Top Five Cricketers from each country

[stephen]

Looking over the full history of Australian cricket, the short list of "best players" probably is (in roughly chronological order):

Trumper
Bradman
Miller
Benaud
Lindwall
Davidson
Lillee
Chappell G
Border
Waugh
Warne
McGrath
Ponting
Gilchrist
Smith

If Cummins keeps his trajectory he'll be included in this list, but that's hardly a guarantee for a quick bowler.

Of those, Bradman, Miller, Warne and Gilchrist stand head and shoulders above the others in pure talent.

Of the rest who do you pick? Well it depends on what you are looking for. Border absolutely has claim based on the dynasty he left. He may not have been as talented as Chappell or Ponting (though that's debatable, he found himself playing more conservatively and selflessly than those guys because his team was rubbish).

Certainly Border would complete the set in one way. Bradman (batting), Miller (all rounder), Warne (bowler), Gilchrist (keeper) and Border (captain).

The only thing is that Australia has produced so many greats the competition is greater than it is for any country other than perhaps the West Indies.

 

[trundler]

I really don't give a continental what you think. I think it's plainly idiotic to put Tendulkar in the same class as WG, Ranji, Sobers, Richards or Border. The bloke did not transform, lead or innovate at any level for India or the game. To compare a twice failed skipper who refused to move a spot in the batting order and who played on two years too long for the sake of a personal milestone to the other blokes you mentioned is an absolute travesty. Tendulkar just went out and batted for himself for 20 plus years. He did it very well, but let's be honest, if he hadn't been born the game would be precisely the same as it is now. You can't say that for those other fellas.

Missed Worrell.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

I really don't give a continental what you think. I think it's plainly idiotic to put Tendulkar in the same class as WG, Ranji, Sobers, Richards or Border. The bloke did not transform, lead or innovate at any level for India or the game. To compare a twice failed skipper who refused to move a spot in the batting order and who played on two years too long for the sake of a personal milestone to the other blokes you mentioned is an absolute travesty. Tendulkar just went out and batted for himself for 20 plus years. He did it very well, but let's be honest, if he hadn't been born the game would be precisely the same as it is now. You can't say that for those other fellas.

Whatever , Tendulkar is the biggest cricket icon in last 25 years at least.

 

[mr_mister]

Warne/Lara?

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Warne/Lara?

Tendulkar
Warne

Akram
Lara
Murali

 

[Borges]

This is going to be a great thread; moulded in the best and enduring traditions of CricketWeb.
My boy vs your boy! Miyagi vs Miyagi! Bring it on!

Oh! And by the way: Murali >>> Warne.

 

[stephen]

Whatever , Tendulkar is the biggest cricket icon in last 25 years at least.

This is true. If Kallis, Ponting, Lara, Warne, Waugh, Steyn, Gilchrist or McGrath were Indian and Tendulkar English, the Indian player would be the biggest icon.

It truly means nothing.

 

[MrPrez]

South Africa:

Jacques Kallis
Graeme Pollock
Barry Richards
Mike Proctor
Dale Steyn

I'd imagine that's pretty straightforward. Tough breaks for Aubrey Faulkner, AB de Villiers, Shaun Pollock, and Clive Rice.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Of those, Bradman, Miller, Warne and Gilchrist stand head and shoulders above the others in pure talent.



The only thing is that Australia has produced so many greats the competition is greater than it is for any country other than perhaps the West Indies.

1. Trumper , Lillee , O'Reilly.. especially Lillee.

2. Australia > England > South Africa.

West Indies top 5 players won't be tough to pick .. Sobers , Richards , Marshall , Lara and Headley. And Worrell considering overall contributions.

 

[Borges]

Tautology: Greater AB >>> Lesser AB

 

[stephen]

1. Trumper , Lillee , O'Reilly.. especially Lillee.

2. Australia > England > South Africa.

West Indies top 5 players won't be tough to pick .. Sobers , Richards , Marshall , Lara and Headley. And Worrell considering overall contributions.

I don't think Lillee is necessarily significantly any better than McGrath, Lindwall or Davidson. McGrath has claim to being the best fast bowler outside Marshall. Certainly he's in my top 5 quicks - Marshall, McGrath, Steyn, Ambrose, Hadlee.

 

[stephen]

Tautology: Greater AB >>> Lesser AB

Agreed. De Villiers doesn't even belong in the conversation.

 

[mr_mister]

I still don't get what Marshall has done to make him objectively(in the eyes of 90% of this forum) the number 1 paceman ever ahead of Hadlee, McGrath, Akram, Steyn etc. But he's always held to that number 1 status.

Could it be because he's considered the best of his West Indies peers(and only just, surely), therefore he must be the best of them all?

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

This is true. If Kallis, Ponting, Lara, Warne, Waugh, Steyn, Gilchrist or McGrath were Indian and Tendulkar English, the Indian player would be the biggest icon.

It truly means nothing.

Same applies to English and Aussies Players of the past.

Sachin longevity is so special anyway.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

I don't think Lillee is necessarily significantly any better than McGrath, Lindwall or Davidson. McGrath has claim to being the best fast bowler outside Marshall. Certainly he's in my top 5 quicks - Marshall, McGrath, Steyn, Ambrose, Hadlee.

How is Warne indisputably better than O'Reilly and Grimmet?

 

[mr_mister]

How is Warne indisputably better than O'Reilly and Grimmet?

Grimmett's record is helped a lot by mauling South Africa. Against the top opponent of his era, England, his record is good but not great

 

[Borges]

How is Warne indisputably better than O'Reilly and Grimmet?

O'Reilly > Warne > Grimmet.
Murali greater than all three. Severally, not jointly.

 

[Red]

I still don't get what Marshall has done to make him objectively(in the eyes of 90% of this forum) the number 1 paceman ever ahead of Hadlee, McGrath, Akram, Steyn etc. But he's always held to that number 1 status.

Could it be because he's considered the best of his West Indies peers(and only just, surely), therefore he must be the best of them all?

His record in all conditions was phenomenal, and he dominated in the subcontinent.

Most rounded quick of all time.

 

[vcs]

I still don't get what Marshall has done to make him objectively(in the eyes of 90% of this forum) the number 1 paceman ever ahead of Hadlee, McGrath, Akram, Steyn etc. But he's always held to that number 1 status.

Could it be because he's considered the best of his West Indies peers(and only just, surely), therefore he must be the best of them all?

Statistically, he's better than them. The average + SR + consistency in all conditions stands out.

 

[ankitj]

This is true. If Kallis, Ponting, Lara, Warne, Waugh, Steyn, Gilchrist or McGrath were Indian and Tendulkar English, the Indian player would be the biggest icon.

It truly means nothing.

Get off your pet India hating track. If Warne was Pakistani and Imran was Australian, who do you think would be in Wisden's 5 cricketers of century? Aussies get their fair share of hyping up.