming batting performance of both teams in BGT 2024-25 should not come as a surprise to fans and experts as a few of their key batters are down on form and confidence. On that note, we look at five star batters in BGT 2024-25 who are averaging less than 30 in Tests in 2024.
#1 Steve Smith
Former Australian captain Steve Smith will go into the third BGT 2024-25 Test at The Gabba under a lot of pressure. The 35-year-old has looked out of sorts in the ongoing series against India. He was dismissed for zero & 17 in Perth and managed to score only two in the first innings in Adelaide.
Looking at Smith's performance in Tests in 2024, he has scored 232 runs in 13 innings at an average of 23.20, with a highest of 91* against West Indies in Brisbane, his only half-century in Tests this year. The right-handed batter has been dismissed for a duck twice. Smith's Test average in 2024 would have been even worse but for his three not outs.
#2 Marnus Labuschagne
Former Test No. 1 batter Marnus Labuschagne has looked a shadow of his glorious self with the willow in hand in 2024. Not someone known for his attractive stroke play and technique, the 30-year-old's ungainly stays at the crease have made for an excruciatingly painful picture for Aussie fans.
Labuschagne was dismissed for two off 52 balls in the first innings in Perth and followed it up with three in the second essay. The right-hander found some batting rhythm with his 64 in Adelaide but looked scratchy for the most part.
Overall, Labuschagne has played 13 innings in Tests in 2024, scoring 309 runs at an average of 28.09. He began the year with two fifties (60 & 62*) in Sydney against Pakistan, while his highest of 90 came against New Zealand in Christchurch in March.
#3 Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli scored a fine 100* off 143 balls in the second innings of the Perth Test, an impressive knock that featured eight fours and two sixes. However, the former India captain has looked out of sorts during his other three visits to the crease. Kohli was out for five in the first innings in Perth and was dismissed for seven & 11 in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
Looking at the overall batting performance of the 36-year-old in Tests in 2024, he has scored 373 runs in 16 innings at an average of 26.64. Apart from his hundred in Perth, Kohli has crossed the half-century mark only once in Tests this year. He scored 70 in Bengaluru against New Zealand in the second innings after scoring a duck in the first innings.
Kohli managed only 93 runs in six innings against New Zealand. Before that, he registered scores of 6, 17, 47, and 29* in the two-match home series against Bangladesh, which India won 2-0.
#4 Rohit Sharma
Indian captain Rohit Sharma has also struggled in the red-ball format in 2024. In 23 Test innings this year, he has scored 597 runs at an average of 27.13. The 37-year-old does have two hundreds and two fifties to his credit, but most of those knocks came in the first half of the year.
Rohit scored 400 runs in nine innings in the five-match home series against England at a healthy average of 44.44. The Indian captain hit 131 in Rajkot, 55 in Ranchi, and 103 in Dharamsala. Like Kohli, though, he had a forgettable home series against New Zealand, managing only 91 runs in six innings.
Before the home series against the Kiwis in which India were hammered 3-0, Rohit scored just 42 runs in four innings against Bangladesh. After missing the first Test against Australia in Perth due to personal reasons, he was dismissed for single-figure scores (3 & 6) in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
#5 Usman Khawaja
Australian opener Usman Khawaja is another big name under pressure heading into the third Test of BGT 2024-25. The left-hander has looked woefully out of touch. Khawaja made eight & four in Perth and registered scores of 13 & 9* in the day-night Test in Adelaide.
In 14 Test innings in 2024, the southpaw has scored 308 runs at an average of 25.66. Khawaja's best of 75 came against West Indies in Brisbane in January. He scored 47 & zero in the New Year Test against Pakistan in Sydney and followed it up with 45 versus West Indies in Adelaide. The veteran batter has a highest score of 33 in his last eight innings.