Best After The Don

[kyear2]

Mark Nicholas: The best after the Don? That's a toughie | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

Nice Article, but who you guys think is number two

 

[Jono]

 

[watson]

For his ability to win Test matches, and demoralise attacks like The Don - Brian Lara

 

[Red]

Sobers, Hobbs, Viv and Tendulkar, in no particular order, and each for different reasons.

 

[Riggins]

cool article. kind of makes me hate mark nicholas slightly less*

i like that a lot of those west indian batsman did it either still drunk from the night before, and/or pretty hungover.

*for now.

 

[ankitj]

I used to think Sobers but increasingly I feel it is Tendulkar. I've underrated his longevity. For this poll I've voted for G Pollock.

 

[Andre]

No Dhawan option?!

 

[Jono]

No Dhawan option?!

The question is best "after" the Don. Dhawan and his twirly mo > Don

 

[honestbharani]

Lara = best batsman I Have seen. I have gone back and forth on rating players before the time of my watching cricket but I have gone back now to considering myself less informed to judge them.

 

[akilana]

Woud have voted for Sobers if he didn't bat down the order.

 

[Coronis]

I voted for Herbert doesntneedamiddlenamecoshesso****ingawesome Sutcliffe.

 

[harsh.ag]

Sobers, Hobbs, Viv and Tendulkar, in no particular order, and each for different reasons.

Hobbs, Sobers, Barry and Tendulkar in no particular order for mine. Viv, Pollock, Hammond, Lara and Headley a very, very close second (third if you have Don as first) tier.

 

[Coronis]

"Then the other day Brendon McCullum said that Alastair Cook was the best since Bradman."

Aren't actual players meant to have good opinions?

 

[Red]

"Then the other day Brendon McCullum said that Alastair Cook was the best since Bradman."

Aren't actual players meant to have good opinions?

I think the actual problem is NZ players shouldn't have opinions at all.

 

[morgieb]

Ended up going with Hobbs. It's pretty close though.

 

[Red]

Hobbs, Sobers, Barry and Tendulkar in no particular order for mine. Viv, Pollock, Hammond, Lara and Headley a very, very close second (third if you have Don as first) tier.

I'd definitely include Barry Richards and Graham Pollock had they played more tests.

I think Barry Richards is most probably the second greatest batsman of all time. But 4 tests isn't enough.

 

[watson]

I voted for Herbert doesntneedamiddlenamecoshesso****ingawesome Sutcliffe.

I think that a Bradmanesque batsman should be the type of batsman that can win a game, rather than merely save it.

Sutcliffe by all accounts 'nudged' his runs, albeit a lot of them. On-the-other-hand Bradman himself, Hobbs. Sobers, Pollock, Richards, Lara throttled the attack, and scored to all points of the ground.

In other words, truly great batsman are aggressive, attacking, and have a wide range of shots by definition (IMO).

 

[Coronis]

I think that a Bradmanesque batsman should be the type of batsman that can win a game, rather than merely save it.

Sutcliffe by all accounts 'nudged' his runs, albeit a lot of them. On-the-other-hand Bradman himself, Hobbs. Sobers, Pollock, Richards, Lara throttled the attack, and scored to all points of the ground.

In other words, truly great batsman are aggressive, attacking, and have a wide range of shots by definition (IMO).

If I'm being honest with myself, it'd have to be Sobers or Viv. Definitely very close with a few others. I just voted Sutcliffe (other) to be different

Viv was one of the most aggressive batsmen we've ever seen, but he did decline quite a bit towards the end of his career. It has to be Sobers for me.

 

[watson]

I'd definitely include Barry Richards and Graham Pollock had they played more tests.

I think Barry Richards is most probably the second greatest batsman of all time. But 4 tests isn't enough.

We can very easily argue that Barry Richards is the second best batsman of all time. However, it would be impossible to state that he is the second greatest batsman of all time.

In others words, we can observe a batsman in action and conclude that his technique, skill, and ability is superb, and therefore one of the best in his trade. However, until he performs over a wide range of Test match conditions we can never say that he is great.

Sorry for being pedantic over the definition of best and greatest, but its always bugged me.

 

[sunilreddy]

Abul Hasan...Averaging 82+ with the bat batting at no 9 position.