Heroes of the Heroes

[Qlder]

It's interesting that Godfrey Evans makes one of the few references to Don Bradman in these interviews.

Makes sense to me as most of the 1984 interviewed players would never have seen Bradman play, so he wouldn't have been a childhood hero to watch (just like Bradman wasn't a childhood hero for most of us, mine was Kim Hughes). Other interview questions relate more to peers they played with or against so again Bradman not considered

 

[Line and Length]

Time to look at 3 spinners and their views.

JIM LAKER
My Childhood Bowling Hero: Hedley Verity, Yorkshire’s wizard of spin whose left-arm deliveries could trick and trap the greatest of batsmen on the easiest of wickets. When I was eight, I had a magical day out at Headingley when I watched when I watched him take his 10 wickets for 10 runs against Notts.
My Childhood Batting Hero: George Senior was the batsman who lit up my youth with a precession of adventurous knocks that provided marvellous entertainment. He was a balding Bradford League pro who dented the reputations of many overseas stars with his belligerent batting.
My Idea of the Perfect Bowler: If we’re talking about speed it has to be Ray Lindwall who was a magnificent new ball bowler. He had great control of swing and movement and could produce a snorter from out of nowhere to unsettle the greatest of batsmen. If it’s spin, then the player I would pick is Bishen Bedi. He coupled his spin with superb flight variations. Both Lindwall and Bedi had perfection in rhythm and action.
My idea of the Complete Batsman: Sir Donald Bradman is the most complete batsman I have ever seen. Concentration, technique, a full range of textbook shots plus several of his own making the man had everything.

RAY ILLINGWORTH
My Boyhood Bowling Hero: I was in my teens when I first became aware of Australian pace bowler Ray Lindwall. When I first saw him in action I thought he was the best fast bowler I had seen and I have not come across a better one since.
My Boyhood Batting Hero: Len Hutton was every Yorkshire schoolboy’s hero in my generation and I was no different. I was just six years old when he first captured everybody’s attention with his magnificent 364 against Australia. Who would have dreamt that 13 years later I would be playing alongside him in the Yorkshire team?
My Idea of the Perfect Bowler: Ray Lindwall remains the closest I have seen to perfection. He had a perfect action and was intelligent with his variation of pace and strength.
My Idea of the Perfect Batsman: I stick with my boyhood hero, Len Hutton. He was the complete batsman on all wickets. He had excellent technique and he never used to let anything interfere with his concentration His discipline and determination were a lesson to all cricketers.

DEREK UNDERWOOD
My Childhood Bowling Hero: Fred Trueman. He was aggressive, determined, a good tactical bowler and, above all, very quick. His away swinger was a gem of a delivery that time and time again had batsmen reluctantly giving a snick to the slips.
My Childhood Batting Hero: Peter May and Colin Cowdrey shared top place in my affection. Both were pure artists who could play their strokes on all wickets. They could get the ball to the boundary off front or back foot and were able to drive past the bowler with clinical precision.
My Idea of the Perfect Bowler: Dennis Lillee was the bowler I admired more than any other. He showed immense dedication to come back after back injury that threatened his career. His pace, direction and competitive spirit made him a threat whatever the conditions. He has got guile to go with his speed and he can be as dangerous and intimidating with the old ball as with the new.
My Idea of the Perfect Batsman: If I had to choose a batsman to play for my life I would pick between Ian Chappell, Geoff Boycott and Basil D’Oliveira. If I wanted to watch a batsman for sheer brilliance it would be between Viv Richards and Barry Richards but with a gun to my head I would finally select Garry Sobers as the king. Sobers had it all – style, panache, authority and every stroke in the book. If there is such a thing as perfection then Sobers was as close to it as can be.

Tomorrow: Pace bowlers. Once again, sadly, only English players.

 

[Coronis]

It's interesting that Godfrey Evans makes one of the few references to Don Bradman in these interviews. He highlights The Don's concentration and I recall reading that this was one of Bradman's greatest strengths.

Yep he was the one batsmen who was able to combine consistent aggressiveness with that top level of concentration. This table courtesy of Charles Davis illustrates it perfectly.

