bagapath
International Captain
It is my firm belief that if anyone could score 10 centuries and claim 20 five-fers (or 20 centuries and 10 five-fers) he must be a God of cricket. Only one player managed to do that in 140 years of test cricket. If you relax the condition and make it 10 centuries and 10 five-fers still it is the same man on the list, all alone.
Ian Botham scored 14 test centuries and claimed 27 five wicket hauls in tests. Do not be fooled by the batting average of 33 and bowling average of 28 (which are also terrific by themselves).
You could expect Imran to run through any top order with his searing pace on any condition. And he would also be a tough batsman to dislodge, especially if his team is in trouble.
Hadlee is likely to dominate with the ball in every match he plays and bowl out the opposition on his own and also produce an innings of breathtaking stroke play once or twice in a series.
when it comes to match turning brilliance Miller and Kapil Dev are the kind of cricketers who would produce a spell that will take away the cream of the opposition or occasionally play a blistering cameo to turn a regular session into the most entertaining two hours of the year. Shaun Pollock would do the same, more with the ball and less frequently with the bat.
Sobers is the greatest batsman one could hope to see and he will show you the best stroke production possible at the wicket, and he would also produce occasional magic with his versatile bowling.
Kallis would match Sobers run for run, boundary for boundary, even if their styles are very different. His bowling was the perfect third seamer's act breaking partnerships at crucial points.
Ian Botham is the guy who will bowl out the opposition with his swing and bombast, and then bat like Adam Gilchrist scoring fast and big. And go back to take more wickets in the second innings. he is likely to do both in the match more often than any other cricketer in history. When he is not batting or bowling, he will pouch some blinders in the slips.
When another cricketer achieves the 10 centuries/ 20 five-fers or 20 centuries/ 10 five-fers combo, with a 30+ batting average and a 30- bowling average, then we will truly acknowledge what a champ Botham was.
Ian Botham scored 14 test centuries and claimed 27 five wicket hauls in tests. Do not be fooled by the batting average of 33 and bowling average of 28 (which are also terrific by themselves).
You could expect Imran to run through any top order with his searing pace on any condition. And he would also be a tough batsman to dislodge, especially if his team is in trouble.
Hadlee is likely to dominate with the ball in every match he plays and bowl out the opposition on his own and also produce an innings of breathtaking stroke play once or twice in a series.
when it comes to match turning brilliance Miller and Kapil Dev are the kind of cricketers who would produce a spell that will take away the cream of the opposition or occasionally play a blistering cameo to turn a regular session into the most entertaining two hours of the year. Shaun Pollock would do the same, more with the ball and less frequently with the bat.
Sobers is the greatest batsman one could hope to see and he will show you the best stroke production possible at the wicket, and he would also produce occasional magic with his versatile bowling.
Kallis would match Sobers run for run, boundary for boundary, even if their styles are very different. His bowling was the perfect third seamer's act breaking partnerships at crucial points.
Ian Botham is the guy who will bowl out the opposition with his swing and bombast, and then bat like Adam Gilchrist scoring fast and big. And go back to take more wickets in the second innings. he is likely to do both in the match more often than any other cricketer in history. When he is not batting or bowling, he will pouch some blinders in the slips.
When another cricketer achieves the 10 centuries/ 20 five-fers or 20 centuries/ 10 five-fers combo, with a 30+ batting average and a 30- bowling average, then we will truly acknowledge what a champ Botham was.
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