Coming back to cricket.

Probably a topic that's been discussed so often..afterall who is the best batsman of all time. Mind u , I'm not going at just satistics, I'm looking at their contribution to the game, the dominance they had on the cricket field everytime they walked onto the field..and overall...the RARE ELEGANCE AND EXCEPTIONAL TALENT THAT THEY..AND ONLY THEY ..POSSESSED.

Rounding up top 5.

1. Donald Bradman ( Australia)  : Never seen him play live coz he retired in 1948. Has an average of 99.94 and 29 hundreds in 52 games. Hit a century in two overs ( 8 ball over) in  a local game. Scored 334 in a day and considered the best batsman by almost anyone who knows cricket.

2. Viv Richards ( Antigua, West Indies) : His swagger to the crease and the now famous chewing gum that he chew all the time and the look around him to see where the fielders are placed sent shivers down the spine toeven the  best of bowlers. Never wore a helmet, never got hit on the head. Probably the MOST ATTACKING batsman ever to have played the game. Scored century of 56 balls in test cricket. They say Ian Botham (England allrounder ) didn't dare bowl at him on that day. For an attacking batsman as such, average of 50 something in tests and high 40's in one dayers.

3. Brian Charles Lara ( west Indies) : My favourite..by far. Probably there was never ever and there will be never ever other like him in terms of elegance, masterful artistry and extremely eye pleasing strokes all over the park. I can write a book on him. The day he retired I lost interest in cricket. The most famous being the way he mauled Muralitharan in Srilanka where his team lost 3-0. Hit 45 ball century in one dayers but 501 not out against Warwickshire, 375 and 400 not out against England. But the best of all is 277 against Australia in Sydney as well as 153 not out against the same opposition in which West Indies won by one wicket.

4. Sachin Tendulkar ( India) : If u love cricket, and just the sports u would realize how blessed u were to see both Brian Lara and Sachin to play at the same time. Never before the game has seen a more complete player than Sachin. At his peak he was phenomenal. He ruled 1990s. I rate him slightly behind Lara just because Lara is little bit more attacking and he never changed his style. Lara plays with a finesse that looks totally out of the world. But Sachin tendulkar is the perfect role model for any budding cricketer..both on and off the field. His twin centuries in Sharjah against Australia and his attack on Shane Warne are probably the best phase of his career. Warne considers him to be the best he has ever bowled to and admitted to having nightmares of sachin coming down the track and hitting him for a six. Bradman considered Sachin to be the one who reminded him of his own glory days.

5.Inzamam ul Haq ( Pakistan) : He has won games for his country many more times single handedly than any player I can remember, even the great Steve Waugh. He has to be the most underrated batsmen ever but even Imran Khan rated him the best player of fast bowling at the time. Against the spinners he could butcher them at will. His 136 not out against Bangladesh where Pak barely won by 1 wicket is an all time classic for me. There are numerous occasions where he won the ganes for his country from the brink of defeat. Besides that he has to be the most talented batsman Pakistan has ever produced. Both subtle and attacking. Both copy book classic shots and butchering attacks. He was at his best when the team had no chance to win. After he is gone, the good days of Pakistan cricket seems to have gone.

I can write a book on these people if time permits. Have ur say. If u want. It will be most welcome.

Thanks.

VVS against Australia..any year....any time..any venue..is just awesome. I can't compare his innings against Australia  ..be it in 2007, 2004 or that epic 281 in 2001 in Calcutta..with anyone..including my all time fav. Lara. Against others he's never been as good but against Aussies..with Mcgrath, Gillespie, Brett Lee and Warne all at their peak..he was terrific..more than terrific.

Joshit, what do u think of Brian Lara's very high backlift..coming down the track to spinners as if it was a cake walk to hit them over the head for 6, and Anwar lifting anything on the pads on the on side for 6 with such an ease. Azhar..who could pick the ball even outside off stump and place it on the on side at will. Mark Waugh who epitomised the grace I loved the way he batted, so lazily elegant.

1. Sir Donald Bradman
2. Sir George Headley  
3. Sir Garfield Sobers
4. Sir Brian Lara (eventually he will be sir after he completely demolished English bowlers)
5. Sir Vivian Richards


No wonder I am a westindian supporter.

