Its a great regret of mine that I did not see Viv or that era play. However, I have heard Viv did not play his own WI bowlers well at domestic level.
Having watched cricket predominantly in the 90s - where there were so many great fast bowlers, I would rate the following:
#1, Aravinda De Silva - quite comfortably imo. Record number of centuries against PAK despite playing for a rubbish SL side most of the time. Even hooked Imran for 6 for his first century. To dominate Imran, Wasim, Waqar, Zahid and Mahmood. Kind of puts him in a league of his own. I've heard a lot of pace bowlers say he was the best they bowled to.
#2, Martin Crowe - Great player of pace but did not DOMINATE Akram like De Silva did - he was a more defensive player. De Silva was a better stroke maker. There were times when he made Akram look amatuer. Still Crowe was excellent against pace.
#3 Ricky Ponting - Great player of pace. Could hook and pull brilliantly against them. Fearless too. Only reason I've got him at 3 is I felt he was a bit lucky not to face 90s pace bowlers regularly the same way De Silva and CROWE HAD TOO. Would of been interesting to see how he fared against prime Wasim if he faced him consistently. Generally when I saw him play he sometimes needed to settle in and then go after the pace attack. Whereas, guys like De Silva and Sanath could go after them from ball 1.
Honourable mentions:
1, Steve Waugh - solid against pace but not naturally gifted. He was not comfortable against short pitched bowling at all but seldom got out to it.
2, David boon - mentally very tough and great against WI attack
3, Mark Waugh - simply put a genius - played Akram brilliantly at times. Very underrated - should be in top 3 but I gave Punter the edge bcos of his attitude and ability to hook
4, Robin Smith - Square of the wicket was the best around along with Steve waugh at times
5, Adam Gilchrist - Attacking great pure striker but vulnerable to swing bowling imo and Flintoff exposed him around the wicket.
6, Saeed Anwar - Always thought he was brillaint against pace (and spin) but my Pakistani friend told me he was only good on flat pitches.
7, Richie Richardson & Carl Hooper.