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What would a modern player need to beat Bradman?

kyear2

International Coach
I would like to know when Sobers averaged 27 with the ball for a decade? One of the best fielders sounds better as Simpson and Bland were both better than Sobers
I recalled incorrectly it was 8 years, while averaging 63 with the bat.

Oh wow, you believe an Australian was better at something? I'm genuinely surprised...

From everything I've read and the ridiculous amount of videos I've searched for and watched, Sobers seemed to have been acknowledged as the best all round fielder of his day, but let's go with among the very best all round fielders. To quote, "A swift accurate slip fieldsman in the class of Hammond and Simpson", where he may surpass Simpson was in his versatility being equally astute at leg slip and short leg to Gibbs, cathing everything in his vicinity. To quote Sobers himself, he always placed himself where the ball was most likely to go, always wanting to be in the firing line, always wanting to be involved in the game.

With regards to Bland, while he was superb in the covers, don't think anyone would argue that specialists catchers, especially in the slips would have had a greater value and impact, especially in test cricket.

From 60 - 68 he averaged 67 with the bat and just under 30 with the ball.

In one of his best series he scored 722 @ 103, took 20 wickets @ 27 and hauled in 10 catches. Not that this was unprecedented in cricket, but example how he could take over a series. That overall impact is ridiculous.
 

Son Of Coco

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
A newish ball and a fair bit of movement either off the deck or through the air. Preferably both in opposite directions.
 

Patience and Accuracy+Gut

State Vice-Captain
I recalled incorrectly it was 8 years, while averaging 63 with the bat.

Oh wow, you believe an Australian was better at something? I'm genuinely surprised...

From everything I've read and the ridiculous amount of videos I've searched for and watched, Sobers seemed to have been acknowledged as the best all round fielder of his day, but let's go with among the very best all round fielders. To quote, "A swift accurate slip fieldsman in the class of Hammond and Simpson", where he may surpass Simpson was in his versatility being equally astute at leg slip and short leg to Gibbs, cathing everything in his vicinity. To quote Sobers himself, he always placed himself where the ball was most likely to go, always wanting to be in the firing line, always wanting to be involved in the game.

With regards to Bland, while he was superb in the covers, don't think anyone would argue that specialists catchers, especially in the slips would have had a greater value and impact, especially in test cricket.

From 60 - 68 he averaged 67 with the bat and just under 30 with the ball.

In one of his best series he scored 722 @ 103, took 20 wickets @ 27 and hauled in 10 catches. Not that this was unprecedented in cricket, but example how he could take over a series. That overall impact is ridiculous.
Not like you don’t think someone from Caribbean was better. Simpson was a better slip from what I know. Anyway, saying Sobers as The best fielder over Simpson or Bland is very very arguable.
 

bagapath

International Captain
Average 75+, and 60+ in all conditions as a batsman.

And of course as players Imran and Sobers have already beaten Bradman.
Botham/ Miller/ Kapil can be compared with Imran. Imran may win the comparison. But they are in the same league with Khan for sure.
Kallis can be compared with Sobers. Again, Sobers may win the battle. But Kallis is in the Sobers league.
Same with Murali. There is a Warne who can be compared with him.

There is no one in the Bradman league at all. Not even one name that can be close to him.

An all rounder with 4000 runs @60+ batting average and 200 wickets under 30 runs is a possible contender.
Or a bowler with under 20 average and 30 five fers.
Or a batsman with 10000+ runs @80+ batting average.
 

kyear2

International Coach
Not like you don’t think someone from Caribbean was better. Simpson was a better slip from what I know. Anyway, saying Sobers as The best fielder over Simpson or Bland is very very arguable.
What I'm saying is that he was versatile than Simpson and impactful / valuable than Bland. That's it
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Botham/ Miller/ Kapil can be compared with Imran. Imran may win the comparison. But they are in the same league with Khan for sure.
Kallis can be compared with Sobers. Again, Sobers may win the battle. But Kallis is in the Sobers league.
Same with Murali. There is a Warne who can be compared with him.

There is no one in the Bradman league at all. Not even one name that can be close to him.

An all rounder with 4000 runs @60+ batting average and 200 wickets under 30 runs is a possible contender.
Or a bowler with under 20 average and 30 five fers.
Or a batsman with 10000+ runs @80+ batting average.
I think the bowler would need to be sub 18/17 frankly.

That allrounder criteria may have been met at some point by Sobers.
 

Victor Ian

International Coach
Just Zthing it over combined disciplines and let fielding be a tiebreaker when close.

I've read that Bradman was about 4 standard deviations better than average. Pulling figures out of my ass, peak Imran as a bowler might be 2-2.5 and as a batsman .5-1 so combined he is 3.5. still doesn't make it.

Does anyone care to get the real numbers?
 

Patience and Accuracy+Gut

State Vice-Captain
Just Zthing it over combined disciplines and let fielding be a tiebreaker when close.

I've read that Bradman was about 4 standard deviations better than average. Pulling figures out of my ass, peak Imran as a bowler might be 2-2.5 and as a batsman .5-1 so combined he is 3.5. still doesn't make it.

Does anyone care to get the real numbers?
4.4 deviation for Bradman. Peak Bradman ofc even higher.
 

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