CW chooses the second greatest batsman ever redux, 100 men from 5 eras whittled to 1

[Zinzan]

Assuming most Aussies would go for Punter over Chappelli, but that's at a guess...

 

[Zinzan]

Greg Chappell
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Kumar Sangakkarra


Toss up between Chappell and Gavaskar, but Chappell was so important to Australia's winning record during the 70s. Chappell was to the batting as Lillee was to the bowling.

For example, from 1970 to 1980 he averaged 69 runs over 14 Tests against the West Indies.

Ooooh, no Rickster huh?

 

[anil1405]

Its indeed getting brutal as morgieb suggested.

Appears that Sachin, Lara & Viv are gonna take the top 3 spots in the round leaving Greg, Punter & Sunny battling it for the last 2 spots with Sanga having an outside chance.

This begs the question, who is Australia's second best test batsman? Greg or Punter?

 

[Zinzan]

This begs the question, who is Australia's second best test batsman? Greg or Punter?

I know some who would want Trumper, Ponsford & Border in that conversation... Wasn't a young Neil Harvey pretty unbelievable too in the first half of his career?

 

[OverratedSanity]

Ponsford isn't even close imo.

Chappell, Ponting, Waugh, Border, Trumper, Harvey are the only real candidates.

 

[harsh.ag]

Round 4, Heat 2:

Greg Chappell
Sunil Gavaskar
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Rahul Dravid
Ricky Ponting
Jacques Kallis
Kumar Sangakkarra

 

[Zinzan]

Ponsford isn't even close imo.

Chappell, Ponting, Waugh, Border, Trumper, Harvey are the only real candidates.

I think some hold Ponsford up there base on his incredible 2-3 year period in which he averaged over 100 in FC cricket IIRC...

Steve Waugh was a great fighter as we all know he fashioned a damn good Test record by the time he was done, but I can't say I've ever heard any Australia fan argue for him as their 2nd best bat as I have for the others I mentioned...

 

[ankitj]

Pollock didn't make it? Travesty.

 

[ankitj]

Greg Chappell
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Jacques Kallis (protest vote)

 

[Zinzan]

Pollock didn't make it? Travesty.

Agree, shame people couldn't look past his lack of test matches... anyone who's read a lot about cricket history, especially from former players would have voted him right up to the last 5 or 6 imo..

 

[ankitj]

Yeah, Pollock is one of the handful cricketers that I have lot of time for. Was up against stiff competition though.

 

[Burgey]

Greg Chappell
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Ricky Ponting

 

[honestbharani]

Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Ricky Ponting
Kumar Sangakkarra


EDIT: My bad, I had scrolled through Ponting's name.. Added him now ahead of Kallis.

 

[viriya]

Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Kumar Sangakkarra
Jacques Kallis
Viv Richards

 

[viriya]

Agree, shame people couldn't look past his lack of test matches... anyone who's read a lot about cricket history, especially from former players would have voted him right up to the last 5 or 6 imo..

This is supposed to be test only tho.

 

[watson]

Its indeed getting brutal as morgieb suggested.

Appears that Sachin, Lara & Viv are gonna take the top 3 spots in the round leaving Greg, Punter & Sunny battling it for the last 2 spots with Sanga having an outside chance.

This begs the question, who is Australia's second best test batsman? Greg or Punter?

Anyone over 50 is going to prefer Chappell, under 50 Ponting. If you read pre-WW2 literature then it's hard to go past Victor Trumper who captivated everyone except the pragmatists like Bradman.

 

[Brian Lara]

Gavaskar
Chappell
Lara
Tendulkar
Richards

 

[Zinzan]

This is supposed to be test only tho.

Yeah, choosing the 2nd greatest batsman to play. It's quite conceivable that person may have played less tests, especially in exceptional circumstances.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

Greg Chappell
Sunil Gavaskar
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Rahul Dravid
Ricky Ponting
Jacques Kallis
Kumar Sangakkarra

 

[AndrewB]

Richards, Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Sangakkara