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

[Zinzan]

Lara
Sobers
Hobbs

Tough on Hammond & Tendulkar, but hey we're at that stage.

 

[Red]

Surely the general consensus on CW is Viv > Lara?

 

[Coronis]

People who think Viv is "overrated" in tests…why?

Probably because they first saw him towards the end of his career

Kind of true, I understand he had an amazing purple patch, for his first 40 matches (1974-1981) he was pretty insane, 3629 runs @ 60.48 with 11 centuries. However throughout the 80's he definitely does not have what I'd call an ATG record. 81 matches over 10 years, 4911 runs @ 44.64 with 13 centuries. Pretty sharp decline especially when all of you say you consider longevity as one of the main things you look for.

 

[Zinzan]

Surely the general consensus on CW is Viv > Lara?

I've always found the question of best Windies Test bat excruciating, I mean there really is a decent argument for all 4 of Lara, Richards, Headley or Sobers... If forced I'd say Lara/Sobers are marginally ahead of Viv and Headley... but I wouldn't be arguing too much with anyone choose any of the other 3.

 

[Zinzan]

In regards to CW rating Viv > Lara, I'd be guessing that might be overall if you also factor ODIs, I'm sure it would be bloody even based purely on Tests.

 

[anil1405]

Perhaps older posters like Burgey might be able to confirm whether or not he could play the long match-saving innings if required.

Aggressive players turn a potential match-saving innings into match-winning knocks.

Not sure if thats a way (long match-saving innings) to judge Viv or for that matter any aggressive batsman just like how we cannot judge players like Boycott or Chanders or Dravid by their ability to score quickly when needed.

Yes AB (30 odd off 220 balls) has shown that aggressive batsmen can be competent to see off situations where they fight it out for a draw but then AB isn't in the same league as Lara or Viv when it comes to Test Cricket.

Maybe this calls for another debate...Viv has shown the same level of aggression in both formats whereas AB is just as good as Viv in ODIs but fails to replicate the same dominance in test cricket. Is it because he tends to hold back his aggression?

 

[Zinzan]

Agree with most of that and yes I do think it's fair to ask the same question of Boycott & Chanders in terms of doing more than just occupying the crease.

Viv was a legends of legends, there's no doubt about that, but if we're looking at batsmen who could wear both hats, & both take attacks apart and save tests where needed, I'd say Lara has that over him.

 

[ankitj]

Surely the general consensus on CW is Viv > Lara?

Not that clear cut.

​http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/cricket-chat/58357-who-greatest-west-indies-batsman-all-time.html

EDIT: That thread has some classic PEWS posting on Viv Richards.

 

[Zinzan]

Not that clear cut.

​http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/cricket-chat/58357-who-greatest-west-indies-batsman-all-time.html

EDIT: That thread has some classic PEWS posting on Viv Richards.

Interesting... assume people considered Test only. Pretty representative of how I'd rate them with Lara & Sobers a whisker ahead.

 

[ankitj]

Hobbs
Sobers
Tendulkar

For a format independent ranking I would put Richards ahead of Hobbs probably, but for exclusively tests I will go with this. Hobbs dominated his contemporaries more than anyone bar Bradman and Grace.

 

[J_C]

Hobbs
Sobers
Richards

 

[fredfertang]

I've no doubt that had he wanted to Viv could have batted like the proverbial spinster defending her virginity and saved the odd Test, but in truth he just didn't bat like that

 

[harsh.ag]

Round 6, The final 6!:

Jack Hobbs
Wally Hammond
Garry Sobers
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara

 

[Zinzan]

Sure Fred, but I don't think anyone's doubting what he could have done, just whether he did indeed show more than one string to his bow.

 

[Prince EWS]

Tendulkar
Hobbs
Sobers

 

[jimmy101]

Garry Sobers
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara

 

[marc71178]

Not strictly on topic but did someone seriously just claim that de Villiers is as good as Viv at ODIs?

On topic:

Hobbs
Sobers
Richards

 

[Zinzan]

Not strictly on topic but did someone seriously just claim that de Villiers is as good as Viv at ODIs?

Not entirely sure & personally I still have Viv ahead marginally, but I'm not sure it's quite the slam-dunk you seem to be implying. Big bats & short boundaries or not, what AB has achieved in the last 3 years in ODIs has been astonishing.. 58 games, close to 3000 runs @ 67 & with a SR of 117

 

[marc71178]

You missed out batsmen-friendly fielding restrictions and ball laws...

 

[Zinzan]

Granted, but the bigger point for me is AB's been almost as far ahead of his contemporaries as Viv was in his time. If he continues this for another 2-3 years, there's a very strong case that's he's on par or even above Viv.