Langer vs Slater, who was the better opening batsman?

[iamdavid]

The Slater who played the first half of his career (1993 until he was dropped), I would take over Langer anyday, he had pretty much the fastest, most correct footwork in world cricket, a technique without any notable flaws and a thrilling range of shots, he was a real flair player and scored with great consistency for one who seemingly took so many risks, averaging at or close to 50 for his first 3 years in test cricket.
In that period he played 34 tests and scored 7 hundreds, averaging 47.4

However during the second half of his career Slater was not the same player, there were still flashes of brilliance, his hundreds against New Zealand in 99/00 and England in 98/99, tearing England apart in his first innings of the Ashes in 01 and a solid series against the West Indies in 2000. However he was not nearly as consistent or convincing as he had been earlier in his career, seemed far more emotional and prone to rash shots under pressure. Flaws began to crop up in his technique and footwork and this was all compounded by the well publicised off field drama he was going through.

At their respective peaks I believe Slater was a better batsman than Langer, but taking their entire careers into account Langer has achieved more as an opening batsman than Slater did, I'm not voting for either.

 

[Mister Wright]

According to statsguru...

In 74 tests, Slater was dismissed 9 times in the 90's. Steve Waugh, on the other hand, was dismissed 8 times in the 90's (4 of which where in his first 74 test matches), and was twice not out in the 90's, during his career of 168 tests.

I think Steve was run out by Mark in the 90s in Perth once.

 

[archie mac]

I think Steve was run out by Mark in the 90s in Perth once.

Yes, and Steve did not look impressed

 

[Top_Cat]

The Slater who played the first half of his career (1993 until he was dropped), I would take over Langer anyday, he had pretty much the fastest, most correct footwork in world cricket, a technique without any notable flaws and a thrilling range of shots, he was a real flair player and scored with great consistency for one who seemingly took so many risks, averaging at or close to 50 for his first 3 years in test cricket.
In that period he played 34 tests and scored 7 hundreds, averaging 47.4

However during the second half of his career Slater was not the same player, there were still flashes of brilliance, his hundreds against New Zealand in 99/00 and England in 98/99, tearing England apart in his first innings of the Ashes in 01 and a solid series against the West Indies in 2000. However he was not nearly as consistent or convincing as he had been earlier in his career, seemed far more emotional and prone to rash shots under pressure. Flaws began to crop up in his technique and footwork and this was all compounded by the well publicised off field drama he was going through.

At their respective peaks I believe Slater was a better batsman than Langer, but taking their entire careers into account Langer has achieved more as an opening batsman than Slater did, I'm not voting for either.

Yup exactly but don't forget his physical problems too. I distinctly remember right before he was picked in 1993, he scored a ton against SA in Adelaide and everyone made the point that it was extraordinary he was back on the field after his spinal problems stopped him from playing for NSW the previous season.

think Steve was run out by Mark in the 90s in Perth once.

Other way around; Mark acted as a runner for the number 11 batsman and Steve was left stranded on 99 when Mark was run-out at the bowler's end by Chris Lewis. Mark was never a great runner....

 

[NUFAN]

Michael Slater

Opponents should have put a man at 3rd man for Langer, FFS

 

[honestbharani]

going with slater here. As iamdavid said, at their peaks, I felt Slater was better but overall, I guess Langer has been more consistent.


But given Slater's peak lasted a fair few years and that injuries and other stuff may have played a part, I am gng with my heart on this one.

 

[burr]

And you know, people seem to forget that Slater was fairly consistent. When all the others of that generation (Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Blewett etc) were in and out of the side during the 90s Slats was the one who established himself and kept his spot – until 'that shot' against India. Ahh, how depressed I was the day I heard he was dropped (the first time) :P I still don't really think of Langer as an opener - it was just something that fell in his lap and b/c he's so insanely determined he made it work for him

 

[James90]

Slater, he was more naturally talented than Langer

Why do you say that? Slater probably had more flaws than Langer.

and as rightfully mentioned before he made runs againts better bowling attacks during the 90s while Langer struggled during that period a bit

Surely you can't compare batsmen at different stages of their career. It's well known that most batsman peak after they are 30. Langer at his best was probably better because it was for a longer sustained period. Slater at his best was absolutely destructive though, joyous to watch.

Was never pretty to watch (except for his cover driving) but was bloody effective, his performances in the 2005 Ashes opitimizes the kind of player JL was..

I personally loved watching Langer bat. The last Ashes I realised I found his innings' much more entertaining than say Ponting's who by right has a much prettier technique.

Langer is the better batsman for mine but Slater is my favourite player of all time. It was him that got me into cricket at a really young age. I'd turn the TV off when he got out etc.

