Is he more than a top 25 all-time batsman? If not, I don't think he's underrated. I guess it depends on whether being a hard-worker who accumulated (41.09 strike rate of innings with ball data) slower than Misbah is considered a positive or a negative. Of contemporaries with similar-ish records, who would you pick, Border or Miandad?Border is criminally under rated, seriously great batsman who faced some of the greatest ever attacks.
Harvey needs to jump up 3 or 4 spots here...Well as far as lefties go he is probably
Sobers
Lara
Border
Pollock
Sangakkara
Chanderpaul
Harvey
Lloyd
Hayden
Gilchrist
Yea Harvey and Lloyd should both be above Chanderpaul.Harvey needs to jump up 3 or 4 spots here...
Pollock ain't a B. Richards.Pollock is lucky to be on the list at all imo
On what basis? Being a world class batsman when he didn't keep?If Sanga is competing for the #3 position, it's obvious why he doesn't make the list.. but I myself would have him replacing Gilchrist as the wicket-keeper in my all-time XI.
Based on how he kept improving as an ODI batsman even while keeping (the last few years have been his best), his batting in Tests is unlikely to have been affected significantly if he had not stopped keeping. The timing just coincided with him getting to a new level in batting.On what basis? Being a world class batsman when he didn't keep?
You might be right, and I don't reckon it's set in stone, but it's a general principal I reckon. I certainly think that the batsman with the most rounded game can handle number 3 better than others.#3 being the best batsman is such an old school cricket theory, not sure it applies today. South Africa moved Kallis to #4 the better he got!
Well, for one thing, he wouldn't have played against Bangladesh every Wednesday.- Finally, if Sangakkara were Australian, Indian or English, there'd be no end to the praises heaped upon him. M'gawd, imagine if he was INDIAN!
Sagakkara vs all opponents (excluding Bangladesh)- average of 54.67Well, for one thing, he wouldn't have played against Bangladesh every Wednesday.
Just a good example of how Sangakkara's disproportionate amount of tests v Bangladesh compared to other modern batsmen hasn't really helped him as much statistically as it might seem.I thought this wasn't about Tendulkar and that Tendulkar was in no way the clear #2 behind Bradman? Compare Sanga with someone else then
Have enjoyed reading the last few pages. Interesting how everyone is compared to Tendulkar as though he is automatically the best after Bradman.
There's a few points to be made on that in my opinion
- I think Tendulkar was a sensational batsman. Great to watch, and such a remarkably consistent record against everyone, everywhere.
- That does not automatically lift him in the second spot though. I am a firm believer that the best batsmen are the ones who achieved in all conditions against all opponents. For that reason, I would include Len Hutton, Viv Richards, Sunil Gavaskar and Greg Chappell. Lara and S.Waugh's records are slightly patchier but arguments can be made for them. In this I am not going back beyond WW2 because I think there are some inherent difficulties in doing so, although clearly we might also include batsmen like Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Macartney, Trumper etc in the "who is the second best batsman ever" conversation. There will be others whom I have overlooked, but my point is there is no way Tendulkar is a clear #2 for me.
- Regarding Sangakkara, I cannot see why he is not a legitimate discussion point in the second best batsmen of all time discussion. He has succeeded at home and away against the majority of opponents (admittedly there are 3 places he has struggled at "away"- if you consider an avg of 35 to be a struggle). He bats in the clutch position (number 3), taking what I consider the most important spot in the batting line up). His average when "not designated keeper" is astounding…70 over a lot of tests. He often makes big hundreds.
- He is a great #3. As mentioned above, this is the spot for the best batsman the majority of the time (in my opinion). Sanga's record there is unbelievable. He has made more runs at # 3 than any other batsman in the history of cricket. His average at 3 (61.84) is higher than Lara's, Ponting's, Viv's, Dravid's and Kanhai's were in the same position. Of players who have played a minimum 30 innings at #3, the only players with a higher averages are the obvious one, plus Barrington, Headley, and Hammond (Pujara is tracking to get there). That's some esteemed company.
- Sangakkara, in my opinion, deserves to be talked about with the most elite of batsman in cricket history.
- Finally, if Sangakkara were Australian, Indian or English, there'd be no end to the praises heaped upon him. M'gawd, imagine if he was INDIAN!
Does no one else find it funny how he makes a massive post saying how comparing everyone with Sachin is wrong because he isn't the clear number 2 behind Bradma, and immediately after does the same thing himselfSagakkara vs all opponents (excluding Bangladesh)- average of 54.67
Tendulkar vs all opponents (excluding Bangladesh)- average of 52.07
Sangakkara's overall average excluding Bangladesh tests is still higher than Tendulkar's complete (including Bangladesh) average.
Just little fun stats.