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Bob Simpson vs Matthew Hayden

Who is the better test opening batsman?


  • Total voters
    13

kyear2

International Coach
They're the two I choose, would probably go Haydos as he did it his entire career, but not a clear cut decision. Simpson the better all round cricketer though.
 

a massive zebra

International Captain
They aren't. Trumper is clearly the best. Simpson, Hayden, Lawry, Morris and Ponsford all are around equals.
I disagree. Simpson scored 3,664 runs @ 55.52 as opener which is well ahead of all other Australian openers. Morris had a great start to his career but then got worked out by Bedser and tailed off. Ponsford had a great debut series and an incredible final series but the middle of his career was pretty meh. Hayden had a major weakness against quality pace which was exposed early in his career and then feasted in a period of weak fast bowling stocks.
 

kyear2

International Coach
I disagree. Simpson scored 3,664 runs @ 55.52 as opener which is well ahead of all other Australian openers. Morris had a great start to his career but then got worked out by Bedser and tailed off. Ponsford had a great debut series and an incredible final series but the middle of his career was pretty meh. Hayden had a major weakness against quality pace which was exposed early in his career and then feasted in a period of weak fast bowling stocks.
Yeah, pretty much this.
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
I disagree. Simpson scored 3,664 runs @ 55.52 as opener which is well ahead of all other Australian openers. Morris had a great start to his career but then got worked out by Bedser and tailed off. Ponsford had a great debut series and an incredible final series but the middle of his career was pretty meh. Hayden had a major weakness against quality pace which was exposed early in his career and then feasted in a period of weak fast bowling stocks.
Only while looking at his opening runs. Simpson's MO record is kinda bad.
 

Coronis

International Coach
Only while looking at his opening runs. Simpson's MO record is kinda bad.
They aren't. Trumper is clearly the best. Simpson, Hayden, Lawry, Morris and Ponsford all are around equals.
**** me are you serious with this crap mate. Trumper’s opening record is more than kinda bad and yet you push for him as an opener every single time. You’re so ****ing biased and hypocritical its disgusting.
 

kyear2

International Coach
**** me are you serious with this crap mate. Trumper’s opening record is more than kinda bad and yet you push for him as an opener every single time. You’re so ****ing biased and hypocritical its disgusting.
Literally makes no sense.
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
**** me are you serious with this crap mate. Trumper’s opening record is more than kinda bad and yet you push for him as an opener every single time. You’re so ****ing biased and hypocritical its disgusting.
I am totally serious. The older the time the less importance I put on stats. Trumper's MO record looks much more impressive largely due to SA runs. He opened most of the times in FC, and so he did in his peak. And ofcourse, his peer rating is incomparable with the rest.
 

kyear2

International Coach
Then Khawaja is definitely around Hayden's level. Comparing as openers means to me who I will prefer to open, not to ignore their MO stint.
As opposed to how they actually performed as openers...

That literally makes no sense, but ok.
 

Coronis

International Coach
I am totally serious. The older the time the less importance I put on stats. Trumper's MO record looks much more impressive largely due to SA runs. He opened most of the times in FC, and so he did in his peak. And ofcourse, his peer rating is incomparable with the rest.
So basically you’re saying he was a minnow basher and a HTB.
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
As opposed to how they actually performed as openers...

That literally makes no sense, but ok.
So making runs only while opening is enough, no matter how poor a stint a batsman has in the middle order?? Like he a batsman averages 80 while opening in 30 games and 25 while in the MO in 60; you will rate him higher?? Opening runs are definitely more important, but not so much as to ignore the other ones. Atleast for me.
 

Coronis

International Coach
So making runs only while opening is enough, no matter how poor a stint a batsman has in the middle order?? Like he a batsman averages 80 while opening in 30 games and 25 while in the MO in 60; you will rate him higher?? Opening runs are definitely more important, but not so much as to ignore the other ones. Atleast for me.
If you’re rating him as an opener… yes. Seriously mate.
 

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