. I would not prefer to name snail-like batsman, the Gavaskar. When there used to be 60 overs ODI, this dude crawled to 36 not out OFF only 174 balls. Note that he was the opener on that match.

===

How about top 5 BEST BOWLERS ever???

 

I don't think there is any argument for the #1 spot.  Although I didn't see him playing record shows it is Sir Don Bradman.  After Bradman, it has to be Sachin.  He has record to prove it and even Bradman said once he (Sachin) reminds of him.  I know we all hate India but I’m surprised to see Sachin’s name not listed on many top 5 or 10. 

prabhat_k,

After I read your post, I looked at some Mark Waugh innings, he does have that lazy elegance, innit ? Pleasure to watch, yet I regard his brother higher than him.

by the way, nice thread !!

My top 5 pick are based on alphabetic order:

1. Brian Lara (For his elegance and ability to take the game away from you)

2. Sir Don Bradman (Just because of his sheer record)

3.  Sanath Jayasurya (Ability to play change the fortune of games in mintues, both Test and one dayers)

4. Sachin Tendulakar (For his ability to dominate any kind of attack in any surface, the brilliant technique and  his paddle sweep)

5. Vivian Richards/ Virendra Sehwag (Ability to sweep away the opposition before they realize they have been sweapt, Perfect entertainer)

 

.Not sure about the Top 5 rank but these batsmen were/ are always great to watch. Batsman like Don Bradman, Garry Sobers are great but I have not watched them playing live. Here's my list in alphabetical order:

Andy Flower
Aravinda D Silva
Azaruddin
Brian Lara
Gary Kirsten
Inzamam ul Haq
Mark Waugh
Martin Crowe
Mathew Hayden
Sachin Tendulkar
Saeed Anwar
Steve Waugh
Viv Richards
List goes on.....!

:@

Deshbhaktanepali, don't u think to name Sehwag and Viv Richards in the same breath would be either huge disrespect to Viv or unqualified praise for Sehwag.

Viv was a great player of fast bowling. He played in fact dominated Lillee and Thompson. 2 of the greatest bowlers the game has ever seen. Specially Thompson, they say he was fastest ever. Here u have Sehwag who barely plays a good pull shot to genuine fast bowlers. Everytime a ball is short pitched, he struggles and looks awkward.

In fact, Sehwag is light years and thousands of nautical miles behind Viv Richards.

Here is my list BAT

1. Brian Lara( for his elegeance,class and Power to win the match Single Handedly)
2. Steve Waugh( For his capability as the leader and the teamman)
3. Don Bradman( Records Say he is the Best)
4. Viv Richards( Most Destructive Batsman to ever Walk in a crease)
5. Gary Sobers( The Greatest Allrounder of all times)

BOWL

1. Waqar Younis
2. Andy Roberts.
3. Shane Warne /Muralitharan
4. Imran Khan
5. Richard hadlee

Aafno Aafno view ho but, as Jonny said, though we hate (I hate too) India, Sachin Tendulkar is a god gifted cricket player and its always great to watch his innings..Anyone who knows what cricket is should place him in the top 5 list...Anyone who has just started watching and knowing about cricket does not put him but puts Sehwag, Afridi, Jayasuriya (coz he is blasting these days), Gilchirst (best wicket keeper batsman though), Peterson, Yuvraj, Gayle, ................lol

Most entertaining Cricketers of my time: All Stars

Jonty Rhodes
Sanat Jayasurya
Shane Warne
Tendulkar
Lara
Jacques Kallis
Shahid Afridi
Ambros
Allan Donald
Wasim Akram
Mark Waugh

Tendulkar owned 90s without a doubt. He played some astonishing orthodox class batting against top class bowlers under heavy and I mean "HEAVY" pressure that even the great Sir Don Bradman wouldn't have had to undertake. Such immense responsibility and the whole country behind a single 'little master', he carried the burden of his coutry, expectations of billions and perform he did, quite splendidly, if I might add. I mean there was a time when he fell, that was it for India. Who could dispatch McGrath effortlessly, Warne mercilessly, Donald crushingly and Walsh, Ambrose and Akram technically.

