Is Viv Richards an Overrated Test Batsman?

[vcs]

That's a good point. Lara certainly wasn't successful across the board and even Tendy was hit and miss - poor against Pakistan and S.Africa; great against WIndies, and just good against Australia with her best attack.

People have pointed to how the 90s were a bit tougher than the 80s, but haven't mentioned the mix successes of these batsmen.

Thread hijack alert.

 

[Ikki]

Not at all. Just saying, for a thread that is trying to make Viv Richards look overrated...I think both Lara and Tendulkar are pretty overrated too then.

 

[aussie]

Disagree.

Well i've never read about, heard of or spoken to a person who was lucky enough to see both bat at their peak - who rated Tendy higher.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Hmm, reckon Gavaskar for one would fall into that category.

Think it's funny how you can call Viv as having frailties in his record for averaging 40, when that number was seen as a mark of a good player at the time.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Bradman, Benaud too, UIM.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Bradman, Benaud too, UIM.

Yeah, doubt you'd see many people explicitly state that they rate Sachin better than Viv, but if you think that they would be competing for similar positions in selected teams by people, or lists of All-Time players, then there'd be quite a few commentators who would have chosen Sachin over Richards. Not prepared to say that it would be in the majority or anything like that though.

Really wouldn't be surprised if it changes weekly for some of these guys too, can't see it being much different to the rest of us when they are all so close.

 

[grecian]

Now are you suggesting me that the above lot was significantly better than Murali, Warne, Kumble, Saqlain, Harbhajan and Mushtaq? Viv played spin well that was presented to him. But he has never ever faced spin of quality that Lara, Tendulkar or Hutton faced, and that's a fact. There was a guy named Mike Gatting who tore apart spinners of 80s, to be found groping against Kumble, Murali, Warne and Warnaweera, the first three in the infancy of their careers. Legendary spinners take apart the techniques of batsmen who were regarded as the best against lesser spinners. Mike Gatting is a living proof for that. My point is he never played great spinners in his career. And his "weaker" (or less stronger) suit was playing them.

Nah, it's living proof that Gatting got old and fat(ter) .

TBF, people slating this thread should go back and read the one Lillian Thomson started on a similar theme, makes this one look genius.

 

[smash84]

Not at all. Just saying, for a thread that is trying to make Viv Richards look overrated...I think both Lara and Tendulkar are pretty overrated too then.

Agreed........for some of Viv's naysayers here...just do check out some of his videos on Youtube.

 

[aussie]

Yes where is Lillian Thomson when you need him. He would shut down this thread immediately haha.

 

[archie mac]

Those who watched Viv have no doubt he was the best

I imagine the frustration I feel when others come along with stats to prove that such and such was a better batsman than Richards, is the same as those who had the pleasure of watching Trumper felt when others would hold his average up and say such and such has better figures.

I bet they said to those who disparaged Trumper what I say to those who disparage Viv

"if you just would have watched him bat, we would not be having this debate"

 

[Anil]

Viv is rated correctly by the generation that was privileged to watch him play and severely underrated by the newer stat-fixated generations.....

 

[Teja.]

In fact, I can readily name 10 ex-cricketers/analysts who rate Tendy higher. Can't say I can say that about Viv.

Also, http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/cricket-chat/45836-richards-vs-tendulkar-tests.html

Tendulkar won 33-18. Viv won the ODIs poll, as he should.

 

[Dasa]

Those who watched Viv have no doubt he was the best

I imagine the frustration I feel when others come along with stats to prove that such and such was a better batsman than Richards, is the same as those who had the pleasure of watching Trumper felt when others would hold his average up and say such and such has better figures.

I bet they said to those who disparaged Trumper what I say to those who disparage Viv

"if you just would have watched him bat, we would not be having this debate"

Viv is rated correctly by the generation that was privileged to watch him play and severely underrated by the newer stat-fixated generations.....

Have to say, I find posts like this very irritating, not because I make my decisions based on only stats or only on what I've seen, but because they drip with condescension and elitism and often it can be a method of shutting down discussion.

It's not inconceivable that people might rate Viv lower or higher based on something other than stats. Even if people use stats to form their opinions, why does it matter? It's just another way of coming to a conclusion about something that is definitely not clear-cut.

 

[Slifer]

In fact, I can readily name 10 ex-cricketers/analysts who rate Tendy higher. Can't say I can say that about Viv.

Also, http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/cricket-chat/45836-richards-vs-tendulkar-tests.html

Tendulkar won 33-18. Viv won the ODIs poll, as he should.

Ok Tendy is better in tests. There u have it. Probably the reason behind this thread in the first place. Next week we'll probably have a thread on y Bradman is overrated and then itll denigrate into an argument as to y Srt is greater.

Ps dont read too much into cricketweb polls or ne polls comparing west indian batsmen (or most batsmen in general) to SRT there r many more Indians here on this forum (and in general) than there r West Indians for one. 33-18 yeah right.

 

[Teja.]

Ok Tendy is better in tests. There u have it. Probably the reason behind this thread in the first place. Next week we'll probably have a thread on y Bradman is overrated and then itll denigrate into an argument as to y Srt is greater.

Ps dont read too much into cricketweb polls or ne polls comparing west indian batsmen (or most batsmen in general) to SRT there r many more Indians here on this forum (and in general) than there r West Indians for one. 33-18 yeah right.

Um, This thread wasn't supposed to be about Tendulkar in the first place. His name came out because certain posters wanted to bash-tendy and had an over-sized victim complex about the creation of this thread directly being related to Tendulkar or something.

 

[Teja.]

Have to say, I find posts like this very irritating, not because I make my decisions based on only stats or only on what I've seen, but because they drip with condescension and elitism and often it can be a method of shutting down discussion.

It's not inconceivable that people might rate Viv lower or higher based on something other than stats. Even if people use stats to form their opinions, why does it matter? It's just another way of coming to a conclusion about something that is definitely not clear-cut.

Massively AWTA.

 

[Slifer]

Um, This thread wasn't supposed to be about Tendulkar in the first place. His name came out because certain posters wanted to bash-tendy and had an over-sized victim complex about the creation of this thread directly being related to Tendulkar or something.

His name came out because his groupies couldnt (as usual) miss an opportunity to remind us of yet another batsman who Tendy is better than. Heck the thread was even started by a poster with the name Sachin. I suppose he started the thread not to bash Viv then, maybe his intentions were to create a thread that would start a meaningful debate. I highly doubt it though!!

 

[Teja.]

His name came out because his groupies couldnt (as usual) miss an opportunity to remind us of yet another batsman who Tendy is better than.

You wouldn't be saying this, if the poster reminded you of say, Chappell's or Lara's superiority, Would you?

 

[GotSpin]

Um, This thread wasn't supposed to be about Tendulkar in the first place. His name came out because certain posters wanted to bash-tendy and had an over-sized victim complex about the creation of this thread directly being related to Tendulkar or something.

Be realistic here, this thread was always going to be about Sachin v Richards. Same as the other guy who always says Sobers is overrated and Imran is better.

 

[Teja.]

Be realistic here, this thread was always going to be about Sachin v Richards. Same as the other guy who always says Sobers is overrated and Imran is better.

I dunno. If it is, It is sad, I guess.