 

[the big bambino]

Anything over 46 runs/100 balls are dead runs imo.

 

[Line and Length]

We complete this section with responses from 3 pacemen.

FRED TRUEMAN
My Childhood Bowling Hero: Harold Larwood was the bowler I used to hear so much about when I was a lad and he was my hero. I used to read about the great players in the newspapers I delivered every morning. It wasn’t until I became a Yorkshire League player that I began to take a real interest in other players and Ray Lindwall took over the bowler I most admired.
My Childhood Batting Hero: Sir Leonard Hutton, and not just because he was a Yorkshireman. He is the greatest batsman I have ever seen and no one has come near his artistry. His bat looked as wide as a barn door to bowlers and he had the knack of hitting the ball early or late as the situation demanded. He was a s light on his feet as a ballet dancer and could place his shots with pinpoint accuracy.
My Idea of the Perfect Bowler: Ray Lindwall, who was very fast yet had a medium-pace bowler’s accuracy and the ability to move the ball either way. He had a beautifully controlled run-up and a nice, easy action. It has been said that if Tchaikovsky has seen Lindwall approaching the wicket with the slow start and graceful acceleration coming to the point of balance and delivery, he would have written a symphony to commemorate him.
My Idea of the Perfect Batsman: It has to be Sir Leonard Hutton, who had the ability to score runs on all types of wickets and against the best bowling attacks. He was a true master.

JOHN SNOW
My Childhood Hero: Keith Miller. I fancied myself as an all-rounder and Keith was the player whose performances with bat and ball really captured my imagination. He could communicate with the spectators, giving them entertainment while at the same time pouring every ounce of effort into his game. There was never a dull moment when he was around. He was later superseded as my No. 1 hero by one Brian ‘George’ Statham whom I greatly admired for his consistency and nagging accuracy.
My Idea of the Perfect Bowler: Fred Titmus as a slow bowler and Fred Trueman and Dennis Lillee as pacemen. They all had simplicity of action and superb control. Each of them produced maximum effectiveness and all three were able to swing the ball away from right-handed batsmen.
My Idea of the Perfect Batsman: Garry Sobers who was blessed with all the ability and all the grace you could wish for. He could attack or defend or be purely Sobers in that he went his own sweet way with unorthodox strokes that left bowlers scratching their heads and wondering how to contain him. He had a full repertoire of shots that meant he was equipped to deal with any situation. Ha Barry Richards had the challenge of more Test cricket, I feel he might have reached the same heights and recognition as the genius Sobers.

BOB WILLIS
My Childhood Bowling Hero: Brian Statham, who was a wonderfully accurate, undemonstrative and totally dedicated bowler. He had marvelous partnerships for England with Frank Tyson and Fred Trueman and was always prepared to bowl himself into the ground for his captain and his team.
My Childhood Batting Hero: Garry Sobers. He was such a gifted and exciting player who could play unbelievable strokes in any conditions. Garry was a match winner with bat or ball and had a style and flair that made him the hero of any schoolboy lucky to see him in action.
My Idea of the Perfect Bowler: Dennis Lillee. He is effective in any conditions and in any situation and capable of turning a game with an inspired spell of bowling. He can even bowl fast leg-breals on a dead slow pitch!
My Idea of the Perfect Batsman: Peter May. He was quietly destructive but still pleasing to the eye with strokes that were always played with control and composure. There was almost a regal air about him at the wicket where he was totally commanding and looking to dominate the bowlers.

 

[Line and Length]

There must be something about Yorkshireman and their opinions. Obviously first impressions are lasting as both Illingworth and Trueman retained early heroes as their ideas of perfection in 1984.

 

[Line and Length]

There are other sections of this book of lists that may be applicable to this thread. "Finest of the Finest" has participants describing their most memorable achievement/performance and is a bit of 'blowing one's own trumpet' and hardly fits the title of the thread. However, the following chapter "Best of the Rest" has participants recalling the greatest performances they've seen by other players and is far more fitting.
If CW members would like me to to post some of these over the coming days simply respond with a 'thumbs up' response to this post.

