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Virender Sehwag vs Hashim Amla

Who was the better test batsman?


  • Total voters
    31

BazBall21

International Captain
Like comeon man, it really doesn't makes much sense to give much weightage to things like "he had 2 poor series against this opposition, his record would have suffered more by playing them more".
I said he might not have significantly improved against them. I didn't say he certainly wouldn't. But we can only go by the data we have. His average v Pakistan is lower than Gooch's average v Australia, but because Gooch faced his achilles heel team more, his career average&surface consistency pay a bigger penalty.
 

BazBall21

International Captain
I would also hold Gooch in Australia in slightly higher regard than Greenidge. They both had one tour there in their prime. Greenidge fluffed his and Gooch did well.

Gordon better v swing though for sure.
 

Coronis

International Coach
The downside to this argument, Greenidge got to chase down 80-90 run totals when the other side had mentally given up more frequently, thus making 40* or 50* and amping his average.
iirc Greenidge never got 40* or 50* in a 4th innings. Did get 214* tho

He did have a far higher percentage of not outs than Cook or Gooch though, the vast majority in the 4th innings.

If anyone is interested (may or may not be relevant) - RPI for all of them

Cook - 42.86
Gooch - 41.40
Greenidge - 40.85
 

Johan

International Vice-Captain
Like comeon man, it really doesn't makes much sense to give much weightage to things like "he had 2 poor series against this opposition, his record would have suffered more by playing them more".
Gooch>Greenidge is based on

  1. One had to face Peak Windies constantly, 24% of his innings are against the Mighty West Indies. Other had the privilege to not only never do so but also have amazing support at home.
  2. One had to face Terry Alderman in England
  3. opening in England is generally harder than opening in West Indies
with all these factors one averages 2 points less, and averaged more in the same amount of matches that it took for the other to retire, what's so crazy about going one over the other.
 

Johan

International Vice-Captain
iirc Greenidge never got 40* or 50* in a 4th innings. Did get 214* tho

He did have a far higher percentage of not outs than Cook or Gooch though, the vast majority in the 4th innings.

If anyone is interested (may or may not be relevant) - RPI for all of them

Cook - 42.86
Gooch - 41.40
Greenidge - 40.85
yeah this makes sense to me, Greenidge would naturally have more not outs than the other two due to the team he was playing for.
 

BazBall21

International Captain
The primary argument against Gooch will always be that he averaged below 40 for a long time but that was largely down to one opponent. What if Greenidge constantly played Pakistan and didn't get much better against them? He averages less v them than Gooch v Australia, but it has less impact on his career average because Gooch played against his least favourite opponent more frequently.
Following on from this, Greenidge in fairness could very possibly have improved his record v Pakistan if he played them more in his prime (albeit if he ran into peak Imran in God mode, that would have been tough).

Gooch though missed the 1982/83 tour of Australia which featured some good batting tracks&the 1986/87 Australian attack was very modest which he also missed. 1985 was the only meh Australian attack he faced.
 
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PlayerComparisons

International Captain
Tbh I don’t really mark Gooch down for his ashes record much anymore. The windies were the main challenge in his era and he succeeded against them. It’s just his overall output that’s a bit underwhelming.
 
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