Who is the Best "Cricketer" Ever?

[Coronis]

Why are you bringing female sport into this?

I thought we were over ***ism?

 

[uvelocity]

Imran Khan had been brought up so I thought that was all the rage.

boom

 

[sobers no:1]

Who then?

"he scores goals like runs in cricket" - bradman

 

[centurymaker]

"he scores goals like runs in cricket" - bradman

Some Indian hockey guy you have even mentioned in the past, right?

 

[Coronis]

"he scores goals like runs in cricket" - bradman

Not this again...

 

[Satyanash89]

Imran Khan had been brought up so I thought that was all the rage.

This had to hurt

 

[kyear2]

Going by pure stats, what Sachin, Kallis and especially Murali has accomplised is just as amazing to the Don's numbers. 800 test wickets at 22 as a spinner in the modern era and if Murali played all of his career in only familiar conditions as the Don did and we look at his numbers at home 493 wickets at 19, that just blows the mind. And this is not the discussion to bring up minnows, as Bradman did his best work agains them as well.
For Kallis 13,000 runs at near 60 playing on the difficult and fast South African pitches coupled with nearly 300 wickets is pretty impressive an unparrelled.

 

[fredfertang]

Would be interesting to see how Murali would have got on on uncovered wickets - I think dear old Jim Laker's record might have been in his sights

 

[Spikey]

so glad this poll has settled the kallis v miller debate

 

[harsh.ag]

so glad this poll has settled the kallis v miller debate

Only the debate of who is the greater cricketer. Not the debate of who is the greater all-rounder, and who would have in your team to add the perfect balance. That would be a much, much closer debate.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Only the debate of who is the greater cricketer. Not the debate of who is the greater all-rounder, and who would have in your team to add the perfect balance. That would be a much, much closer debate.

It hasn't even settled that, given there are other options aside from the two and the question is greatest cricketer ever.

 

[harsh.ag]

It hasn't even settled that, given there are other options aside from the two and the question is greatest cricketer ever.

Nah mate, I am pretty sure Kallis would top that debate if it was just the two of them as well. He would top that debate against pretty much everyone except Don, Sobers, and perhaps Imran, Marshall, Murali and Warne.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Surely there must be a Kallis v Miller thread somewhere?

 

[Red]

Going by pure stats, what Sachin, Kallis and especially Murali has accomplised is just as amazing to the Don's numbers. 800 test wickets at 22 as a spinner in the modern era and if Murali played all of his career in only familiar conditions as the Don did and we look at his numbers at home 493 wickets at 19, that just blows the mind. And this is not the discussion to bring up minnows, as Bradman did his best work agains them as well.
For Kallis 13,000 runs at near 60 playing on the difficult and fast South African pitches coupled with nearly 300 wickets is pretty impressive an unparrelled.

Having a bowling average of 22, when plenty of other players (peers) have an average of 20-25, is hardly "just as amazing" as having a batting average of 100 WHEN NO ONE ELSE HAS AN AVERAGE ABOVE 60 EVER.

 

[Coronis]

Having a bowling average of 22, when plenty of other players (peers) have an average of 20-25, is hardly "just as amazing" as having a batting average of 100 WHEN NO ONE ELSE HAS AN AVERAGE ABOVE 60 EVER.

I think he's saying in terms of longevity, and number of wickets taken. Hello McGrath.

 

[Red]

Longevity is something to be considered, but it isn't significant when judging a player.

Most of the cricketers of previous eras would have played on until they were much older had they been able to afford it financially. There's no reason why they wouldn't have maintained a high level of success.

 

[L Trumper]

Longevity is something to be considered, but it isn't significant when judging a player.

Most of the cricketers of previous eras would have played on until they were much older had they been able to afford it financially. There's no reason why they wouldn't have maintained a high level of success.

Besides most of those did play for 15-20 years.

 

[harsh.ag]

Having a bowling average of 22, when plenty of other players (peers) have an average of 20-25, is hardly "just as amazing" as having a batting average of 100 WHEN NO ONE ELSE HAS AN AVERAGE ABOVE 60 EVER.

Although not as amazing as Bradman, but the number of five-fers that Murali has is pretty mind-blowing. And surely comparing the averages of pacers and spinners as equivalent is not appropriate, right?

 

[Satyanash89]

Going by pure stats, what Sachin, Kallis and especially Murali has accomplised is just as amazing to the Don's numbers. 800 test wickets at 22 as a spinner in the modern era and if Murali played all of his career in only familiar conditions as the Don did and we look at his numbers at home 493 wickets at 19, that just blows the mind. And this is not the discussion to bring up minnows, as Bradman did his best work agains them as well.
For Kallis 13,000 runs at near 60 playing on the difficult and fast South African pitches coupled with nearly 300 wickets is pretty impressive an unparrelled.

Tendulkar record is quite remarkable for the ridiculous longevity... But Kallis' is even more so because of SA being the place where half his matches are played and the extra workload of bowling all those overs. No other specialist batsman/AR has played for so long at such a high level of quality

I know you mentioned that you didn't want this to turn into a discussion about minnows, but it's relevant when comparing Murali and Warne. Murali picked up over 1/8th of his wickets against BZ/Zim. Take out Zim and BZ and Murali and Warne's records are virtually identical. (624 wickets at 24.70 and 691 at 25.40)
I don't mean to try and diminish Murali's record, only pointing out that Warne has an equally amazing record statistically, which sort of unfairly gets overshadowed. Imo, they both have the most ridiculous bowling records stats wise that anyone has had in ages.

 

[rza]

This is the most balanced topic I have read here. The top 3 cricketers are unquestionable: Bradman, Sobers then Kallis. Anybody else is bias. Murali and Warne are unlucky though but they were not that superior to their fellow bowlers.