The most celebrated test batsmen in last 20 years enjoyed tremendous amount of success wherever they played. These legends have smashing records under their kitty in the longest format of the game almost everywhere.

However, on some grounds, these legends found it tough to get going and that particular venue became sort of a bogey stadium for them.

Here’s the list of 5 of the most prolific Test batsmen who found it difficult to score on a particular venue.

Note: For the analysis, the chosen grounds are where these legends played at least 4 Test matches.

. Brian Lara – The Gabba, Brisbane:

The Caribbean prince is undoubtedly one of the greatest players of this generation. With 11,953 runs in Tests, he has some record smashing scores like 375 and 400 in the longest format. Impeccable timing, delectable strokes, quintessential flair – Lara was a delight to watch. He had a great time against the mighty Australians as well.

Lara played 19 Tests in Australia and averages 41.97. However, in the ground, where Lara played his first Test in Australia (the Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba), he has an abysmal record.

After scoring that 58 in his first Test at Brisbane, he went on to add only 118 runs in the next 3 matches he played at the ground to finish with 176 runs in 4 Tests at an abysmal average of 22. Lara even scored two ducks in the 8 innings he played at Brisbane, and apart from that fifty, he surely doesn’t have too many fond memories of Brisbane.

. Rahul Dravid – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore:

The Indian Wall, who scored runs all over the world, has a dismal record at his home ground. Undoubtedly India’s one of the finest players and world’s all-time great Test players, Rahul Dravid scored 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31.

However, the Karnataka boy only managed to score 304 runs in 8 Tests at an average of 21.71, which is very low compared to his standards. With only two fifties, Rahul surely didn’t seem to like batting on the ground he grew up. It’s an interesting tale for sure.

. Jacques Kallis – Headingley:

 

One of the best all-rounders of all time, Jacques Kallis is amongst the most celebrated batsman of South Africa. An ideal Test batsman with the ability to play the long handle, Kallis mesmerized us with his classical approach to the game.

Kallis scored runs all over the world and the bowlers found it tough to get through his rock-solid technique. With a smashing record of 13,289 runs at an average of 55.37 his records speak volumes about his intelligence and techniques of the game.

However, the legend was surely not at his best playing Tests in England, especially playing in Headingley. Kallis managed to score only 140 runs at an average of 20 in 4 Tests with no centuries or half-centuries. Kallis averaged 35.33 in the 15 Tests he played in England and the average drops to 20 in Headingley.

. Ricky Ponting – Lord’s:

One of the best players in the world and amongst the most successful captains of all time, Ricky Ponting had an illustrious career with the bat for the Aussies.

Undoubtedly, one of the best pullers and hookers of the cricket ball, Ponting’s ability to launch into any bowling attack was the signature of his game.

Ponting finished his career with 13,378 runs at an average of 51.85 in the longest format of the game. However, when it comes to playing at Lord’s, this man seemed to have no answers at all.

Ponting averaged 16.87 in the 4 Tests he played at Lord’s and scored only 135 runs with the highest being 42. Compared to his overall performance in England where he averages 41.79 in 20 matches (18 against England and 2 against Pakistan), his average at the ground is a testament to the fact that he always struggled there.

. Sachin Tendulkar- Lord’s:

The God of Cricket, as he is referred has records all over. The master of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar has not had a good time playing at Lord’s. He has scored runs all over the world but didn’t manage to get a single fifty at Lord’s in either Tests or ODIs.

As we are considering the longer format of the game, Tendulkar averaged just 21.66 in the 5 Tests he played at Lord’s and scored only 195 runs with the highest being 37. The batsman failed to get his name on the elite honors board at Lord’s and that must have surely crossed his mind.

However, Tendulkar did make 125 in Lord’s in 1998, but that was for the Rest of the World against MCC in a special one-day charity match in memory of Princess Diana, Princess of Wales. But an international hundred remained elusive for the maestro.

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