Mark Richardson (cricketer) colours. He retired from all forms of cricket in December 2004, saying he could not sustain the intensity needed to compete at international level. He noted that he finished with "a Test bowling average that is better than Sir Richard Hadlee's (22.29), and a 50-50 record in the end-of-series running race." He scored 9,994 first-class runs during his career, remarked that the tally was "only different from Donald Bradman's Test batting average by a decimal point" (Bradman finished his career with an average of 99.94). Richardson has been a cricket commentator for SKY Sports since 2006. He co-hosted Prime show
Batting average (cricket) 18th century. Most players have career batting averages in the range of 20 to 40. This is also the desirable range for wicket-keepers, though some fall short and make up for it with keeping skill. Until a substantial increase in scores in the 21st century due to improved bats and smaller grounds among other factors, players who sustained an average above 50 through a career were considered exceptional, and before the development of the heavy roller in the 1870s (which allowed for a flatter, safer cricket pitch) an average of 25 was considered very good. Career records for batting average