Brian Lara vs AB de Villiers

[PlayerComparisons]

Who would you pick against an ATG attack on a bowler friendly pitch?

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Lara, every day of the week.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Lara, every day of the week.

And a bazillion times on the weekends

 

[kyear2]

Was this supposed to be close?

 

[PlayerComparisons]

AB was better against pace while Lara was better against spin

 

[capt_Luffy]

AB was better against pace while Lara was better against spin

Nahhhhh...... I love ABD to death but that whole "Lara can't play high pace" was some derogatory ****

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Nahhhhh...... I love ABD to death but that whole "Lara can't play high pace" was some derogatory ****

Agreed that’s just @subshakerz who thinks Lara was weak against high pace.

I would still pick ABD against pace though I think

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

"High quality pace" and "High pace" are probably two different things.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Was this supposed to be close?

Eh, I think it's closer than the replies so far are making it out to be.

Obviously Lara overall the greater batsman easily, but de Villiers was a high ceiling player. Lots of trademark innings against good bowlers in tough conditions - vs Johnson in Centurion, 4th innings rearguards against spin in Asia or against pace in Australia.

Like, the answer's probably still Lara, but I don't think it's a crazy question.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Was this supposed to be close?

Why don’t you think it’s close?

 

[subshakerz]

"High quality pace" and "High pace" are probably two different things.

Yes. I would back ABD over Lara against high quality pace. Obviously overall Lara is a better bat.

I suspect Lara's weakness against high quality pace has to do with an eye issue he developed in 1994. After that, he struggled against Donald in SA, 2Ws in Pakistan, English quartet in England and Bond in NZ.

 

[Arachnodouche]

I did some digging earlier today but erased my post. Lara had obvious issues with McGrath but despite falling to him often, he also exacted reasonable toll off Aus in matches involving both. 3 hundreds both home and away, so it's fair to assume he scored or at least survived McG long enough to make all those runs. Also did well enough against Warne. No bigger challenge in modern cricket and not one that AbdV had to face on a consistent basis if ever. Did he have a bogey attack?

 

[subshakerz]

I did some digging earlier today but erased my post. Lara had obvious issues with McGrath but despite falling to him often, he also exacted reasonable toll off Aus in matches involving both. 3 hundreds both home and away, so it's fair to assume he scored or at least survived McG long enough to make all those runs. Also did well enough against Warne. No bigger challenge in modern cricket and not one that AbdV had to face on a consistent basis if ever. Did he have a bogey attack?

McGrath was fast medium at best. Lara had no issues with fast medium or spin.

Just with high quality faster pacers.

 

[Coronis]

McGrath was fast medium at best. Lara had no issues with fast medium or spin.

Just with high quality faster pacers.

He had issues with McGrath, but then who didn’t.

15 dismissals in 24 matches is pretty good.

Another fast medium bowler with a decent record against him - Andre Nel, 8 dismissals in 6 matches.

 

[Slifer]

McGrath was fast medium at best. Lara had no issues with fast medium or spin.

Just with high quality faster pacers.

As in Donald, Waqar and Wasim? Because if it's pace alone Lara has made runs vs express bowlers like Lee and fast bowlers like Gillespie, Ntini, etc. Even vs Bond, Lara averages 39 which isn't great but better than you know who....

 

[Coronis]

As in Donald, Waqar and Wasim? Because if it's pace alone Lara has made runs vs express bowlers like Lee and fast bowlers like Gillespie, Ntini, etc. Even vs Bond, Lara averages 39 which isn't great but better than you know who....

This average against X bowler is pretty meaningless on cricinfo… this also includes all the runs he scored against the other bowlers in Bond’s attack. With such wonderful bowlers as Astle and Styris bowling significant overs..

 

[kyear2]

He had issues with McGrath, but then who didn’t.

15 dismissals in 24 matches is pretty good.

Another fast medium bowler with a decent record against him - Andre Nel, 8 dismissals in 6 matches.

Yeah, Nel used to give him fits, and was usually a dick to boot.

 

[subshakerz]

He had issues with McGrath, but then who didn’t.

15 dismissals in 24 matches is pretty good.

Another fast medium bowler with a decent record against him - Andre Nel, 8 dismissals in 6 matches.

The 99 series gives Lara parity with McGrath overall. Otherwise McGrath owned him in 96 and had the edge over him in 95 and 2000.

 

[subshakerz]

As in Donald, Waqar and Wasim? Because if it's pace alone Lara has made runs vs express bowlers like Lee and fast bowlers like Gillespie, Ntini, etc. Even vs Bond, Lara averages 39 which isn't great but better than you know who....

Lee was fast but not high quality. Gillespie and Ntini were nippy but I don't think they qualify.

This average against X bowler is pretty meaningless on cricinfo… this also includes all the runs he scored against the other bowlers in Bond’s attack. With such wonderful bowlers as Astle and Styris bowling significant overs..

I agree. It doesn't tell us anywhere near a full picture.

 

[Slifer]

Yeah, Nel used to give him fits, and was usually a dick to boot.

Yeah but Lara conclusively put Nel to the sword so there's also that...