STATS
Number cruncher
England the batting paradise
Jarrod Kimber
ABOVE Zak Crawley batting this summer
STU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES
It is hard to bat in England. The new ball hits greener surfaces due to the extra moisture in the ground, and that also creates lush outfields that protect the Dukes balls. And batters struggle. But there are times in history when that changes. In the mid-90s, England suddenly became a great place to bat. The averages were higher here than even during the period known as the CEO brown wickets, where grounds tried to ensure fifth-day crowds around 2010.