Dean Jones or Andrew Jones (test batting).

[morgieb]

Andrew Jones has to be close to the batsman with the highest average of who's career I know little about beyond the averages. Find it difficult to rate him because of that.

Deano is obviously the more remembered batsman, though that is because of his ODI form. As I think a few others have pointed out he wasn't as good of a Test batsman as his averages indicate, but he was still pretty damn solid in the format.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Purely as Test Batsmen; Dean, but not by the margin some are suggesting.

Possibly but very little in it either way. Andrew Jones was NZ's best ever no 3 pre Williamson.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Andrew Jones has to be close to the batsman with the highest of who's career I know little about beyond the averages. Find it difficult to rate him because of that.

Shared what was once a record partnership with Martin Crowe vs Sri Lanka in 1991 when Crowe got 299 (and scored 3 100s in that series). Scored an excellent 150 when written off by the Australian media. Was also the victim of the infamous Greg Dyer "catch".

 

[Jayro]

Nothing much to compare beside the surname here.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Shared what was once a record partnership with Martin Crowe vs Sri Lanka in 1991 when Crowe got 299 (and scored 3 100s in that series). Scored an excellent 150 when written off by the Australian media. Was also the victim of the infamous Greg Dyer "catch".

From memory he scored a 50 in his first test in Australia, and the commentators mocked his technique and scoring rate and called it the worst 50 of all time. As he came off after scoring the 150 he gave a big old middle finger to the commentary box ? Would probably be fined and suspended these days.

But anyway, I gotta vote for Andrew … my hero growing up, the craziest batting technique I’ve ever seen, but it worked for him and his numbers were excellent. Averaged over 50 for a long time, and made great scores against quality opposition. Also from what I’ve heard he is a really cool guy.

 

[Immenso]

From memory he scored a 50 in his first test in Australia, and the commentators mocked his technique and scoring rate and called it the worst 50 of all time. As he came off after scoring the 150 he gave a big old middle finger to the commentary box ? Would probably be fined and suspended these days.

But anyway, I gotta vote for Andrew … my hero growing up, the craziest batting technique I’ve ever seen, but it worked for him and his numbers were excellent. Averaged over 50 for a long time, and made great scores against quality opposition. Also from what I’ve heard he is a really cool guy.

It was a 90 minute 4, not a 50. Day 1 of a tricky Gabba test.

 

[Immenso]

Deano couldn't handle number 3 in test cricket, he didn't blossom until moved down to number 5 in 1989. Andrew played 3 his whole career. Including the time period Dean struggled.

So, Andrew the better test number 3 batsman.

Better test batsman? Who knows.

 

[vandem]

Andrew Jones has to be close to the batsman with the highest of who's career I know little about beyond the averages. Find it difficult to rate him because of that....

Andrew Jones was possibly over-rated by his stats. Batting average 44 was good but his 7 test centuries were all in high scoring draws. The early 1990s Crowe - Jones - Greatbatch era was a big step back for the NZ test team team, partly due to loss of Hadlee but also John Bracewell and Ewan Chatfield, partly due to some flat pitches at home, partly due to some defensive batting.

 

[Jack1]

Deano couldn't handle number 3 in test cricket, he didn't blossom until moved down to number 5 in 1989. Andrew played 3 his whole career. Including the time period Dean struggled.

So, Andrew the better test number 3 batsman.

Better test batsman? Who knows.

Dean Jones had 17 tests at 3 and averaged 48.62 (3 tons). At 4 he had 13 tests and average 71.61 (4 tons). Combine those and it’s 30 tests as a top 4 batsman averaging 56.7 (7 tons).

At 5 he played 28 tests and averaged 37.62 (3 tons)…This shows he struggled when moved to 5, and it set his average massively back compared to being in the top 4, and his stats at 3 as shown are very good…

The deciding factor for me was Dean Jones having a very good top 4 record including 3 despite his struggles at 5 comparatively. Your post doesn’t make much sense. Andrew Jones averaged over 5 less than Dean Jones at 3.

