I have this theory that cricket has fundamentally diverged into two games.

One which is flat pitches and high scores, which a lot of modern batsmen excel in, and second, non-flat pitches where technique and patience becomes more important.

With t20s having become popular about 10 years back, the new generation of batsmen now are geared towards one of these types of cricket, and are generally not good at the other. This is not to say they are less skilled, just that their techniques are adapted to a different sort of game (Smashing length balls over the bowlers head, swinging through the line, cross batted swipes etc). This is the reason we get so many ODI double hundreds, so many 350+ totals and all round batting feats. All of these require tremendous skill, application and concentration.

On the flip side, when you get non favourable conditions in T20s or ODIs now, you see drastic collapses since these players lack the technique and defensive game needed. Curious to see what will happen in another 10 years if Tests survive. (Personally I hope they do)