Michael Atherton vs Navjot Sidhu

[Johan]

Two openers I feel are pretty underrated in the grand scheme of things.

 

[DrWolverine]

Atherton

The unluckiest opener in the world.

10 ATGs in McGrath, Warne, Ambrose, Walsh, Donald, Pollock, Wasim, Waqar, Murali, Marshall had dismissed him 95 times (46.3%)!

 

[Johan]

Ambrose and McGrath each got him 17 times, so 34 in total but Atherton did have a ATG tour (510 runs in 9 innings, 56 avg and 2 hundreds) against Prime Ambrose and Walsh in Windies in 1994 so not all bad

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Ambrose and McGrath each got him 17 times, so 34 in total but Atherton did have a ATG tour (510 runs in 9 innings, 56 avg and 2 hundreds) against Prime Ambrose and Walsh in Windies in 1994 so not all bad

McGrath got him 19 times (in like 15 games?)

 

[capt_Luffy]

Dude just couldn't catch a break.....

 

[Johan]

McGrath got him 19 times (in like 15 games?)

rediff.com: cricket channel - Atherton averages 12 against McGrath

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Yeaaaaaah, poor guy lmao

 

[BazBall21]

I often wonder how much more Atherton could have averaged in a period like 2003-2012.

 

[DrWolverine]

He would have done better

 

[kyear2]

He had the toughest job and experience of any test player I can think of.

Opening in England is tough enough, in the 90's just added infinite layers of difficulty.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Okay, Atherton is definitely better but I think the distance is being exaggerated because he sucked against quality bowlers. To balance this out, @Migara

 

[Johan]

Okay, Atherton is definitely better but I think the distance is being exaggerated because he sucked against quality bowlers. To balance this out, @Migara

tbh he sucked against two people, Glenn McGrath (top 2) and Curtly Ambrose (top 7).........
........and happened to play majority of his matches against Windies and Australia, tho he did manage the 1994 tour against Curtly so not all bad.

 

[capt_Luffy]

tbh he sucked against two people, Glenn McGrath (top 2) and Curtly Ambrose (top 7).........
........and happened to play majority of his matches against Windies and Australia, tho he did manage the 1994 tour against Curtly so not all bad.

I am not saying all was bad or he was worse than Sidhu, he was clearly better. Just think that 8-3 majority of not close is a bit exaggerated.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Atherton

The unluckiest opener in the world.

10 ATGs in McGrath, Warne, Ambrose, Walsh, Donald, Pollock, Wasim, Waqar, Murali, Marshall had dismissed him 95 times (46.3%)!

Imagine if he'd done consistently well against that gang. He'd be the greatest batsman ever, no exag.

 

[Johan]

I am not saying all was bad or he was worse than Sidhu, he was clearly better. Just think that 8-3 majority of not close is a bit exaggerated.

True, Sidhu was quality as well, sadly a bit overrated against spin and a bit overhated against pace, had a glorious 97 against Imran/Wasim/Waqar in 89 and has two great knocks in Windies too.

shouldn't be allowed in England or Australia tho

 

[capt_Luffy]

True, Sidhu was quality as well, sadly a bit overrated against spin and a bit overhated against pace, had a glorious 97 against Imran/Wasim/Waqar in 89 and has two great knocks in Windies too.

Tbf a single person here overrates Sidhu, mostly to spin.

 

[Johan]

Tbf a single person here overrates Sidhu, mostly to spin.

Two

"Sidhu against spin was like Viv Richards against fast bowling"

 

[Arachnodouche]

*Shidhu

 

[capt_Luffy]

Two

"Sidhu against spin was like Viv Richards against fast bowling"

This is from which legend??

 

[BazBall21]

tbh he sucked against two people, Glenn McGrath (top 2) and Curtly Ambrose (top 7).........
........and happened to play majority of his matches against Windies and Australia, tho he did manage the 1994 tour against Curtly so not all bad.

Averaged above 40 v SA overall&overseas. Some titan efforts against them. He did well v some good Australian attacks before McGrath really got going. He had a very good tour of WI when Ambrose was in his peak and also scored heavily v an in-form Saqlain Mushtaq on the subcontinent.

He was no great player of quality bowling (too defensive v fuller lengths) and he had some very lean series towards the end but he didn't exclusively fail against it by any means. Generally clinical against relatively modest attacks on the rare occasions he got to face them too.

 

[Johan]

This is from which legend??

@PlayerComparisons