• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Kevin Pietersen vs VVS Laxman

Who was the better test batsman?


  • Total voters
    42

_00_deathscar

International Regular
If that is the criteria, Laxman is better than Tendulkar then.

Would like to see Laxman try to bully Steyn as KP did in 2012.
Sachin isn’t being discussed here because no one is seriously comparing VVS to Sachin.
KP is at a similar level as VVS, so as a tiebreaker or key factor, it’s a fair question.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Sachin isn’t being discussed here because no one is seriously comparing VVS to Sachin.
KP is at a similar level as VVS, so as a tiebreaker or key factor, it’s a fair question.
As pointed out, they are very close on this question of standout knocks. I even think KP is slightly ahead if we talk about a wider pool of top knocks. It's not some slam dunk in Laxman's favor.

The uncontested point in favor of KP is that he was generally more destructive than Laxman who only unleashed on select occasions and that to me is the key difference between them.

The other unarguable point is that Laxman had more of a cushion batting late in the orde with an all star lineup.

The only agreed point for Laxman is that he had a longer career in terms of years, which to me is not that big of a deal compared to these points.
 
Last edited:

BazBall21

International Captain
Thorpe too. He has a lot of hundreds after coming in with the team score below 100 three down. Some of them in spicy conditions. I could argue he was very clutch. Clive Lloyd was famous for successful counter-attacks when WI made a poor start etc.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
You didn't point this out. You just they are close without actually proving it. VVS has many more clutch knocks as well as being better at his best.
It's not just clutch knocks. It is standout knocks. And they are roughly in the same zone on this.
 

trundler

Request Your Custom Title Now!
It's not just clutch knocks. It is standout knocks. And they are roughly in the same zone on this.
I don't think they are but even granting that they're roughly equal on it (which is the only reason to rate KP highly), the fact that VVS is better by every other measure means VVS was better.
 

trundler

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Clutch knocks being different from standout knocks is just mental gymnastics too. The suggestion was that KP was a greater match winner/game changer than VVS and since this has been demonstrated to be false, we are shifting the goal posts yet again.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Clutch knocks being different from standout knocks is just mental gymnastics too. The suggestion was that KP was a greater match winner/game changer than VVS and since this has been demonstrated to be false, we are shifting the goal posts yet again.
KP is more destructive in general style of play. That has always been my main point. Please refute that.
 
Last edited:

trundler

Request Your Custom Title Now!
I suggested that Laxman is not greatly better than KP in that respect.

KP is more destructive in general style of play. That has always been my main point. Please refute that.
Sure he is but I don't think matters as much when VVS is just vastly better in general. I would use this as a tie breaker between two guys with careers and achievements that aren't so disparate.

Glad to see you abandon this nonsensical standout knocks being distinct from clutch knocks word salad at once though. If persisted with, it would have approached Kallis being selfish (compared to S Waugh) and Bumrah choking in 4th innings (compared to Cummins) as an embarrassing hare-brained brain fart.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Sure he is but I don't think matters as much when VVS is just vastly better in general. I would use this as a tie breaker between two guys with careers and achievements that aren't so disparate.

Glad to see you abandon this nonsensical standout knocks being distinct from clutch knocks word salad at once though. If persisted with, it would have approached Kallis being selfish (compared to S Waugh) and Bumrah choking in 4th innings (compared to Cummins) as an embarrassing hare-brained brain fart.
I watched Laxman's entire career and I never got the impression he is vastly better than someone like KP. I would hesitate to say that about Dravid or Tendulkar even. I find that idea ridiculous.

It is closer between them than you want to admit.
 

Top