'Batting hasn't been as good as it could be' — Former Australian bowler questions modern batters

Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who once toppled Test centuries, has raised concerns about how today’s batters prepare and approach the game. He questions whether players are willing to put in the hard yards to refine technique, especially in testing conditions.

Speaking on ABC Sport during Boxing Day Ashes, Gillespie expressed disappointment with the batting on display from both teams, stressing that the conditions were tough but not unplayable.



"My overriding feeling is the batting hasn't been as good as it could be," he said. "I can't believe what I've seen to be honest. Yes there's movement off the surface and a little through the air. But I wouldn't say there's demons in the surface,"

He argues that modern batsmen are too quick to accept dismissal instead of grinding through tough phases.

"It just seems to me the modern batter, the moment there's any sideways movement there's this saying of 'there's one with my name on it so make the most of it'. I'm not quite sure that's the right approach," he added.

Gillespie also questioned current training methods, suggesting that batters may be avoiding uncomfortable practice conditions. "Are modern batters batting enough on surfaces that favour bowlers in practice or do they just go and have the easy throwdowns as opposed to a good hard contest in training?"

He believes real improvement comes from struggle, problem-solving, and learning to adapt.

"That's how you learn, work out solutions, problem solve, work out strategies. We certainly haven't seen any of that," he said.

England, under pressure in the series, has repeatedly faltered with bat in hand, a trend echoed in India at home where spin-heavy pitches demand patience and solid technique. Too often, Indian batsmen have tossed away promising starts instead of grinding them out.


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