Raval eyes that ton of relief
One test innings into the home summer series and it’s the only question surrounding the Black Caps top six. Can Jeet Raval score a maiden test century?
Because the question is not whether Raval will keep his place in the side. He’s in that test XI for the rest of the Kiwi summer – the second test against Sri Lanka in Christchurch starting today and three matches against Bangladesh next year.
The left-hander averages a healthy 34.25 following his 43 in the first test draw at the Basin Reserve, from 15 tests.
Yet among his 25 test innings since his debut against Pakistan in Christchurch in November 2016, his highest score is the 88 he compiled versus South Africa in Hamilton in March 2017.
It has been a relatively lean trot for Raval this year – in 10 innings he hasn’t got to a halfcentury, and averages just 19.9, with six knocks of single figures. He missed a gilt-edged opportunity in Wellington on a cracking deck when he fell to a rash shot when well set on 43.
So now would be the ideal time for him to get the monkey off his back and register a maiden test ton that he’s at times hinted at.
His test average isn’t a lot less than his first-class one (38.96), but the 30-year-old does have 15 firstclass tons from 183 innings – almost one every 12 times he’s walked to the crease.
Contrast that with his test opening partner Tom Latham, who has 14 first-class centuries, of which half have come in tests.
So why hasn’t Raval’s prolificacy at Plunket Shield level transferred to the test arena?
It’s hard to peg down Raval’s style – he’s not a grinder/limited strokemaker a la Mark Richardson (37.66 strike rate), nor is he a plunderer like Matthew Hayden (60.10). His test strike rate is 42.50 – compared to Latham’s 45.62 – and while his chief job is to initially occupy the crease, he isn’t overly cautious.
If there’s a wide half-volley to him in the opening over, he will hit it through cover, and he mixes leaves with attacking strokes, but does have periods when his fluency evaporates.
However, his partnership at the top of the order with Latham has been productive enough for Raval to continue this year.
The duo average 28.32 for the first wicket batting together – nothing earth-shattering, but competent. They’ve yet to register a century partnership – with a best of 83 – but have combined for seven stands worth more than 50.
Raval has proved a solid ally to Kane Williamson – with the skipper batting at three, the duo have had two century stands for the second wicket, and three more greater than 50.
New Zealand’s most revered test opening partnership – John Wright and Bruce Edgar – averaged 31.82. Wright and Trevor Franklin had a better mark – 55.10 – while Richardson and Lou Vincent averaged 41.38.
So not reaching the century mark this summer wouldn’t put Raval’s place in jeopardy as long as his average didn’t plummet under 30 and New Zealand kept on winning.
But a maiden test ton would stop the chatter.