I'm sure the fact that Slater was dropped for Langer and the latter then went on to make a great career factored greatly in many people's votes. Also the fact that the Langer knocks were more recent and for that reason memorable.

 

[iamdavid]

I personally loved watching Langer bat. The last Ashes I realised I found his innings' much more entertaining than say Ponting's who by right has a much prettier technique..

I actually find Ponting's batting pretty ugly lol always have, the high, stiff backlift and the fact he's always on the move...it all looks a little ungainly to me....no questioning how effective it is though.
In comparison to players like Martyn and M Waugh who stayed extremely still and used their wrists to generate the power, was just prettier to watch.

 

[Mister Wright]

I actually find Ponting's batting pretty ugly lol always have, the high, stiff backlift and the fact he's always on the move...it all looks a little ungainly to me....no questioning how effective it is though.
In comparison to players like Martyn and M Waugh who stayed extremely still and used their wrists to generate the power, was just prettier to watch.

Yeah, never thought Ponting was all that elegant. But, now I've seen it so much it's starting to grow on me.

 

[sideshowtim]

I actually find Ponting's batting pretty ugly lol always have, the high, stiff backlift and the fact he's always on the move...it all looks a little ungainly to me....no questioning how effective it is though.
In comparison to players like Martyn and M Waugh who stayed extremely still and used their wrists to generate the power, was just prettier to watch.

When Ponting gets the pull shot right, it's one of the finest things that you will see on a cricket field. Especially that front-foot pull. I don't consider movement of the feet ugly though (if that's what you meant by 'always on the move'). If you consider that ugly, Bradman would've been a terrible batsman to watch. I love watching Ponting bat, but as his #1 fan, I suppose that's a given.

In response to the thread, as others have probably already stated, Slater was better to watch (my first 'favourite player' really), but Langer was the better batsman. Very gritty, fit and dug in when the going got tough.

 

[Beleg]

Langer.

I'll never forget his match-winning innings against Pakistan. They robbed us of two wins. :|

 

[Richard]

When Ponting gets the pull shot right, it's one of the finest things that you will see on a cricket field. Especially that front-foot pull. I don't consider movement of the feet ugly though (if that's what you meant by 'always on the move'). If you consider that ugly, Bradman would've been a terrible batsman to watch. I love watching Ponting bat, but as his #1 fan, I suppose that's a given.

AWTA, TBH. Love a good pull-stroke, was the biggest of many reasons why Aravinda was my favourite batsman ever, and Ponting plays it pretty much as well as you can.

Only Australian I'd prefer watch score some runs in recent times has been Mark Waugh.

 

[burr]

When Ponting gets the pull shot right, it's one of the finest things that you will see on a cricket field.

Totally, we need a whole appreciation thread just for that Ponting pull shot

Interesting to see Slats was quite a few players 'first favourite' - obviously the way he played with so much passion (who could forget the helmet kiss ) was very attractive to younger people.

 

[Mister Wright]

AWTA, TBH. Love a good pull-stroke, was the biggest of many reasons why Aravinda was my favourite batsman ever, and Ponting plays it pretty much as well as you can.

Only Australian I'd prefer watch score some runs in recent times has been Mark Waugh.

Mark Waugh was so boring to watch. Only batsman who made me want to watch something else in recent times.

 

[iamdavid]

I don't consider movement of the feet ugly though (if that's what you meant by 'always on the move'). If you consider that ugly, Bradman would've been a terrible batsman to watch...

Neither do I, just Pontings footwork looks pretty ungainly to me the way he's always shuffling about.

 

[NUFAN]

Mark Waugh was so boring to watch. Only batsman who made me want to watch something else in recent times.

Serious?? Mark Waugh was a gun. My favourite ever player actually.

 

[Perm]

I actually find Ponting's batting pretty ugly lol always have, the high, stiff backlift and the fact he's always on the move...it all looks a little ungainly to me....no questioning how effective it is though.
In comparison to players like Martyn and M Waugh who stayed extremely still and used their wrists to generate the power, was just prettier to watch.

I agree with you, I don't particularly like watching Ricky Ponting bat but there is one shot that is he plays magnificently, and I'm sure we all know what that is.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Ponting's a bit weird. It seems as though he hits the ball slightly leg side of where it should be. You bowl a ball sliding into off stump, and rather than hitting it back to the bowler or mid-off, he manages to get himself into position to hit it through the on side, yet he's not really playing across the line of the ball.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Ponting's a bit weird. It seems as though he hits the ball slightly leg side of where it should be. You bowl a ball sliding into off stump, and rather than hitting it back to the bowler or mid-off, he manages to get himself into position to hit it through the on side, yet he's not really playing across the line of the ball.

Plays the on drive more often than any other player I've seen.