Allan Border - How Good Was He?

[Burgey]

There's often talk on here about great batsmen, with the stars of the 90s and 00s dominating.

One who's often left out of the discussion is Allan Border. He's one of my great cricketing heroes. Here's why.

Cricket Web - Features: Our Cricketing Heroes - Allan Border

 

[Goughy]

The mother of a friend of mine said the only person she would cheat on her husband with was Border and that he made her weak at the knees. I didnt question it as I asumed it was a particularly Australian thing that I didnt understand. I also think that this is the thing about Border, he is particularly Australian and that doesnt always translate. Same with Steve Waugh to a certain extent.

When I remember to think about him I regard Border very highly, its just he doesnt spring to mind very often.

 

[The Sean]

I have it on good authority that he was the 38th greatest cricketer of all time.

AB is a massive personal hero of mine - I grew up in the 1980s so I know just how much he meant to Australian cricket. And his record, particularly when you look at the attacks he faced over a long, long career, puts him up there with the very best.

Legend. Legend. Dead set legend.

 

[Noble One]

Bowled some awesome left-arm tweakers when the pitch offered something.

Terrific cricketer, my early days of watching cricket was with Allan Border leading a group of highly promising cricketers (Tayler, Warne, McGrath). Tough as nails, I remember an ODI at the MCG in which he was hit in the face by Ambrose whilst batting. He simply picked up the ball, and tossed it back to Ambrose without hardly a flinch.

 

[aussie]

The perfect # 5 in the AUS ATXI behind Bradman/Chappell IMO.

 

[stephen]

The perfect # 5 in the AUS ATXI behind Bradman/Chappell IMO.

Especially if there is a (c) next to his name.

 

[Matt79]

Shiv Chanderpaul in post Lara Windies is probably the best recent equivalent, except a relatively better batsman AND captain.

Man was a rock, and a champ.

 

[stephen]

Border's average was really only dragged down by his performances towards the end of his career as well and only really against the high quality WIndies and SAffie attacks.

 

[aussie]

Especially if there is a (c) next to his name.

Hmm well i would have the (c) next to The Don. But i guess given AB the leardship responsibility & letting The Don just bat would be fine.

 

[Zinzan]

Border was quite a phenomenon to average 50 in test cricket in the era he played

 

[bagapath]

without a man of integrity like border at the very top, more greedy cricketers would have fallen for the matchfixers. when i was a kid i loved AB for his grit, determination and fighting spirit. as i grew older i have come to love his integrity, which i had taken for granted as a youngster, a lot more.

 

[bagapath]

Border was quite a phenomenon to average 50 in test cricket in the era he played

break down his record opponent-wise. he was an unadulterated champion batsman

 

[0RI0N]

Criminally underrated.
Christian Ryan wrote a very good article about him for cricinfo earlier this year.

edit: http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/414671.html

 

[Ikki]

Brilliant article Burgey. You really get a sense of Border in it. Just wonderful, really.

 

[Red]

Does AB have Parkinsons, or something similar?

 

[Spikey]

I know he missed the recent CA awards night cause of illness. He does seem very different but might just be the recovery from whatever illness he had

 

[Line and Length]

In March 1979 AB was playing in just his 5th Test (against Pakistan at the WACA). My wife and I were dining at an inner city hotel when we spotted a familiar figure at a table all on his own. "Where were his team mates?" we thought. I was debating if I should acknowledge him when another familiar figure asked if he might join AB. It was commentator Alan McGilvray. A legend of the future joined by a legend in his own right.
I might add that AB had a particularly good game - top scoring with 85 in the first dig and unbeaten on 66 in the second as we won by 7 wickets. There were two unbeaten centuries made by Pakistan players. In the first dig Javed Miandad was 129* and in the second Asif Iqbal 134*.
The game was not without controversy. Andrew Hilditch dismissed "handled ball" (see clip)

 

[Line and Length]

Sarfraz Nawaz may well have been appealing as a retaliation for Alan Hurst earlier running out (a la 'Mankad) Sikander Bakht.

 

[Burgey]

Sarfraz Nawaz may well have been appealing as a retaliation for Alan Hurst earlier running out (a la 'Mankad) Sikander Bakht.

That was actually the background to it. As I understand things

 

[Burgey]

Brilliant article Burgey. You really get a sense of Border in it. Just wonderful, really.