Andrew Jones was possibly over-rated by his stats. Batting average 44 was good but his 7 test centuries were all in high scoring draws. The early 1990s Crowe - Jones - Greatbatch era was a big step back for the NZ test team team, partly due to loss of Hadlee but also John Bracewell and Ewan Chatfield, partly due to some flat pitches at home, partly due to some defensive batting.

Maybe, it is interesting all his hundreds were in draws. It’s a team game though and he could have stopped losses with some of those centuries.

 

[Binkley]

They played against each other in 3 tests in Australia in 1987/88. Andrew scored 323 runs in that series at 53.83, Dean scored 52 runs at 13. So it has to be Andrew. My absolute hero when I was growing up. That little jump when playing on the back foot still lives in my mind, along with the lovely full follow through when playing the drive. Bloody great player, and so solid at 3.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

They played against each other in 3 tests in Australia in 1987/88. Andrew scored 323 runs in that series at 53.83, Dean scored 52 runs at 13. So it has to be Andrew. My absolute hero when I was growing up. That little jump when playing on the back foot still lives in my mind, along with the lovely full follow through when playing the drive. Bloody great player, and so solid at 3.

Dean was destroyed by Hadlee in that series after claiming he was "just another bowler", or something similar.

 

[Immenso]

Dean Jones had 17 tests at 3 and averaged 48.62 (3 tons). At 4 he had 13 tests and average 71.61 (4 tons). Combine those and it’s 30 tests as a top 4 batsman averaging 56.7 (7 tons).

At 5 he played 28 tests and averaged 37.62 (3 tons)…This shows he struggled when moved to 5, and it set his average massively back compared to being in the top 4, and his stats at 3 as shown are very good…

The deciding factor for me was Dean Jones having a very good top 4 record including 3 despite his struggles at 5 comparatively. Your post doesn’t make much sense. Andrew Jones averaged over 5 less than Dean Jones at 3.

Interesting. Doesn't match my recollections only following slightly from afar. As an NZer saw him struggle v Hadlee in 87/88, and assume he understandably struggled v Windies in 88/89.

Look like the seasons 87/88 and 88/89 was the reason he got demoted down the order.

OK, statsguru tells me he struggled in that 87 to 89 period at number 3 against the 3 teams with decent seam or pace attacks (Hadlee's NZ at home, then Pak away and Windies at home):

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

By the 88/89 summer Aus were playing 3 openers v the WIndies with Wood at 3, then eventually Tubby Taylor debuted and Boon moved to 3.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Obviously boosted by the famous double hundred in the tied test in India.

 

[Immenso]

Obviously boosted by the famous double hundred in the tied test in India.

and a WACA ton v the 87/88 version of the Sri Lankans

Andrew scored runs v Sri Lankans as well. More, in the discussion of why he got moved from 3, is this relevant.

 

[Bahnz]

Andrew for getting drunk at a party during the 87/88 tour and telling the hosts “The way you guys treat the aborigines is a ****in’ disgrace!”

 

[Aritro]

Andrew for getting drunk at a party during the 87/88 tour and telling the hosts “The way you guys treat the aborigines is a ****in’ disgrace!”

This is a pretty compelling argument in favour of Andrew tbh

 

[ankitj]

Andrew Jones has to be close to the batsman with the highest average of who's career I know little about beyond the averages.

Same

 

[mr_mister]

Same

Me too, good call morgie. For most test runs/centuries it's Saleem Malik for me... Though I know he match fixed

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Andrew for getting drunk at a party during the 87/88 tour and telling the hosts “The way you guys treat the aborigines is a ****in’ disgrace!”

This story was the basis of my “he sounds like a really cool guy” comment haha.

Can’t for the life of me remember whose autobiography mentioned that story though, was it Wright?