The mystery of the 300 barrier

The passing of a milestone is an important moment to acknowledge for a batsman. It shows that you respect the applause given to you by the crowd, your teammates and somewhat begrudgingly, the opposition. And now, more than ever, do we regularly see batsmen celebrating a landmark. The recent Test between Australia and England saw five centuries and three half centuries being scored, with Alastair Cook of all people claiming the highest Test score at the Gabba. Cook is now England’s very own Gary Kirsten, and they are stronger side for it. He prospered further at the Adelaide Oval, while Kevin Pietersen bludgeoned his highest Test score. Graeme Swann’s wickets then ensured an innings victory.

Speaking of Kirsten, he will be venturing to South Africa before India’s arrival this summer. He still owns the highest Test score made in South Africa, being that epic 14-and-a-half-hour 275 against England at Durban in 1999. In doing so he saved a Test match, and etched himself into cricketing folklore within the southern tip of Africa. His double was scored 11 years ago, and in that time the international game, and the shape of the Proteas side he retired from in 2004, has changed dramatically.

In Kirsten’s day when he still opened the innings, he had Brian McMillan often batting at three and Andrew Hudson jockeying his bat up and down as Kirsten’s opening partner. McMillan, one of the best slip catchers around, had a batting average of 39.39 while Hudson’s at one stage was above 40, before it slipped to a shade below 34. Kirsten’s captain during this era, Hansie Cronje, averaged 36.41 at number five. Daryll Cullinan and Kirsten were the only players to average above 40 on a regular basis in the South African line-up during the 1990s, until the emergence of Jacques Kallis and belatedly Herschelle Gibbs.

How things have changed. The generation of batsmen that followed them have prospered, benefitting from the comparatively weak bowling attacks and barren pitches of modern Test cricket, which are engineered to ensure the advertisers get their monies worth. The resultant trend which has spread across the globe means a batting average of 50 is no longer the holy grail of batsmanship it used to be. Graeme Smith and Kallis both average over 50, while Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers sit comfortably at 46.75 and 47.78 respectively. Ashwell Prince is no slouch either, at 43.48.

There is, however, one Rubicon that South Africa has yet to cross. Internationally, this mark has been surpassed on eight occasions in the last 10 years, versus 12 times in the preceding 130 years, which is suggestive of how dominant batsmen are in the modern game. The 300 barrier is one of the last records still needing to be claimed by a South African. Considering that South Africa has been one of the better Test sides since readmission and the current run glut under way in international cricket, it is very surprising that no South African hasn’t been able to score a Test triple century. Perhaps if the likes of Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards were given more time that mark might have been surpassed, but as they say, should’ve, would’ve, could’ve.

Jacques Kallis was the first of the modern generation who were seen as worthy of getting to the magical triple century mark. He has the technique, the ability and hunger for runs. Sadly, his inability to have not yet gotten even a double century at Test level let alone a triple has been a decade-long frustration for his teammates and his supporters. It’s a crying shame, and to see his contemporaries De Villiers, Smith and Amla all to cross into double century territory on more than one occasion, it must make him wonder. Kallis has said in the past that he isn’t bothered by it, but at some level a batsman of his supreme skill must surely still crave the satisfaction of crossing that threshold. Of the top 20 run getters in Test history, Kallis (fifth) and England’s Alec Stewart (15^th) are the only ones who don’t possess a double hundred at Test level.

In contrast, AB de Villiers recently made 278 not out against Pakistan and now owns South Africa’s highest Test score. He could’ve gone further, had Graeme Smith seen fit and not decided to declare. Smith in his defence wanted to win the game, and has four double centuries (two courtesy of Bangladesh) to his own credit. He is no stranger to long innings, nor is Hashim Amla who has a double century of his own and the patience of a monk at the crease. All three batsmen have the ability to get to that magical 300 mark. The question is will they ever get the chance? Or more saliently, allow themselves the chance?

Since Graeme Pollock scored 274 in 1970 at Durban, 17 years (with that series being South Africa’s last till 1993) of Test cricket have passed and the record has been improved by only four runs. Four runs? Compared to other Test nations, it seems that South Africa pays particular interest at the gesture of just passing the record, and not smashing it. It’s an honourable way to look at past achievements in a sense. However, it is also a window into a cricket mindset that for all the aggressiveness and mental strength introduced since re-admission, still approaches such landmarks in a jittery fashion, as if the players are surprised and relieved they managed to get there in the first place.

A batting line up packed with this much talent, with the prophesised resurrection of JP Duminy under way in the fringes, shouldn’t have to think about how they approach a record that by right they are good enough to exceed. Time will tell as to how long South Africa will have to wait to be introduced to the triple centurions club, but until they do, it will always be an empty space in their trophy cabinet.