Mark Taylor vs. Saeed Anwar

[LongHopCassidy]

Along with Kirsten, probably the pre-eminent openers in the era of the best pace bowling in history. Would venture to say this is fairly justified given that no regular Test opener averaged close to 50 during the 1990s.

On pure batting, Anwar was probably a better player of spin and had no long-term form lapses. As an overall contributor to their team, Taylor with his astute captaincy and flawlessness in the cordon places him fractionally ahead IMO. Anwar obviously better in ODIs, so this debate would probably be more fruitful if we stuck to Tests.

And go.

 

[Jono]

No one could shoulder arms based on length in Perth like Tubby. Would just leave balls pitching on middle stump knowing full well its going to brush past his gut and go over the stumps.

WAG

 

[Xuhaib]

Anwar test career was pretty short.

For 5 years he was unjustifiably labelled as an odi specialist based on just 1 failure had very good next 5-6 years then his daughter died and he just lost passion for the game and drifted away from it.

 

[uvelocity]

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Comparing with Taylor is always going to be a difficult one as Taylor played around twice number of matches than Anwar as already Xuhaib mentioned he was tagged as more of OD specialist.

However Anwar has excellent record against Australia. His 188* against Kumble and co will always be remembered. He was a very good player of spin and also I would describe him as "touch" player. Taylor was more successful than Anwar and achieved more in Tests where as Anwar could have achieved more in Tests. I would say Anwar was more stylish and elegant.

 

[Khaseer]

Well Taylor obviously achieved far more than Anwar in tests, but its hard for me to say he was a better bat.

If Anwar had a longer test career, I think he'd be comfortably better, but as it is I'd say Mark Taylor

 

[smash84]

Well Taylor obviously achieved far more than Anwar in tests, but its hard for me to say he was a better bat.

If Anwar had a longer test career, I think he'd be comfortably better, but as it is I'd say Mark Taylor

pretty much this

 

[Top_Cat]

Tubs. Anwar never had got himself into as long and deep a hole as Taylor did but I thought Taylor a far superior player of pace when the deck had something in it for the quicks.

 

[robelinda]

1991 tour of WI, Mark Taylor looked so assured against Ambrose, Walsh, Patterson and Marshall, i couldnt believe how well he batted. Batted 1000 times better than Steve Waugh did in 1995, there was zero let up from that amazing 4 pace attack in 1991, was a brutal series.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Along with Kirsten, probably the pre-eminent openers in the era of the best pace bowling in history. Would venture to say this is fairly justified given that no regular Test opener averaged close to 50 during the 1990s.


Apart from John Wright (who averaged 55 in 18 tests in the 1990s).
All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

In terms of your question, I'd go Tubby for tests and (like you said) Anwar for ODIs

 

[kyear2]

Opening the batting in the 90's was a nightmare, ask Atherton, and both players did so admirably. As a batsman, Taylor just over Anwaar, as a total player and Importance to his team, Taylor comfortably.

 

[doesitmatter]

let us see..

Mark Taylor : Captain and slip fielder par excellence and Good batsman..
Saeed Anwar : Good batsman..beautiful player to watch..supreme timer

Taylor for me..watch his brilliance here Brian Lara vs MARK TAYLOR - brilliant captaincy move 1995 2nd test Antigua - YouTube

Also he did it all with a smile..A classy guy

 

[Top_Cat]

Never once documented to have smiled at a QLD'er and would punch anyone in the mouth for suggesting otherwise, tbh.

 

[uvelocity]

played for northern districts too wag

 

[subshakerz]

Anwar was a better bat. Both are underrated players though.

Taylor at his best was a bit more assured against quality pace bowling but Anwar was hardly poor as his away series against SA in 97/98 and Australia 99/00 demonstrate. The flipside is that Anwar was more aggressive whereas Taylor was content to play out the opening bowling. I rarely saw Taylor put the pacers to the sword on the first hour.

Anwar was far superior against spin though, one of the best, and did impressively well against Warne, Murali and Kumble both home and away.

Of course, if we count captaincy, Taylor takes it, but as I distinctly recall that Anwar around the mid-late 90s was rated just below the level of Tendulkar, Lara, Waugh, not sure if Taylor was ever rated that highly. Warne himself considered Anwar one of the best, if not the best, openers he faced.