The deteriorating run of form after the two 00's kicked in, everyone started questioning his ability, but forgot the wonder years of a class act that even the great Warne said,

"I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don't think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player"

We're talking about the greatest and the most feared leg-spinner in the history of cricket giving such statement should speak volumes of his ability. He comes next to Don on being the greatest batsman to grace the game.

prabhat_k...I appreciate your opinion but I always believed that you play any sport to win. Either you agree with me or not, test cricket is the ultimate cricket and I enjoy watching test cricket alot. Virendra Segwag is a breed of player who plays test cricket to win the match not barely to draw it. He is someone who comes to open the bat on the first day of test match at MCG and score 195 before tea against Australian attack in their backyard. He is someone who comes to open the batting against Pakistan in Pakistan and scores a double hundred before the end of the days play. He is someone who scores debut century against South Africa in South Africa and scores a triple hundred (more than 250 runs before tea) against South Africa in South Africa.

I highly respect your opinion for Vivian Richards but that doesn't make Virendra Sehwag a less great player. If you true follower of Cricket I don't think you will argue that Virendra Sehwag scored close to 5000 test run in only 57 Tests at an average of 52 and Strike rate of 80 just because of his good pull shot.

 

I don't know. I feel the standard of cricket has gone down specially after 2000. The pitches have become slow. Now Perth is not as fast as it used to be. Remember Sachin hitting 114 in Perth (WACA), the fastest pitch in the world and to date he believes was his finest test hundred. There are no great bowlers like Wasim Akram, Allan Donald, Walsh, Ambrose, Waqar , Shane Warne and so on. Pitches are flat, conditions favour batsmen most and that's why we see these high averages these days of players and the word GREAT has been used so senselessly.

I agree he hit 195 in a day and all those big scores. I am not denigrating his feats. But I still believe u got to listen to the best bowlers what they say who was the toughest batsman to bowl to. Listen to Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Walsh, McGrath, Warne, Muralitharan and so on and not these Zaheer Khans and Dwayne Bravos and the current fast bowlers from Pak ( The fast bowlers from Pak are nowhere close to what they were in 90s)..they will all say either Sachin, Lara, Viv. Steve Waugh, Mike Atherton (toughest to dislodge)

The standard of cricket indeeed gone down, esp after IPL. Bowelers do not have any place now..we will probably not see people like wasim, walsh, woqar, mcgrath..so cricket nowdays have become pretty boring.

based on the record, sportsmanship, technique, style, temperment... here are my top 5

1. Don Bradman
2. Sachin
3. Lara
4.Dravid
5. Gary Sobers

I completely agree that the standard of cricket has gone down but you should also consider the use of technology in current sports and the amount of pressure these players have to bear in regard of number of games being played and a variety of games being played. As a player it is not easy to switch from one mode to another and be successful in test matches as well as 20/20 cricket. This was not true in the past. The batsman had liberty of strenghtning their game. Thus, this makes batting more difficult than it looks. Every bowlers recognizes the weakness and strenghts of every famous batsmen as such the batting is not as easy as it looks. I agree the technique has deteoriated. The elegance of Garry Sobers, Mark Waugh, Inzi and Rahul Dravid is not there anymore and I still believe the ability to change as needed and make your team win is the sole responsibility of a player. If you can't win for your team your technique is not going to matter.

Sachin vs Lara is always debatable issue and world players always seems to be divided.  Whether sachin is best batsman of pace bowler is debatable because even in his team Rahul Dravid has played better against pace in most testing situation. Very rare win of India overseas in England, Australia, Southafrica , Westindies is mostly because of one man Rahul Dravid.

However, there is no doubt Lara is the best batsman against the spinners ( in the era of the two best spinners ever Warne and Murali) possibly best ever.   Plus other good spinners of this era  like Vetorri,  Ray Price has named Lara being the better. One shouldnot forget Lara is the only batsman because of whom  Shane Warne was dropped from test team in 1999 when he completely demolished warne. Furthermore, Shane Warne's confidence was so dented that he was contemplating retirement that time.


Highest wicket taker of this era  Muralitharan (in spinner) and Glenn Mc Grath ( in fast bowler) have named Lara being better. Where as two other heavy weights Shane Warne and Wasim Akram has named Sachin tendulkar as being better.

Both Sachin and Lara has made lots of runs and hundreds. So how can we differentiate them?Some runs more or less cannot separate them.

