Top 5 batting teams away from home in last 5 years

Sri Lanka whitewashed Australia. India whitewashed New Zealand. New Zealand whitewashed Pakistan who were also whitewashed by Australia down under. Sri Lanka might get whitewashed by South Africa as they are already 2-0 down going into the third and final test.

This is not a good time for touring teams. Almost every team is playing well at home, but very few are doing well away from home, especially in alien conditions. South Africa, for example, won a series in Australia but that can largely be attributed to the conditions in South Africa which are quite similar.

The Proteas' sub-continental record is not as great, although, it should be added that they have been one of the most competitive sides away. So, we try and take a look at what’s happening over the last half a decade - which team is doing well away from home and which one aren’t.

The numbers could be slightly misleading considering Pakistan don’t play at home and Dubai is generally counted as a neutral venue. But, take Dubai off the away venues’ list and the numbers change for Pakistan, and they aren't so impressive away.

Here are the top 5 batting teams in terms of away performances (last 5 years). (Stat courtesy: Cricinfo)

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#1 South Africa

There is a reason why South Africa are so hard to beat away from home. The team that at one point, under Graeme Smith, went undefeated on the road for the greater part of a decade, has an indomitable spirit. South Africa average 33.82 per wicket away from home (excluding UAE games), marginally ahead of India.

Their RPO is lower at 2.92 compared to India, Australia and Sri Lanka. At home, South Africa average 39.19, ranked third behind Australia and India. The difference between away and home averages for South Africa is a mere 5.37 runs worse away from home.

For India, it is close to 8 runs and for Australia, it is a whopping 16-run difference, even leaving out Dubai, where they haven’t been better either. On the other hand, South Africa averages a respectable 33.26 at Dubai, having played just 2 Tests there over the last 5 years. SA’s W/L ratio is almost 2, winning 9 and losing just 5 Tests away which is spectacular.

#2 India

India have traditionally been a good batting side and over the last few years have benefited from the younger crop of batsmen which has filled in the shoes of the senior players. India’s performance in Australia, where they lost 2 Tests but drew two was almost a revelation.

Where India loses away games is in their bowling which lacks penetration. Away from India, the team averages 32.45, scoring their runs at 3.23, the same as Australia. They have lost 10 of their 23 Tests and won just 5 but that shouldn’t take away anything from their away-batting efforts, especially in their most recent tours of South Africa, Australia and West Indies.

India average 40.81 at home and barring the blip against England when they lost 1-2, they have been virtually indomitable at home. The same cannot be said about their away numbers, even though they have won two series away from home in Sri Lanka and West Indies over the last 18 months.

#3 Australia

There is a reason why Australia wins at home have been viewed with scepticism by fans off-late. They have been bad away. Their away tours over the last few years include two whitewashes in the sub-continent, 0-4 against India and 0-3 against a very young and inexperienced Sri Lanka. Australia lost the Ashes in England too.

They average 31.68 on the road (excluding UAE games), winning 10 and losing 14 in 27 Tests. Add to that 2 more losses in UAE where they average just 25.65, sixth lowest amongst seven teams who have played there in the last five years and that doesn’t make for a pretty reading.

Australia’s away average received a decent boost because of an excellent tour to West Indies. At home, Australia become a different side, averaging 47.83 in 29 Tests while scoring at an RPO of 3.94. Australia have played 52 innings away from home during this period, only behind England’s 55.

They have been particularly deplorable in the sub-continent. In South Africa, they’ve been good, winning 2-1 but have lost two back to back away Ashes!

#4 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka just edge ahead of England with an away average of 31.41. That average is getting hurt thanks to their ongoing tour of South Africa, where they have suffered two massive losses.

Sri Lanka have won 4 and lost 11 of the 18 Tests away from home. However, we put them over England because their average will take a big bump if we add their performance in UAE where they average 41.13 in 3 Tests, winning 1 and losing 1.

That pushes their net average over England while playing away from home. At home, Sri Lanka average only 32.06, almost same as their away average. That is why their W/L ratio isn’t so impressive at 1.857, after winnings 13 and losing 7 of their 24 Tests at home.

#5 England

England average 31.21 away from home (excluding UAE games) which goes down further if we include their 6 games in UAE where they average just 25.06 against Pakistan, the lowest amongst all teams that have played cricket there in the last 5 years.

England’s 31.21 comes at an RPO of 2.98 over 55 innings. In 28 matches, away from home, England have lost 14 and won only 7. They lost another 5 out of the 6 they played in UAE. Interestingly, England don’t do too well at home with the bat either, averaging just 36.43, behind 5 other countries and then a sixth, Pakistan if you include the latter’s numbers at UAE, their virtual home.

England’s lower home average also explains their rather unenviable record at home, where they have lost 9 Tests, compared to 18 wins for a W/L ratio of 2 which is fifth amongst Test playing nations.