Bradman was a freak, but he would not average 99 today: Rodney Hogg

Rodney Hogg was surely one of those pacers who knew his way around getting a batsman to painfully submit to his raw pace and incredible bowling acumen. However, another thing Hogg was popular for was the fact that he was incredibly outspoken in most of his rants, for example the newest rant about Australia cricketing legend Sir Don Bradman. While Bradman is considered to be a legend in his own right, the fact is that he certainly had the numbers to back it up, including that famous average figure of 99.94, something that has gone down in history as perhaps the best achievement for any batsman.

However, Hogg went on to state that it was indeed easier to bat in the 1920s all the way up to the 1950’s as well. “It’s disrespectful. I know to say that, but those stats jumped at me that it was easier to bat between 1920 and 1950, than what it is now,” Hogg told ‘SEN Radio’.

He went on to compare Bradman with some of the present day greats. “Sir Donald Bradman was a freak, but I don’t think he would have averaged 99 now. (It’s) just very interesting the batting averages England have had in current times, Graham Gooch has got 42, (David) Gower has got about 43, (Allan) Lamb is mid to low 40s, Geoffrey Boycott’s 47, (Kevin) Pietersen 47,” Hogg said.

“I’ll go back between 1920 and 1950, (Walter) Hammond averaged 58, (Herbert) Sutcliffe 60, (Len) Hutton 56 and (Jack) Hobbs 56, so there’s four names I’ve just come up with, who’ve all got averages 10 above all the current-time players.

“I’m saying now that I don’t think Sir Donald Bradman in this current era would’ve averaged anywhere near 99.94, I’m saying it based on that (those averages).”

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