With only two batters managing Test hundreds all year, South Africa will not be looking back at 2022 in a hurry
Sampath Bandarupalli29-Dec-202224.1 Runs per wicket by South Africa in Test cricket in 2022, the fourth-worst average for a team in a calendar year (min: 10 Test matches). West Indies averaged 22.17 in 2000, while New Zealand’s 23.2 in 1995 is behind them. Bangladesh, also in 2022, averaged 23.48, which is the third lowest.7 Consecutive Test innings where South Africa were bowled out for less than 200 runs, before crossing that mark in their second innings of the Melbourne Test. Only one team had been bowled out for 200 or less in more consecutive Test innings in the last 30 years – Bangladesh, who were bowled out for such a score 12 consecutive times in 2001-2002 and 8 in 2018.ESPNcricinfo Ltd9 All-out totals under 200 for South Africa in Tests in 2022, the most they have recorded in a calendar year. The previous highest number of sub-200 scores for South Africa in a year was seven – in 1912, 2015 and 2018.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 Test centuries for South Africa in 2022 – Sarel Erwee and Kyle Verreynne against New Zealand in Christchurch. Only two other teams had two or fewer individual centuries in a calendar year where they played ten or more Tests – One by New Zealand in 1995 and two for Pakistan in 2010.19 Fifty-plus scores for South Africa in Tests this year, the second fewest for any team to have played ten-plus matches in a calendar year, behind New Zealand’s 17 in 1995. Only 18 were scored by South Africa’s top seven across 143 batting innings – at a ratio of 7.9 – the worst for any team.
3 Century partnerships for South Africa in 2022. Only one team had less than South Africa in a calendar year where they lost 150-plus wickets – Bangladesh, who did not share a century partnership in 2002.40.07 Temba Bavuma’s average in Tests in 2022, the only player for South Africa with a batting average of 40 or more in Tests this year. Only one team did not have any player averaging 40 or more in a calendar year – New Zealand in 1965 and 1969 (Min: 10 matches played by the team).
3 Innings defeats for South Africa in 2022, the most for them in a calendar year in Test cricket. They also suffered three innings defeats in 1936 – all during the home series against Australia.
