He needs to average 38.44 over the next 21 innings to be ahead of the former 2nd highest all time Test average, Graham Pollock (60.97), after the same number of innings Pollock played in his career (he was at his peak when Sth Africa were banned). Not a huge ask.
Was going to mention this in a future thread, but Mike Hussey was already averaging more than Pollock at the same point of their test careers (41 innings) with 69.91, whilst playing all three forms of the game (tests/ODIs/T20s) which eventually took its toll over the next few years.
Yes, Pollock played on uncovered pitches and without all the protection that batsmen have these days, but it would've been interesting to see how Hussey would've been remembered compared to Pollock if Hussey had either retired or died at that stage of his career. Nevertheless, I would still have Sobers higher than both of them: averaged 57.78 over 160 innings played over two decades, against 5 test nations vs Pollock who played 22 of his 23 tests vs Australia/England.
All in all, the Basil D'Oliveira incident brought a tragic end to many South African international careers and given from footage on YouTube of how Pollock was still able to match it in his 40s during the 1980s rebel tours against some of the best international players who defected to join the rebel tours, AND also the 1994 Bradman testimonial match in Sydney where he scored 89 off 71 at 50yrs of age, we will never know how just how well Pollock could've gone, let alone gone in the '70s against Lillee/Thomson and the Windies pace attack of Holding/Garner/Roberts/Croft.
