Fri, 7 Aug, 11:00 pm, Final score, CXI 355, BAN 263 & 54
Sat, 15 Aug, 11:00 pm, Final score, AUS 198 & 284, BAN 426 & 1/57
Sat, 22 Aug, 11:00 pm, Final score, AUS 210, BAN 64 & 95
Fri, 11 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 117, AAW 4/121
Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 235, AUS 8/294
Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 7/148, AAW 2/178
Wed, 16 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 161, AAW 5/168
Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 272, AUS 6/356
Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 6/182, AUU 7/175
Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 9/238, SAM 0/58
Fri, 18 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 7/335, VIC 7/339
Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 8/271, AUS 9/272
Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/239, AAW 235
Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 115, TAS 1/117
Sun, 20 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 7/341, AUU 239
Mon, 21 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 358, NSW 6/359
Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/338, AAW 8/341
Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 4/255, AUU 254
Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAM 7/383, TAS 8/376
Wed, 23 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 8/297, AUS 230
Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/364, AAW 9/362
Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 334 & 199, AUA 171 & 200
Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIC 212, NSW 257
Sat, 26 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 9/365, AUS 333
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 494, AUU 217 & 229
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 4/168, QUW 167
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIW 8/293, SAS 7/290
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 6/236, TAW 232
Tue, 29 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 4/145, AUS 9/322
Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 364 & 257, AAW 176 & 164
Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 174, QUW 4/285
Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 7/273, TAW 7/299
Thu, 1 Oct, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 167 & 9/310, AUA 358 & 4/173d
Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 149, AUA 274
Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, QUW 9/266, BAW 7/196
Wed, 7 Oct, 12:00 am, Live score, INU 315, AUU 174 & 4/86
Thu, 8 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus TAS
Thu, 8 Oct, 1:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus QUE
Fri, 9 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, INA versus AUA
Fri, 9 Oct, 2:50 pm, Game not started, AUW versus BAW
Fri, 9 Oct, 6:30 pm, Game not started, SAF versus AUS
Sun, 11 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, INA versus AUA
Sun, 11 Oct, 2:50 pm, Game not started, AUW versus BAW
Mon, 12 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, HHW versus ACM
Mon, 12 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, SSW versus BHW
Mon, 12 Oct, 2:00 pm, Game not started, VIC versus SAM
Mon, 12 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, MRW versus PSW
Mon, 12 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, STW versus MSW
Tue, 13 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, NSW versus TAS
Tue, 13 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, SSW versus ACM
Tue, 13 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, ASW versus PSW
Tue, 13 Oct, 5:00 pm, Game not started, WAU versus QUE
Tue, 13 Oct, 7:00 pm, Game not started, STW versus BHW
Wed, 14 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, MRW versus MSW
Wed, 14 Oct, 2:50 pm, Game not started, AUW versus BAW
Wed, 14 Oct, 7:00 pm, Game not started, ASW versus HHW
Fri, 16 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, BHW versus ACM
Sat, 17 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, HHW versus PSW
Sat, 17 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, STW versus MRW
Sat, 17 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, SAM versus QUE
Sat, 17 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, ACM versus MSW
Sat, 17 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, SSW versus ASW
Sun, 18 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, MRW versus HHW
Sun, 18 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, BHW versus ASW
Sun, 18 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, STW versus PSW
Sun, 18 Oct, 7:00 pm, Game not started, SAF versus AUS
Sun, 18 Oct, 7:00 pm, Game not started, SSW versus MSW
Sun, 18 Oct, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUW versus NZW
Mon, 19 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus VIC
Mon, 19 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus QUE
Mon, 19 Oct, 1:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus NSW
Tue, 20 Oct, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUW versus NZW
Thu, 22 Oct, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUW versus NZW
Sat, 24 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus VIC
Sat, 24 Oct, 5:00 pm, Game not started, WAU versus NSW
Tue, 27 Oct, 7:30 pm, Game not started, SAF versus AUS
Wed, 28 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus WAU
Thu, 29 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus STW
Thu, 29 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus HHW
Fri, 30 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus NSW
Fri, 30 Oct, 11:45 am, Game not started, AU6 versus ONG
Fri, 30 Oct, 7:05 pm, Game not started, EN6 versus AU6
Fri, 30 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus SSW
Sat, 31 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus VIC
Sat, 31 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MSW
Sat, 31 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MRW
Sun, 1 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus BHW
