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Sunil Gavaskar vs Herbert Sutcliffe

Who was the greater test batsman?

  • Sunil Gavaskar

    Votes: 28 73.7%
  • Herbert Sutcliffe

    Votes: 10 26.3%

  • Total voters
    38

Johan

International Vice-Captain
Sutcliffe vs the Bodyline duo

Larwood: 870 @ 51.17
Voce: 1400 @ 60.8
Constantine: 297 @ 42.4
 
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Johan

International Vice-Captain
People not liking Gavaskar isn't a bad thing, he's a racist loudmouthed insensitive piece of trash, never thought his batting was selfish though.
 

capt_Luffy

International Coach
People not liking Gavaskar isn't a bad thing, he's a racist loudmouthed insensitive piece of trash, never thought his batting was selfish though.
Had issues for Dev (benched him once!) and Vengsarkar for egoistic reasons and never rated Doshi (might had been the best 80s spinner with the slightest of backings. Arguably was still) instead backing Shastri as a spinner (lol).
 

Johan

International Vice-Captain
Had issues for Dev (benched him once!) and Vengsarkar for egoistic reasons and never rated Doshi (might had been the best 80s spinner with the slightest of backings. Arguably was still) instead backing Shastri as a spinner (lol).
Yeah personality and very much batting wise he's the Indian Boyc
 

shortpitched713

International Captain
He makes a terrible impression to many Indian fans because in the greatest triumph of 83 World Cup, he failed and mostly was a passenger.

However, people don't separate that aspect of Limited Overa limitedness with his real value as a Test world beater. Because that format requires more than just instant gratification of a single tournament result, and to look at nuance of performance over time and against quality opposition to really understand matchwinning value.
 

kyear2

International Coach
100 percent correct statement.I can’t think Sutcliffe being more than 2-3 runs behind Hutton’s average,if you put Sutcliffe in Hutton’s time.
Hutton is no.2 after Hobbs but Sutcliffe is almost Hutton’s equal at no.3 spot Imho.
And I don’t think Hutton is good enough to break Hobbs/Sutcliffe partnership in ATG team.
I don't get where some persons here believe that Sutcliffe is even in the same tier as Hutton.

This narrative doesn't exist outside of CW.

Hutton is a legitimate contender for best after Bradman, one of a handful of legit contenders for an all time world XI spot and the greatest batsman of one of, if not the toughest era to bat.

Sutcliffe played in the absolute flattest era in the history of the sport, with the old lbw law and still scored as a glacial pace, while still being overshadowed by an aging Hobbs.

I find that context is totally missed with looking at averages for batsmen. There's nothing similar about the the conditions that Sutcliffe and Hutton faced

It's like Sutcliffe doesn't tick most of the boxes we look at.

Peer rating / best of era - No.
Tough batting era - No.
Dominated attacks - No.

The ultimate contrast is between Sutcliffe and Richards. One is a Wisden top 5 player of the century, a lock for an all time XI by anyone who saw him play and a man who changed sessions, games and series while taking on ATG bowlers in difficult conditions and he forged a dynasty. But some (though thankfully a few) would just look at the average despite one not ever doing any of those things, and rate him higher.

Hutton was considerably better, the mitigating factors aren't close imo.
 

Coronis

International Coach
I don't get where some persons here believe that Sutcliffe is even in the same tier as Hutton.

This narrative doesn't exist outside of CW.

Hutton is a legitimate contender for best after Bradman, one of a handful of legit contenders for an all time world XI spot and the greatest batsman of one of, if not the toughest era to bat.

Sutcliffe played in the absolute flattest era in the history of the sport, with the old lbw law and still scored as a glacial pace, while still being overshadowed by an aging Hobbs.

I find that context is totally missed with looking at averages for batsmen. There's nothing similar about the the conditions that Sutcliffe and Hutton faced

It's like Sutcliffe doesn't tick most of the boxes we look at.

Peer rating / best of era - No.
Tough batting era - No.
Dominated attacks - No.

The ultimate contrast is between Sutcliffe and Richards. One is a Wisden top 5 player of the century, a lock for an all time XI by anyone who saw him play and a man who changed sessions, games and series while taking on ATG bowlers in difficult conditions and he forged a dynasty. But some (though thankfully a few) would just look at the average despite one not ever doing any of those things, and rate him higher.

Hutton was considerably better, the mitigating factors aren't close imo.
I’ve changed my mind now. Sutcliffe and Hutton aren’t practically even, Sutcliffe is now easily ahead.
 

kyear2

International Coach
Sutcliffe got considerably less hype than the other pre-war England immortals. Hammond, Hobbs, Barnes etc. Can extend that to Hutton and Compton also, both debuted before the War. Even Frank Woolley and Peter May seemed to get more glamour and adulation than Herbert.
When they are talking about the great pre war batsmen it's the three H's that's elevated to a higher sphere. There's a reason for that.
 

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