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Sunil Gavaskar vs Wally Hammond

Who was the greater test batsman?

  • Sunil Gavaskar

    Votes: 17 47.2%
  • Wally Hammond

    Votes: 19 52.8%

  • Total voters
    36

kyear2

International Coach
Hammond over Chappel for me, Sunny vs Hammond is the split I struggle with, it just seems like Sunny was more skilled of the two, Hammond had the X factor and was more dominant.
What Chappell did vs WSC in the Caribbean was epic. That elevates him into that category for me.
 

kyear2

International Coach
Who here thinks Barry Richards makes it to an all time world xi?
Well let's see.

He made Cricinfo's 2nd XI, Martin Crowe called him the best post war opener, and he makes his second XI as well, Mark Nicholas also has him as his opener in his all time XI, the roar did an XI to face the Wisden's XI and he was the opener for that, David Gower rates him top 15 all time as a cricketer, Lillee has him as an equal to Viv Richards and Garry Sobers as the best batsmen he's bowled to, Pollock also has him rated equally as a bat to Garry Sobers, Bradman called him the best opening batsman he ever saw, he saw Gavaskar and Hutton.

All this before I have mentioned that between 1970 and '76 he was the best batsman in the world, in '78 when WSC needed an opener he was the one chosen, in a contemporary world XI in '75, Barry was the first name on the team sheet, do you know who else was opening in 1975?

You might say he didn't have a full test career, you might even admit that you don't know anything about him. But it can't be denied that he was an ATG, and one of the best and greatest openers of all time.

Triple hundreds in a day (vs Lillee, McKenzie and Lock no less), 8 hundreds before lunch, was one of only 3 batsmen who performed well during WSC, double hundreds vs Snow, Procter and Lillee.

He was the only opener post WWI who combined an excellent technique and the ability to handle the moving ball, with the ability to score quickly. He had the ability to destroy any attack and one of the top 5 truly elite batsmen of the past 50 years.
 
Last edited:

Coronis

International Coach
Could you provide the numbers? I just want to see.
Normally I would after work (though I could only do it for the seasons they played together rather than game specific..). However after work (another 2 hours) I’m going out for NYE. If nobody has anything when I wake up tomorrow maybe.

Off the top of my head I think Barry averaged around 50 in CC and Greenidge ~45
 

kyear2

International Coach
What were Barry’s stats and Greenidge’s stats when they played together in county cricket?
Gordon Greenidge was my first favorite player growing up, I had newspaper clippings and pictures of him on my wall, I lost my voice when he scored that last double hundred vs Australia.

The technique, the power, the one leg cuts and hooks, loved the gentleman and got to meet and know him a bit as an adult. He was a test Great and a bit underrated because he went on a little too long. Magnificent player and my childhood idol.

He wasn't the batsman that Barry Richards was.
 

OverratedSanity

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Gavaskar faced and succeeded against far superior bowlers. Hammond had a tremendous record against two great spinners but that's about it, he barely had to face any great pacers, the few good ones he did face (like Martindale) he failed against and his record is hugely inflated by a ton of runs against club standard minnow teams. The deeper you dig into Hammond's test record, the more fraudulent you realize it is. Wake up sheeple. Sunny wins this by a mile.
 

kyear2

International Coach
Who here thinks Barry Richards makes it to an all time world xi?
Well let's see.

He made Cricinfo's 2nd XI, Martin Crowe called him the best post war opener, and he makes his second XI as well, Mark Nicholas also has him as his opener in his all time XI, the roar did an XI to face the Wisden's XI and he was the opener for that, David Gower rates him top 15 all time as a cricketer, Lillee has him as an equal to Viv Richards and Garry Sobers as the best batsmen he's bowled to, Pollock also has him rated equally as a bat to Garry Sobers, Bradman called him the best opening batsman he ever saw, he saw Gavaskar and Hutton.

All this before I have mentioned that between 1970 and '76 he was the best batsman in the world, in '78 when WSC needed an opener he was the one chosen, in a contemporary world XI in '75, Barry was the first name on the team sheet, do you know who else was opening in 1975?

You might say he didn't have a full test career, you might even admit that you don't know anything about him. But it can't be denied that he was an ATG, and one of the best and greatest openers of all time.

Triple hundreds in a day (vs Lillee, McKenzie and Lock no less), 8 hundreds before lunch, was one of only 3 batsmen who performed well during WSC, double hundreds vs Snow, Procter and Lillee.

He was the only opener post WWI who combined an excellent technique and the ability to handle the moving ball, with the ability to score quickly. He had the ability to destroy any attack and one of the top 5 truly elite batsmen of the past 50 years.
Plus I need a complement to Hutton (the anchor) who can accelerate the innings, placing pressure on the bowlers and score vs anyone.

Oh, and I need a first slip.

Lots of thought went into this.
 

kyear2

International Coach
I think Hammond is one of the cases who'd be rated higher if he played today, the way everyone talks of him makes me feel there was something more about him than just the numbers.
He was supposedly an elegant and powerful player.

I somewhat imagine a more graceful Tendulkar?

My only issue with him was his great discomfort vs the WI pacers, but I still give him credit for even making the tour and taking them on.

Most back then wouldn't have.

Plus as an all round package he's close to unparalleled in the value he brings to a team.
 

Johan

International Regular
He was supposedly an elegant and powerful player.

I somewhat imagine a more graceful Tendulkar?

My only issue with him was his great discomfort vs the WI pacers, but I still give him credit for even making the tour and taking them on.

Most back then wouldn't have.

Plus as an all round package he's close to unparalleled in the value he brings to a team.
I wonder if he scored in first class against Lindwall or Larwood
 

OverratedSanity

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I think Hammond is one of the cases who'd be rated higher if he played today, the way everyone talks of him makes me feel there was something more about him than just the numbers.
He'd literally be rated lower today because stat nerds like me would keep pointing out he has the record of a minnow basher.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Hammond over Chappel for me, Sunny vs Hammond is the split I struggle with, it just seems like Sunny was more skilled of the two, Hammond had the X factor and was more dominant.
Chappell to me edges Gavaskar.

Though I will concede I may change my mind on another day.
 

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