Sun, 1 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, SSW versus HHW
Mon, 2 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus PSW
Wed, 4 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus MRW
Thu, 5 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus BHW
Thu, 5 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus PSW
Fri, 6 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus SSW
Sat, 7 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus ENG
Sat, 7 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus ASW
Sat, 7 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus HHW
Sun, 8 Nov, 1:40 pm, Game not started, SSW versus STW
Sun, 8 Nov, 5:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MSW
Tue, 10 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus ASW
Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM
Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus WAU
Wed, 11 Nov, 11:30 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS
Wed, 11 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus STW
Thu, 12 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MSW versus BHW
Thu, 12 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus SSW
Fri, 13 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Sat, 14 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, HHW versus BHW
Sat, 14 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus ASW
Sun, 15 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SSW versus MRW
Sun, 15 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Mon, 16 Nov, 10:00 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM
Mon, 16 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS
Mon, 16 Nov, 2:00 pm, Game not started, VIC versus WAU
Mon, 16 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus MSW
Tue, 17 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus SSW
Wed, 18 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Thu, 19 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, HHW versus PSW
Thu, 19 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus STW
Fri, 20 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MRW
Sat, 21 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, HHW versus STW
Sat, 21 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, SSW versus PSW
Sat, 21 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Sun, 22 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus QUE
Sun, 22 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, BHW versus ASW
Sun, 22 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus MRW
Mon, 23 Nov, 1:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus TAS
Tue, 24 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus VIC
Tue, 24 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Wed, 25 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus BHW
Thu, 26 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus ASW
Thu, 26 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, SSW versus MSW
Fri, 27 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Fri, 27 Nov, 9:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus HHW
Sat, 28 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus MSW
Sat, 28 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus SSW
Sun, 29 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, BHW versus PSW
Sun, 29 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, ASW versus HHW
Sun, 29 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Wed, 2 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus WAU
Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus QUE
Thu, 3 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus TAS
Marnus Labuschagne had nowhere to hide when his horror run continued against Bangladesh in Darwin. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
Australia's men's head cricket selector, George Bailey, pointed out some home truths recently when questioned on the woes of Test number three Marnus Labuschagne.
"Our batting group in its entirety, not just Marn, probably hasn't been functioning as successfully as we would like," Bailey said, and he's not wrong.
With the first of three Tests against South Africa beginning on Friday ahead of a mammoth run of matches against New Zealand, India and England, Australia's batting line-up will be scrutinised like never before.
Marnus Labuschagne picked a good time to score a century ahead of the first Test against South Africa. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone, file photo)
Since the beginning of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy at home in 2024, Australia has played 18 Tests with only three batters averaging more than 40: Steve Smith (49.4), Travis Head (46.25), and Alex Carey (40.3).
Beau Webster (33.5) and Cameron Green (30.16) are the only other batters averaging over 30 during the period.
Australia's bowlers have repeatedly dug the batters out of a hole, with the team winning 13 of those 18 matches.
Darren Lehmann sees clear reasons for the decline in Test batting, with serious consequences for the game (Getty Images: Steve Bell)
But Australia's batters aren't alone: Across all 12 Test-playing nations, the game has undergone a huge transition with batters fading and bowlers dominating.
The rise of T20 cricket, better balls and seaming wickets have all played a part.
ABC Sport has done an analysis of all Test batters over the past 40 years with the help of ABC radio cricket statistician, Ric Finlay.
Steve Smith, Travis Head and Alex Carey have all averaged more than 40 over the past 18 Tests. Marnus Labuschagne is in the 20s. (Getty Images: Phillip Brown)
We've looked at batters from one to seven and found the same patterns across all positions.
We could list a table of 40 years but to make things easy, we've broken it down to five-year periods that include every test played from the beginning of 1987 to the most recent Test between England and Pakistan.
To see the patterns, we're narrowing the numbers down to batting averages, run rates and average balls per wicket.
