Former Test star Kepler Wessels says Australians have lost their uncomplicated style of batting

The man Shane Warne rated as one of the toughest players of all believes Australian batsmen have lost their grip on the technical traits which once made them great.

Kepler Wessels says Mark Waugh’s batting exemplified the traditional Australian style.

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The man Shane Warne rated as one of the toughest players of all believes Australian batsmen have lost their grip on the technical traits which once made them great.

Former Australian and South African Test batsman Kepler Wessels has returned to live in Brisbane and remains a keen observer of the game at all levels, especially through his new calling as a match referee.

As Australia struggles to produce decent international batsmen at all levels Wessels has noted the erosion of what he calls the Australian way of batting.

“One of the things – I wouldn’t say it’s disturbing but it’s disappointing – is that if you go back through Australian batting all of the good batsmen have a few things in common,’’ Wessels said.

Kepler Wessels says Mark Waugh’s batting exemplified the traditional Australian style.

“They scored well through the leg-side, had a very still head position and uncomplicated techniques.

“You could always guarantee Australian batsmen were well balanced, never missed out on runs on their leg side and would leave the ball well outside off stump. Uncomplicated. Simple. Consistent.

“Even from what I have seen in the Futures League and club cricket it has become more complicated. There is a lot more movement at the crease. It is not as simple and effective as it used to be and I think it is something that needs to be looked at.

“The old way can still work in 50-over cricket and Test cricket. We all accept in T20 players improvise but even in T20 you cannot beat good balance.

Kepler Wessels was a huge admirer of Greg Chappell’s batting style.

“The best one who played the old way was Greg Chappell but there were loads of players after him who did the same thing. Mark Waugh was like that. Very good off his pads which is important because they are risk-free runs.

“Even fringe Test players like Martin Love had what you might call the Australian way of playing.’’

Wessels, who Warne last month rated one of the toughest batsmen he bowled to, admitted when he was playing in the 1970s-90s it was easier for batsmen to focus their technique preparing them for Tests given T20 cricket had not been invented.

But he still believes that any batsman who focuses on preparing for the long form today will find they have the foundation to adapt to the shorter games.

“You cannot beat a good basic technique. Virat Kohli shows you that. He is very consistent.’’

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