5 Test batsmen who have performed brilliantly away, but have been mediocre at home

In cricket, playing in home conditions is generally considered a less arduous task than playing in away conditions. Batsmen prefer to play in home conditions as they have played in those conditions since their childhood and are comfortable in taking on the opposition in home conditions.Most of the batsmen in the world have good home record and a slightly less impressive away record. But there have been some curious cases in the game where batsmen have struggled in home conditions but achieved great heights in away games.Let’s have a look at 5 such test batsmen who have a brilliant away record but not so impressive home record.

#5 Warren Bardsley

Warren Bardsley didn’t taste as much success at home as he did away from home

“I cannot imagine a nicer type of fellow. I probably played against him as often as any Englishman and he was one of the best left-handers of the upright, classical school that I have ever seen”. This is what Sir Jack Hobbs said of Warren Bardsley.

Bardsley is one of the best left-handers that Australia has ever produced. A brilliant batsman, Bardsley played 41 tests for Australia and scored 2469 runs at an average of 40.47. He is also amongst those unique batsmen who struggled at home but succeeded overseas.

Number of home innings	Runs in home conditions	Home Average	Number of away innings	Runs in away conditions	Away Average	Difference
32	1101	35.51	34	1368	45.60	-10.083

Bardsley’s record shows how much he succeeded in away conditions but his home conditions turned out to be troublesome for him. Nevertheless, his overall record still holds him in good stead amongst other Australian greats.

#4 Tony Greig

Tony Greig struggled in England but succeeded overseas

Tony Greig was a genuine all-rounder for England, blessed with an exceptional height, wonderful skills with both bat and ball, and also had the charisma to lead his side successfully. Greig made full use of away conditions, but didn’t taste much success in home conditions .Let’s have a look at his career stats which show how his home record was below par but away record was exemplary.

Number of home innings	Runs in home conditions	Home Average	Number of away innings	Runs in away conditions	Away Average	Difference
49	1628	34.63	44	1971	46.92	-12.290

The difference of approximately 12 runs in away and home conditions is quite a big margin considering it is always tough to adjust in away conditions. Greig’s fantastic away record compensated for his mediocre home record as seen with his average of 40.43 in 58 tests.

#3 Stephen Fleming

Stephen Fleming’s home record is nowhere close to his great away record

Stephen Fleming, the phlegmatic personality in the Chennai Super Kings dugout had previously plied his trade pretty successfully as the captain of the Kiwi side. A gutsy left handed batsman, Fleming led his team from the front and was an archetype of grit and determination.

In 111 tests that Fleming played for New Zealand, he scored 7172 runs at an average of 40.06. But one thing that stood out in Fleming’s career was his poor home record but brilliant away record.

Number of home innings	Runs in home conditions	Home Average	Number of away innings	Runs in away conditions	Away Average	Difference
77	2474	32.98	96	4071	46.26	-13.274

Fleming’s average of 32.98 in home tests must give him pain even after his retirement.It is unfathomable that somebody who tasted so much suceess overseas struggled to cope up with his home conditions.

#2 Darren Bravo

Can Darren Bravo bring his home record at level with his brilliant away record?

When Darren Bravo made his debut, there were talks all around the cricketing world of how similar his playing style was to that of Brian Lara. In his test career though, he hasn’t till now achieved the heights Lara did during the same time.

The problem that Bravo suffers from is quite an intriguing one, he struggles in his own backyard but scores heavily outside West Indies. The statistics below highlight the difference in his home and away record.

Number of home innings	Runs in home conditions	Home Average	Number of away innings	Runs in away conditions	Away Average	Difference
37	1094	31.26	39	1894	51.19	-19.93

His away record is so prolific that he has the highest test average among West Indian batsmen who have played at least 20 away Tests. If Bravo can take care of his home record then West Indies can become less worried about their batting woes.

#1 Mohinder Amarnath

Mohinder Amarnath was brilliant overseas but not so great at home.

Guts, audacity and bravery defined Mohinder Amarnath. Like any young Indian batsman, he started his international career as a player susceptible against short bowling. When he retired, he had made a name for himself as one of the best hookers in the game.

Stories that go around suggesting that Amarnath washed blood from his shirt and continued with his innings after getting hit from the fiery West Indian bowlers. But one thing that was curious with Amarnath was that while he performed exceptionally well overseas he invariably struggled at home. Let’s look at it statistically:

Number of home innings	Runs in home conditions	Home Average	Number of away innings	Runs in away conditions	Away Average	Difference
50	1370	30.44	63	3008	51.86	-21.417

Somebody averaging above 50 against the likes of Holding, Marshall, Lillie, Thomson in their own backyard has to be a special batsman but the quandary of Amarnath’s career was that he averaged a meagre 30 in much easier Indian conditions.