DoG's Top 100 Test Batsmen Countdown Thread

[ataraxia]

Can we all just mutually agree for Border to be replaced by Barry in the rankings?

 

[mr_mister]

Retiring in your prime is more selfish than playing on when you're past it.

Imagine thinking this

 

[Coronis]

If you don’t retire at the exact correct point, you’re selfish. Simple.

 

[Cabinet96]

Imagine thinking this

He's wrong to say it's more selfish. There's nothing selfish about making yourself available for selection.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

How the hell are you supposed to know you're batting in your prime.

 

[ataraxia]

How the hell are you supposed to know you're batting in your prime.

If you are sentenced for execution the next day.

 

[morgieb]

Retiring in your prime is more selfish than playing on when you're past it.

Generally, but the former is pretty rare, and I can think of circumstanes where they're so past it that it goes beyond "well they're still better than the oppo" to "actively hurting their team by playing on".

 

[OverratedSanity]

How the hell are you supposed to know you're batting in your prime.

I think batsmen generally know when theyre batting really really well

 

[OverratedSanity]

Imagine thinking this

Why is this controversial? If its selfish that a player refuses to retire because he still thinks he can contribute, it absolutely is selfish to retire knowing you still have a lot more to contribute to the team but refuse to do so.

Generally, but the former is pretty rare, and I can think of circumstanes where they're so past it that it goes beyond "well they're still better than the oppo" to "actively hurting their team by playing on".

Yes. I can also think of several players retiring at a point where I thought they were actively hurting the team by refusing to play on a few more years.Ftr, I dont actually think either are inherently selfish, just that both can be.

 

[morgieb]

Yes. I can also think of several players retiring at a point where I thought they were actively hurting the team by refusing to play on a few more years.

Hmmm....there's de Villiers, probably Sanga, and Hussey. Can't think of many else in the modern times. Arguably Cook but his median average would've had to be terrible for the last 18 months of his Test career.

Though granted I think the only example of the latter is the buffoon.

 

[Logan]

Gavaskar is the only Indian cricketer who retired at the time. When he retired, Indian fans were wondering why did he retire so soon? His last Test innings was 96 on a minefield of pitch in Bangalore. His last innings was a glorious 188 against the MCC attack that had Marshall and Hadlee in it’s ranks.

 

[ankitj]

Rayudu retried in his prime too.

 

[honestbharani]

So did Afridi. Multiple times in fact.

 

[h_hurricane]

Gavaskar is the only Indian cricketer who retired at the time. When he retired, Indian fans were wondering why did he retire so soon? His last Test innings was 96 on a minefield of pitch in Bangalore. His last innings was a glorious 188 against the MCC attack that had Marshall and Hadlee in it’s ranks.

'Gavaskar retiring in his prime' has been blown out of proportion. He averaged 45 in 26 tests after his 35th birthday. For sure very good but not legendary. Even in his last series, he averaged only 34 before that epic 96.

Great last innings does not mean someone is retiring in his prime

 

[srbhkshk]

'Gavaskar retiring in his prime' has been blown out of proportion. He averaged 45 in 26 tests after his 35th birthday. For sure very good but not legendary. Even in his last series, he averaged only 34 before that epic 96.

Great last innings does not mean someone is retiring in his prime

45 is great for an opener though - would easily deserve a place in any India side of any time.

 

[h_hurricane]

45 is great for an opener though - would easily deserve a place in any India side of any time.

That is undoubtedly very good and he is our best opener ever but hardly prime Gavaskar isn't it ? A good 10% drop from his overall career, neither did he face a great bowling attack which he beasted in his real prime.

 

[h_hurricane]

Fwiw, Clive Lloyd and Graham Gooch are two of Gavaskar's contemporaries who retired after a great last 5 years.

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

 

[Prince EWS]

'Gavaskar retiring in his prime' has been blown out of proportion. He averaged 45 in 26 tests after his 35th birthday. For sure very good but not legendary. Even in his last series, he averaged only 34 before that epic 96.

These stats do still certainly speak to someone who would've added to the side if he played on tbf. Maybe not "prime", but almost no-one actually retires in their "prime"; it's just an expression.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

I feel that people retire for reasons that they just don’t want to play anymore, are injured or don’t want to be away from home, or just anything that’s totally up to them.

So I guess on the flipside, who’s retired at the right time?

 

[_00_deathscar]

I feel that people retire for reasons that they just don’t want to play anymore, are injured or don’t want to be away from home, or just anything that’s totally up to them.

So I guess on the flipside, who’s retired at the right time?

Me. Took 5/3 and scored 32* in my last game. Epic.