However, sachin records are more accumulated over the years of time and so does few of lara's record. Only reason i will put lara little ahead is he has also many instantaneous records which Sachin has not made. Records like 28 and  26 runs in an over, 400, 375, over 350 in test match thirce, only batsman to hit half a thousand run in an inning (501), 3 times he have made 100 runs in test matches better than run a ball and so forth.

No offense to anyone....agree with no quiero...but..Sachin is far ahead than Lara....Let Lara bowl and take the bowling responsibility as well then we will know where Lara and Sachin is.....Sachin is the allrounder.....He is way ahead than Lara...and talking abt records...Sachin has by far better and more records than Lara...If you have seen the data nicely, you will find out.....

# of test hundresds

#of ODI hundreds

Highest run getter in ODI

Most man of the match

Most man of the series

There are tons more records of Sachin than Lara....see the data carefully...

 

Pyari KT . If you look carefully there isnt big gulf between the record of lara and Sachin. Even in so called one day matches difference between lara and sachin is more due to difference in the number of matches they have played. One should not forget for majority of his career lara bated at 4, 5 in one day matches  Hardly a fancied position for making centuries. Plus wicket of westindies are generally considered low scoring in one day matches.  If you could see during early part of career when lara played at number 1, 2, 3 he took less number of matches  to score 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 runs than sachin tendulkar.  True he has overall more valued than Lara in one day matches.

However, I won't call him an allrounder in test matches. 20-25 wickets in so many matches hardly makes case for tendulkar as a bowler in test matches. Lara has his own value outside batting in test matches. If I am not wrong he is the fourth highest catcher in the test matches somewhere around 164. That adds to his overall value.  Talking about Sachins record in test matches, those have been bloated by not outs. If you see carefully lara clearly scores more runs than sachin  and it is the runs that counts more. Sachins' double hundred probably started with zimbabwe and ended with Bangladesh and that too not outs. Lara don't have a single hundred against Bangla or Zimbo.  Lara double hundred started with Australia ended with Pakistan. The fact that he was not out only 6 times in his career and still he manages an average of over 50 is incredible. If you discount not outs Sachin average falls below 50 where as lara still scores over 50 runs in an inning every time. Clearly meaning lara scores more runs in a test matches.


Lara has more world records than sachin.

-Lara has 2 triple  hundreds along with Bradman and Shewag. One of triple is quadruple. so that make him better than Bradman and Shewag in this regard.
- Only player to score quadruple in test and highest test match score.
- Only player to reclaim the world record
- Only player to have highest score in test and first class twice (375  and 501, 400 and 501) at same time.  Only other batsman who had this record once was Bradman in 1934.
- He hit 28 runs in an over  . A world record. He has also scored  26 runs in an over.
-Lara has scored an astonishing 20% of his team runs, a feat surpassed only by Bradman (23%) and George Headley (21%).
- largest proportion (54 percent of his team's runs in a Test (221 out of 390 and 130 out of 262). A world record

- 9 double hundred second to Bradman
-88 sixes in test matches. Second to Gilchirst.
- Half a thousand runs in one single first class innings. A world Record.
- Scored hundred in just one session during the test matches against pakistan. only become the sixth batsman to do so.

- double hundred and a hundered in a test matches. only fifth batsman to do so.

- Lara also has world record of most fours in test matches. that is 1559
- In Seven series he have scored 500 runs. A world recored equalled only by Bradman. Sachin has never scored 500 runs in a series.

These are only few. Apart from these he have also records in the list of  fastest centuries, scoring better than run a ball to score 100 thirce, batting for longest time, have 3 innings listed in top 15 ofwisdens top 100 all time best innings. Sachin has none in top 100 and so forth, world record for most number of double hundred by captain (joined by only Bradman) 1000 runs in 5 calender year (equalled only by Hayden),  only player to score 1000 runs in each continent (Asia, Australia, Europe, Americas, Africa), most double hundred away from home(world record) , fastest ever to score 9,000,   10,000,  and 11,000 , only player in the history of 130 years of cricket to score hundred, double hundred, triple hundred , quadruple and half a thousand, scroed 20,000 runs in international cricket along with sachin, most runs away from home, highest frequency of series for scoring 500 runs , most runs in a single test ground. Omg i have lost count