 

[Smudge]

Some interesting stuff, L&L. Would welcome more for sure.

 

[Line and Length]

In this chapter from the book of lists, 75 Test Cricketers recall the greatest performance they’ve seen.

Four players nominated four different innings by Garfield Sobers

DOUG WALTERS: “Garfield Sobers gave a devastating display of batsmanship on his way to 250 runs for the Rest of the World against Australia at Melbourne in 1971-72. It was a commanding innings that revealed just why he is considered one of the finest cricketers of all time. He produced every shot in the book and also many of his own invention.”

JOHN EDRICH named Sobers’ century in the second innings of the second Test against England at Sabina Park in Jamaica in 1968. Edrich says “What made it so memorable was that huge cracks appeared in the wicket and at one end the ball either ran along the ground or took off.” The innings, an unbeaten 113, saved the match for the West Indies. COLIN MILBURN also named this innings as the greatest performance he’d seen.

KEITH FLETCHER recalls Sobers’ 183 for the Rest of the World against England at Lords in 1973. He noted, “He hit one six and 30 fours and gave a marvelous exhibition of violent yet controlled batting that revealed just why he is a legend of the game.”

BRIAN LUCKHURST remembers “Garry Sobers producing an incredible one-man show for Notts against Kent in a County Championship match at Dover in 1968. He was devastating with the ball, taking 10 wickets in the match including 7 for 69 in the first innings. Notts had to chase runs in their second innings and Sobers promoted himself in the order. He hammered an unbeaten 105 in 77 minutes to steer Notts to a seven wicket victory with ten minutes to spare.”

Three players, DENIS COMPTON, BILL EDRICH and BOB WYATT all nominated one innings – that of Stan McCabe. Compton says, “I will never forget Stan McCabe’s magnificent 232 for Australia against England at Trent Bridge in 1938. I caught him off Hedley Verity’s bowling but not before he had severely punished our attack with shots to all parts of the ground. My fingers stung for hours after catching him because he really let fly at the ball.” Edrich recalls, “This was the innings where skipper Don Bradman summoned his team from the dressing room and told them, ‘Don’t miss a single ball. You’ll never see batting to equal it.’ McCabe scored 232 out of 300 in under four hours.” Wyatt said, “It was an absolutely splendid knock , full of imaginative and beautifully weighted strokes.”

Tomorrow 4 greats from the Sub Continent nominate their choice of performances.

 

[kyear2]

In this chapter from the book of lists, 75 Test Cricketers recall the greatest performance they’ve seen.

Four players nominated four different innings by Garfield Sobers

DOUG WALTERS: “Garfield Sobers gave a devastating display of batsmanship on his way to 250 runs for the Rest of the World against Australia at Melbourne in 1971-72. It was a commanding innings that revealed just why he is considered one of the finest cricketers of all time. He produced every shot in the book and also many of his own invention.”

JOHN EDRICH named Sobers’ century in the second innings of the second Test against England at Sabina Park in Jamaica in 1968. Edrich says “What made it so memorable was that huge cracks appeared in the wicket and at one end the ball either ran along the ground or took off.” The innings, an unbeaten 113, saved the match for the West Indies. COLIN MILBURN also named this innings as the greatest performance he’d seen.

KEITH FLETCHER recalls Sobers’ 183 for the Rest of the World against England at Lords in 1973. He noted, “He hit one six and 30 fours and gave a marvelous exhibition of violent yet controlled batting that revealed just why he is a legend of the game.”

BRIAN LUCKHURST remembers “Garry Sobers producing an incredible one-man show for Notts against Kent in a County Championship match at Dover in 1968. He was devastating with the ball, taking 10 wickets in the match including 7 for 69 in the first innings. Notts had to chase runs in their second innings and Sobers promoted himself in the order. He hammered an unbeaten 105 in 77 minutes to steer Notts to a seven wicket victory with ten minutes to spare.”

