Is Laxman a great batsman?

[Sanz]

Good to know, I would have him after Sunny, Sachin, Dravid, Merchant, Vishwanath, Vengsarkar and Azhar.

 

[Teja.]

Azza still better, IMHO.

 

[Top_Cat]

For me, somewhere below Azhar and somewhere above (just) Vengsarkar. Tough, though.

 

[Sanz]

Azza still better, IMHO.

Azza was destined to become the next great cricketer after Gavaskar and Kapil, but 2 things happened.

1. He was appointed captain and his downfall started
2. Hi married Bijlani girl and got into this whole celebrity stuff which finally led to meeting with match fixers.

 

[Jono]

To say Azza was better than Laxman is a big call IMO.

 

[Teja.]

Laxman perhaps is a better batsman right now than Azza ever was, but overall, It's a bit of a no contest for Azza IMO. 15+ years of averaging over 45 in an era where 3-4 people averaged over 50 is no joke. He was one of the best ODI bats in the world too.

 

[Jono]

ODIs is a given.

What's Azza's record outside Asia?

 

[Teja.]

Excluding 2 tests against Z'we, slightly over 35. Obviously not the best of averages, even considering his era, but not reason enough for me, to rate him below Laxman.

 

[vcs]

I'm not too worried if Laxman is considered a great, or a couple levels below the greats. His average, his ability to smash sub-standard attacks, or his failings as an opener mean little me. In years to come I won't think of Laxman for his average, I'll only remember the classical innings he has compiled across the world in testing circumstances. Plenty of good (and bad) memories.

Sums up VVS for me.

I watched Azhar only starting with the early '90s so probably missed some of his early success, but I'd take VVS over him. Also, his role in the match-fixing thing puts him below a lot of players for me.

 

[Shri]

Sums up VVS for me.

I watched Azhar only starting with the early '90s so probably missed some of his early success, but I'd take VVS over him. Also, his role in the match-fixing thing puts him below a lot of players for me.

Yeah same reason why I don't rate Azhar highly.

 

[Shri]

I guess Aus members on this site will rate him highly compared to members from other nations.

 

[tooextracool]

Laxman for me fulfilled the potential that Azhar didnt. We all know about the similarities in their game, Laxman's game is modelled after Azhar's but Im prone to rate the guy who won more important games for his country and that for me is none other than VVS. Azhar along with Tendulkar had many many opportunities to do something special away from home for their country and Azhar almost always failed to deliver.

 

[Sanz]

odis is a given.

What's azza's record outside asia?

33.75

 

[Sanz]

Laxman for me fulfilled the potential that Azhar didnt. We all know about the similarities in their game, Laxman's game is modelled after Azhar's but Im prone to rate the guy who won more important games for his country and that for me is none other than VVS. Azhar along with Tendulkar had many many opportunities to do something special away from home for their country and Azhar almost always failed to deliver.

2nd Test: England v India at Manchester, Aug 9-14, 1990 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

2nd Test: South Africa v India at Cape Town, Jan 2-6, 1997 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

3rd Test: New Zealand v India at Auckland, Feb 22-26, 1990 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

2nd Test: New Zealand v India at Wellington, Dec 26-30, 1998 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com


And These are not the innings I am just picking because he scored 100s, but because these were really awesome innings Azza played way before Laxman dazzled us with 167 in Sydney.

 

[pasag]

Yes.

 

[Top_Cat]

2nd Test: England v India at Manchester, Aug 9-14, 1990 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

2nd Test: South Africa v India at Cape Town, Jan 2-6, 1997 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

3rd Test: New Zealand v India at Auckland, Feb 22-26, 1990 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

2nd Test: New Zealand v India at Wellington, Dec 26-30, 1998 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com


And These are not the innings I am just picking because he scored 100s, but because these were really awesome innings Azza played way before Laxman dazzled us with 167 in Sydney.

Yeah was about to say something similar. Don't forget his ton in Adelaide, was a sensational knock and but for a few crap decisions toward the end, India would probably have won. Took a beauty to remove him so he can't be accused of throwing it away with India in a winning position either.

EDIT: Not trying to suggest this makes him better than Laxman, just addressing the misconception he did little of value outside of India.

 

[Teja.]

Also, from an aesthetic POV, Azhar is a few gazillion light years ahead of anyone else, IMHO.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Laxman clearly a great of the game for me, and better than Azhar even without factoring in the match fixing.

 

[robelinda]

Yeah was about to say something similar. Don't forget his ton in Adelaide, was a sensational knock and but for a few crap decisions toward the end, India would probably have won. Took a beauty to remove him so he can't be accused of throwing it away with India in a winning position either.

Many shockers in that match, lbw's a plenty. Mark Taylor's ripper one handed slips catch was a classic to get rid of Azhar.

 

[Cevno]

Laxman clearly a great of the game for me, and better than Azhar even without factoring in the match fixing.

Rating Azhar over Laxman seems to me a classic case of romanticising the past.
There is a tendency to rate current batsmen lower than what they should be in this board for me.