Players who would suck now

[thierry henry]

I highly doubt Larsen ever bowled high 130s. Just look at his run up and action. And he bowled mostly seam up in ODIs, not like he was bowling heaps of cutters and slower balls.

 

[Flem274*]

a 19 year old Gavin Larsen in 2021 would probably look to build his career completely differently. He clearly has some bowling and batting talent, but I think today he would be a more traditional bowler and actively pursue adding pace to reach the 135kph range.

 

[Migara]

I highly doubt Larsen ever bowled high 130s. Just look at his run up and action. And he bowled mostly seam up in ODIs, not like he was bowling heaps of cutters and slower balls.

He did in one or two tests he bowled. He had subtle pace changes in his seam up deliveries. Only player to bowl in similar vein was Vaas. He was quite successful in tests and ATG in ODIs.

 

[thierry henry]

Well that's certainly the first time I've seen Gavin Larsen compared to Chaminda Vaas

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Well that's certainly the first time I've seen Gavin Larsen compared to Chaminda Vaas

From what I understand, Vaas' pizza delivery style was somewhat lacking compared to peak-Hell era Larsen. Certainly Larsen carried his nickname of the "Postman" (he (hahaha) always delivered) into his post cricket career. Well, at least until he became CEO of Cricket Wellington when this delivery became so flaccid it was almost reminiscent of a saggy postbag caught in a flood-hewn deluge.

 

[thierry henry]

a 19 year old Gavin Larsen in 2021 would probably look to build his career completely differently. He clearly has some bowling and batting talent, but I think today he would be a more traditional bowler and actively pursue adding pace to reach the 135kph range.

Or he would just give up bowling? He didn't have the attributes to be a "proper" international bowler. Might've just tried to do a Colin Munro.

 

[centurymaker]

seeing old and grainy videos of Bradman, the guy was ridiculous. Had a shot selection like no other at that time or even of the modern eras. Played the shots of an aggressive prime Tendulkar, Richards or Lara with far less risk. No one would average a 100 today but he would easily be the best player of the modern era by a margin and this is a swag but would average 70s.

Yes I agree.

Bradman would still average more than 70 and would have like 60+ 100s and 16000+ runs in 150 Tests.

As you go up in average, the difference is exponential. So him averaging in the 70s and next best batter in the late 50s is a huge margin, after playing 150 Tests.

 

[Migara]

From what I understand, Vaas' pizza delivery style was somewhat lacking compared to peak-Hell era Larsen. Certainly Larsen carried his nickname of the "Postman" (he (hahaha) always delivered) into his post cricket career. Well, at least until he became CEO of Cricket Wellington when this delivery became so flaccid it was almost reminiscent of a saggy postbag caught in a flood-hewn deluge.

Vaas was little up and down compared to Larsen in ODIs (and some ridiculously good performances in between). Their ERs are almost comparable with relation to eras they played. No other bowler managed to remain in the game bowling at 125k and still taking wickets as long as Vaas or Larsen.

 

[karan_fromthestands]

Yes I agree.

Bradman would still average more than 70 and would have like 60+ 100s and 16000+ runs in 150 Tests.

As you go up in average, the difference is exponential. So him averaging in the 70s and next best batter in the late 50s is a huge margin, after playing 150 Tests.

 

[karan_fromthestands]

I absolutely love to read stories about Bradman, Sobers, WG Grace, etc. and really admire a lot of guys from the past.

But I don't think Bradman would have an average of "more than 70 and would have like 60+ 100s and 16000+ runs in 150 Tests" in the current era or even in the 80s. The game has drastically changed, he was the best of his era, and we need to leave it to that.

 

[Nikhil99.94]

I absolutely love to read stories about Bradman, Sobers, WG Grace, etc. and really admire a lot of guys from the past.

((But I don't think Bradman would have an average of "more than 70 and would have like 60+ 100s and 16000+ runs in 150 Tests" in the current era or even in the 80s.The game has drastically changed, he was the best of his era, and we need to leave it to that.))

It’s Same like saying any 80s player like richards or gavasker wouldnt average 35 today cause the game has change drastically,and the game has change drastically since richards and gavasker retired but I wouldn’t say they wouldn’t average 35 today.No one was stopping bradman in 80s at least from averaging over 70,I would say he would average at least 80 in 80s ,same like saying Richard and gavasker would average 40 in today’s time and he would still be the best player of this generation by some distance.

 

[karan_fromthestands]

It’s Same like saying any 80s player like richards or gavasker wouldnt average 35 today cause the game has change drastically,and the game has change drastically since richards and gavasker retired but I wouldn’t say they wouldn’t average 35 today.No one was stopping bradman in 80s at least from averaging over 70,I would say he would average at least 80 in 80s ,same like saying Richard and gavasker would average 40 in today’s time and he would still be the best player of this generation by some distance.

If we had a time machine, we could have made realistic assumptions on this topic, but we don't. We just don't know how a player would have performed in a different era, it's just impossible. Mostly if a player has strong work ethics he'll do well as per the standards of that era, but we really can't have a concrete discussion beyond that. We can just make "assumptions".

 

[Nikhil99.94]

((If we had a time machine, we could have made realistic assumptions on this topic, but we don't. We just don't know how a player would have performed in a different era, it's just impossible. Mostly if a player has strong work ethics he'll do well as per the standards of that era, but we really can't have a realistic discussion beyond that.))

Right,but I wouldn’t say a player from 80s say richards wouldn’t average 35 today because of the fact game has changed drastically and it’s also true that the game has changed drastically in 80s and now.

 

[Red]

I absolutely love to read stories about Bradman, Sobers, WG Grace, etc. and really admire a lot of guys from the past.

But I don't think Bradman would have an average of "more than 70 and would have like 60+ 100s and 16000+ runs in 150 Tests" in the current era or even in the 80s. The game has drastically changed, he was the best of his era, and we need to leave it to that.

Just cos you say something in an authoritative tone doesn’t make it true

 

[karan_fromthestands]

Just cos you say something in an authoritative tone doesn’t make it true

LOL, why does it sound authoritative to you? And how is it false? How can we really prove that a player would have done well in a different era?

 

[centurymaker]

Incredible Hand and Eye Coordination
Unmatched Concentration
Insane Reflexes

He had all the key skills in abundance and more than any other batter. These would have ensured that he would have done better than anyone else in any era.

 

[karan_fromthestands]

Incredible Hand and Eye Coordination
Unmatched Concentration
Insane Reflexes

He had all the key skills in abundance and more than any other batter. These would have ensured that he would have done better than anyone else in any era.

That's something almost every other player has these days. Even someone insanely gifted like AB doesn't have an average of 70, 80 or whatever coz that's the kind of bowlers we have today.

 

[karan_fromthestands]

Also, this is my last reply on the topic(although I'll be glad to read any response on the topic), we'll keep going in circles and this will be a boring debate. We can all just believe what we want, it's a free world(sort of).

 

[centurymaker]

Ultimately the key difference makers in test batting are things like your levels of concentration, reflexes, coordination and hunger/determination (mental strength). If you have these, even with an average technique, you can really excel.

Meanwhile, you can have the best technique, the best strokes, the best whatever, but if you have lapses of concentration every now and then, you will struggle. or if you are not mentally ready to tough it out, you will fall behind.

I am just saying that Bradman had an unparalleled eye among other attributes. And he just wouldn't lose focus. Doesn't matter if he is on 20 or 200. So he would keep going and going, and not play any rash shots and because of his eye was able to react to ball movements off the pitch/air better than anyone else. He was just better in these fundamentals, so doesn't matter which era he plays, he would excel