DoG's Top 100 Test Batsmen Countdown Thread

[Slifer]

Aww man I was the hoping that Viv would have been ranked over Lara and Sobers. Still the best WI batsman imo; don't really much care where he ranks relative to non WI batsmen.

 

[ankitj]

Record of visiting batsmen in SA, England and Australia since 1990:

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

 

[Logan]

Record of visiting batsmen in SA, England and Australia since 1990:

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

Not surprised with Greame Smith being so high in the list. The best Test opener in the last 30 years.

 

[OverratedSanity]

His stats don't support this though. Nor does the very flawed sample I saw.of him. Possibly a case of judging him relative to his countrymen because he was leagues ahead of them vs pace and comparable vs spin? I know I have done the reverse with Kallis in the past, who I considered a significantly better player of spin than pace.

It just seem apparent watching him , rather than any statistical proof that he preferred pace on the ball imo.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Not surprised with Greame Smith being so high in the list. The best Test opener in the last 30 years.

He wouldnt be as high if his record in SA against those nations was included tbf.

 

[Logan]

He wouldnt be as high if his record in SA against those nations was included tbf.

Still averages better than other Aus/Eng/SA openers like Warner, Kirsten, Stewart, Hayden and Cook.

Underrated batsman. Doesn’t get the same attention as Hayden or Sehwag.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Still averages better than other Aus/Eng/SA openers like Warner, Kirsten, Stewart, Hayden and Cook.

Underrated batsman. Doesn’t get the same attention as Hayden or Sehwag.

I think you'd ideally pair one of the two, with Smith (or a Cook) for the ideal opening pair though (ignoring any right/left hand combos).

 

[sunilz]

Everyone rates Smith on this forum. He is better than both Hayden/ Sehwag when it comes to batting in all conditions.

One record for which he should be always remembered is captain with most number of innings victory.
Graeme Smith 22
Steve Waugh 14 or 15

 

[Logan]

I think you'd ideally pair one of the two, with Smith (or a Cook) for the ideal opening pair though (ignoring any right/left hand combos).

With the exception of Smith, most modern openers have been mediocre to bad in many countries.

 

[Logan]

Surprisingly for me, Gary Kirsten has a more complete record than the likes of Warner, Sehwag and Hayden.

Kirsten averages 35+ against every opponent.

Kirsten averages 40+ in every country except West Indies(25 in 5 Tests) and SriLanka(22 in 3 Tests).

Considering he played the majority of his career in the 1990s, that is a very good record for an opener.

 

[Migara]

His stats don't support this though. Nor does the very flawed sample I saw.of him. Possibly a case of judging him relative to his countrymen because he was leagues ahead of them vs pace and comparable vs spin? I know I have done the reverse with Kallis in the past, who I considered a significantly better player of spin than pace.

Sanga struggled against quality off breaks or any off spin bowler on a helpful track (barring Ajmal). His reputation comes from single handed destruction of Ajmal, whom all other batsmen struggled against. Sanga struggled against Gareth Batty, Swann, Ashwin and Harbhajan. Except for the first all others are quality bowlers, but he did play Warne very well.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Sanga struggled against quality off breaks or any off spin bowler on a helpful track (barring Ajmal). His reputation comes from single handed destruction of Ajmal, whom all other batsmen struggled against. Sanga struggled against Gareth Batty, Swann, Ashwin and Harbhajan. Except for the first all others are quality bowlers, but he did play Warne very well.

Even Sehwag wierdly gave him some issues at times. I've always believed he managed to completely dominate Ajmal because unlike the others who were conventional offbreaks, half the battle with playing ajmal was picking the doosra which sanga did brilliantly

 

[vcs]

I don't remember Sangakkara playing Warne very well. The 2004 series in Sri Lanka where Warne picked up heaps of wickets would have been the only time he faced Warne, right?

 

[Gob]

I don't remember Sangakkara playing Warne very well. The 2004 series in Sri Lanka where Warne picked up heaps of wickets would have been the only time he faced Warne, right?

Faced him in Estraya in the offseason. Played a couple of useful 70 odds iirc to save a game. Got bowled by Warne though

 

[Tom Flint]

Graeme Smith retired at 31 I think? This helps his average as he didn't have the 2 year drop in runs towards the end of his career that most other batsmen have

 

[AndrewB]

Graeme Smith retired at 31 I think? This helps his average as he didn't have the 2 year drop in runs towards the end of his career that most other batsmen have

33 (born Feb 1981, retired Mar 2014).

 

[ataraxia]

Graeme Smith retired at 31 I think? This helps his average as he didn't have the 2 year drop in runs towards the end of his career that most other batsmen have

Yeah I feel that this should be considered more when rating ATG players. People like Jack Gregory and Hedley Verity have benefited from a short career in their prime.

 

[Coronis]

33 (born Feb 1981, retired Mar 2014).

Quite a young age to retire for a top tier batsman.

 

[Tom Flint]

Ok my mistake

 

[Coronis]

Yeah I feel that this should be considered more when rating ATG players. People like Jack Gregory and Hedley Verity have benefited from a short career in their prime.

Ain’t gonna blame Verity for dying in the war.