Battle of Cricketers - CW's Favorite Cricketer

[BoyBrumby]

.. are you being cryptic there Brumbers?

Not guilty, your honour. Only meant some of The Don's quirks couldn't just be attributed to his having a driven personality.

 

[fredfertang]

don't get all legal on me - I come on CW to get away from all that crap

 

[fredfertang]

... and back on topic as I appear to have (quite properly) had my 3rd nomination ignored I claim one more

Farokh Engineer

 

[Fusion]

Mushy for the first battle. I always loved him in his prime. To be fair to Akhtar, there were few who could match him pomp when he was on. The trouble is that's such an absolute **** that I can't include him in my "favorite" category.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Andrew Hall, always found him incredibly likable. Pretty much one of the only South African players I've ever really been a fan of. Mushy was before my time, Shaoib is (N) and Younis is meh.

This. Hall was moved all round the order, but still made a decent fist of things. Had a bit of fire in him too. My vote definitely goes to Hall

Too much baggage with Shoaib.

 

[The Sean]

Not guilty, your honour. Only meant some of The Don's quirks couldn't just be attributed to his having a driven personality.

Ha ha, nicely put.

Bradman's personal reputation seems to have come something resembling full circle. Obviously during his playing career he raised the ire of more than a few, but the adulation with which he was held by the public for his achievements generally overshadowed such things. As his life went on most of the criticism tended to fade to the point that by the time I became aware of Bradman in the early 1980s - and indeed subsequently through to beyond his death - the general opinion pf the man seemed not far short of sainthood and the odd dissenting voice was brushed under the nearest carpet pretty sharpish. In recent years there would appear to have been a backlash where a lot of the dirty laundry previously hidden away has been aired and areas of The Don's character - for a long time considered sacrosanct by many - have been questioned with more rigour than for many years.

The truth, I'm sure, lay as it always does somewhere in the middle ground and hopefully the good to come out of these differing views will be an eventually balanced version of a driven, ambitious and freakishly talented man with flaws like any other.

Well, as many flaws as a God can have anyway.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Mushy, class act, decent guy, top pro.

 

[Goughy]

Mushy, class act, decent guy, top pro.

Yeah, apart from the matchfixing

 

[zaremba]

Mushy Obviously. Sussex's most influential player ever, over and above Ranji, Fry, Imran and Phillipson. And a wonderful guy. Top man. Deserves to win the entire comp. Vote Mushy!

As for the others, Shoaib and Younis are/were both magnificent, watchable, swashbuckling cricketers who I think are maybe a little under-rated on CW. Younis is one of those batsmen who seems to want to give the ball as much welly as he possibly can, and he plays the game with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. Shoaib is/was a truly serious fast bowler, close to the highest class, although he obviously carries a fair amount of unfortunate baggage.

Andrew Hall, meh. I never liked the way he wore cut-off elbow-length sleeves in a calculated attempt to obscure the fact that he chucks. Probably a top guy etc but he's never really done it for me.

 

[NUFAN]

4 Cricketers who I have never quite warmed too, but I suppose I'll go for Mushtaq Ahmed. I think it's awesome of him to have forged out such a successful county career and back in the day watching his leg spin was a treat.

 

[Flyonthewall]

Used to love watching Mushtaq plying his leg-spinning trade with Sussex whenever they were on TV. Seemed like a lovely guy as well as being a fabulous bowler

Also, if I may, can I slip my three nominations in: They are CB Fry, Simon Katich, and Johnny Wardle. Thanks Pratters, a great thread you've made here.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Yeah, apart from the matchfixing

He saw his wrongs. Islam gave him a new beginning. I've got immense respect for the bloke.

 

[The Sean]

CB Fry

Good man. Was so close to nominating him myself.

 

[_Ed_]

I'll vote for Andrew Hall.

Could do anything - batted almost everywhere in the order, bowled pretty effectively and even kept wickets after Boucher's biltong incident in that awesome ODI series in Melbourne.

Not bad for a bloke who Cricinfo tells me was shot at point-blank range during a mugging.

 

[Noble One]

Shoaib Akhtar

One of those bowlers who demands attention. Some of the finest bowler v batsman spells of the past decade have been from Akhtar, exhilarating to watch when fit and angry.

 

[Himannv]

I'll vote for Younis Khan. Always used to think he seemed like a down to earth and straightforward type of guy from what I know. Plus hes a pretty good bat.

 

[Dano.85]

My vote goes to andrew hall.

 

[Somerset]

Only just read this topic otherwise would've nominated a few names. Mushtaq Ahmed for my vote in the first battle.

 

[Jarquis]

Nominate Glenn McGrath

 

[Cevno]

Shoaib Akhtar

I think the thread title says Favorite cricketer not Favorite person.So out of these for his sheer impact i would go for Akthar.