Looking at these figures, you can see that the average of all batters in positions one to seven peaked in the period between 2002 and 2016 before dropping back to the low 30s.
It's easier to visualise with a chart that shows the year-by-year average as well as a rolling five-year average to even out the yearly variations.
The period between roughly 2003 and 2014 is when averages were highest.
This coincides with a golden period for world-class test batsmen when the likes of Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, Australia's Ricky Ponting, South Africa's Jacques Kallis, England's Kevin Pietersen, India's Virender Sehwag and the West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul, to name just a few, were at their peak.
Ricky Ponting was at his peak in the early 2000s. (ABC News)
The rolling five-year average is now at a 40-year low, but that only tells part of the story.
To understand more about the decline of Test cricket batting, two other charts fill in the picture.
The first is strike rate: how many runs batters score per 100 balls.
Batters' strike rates have increased across the board from 41.34 to 58.13: that's almost 17 runs per 100 balls, which is the equivalent of an extra run per over.
But while batters are scoring much faster, they're also getting far out more quickly.
Bowlers are now taking wickets faster than at any time in the past 40 years.
In 1989, top-order batters were lasting more than 85 balls between wickets in the rolling five-year average, while as of this year, wickets are falling every 58 balls — an all-time low.
From the peak to the current trough that's a fall of more than 32 per cent.
It's no accident that we're seeing so many shortened Test matches, like the two-day match in McKay against Bangladesh in August.
The overall figures are mirrored in virtually every individual batting position with averages on the whole going down.
In other words, we have seen a fundamental shift in the battle between the bat and ball playing out over the past four decades and right now, while batters are scoring more quickly, the bowlers are on top.
The same is true for Australia's one to seven batters.
Again we see the early 2000s peak in averages when Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist were in their pomp.
The combined batting rolling average for positions one to seven is now at a 40-year low.
The strike rate rolling average is at an all-time high, although only marginally ahead of that early 2000s era.
But the balls per wicket figure rolling five-year average has dropped alarmingly from its starting high of 98.33 to its current all-time low of 54.26
To put it another way, opposition bowlers are taking Australian wickets almost twice as quickly as they were 40 years ago.
Former Australia coach and batter, Darren Lehmann, who's currently coaching English country side Northamptonshire, highlights four major changes in cricket that are all linked.
Darren Lehmann (left) as coach of Australia in 2014, with the current head of selectors, George Bailey, and the late Rod Marsh. (Getty Images: Scott Barbour)
"Now they [batters] just don't leave balls," he told ABC sport.
"They have to score off more, so they play more shots to more risky balls in Test cricket,"
"Hence they go at balls they shouldn't go at, which they normally wouldn't have 20 years ago."
The second reason, Lehmann said, was the state of Test wickets around the globe, which he said were spinning and seaming more and earlier.
"They've got more in them and that is a by-product of making sure you get results," he said.
Lehmann said the balls used in Test Cricket, the Kookaburra and Duke, had added an extra layer of lacquer, which meant they stayed harder and the seam stayed prouder for longer, creating more movement.
"Blokes are playing shots to balls they shouldn't because they're trying to score before they get one that gets them out," Lehmann said.
The fourth reason bowlers are on top of batters is the one that ties it all together: data analytics.
"You're honing in on the weakness of players better than you did in the past and you're relentless with that.
"So, if a bloke can't cover drive or doesn't play well off the front foot, you now target that area with more balls, and you don't go away from that."
Mitchell Starc can be relied on to take wickets. (Getty Images: Albert Perez/Cricket Australia)
"If a bloke gets out to a left-armer all the time, well you get Mitchell Starc straight on."
Sooner or later, the batter's lack of patience, the moving ball and seaming wicket combined with the bowler's knowledge of their opponent's weakness will result in a wicket.
Cricket's delicate balance between bat and ball has fundamentally shifted and the cost is two-day test matches like the Boxing Day Ashes test, which cost Cricket Australia millions.
Lehmann said wickets needed to get flatter or lacquer taken off balls in order to shift the balance back towards batters.
"There are consequences: two-day games in Test cricket can cost people their jobs."
Failing Test batters can also lose one of the most coveted jobs in Australian sport.
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