The simple key to batting success in Asia

Australia's batting shortcomings in Asia in recent times are all the more concerning when compared with the top performers from other visiting nations.

A look at statistics dating back to January 1, 2010 reveals only one Australian in the top 10 batsmen (based on average, min 300 runs) throughout that period – retired Western Australian Mike Hussey.

Hussey's dominant 2011 tour of Sri Lanka placed him at number five on a list that only takes into account non-Asia based batsmen – those from Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies.

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Worryingly for Australia, the only other batsman averaging above 40 through the past six-and-a-half years , during which they have played 13 Tests in Asia, is another retiree, former skipper Ricky Ponting.

And the best visitors to a continent that is proving increasingly difficult for Australia's batsmen to negotiate?

Well there are some predictable names in the top 10, but some surprises as well.

Hashim Amla enjoyed a stunning tour of India in 2010 and boasts six hundreds in 13 matches in Asia, with an average of 71.17.

The South African only just nudges out the ever-consistent Shivnarine Chanderpaul for top spot, the former West Indian a quiet achiever who conquered all comers during a marathon career.

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In Asia since the turn of the decade, Chanderpaul made three hundreds and two fifties in 11 Tests, and averaged 71.

The third man on the list, England captain Alastair Cook, is another who enjoyed a hugely productive tour of India (Cook's came in 2012) and the opener has made more runs in Asia than any other visiting batsmen since 2010.

The presence of Cook, whose 1,670 runs have come at the outstanding average of 69.58, in the top three continues a revealing trend.

Amla, Chanderpaul and Cook have all built superb careers on the same qualities: patience, defence and a cool temperament.

All three are renowned as batsmen who have been particularly difficult to ruffle, or throw off the relatively simple game plans upon which they've built their success.

Ironically, it's the exact trait Australia vice-captain David Warner preached in the build-up to the Sri Lanka series.

"You've got to be patient," Warner said ahead of the first Test in Kandy. "You’ve got to rotate the strike.

"Your patience comes with hitting your four-balls, your boundary balls. They’re the ones you’ve got to really wait on.

"That's what we're talking about with patience in this game, especially over here (in subcontinental conditions).

"The challenge for us is about batting long periods of time. You’ve got to be able to bat well into the next day and that's the focus for us."

The tourists however, have been unable to put that theory into practice in recent years, a fact that can arguably be attributed to an instinctive desire to attack, something Warner himself appeared to acknowledge in the same interview.

"If I have to bat for a day or a day-and-a-half, I go out there and I try to do that – but the element of my game is to try to score runs," he added.

"I try to apply pressure on the bowlers and that has always been my game plan. That's what I always set out to do and I probably won't change that."

The mixed sentiment could go some way to explaining how and why the Australians have at times appeared betwixt and between with their batting during this series; intent on working themselves patiently into an innings, but equally determined not to let Sri Lanka's slow bowlers dictate terms.

In all, 17 visiting batsmen have averaged more than 40 in Asia since the beginning of 2010: five West Indians, four South Africans, three Englishmen and three New Zealanders accompany Hussey (fifth-best average) and Ponting (15th).

After Amla, Chanderpaul and Cook, it's Joe Root, Hussey, Jacques Kallis, Darren Bravo, AB de Villiers, Kirk Edwards and Graeme Smith who round out the top 10.

Visiting batsmen averaging 40+ in Asia since Jan 1, 2010 (min 300 runs)

1. Hashim Amla (SA): 13 matches, 1210 runs at 71.17. HS: 253no. 6x100s, 2x50s

2. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI): 11 matches, 923 runs at 71.00. HS: 203no. 3x100s, 2x50s

3. Alastair Cook (Eng): 14 matches, 1670 runs at 69.58. HS: 263.   6x100s, 4x50s

4. Joe Root (Eng): 4 matches, 380 runs at 63.33. HS: 88. 4x50s

5. Mike Hussey (Aus): 5 matches, 562 runs at 62.44. HS: 142. 2x100s, 2x50s

6. Jacques Kallis (SA): 6 matches, 538 runs at 59.77. 3x100s, 1x50

7. Darren Bravo (WI): 14 matches, 1304 runs at 56.69. HS: 195. 4x100s, 6x50s

8. AB de Villiers (SA): 12 matches, 1028 runs at 54.10. HS: 278no. 2x100s, 5x50s

9. Kirk Edwards (WI): 5 matches, 479 runs at 53.22. HS: 121. 1x100, 3x50s

10. GC Smith (SA): 6 matches, 455 runs at 50.55. HS: 234. 2x100s

11. Chris Gayle (WI): 7 matches, 551 runs at 50.09. HS: 333. 1x100

12. Kane Williamson (NZ): 12 matches, 1000 runs at 47.61. HS: 192. 4x100s, 4x50s

13. Brendon McCullum (NZ): 12 matches, 978 runs at 46.57. HS: 225. 2x100s, 2x50s

14. Kevin Pietersen (Eng): 11 matches, 881 runs at 46.36. HS: 186. 2x100s, 4x50s

15. Ricky Ponting (Aus): 4 matches, 348 runs at 43.50. HS: 77. 3x50s

16. Kieran Powell (WI): 7 matches, 560 runs at 43.07. HS: 117. 2x100s, 2x50s

17. Ross Taylor (NZ): 12 matches, 856 runs at 42.80. HS: 142. 3x100s, 5x50s