Low Test totals due to 'short tempered' batting: Viv Richards

Dubai: Former West Indies captain Viv Richards has said a combination of outstanding bowling and short tempered batting are the reasons low totals are lately being produced in Tests.

Richards, considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time, also said the failure of batsmen to adjust their style from T20 cricket to Tests has also been a contributing factor, reports CMC.

The Ashes series in England has been identified as a prime example with all four Tests finishing inside four days, the last two inside three.

The Australians have been shot out for scores of 60 and 136 while the Englishmen too have been dismissed for 103.

"You can point your finger at both (good bowling and poor batting). You have T20 and that also plays a part in some of the shots batsmen play. You see guys playing the same shots in T20s and Tests and are sometimes lucky to get away with it," Richards said on Thursday.

"Guys are playing a lot of limited overs cricket and not making that adjustment when it comes to the longer version and pay a price for that."

So far this year, eight totals below 150 have been recorded in 23 Tests.

While 17 matches this year have produced results, Richards argues that poor batting has played its part in determining those results.

"If you take the West Indies or recently Australia, some matches have been short. Techniques have played a part in some of the shots played, making the same mistakes over and over again," Richards pointed out.

"At some point, individuals have to play according to the situation. Recently in Birmingham, the ball was swinging in the air, moving around. For some reason we see batsmen not having the same technique to cope."