Three players, DENIS COMPTON, BILL EDRICH and BOB WYATT all nominated one innings – that of Stan McCabe. Compton says, “I will never forget Stan McCabe’s magnificent 232 for Australia against England at Trent Bridge in 1938. I caught him off Hedley Verity’s bowling but not before he had severely punished our attack with shots to all parts of the ground. My fingers stung for hours after catching him because he really let fly at the ball.” Edrich recalls, “This was the innings where skipper Don Bradman summoned his team from the dressing room and told them, ‘Don’t miss a single ball. You’ll never see batting to equal it.’ McCabe scored 232 out of 300 in under four hours.” Wyatt said, “It was an absolutely splendid knock , full of imaginative and beautifully weighted strokes.”

Tomorrow 4 greats from the Sub Continent nominate their choice of performances.

It's a shame they revoked test status from those marches.

 

[capt_Luffy]

It's a shame they revolved test status from those marches.

Sobers really had some of his very best performances in those ROW matches.

 

[kyear2]

Sobers really had some of his very best performances in those ROW matches.

Bat and ball.

 

[subshakerz]

Bat and ball.

We should consider that when we evaluate Sobers' record in Aus that sometimes gets criticized, no?

 

[Starfighter]

It's a shame they revoked test status from those marches.

Only the England 1970 series had test status revoked.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Only the England 1970 series had test status revoked.

And the Australia 1971 one.

 

[Starfighter]

And the Australia 1971 one.

No AFAIK

 

[capt_Luffy]

No AFAIK

Just a quick search and it shows his HS vs Australia to be 163, not 251. So, probably yes.

 

[the big bambino]

The 71/72 ROW v Aus internationals were never assigned test status in the first place, let alone revoked. I didn't get to see the Sobers innings as Dad was driving us to Mildura at the time. I remember Pollock scoring 136 after being 101 not out over night. That innings was so good I thought he was going to score a thousand. But he was scratchy the next day.

The Sobers innings is the one that's remembered but Pollock's ton was brilliant too.

 

[Starfighter]

Just a quick search and it shows his HS vs Australia to be 163, not 251. So, probably yes.

No

 

[Line and Length]

As mentioned yesterday, we have 4 fine players from the Sub Continent nominating the greatest performances they have seen.

SUNIL GAVASKAR selects two innings for the greatest performances he has seen. The first is by G.R.Viswanath against New Zealand at Christchurch in 1976. Sunil says, "He showed tremendous discipline and courage in scoring 83 in difficult conditions in the first innings of a drawn match. He was at the wicket for nearly three hours and hit ten fours with those beautiful wristy shots at which he specializes.” Sunil then nominates Mohinder Armanath thus, “In 1983, Mohinder Armanath conjured 91 runs against the West Indies pace attack of Holding, Roberts, Garner and Marshall in the first innings of the fourth Test in Barbados. He hooked sixes of Holding, Roberts and Marshall during a stay of 203 minutes that deserved the reward of a century. It was batting at its best.”

IMRAN KHAN opts for an innings by Mohsin Khan. He writes, “Mohsin Khan compiled 70 runs when opening the batting for Pakistan against the West Indies in the Prudential World Cup semi-final at the Oval in 1983. It was a damp and uneven wicket and Mohsin had to face the full blast of a pace attack that had Garner, Holding, Roberts and Marshall sharing the bowling between them. It was truly a gutsy knock that also called for a lot of technique.”

DULEEP VENGSARKAR remembers an innings by Sunil Gavaskar thus, “Sunil Gavaskar scored 205 runs on the first day of the first Test for India against West Indies at Bombay in 1978-79. He reached his double century in just over six hours, hitting two sixes and twenty-seven fours. It was a splendid exhibition of controlled aggression and he was always in command against a powerful West Indies attack.”

SYED KIRMANI says, “My choice is a remarkable all-round performance by Ian Botham in the Golden Jubilee Test at Bombay in 1980. He scored a sparkling century and took 13 wickets. It was a highly impressive demonstration of his great versatility and proved he is a master with the bat and the ball.”

Tomorrow we’ll look at some memorable bowling performances that were nominated.