Ian Botham vs Kapil Dev

[salman85]

Two of the more under-discussed players on the forums,which is rather surprising going by the large number of English and Indian fans here.

Reckon Botham will win this one,but i just want to see the arguments thrown in favor of Kapil and whether this will be as one sided as i think.My knowledge of Kapil's exploits is limited,and perhaps this thread will significantly increase it.

Happy debating!

 

[Jono]

I love reading about Kapil and listening to family and friends talk about him when they saw him live. But Botham was the better test player. Can't be denied.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Both their own countries best ever all rounders, both would walk into their own sides best ever team but Beefy was clearly the better, more hundreds and his early wicket taking exploits were up there with the very best before the injuries took hold.

 

[smash84]

but Kapil the better workhorse and more committed I suppose

 

[fredfertang]

It's a great pity that Botham didn't stop bowling when he couldn't bowl fast anymore and that he didn't give up altogether several years before he did. If he had there would have been no need for this thread at all

Same considerations apply to Kapil to a certain extent, but in his pomp Botham was just magnificent - and, as per the Jubilee Test in Mumbai, he most certainly could produce the goods on the sub-continent

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Botham is the greatest all round cricketer in history. Unfortunately his lack of dedication means it wasn't shown in his performances beyond the peak years for a Human Being where you can get away with it.

 

[smash84]

Botham is the greatest all round cricketer in history. Unfortunately his lack of dedication means it wasn't shown in his performances beyond the peak years for a Human Being where you can get away with it.

He didn't have the dedication or the discipline yet he was the greatest all rounder in history

 

[karan316]

There are many videos of Hadlee, Imran and Botham, I wish there were some more videos of Kapil,
I have requested Rob, maybe he would upload it someday if he has time.

 

[Sanz]

There is no debate here, Botham is easily the better allrounder but Kapil was good too.

There was an article about the series they played in England in 1982.
Ian Botham eats Kapil Dev for breakfast and dessert-India vs England 3rd test Oval 1982 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

In those two series, Botham does come out better statistically, but Kapil showed how good he could be,

 

[smash84]

and Botham and Kapil against the WI?

 

[Sanz]

Why single out a single country ? Maybe they had Botham's number and it could be because they knew Botham's game more than anyone else did. If I am not wrong Richards and Botham were team mates at Somerset for a quite a few years.

 

[Furball]

Why single out a single country ? Maybe they had Botham's number and it could be because they knew Botham's game more than anyone else did. If I am not wrong Richards and Botham were team mates at Somerset for a quite a few years.

Botham's peak years would have coincided with the West Indies' peak years as well wouldn't they?

 

[Lillian Thomson]

He didn't have the dedication or the discipline yet he was the greatest all rounder in history

I deliberate said "greatest all around cricketer" and not "greatest all rounder" so that anyone with a brain could differentiate between judging on ability or achievement.

We all know that sooner or later you're going to say that Imran Khan is the greatest cricketer ever so you might as well get it over with.

 

[smash84]

I deliberate said "greatest all around cricketer" and not "greatest all rounder" so that anyone with a brain could differentiate between judging on ability or achievement.

The point still holds

Gary Sobers would probably fit in better with the greatest all round cricketer tag

 

[smash84]

Why single out a single country ? .

Because they were easily the best team of that era.

Because scoring runs against Bangladesh hold less weight than scoring runs against Australia in the 00s.

 

[Furball]

I deliberate said "greatest all around cricketer" and not "greatest all rounder" so that anyone with a brain could differentiate between judging on ability or achievement.

We all know that sooner or later you're going to say that Imran Khan is the greatest cricketer ever so you might as well get it over with.

In my book he's the greatest all-rounder, but then again I suspect my definition of an all rounder is slightly different in that I expect a great all-rounder to contribute well in both disciplines at the same time.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

The point still holds

Gary Sobers would probably fit in better with the greatest all round cricketer tag

No it doesn't.

No he wouldn't.

 

[Athlai]

No it doesn't.

No he wouldn't.

Convincing argument.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Convincing argument.

I learned a long time ago that there's no such thing as a convincing argument on this forum, so two lines is my maximum otherwise it gives someone an excuse to get the slide rule out.

 

[ankitj]

Time for me to post some of the incredible achievements by Botham:

• Only cricketer to pick 5 wkts in an innings and score a century in the same match 5 times. No one did it more than twice.
• Only cricketer to take 10+ fivers and 10+ hundreds
• Only cricketer to break the 800 ICC rating point barrier both as batsman and as bowler

For someone so unbelievably gifted, it's a sad thing that he could not maintain the levels of commitment / did not hang his boot at the right time.