Someone said Sunny was the only A class opener to debut since WW 2, and I was just offering my opinion
Gavaskar v Barry Richards is another generational debate where folk are unlikely to change their mind. Nevertheless, it may be of interest to trace the shift in opinion over time, at least in England. Simon Wilde wrote a book entitled Number One, where he attempted to list the leading batsman and bowler in the world chronologically between 1768 and 1997. When the author arrived at 1976 he wrote:
Expert opinion appeared divided as to the identity of the world's best batsman: it was known his name was Richards, but there was uncertainty whether it was Viv Richards or Barry Richards. This avalanche of runs swung it in favour of the Antiguan. Over the next nine years, [Viv] Richards stood unrivalled.
Wilde had chosen Barry Richards between 1970 and 1975, as had most commentators at the time. Shortage of Test experience was never an issue.
Gavaskar wasn't in the conversation and Packer ignored him when approaching the world's leading players. But after the epic 221 at The Oval in 1979, Hutton raised a few eyebrows by claiming that Gavaskar was now the world's best batsman and a preferable batting role model to Viv Richards. Gavaskar's claim that he never gave his wicket away impressed Hutton. Barry Richards had done so frequently. But a moderate one-off season for Somerset in 1980 (average 34) didn't advance Gavaskar's cause in English eyes. Some felt he was another Boycott or Turner, just a bit more efficient at putting away the bad ball.
After struggling against West Indies' fast bowlers in 1983, as most had, Gavaskar sought the advice of a confidant, who suggested a change of plan - attacking them from the start. In the next Test in Delhi, still donning his flimsy skullcap, he hooked Marshall for four and six in the first over, reached fifty off 37 balls, and a hundred off 94. When Marshall bounced him from round the wicket he carried on hooking, eventually falling for 121 from 128 deliveries. In the next match at Ahmedabad Gavaskar blasted 90 off 120 balls. His final innings of the series was his last against these opponents, and he scored 236*. Word spread and Gavaskar's reputation soared. Botham was particularly impressed and resolved to try the same when West Indies visited the following year.
Meanwhile feelings of nostalgia and sympathy towards South Africans Richards, Procter and Pollock remained. They were viewed as victims of their government's policies rather than beneficiaries, with reputations if anything enhanced through absence from international cricket.
That changed after apartheid was dismantled and a new government took power. The old Springboks were effectively erased from history, with new player numbers starting in 1992 from number one Kepler Wessels. Attitudes hardened elsewhere. When Wisden asked 100 leading figures within the game to name their five cricketers of the 20th century, eleven of their selectors were South African. Yet South African cricketers managed only seven votes between them: 1.4% of the total vote. Four of those went to Graeme Pollock, with one to each of Bruce Mitchell, Colin Bland and Allan Donald. Nobody voted for Richards or Procter. Gavaskar received twelve nominations himself.
Martin Crowe was not one of the selectors but had described Richards as the greatest post-war opener and included him in his all-time World XI to open with Hobbs. By 2014 he had changed his mind and had Gavaskar partnering Hobbs. Cricinfo's twelve judges were kinder to Richards in 2010 when they chose him to open for their second team with Gavaskar.
More than perhaps any other batsman bar Trumper, opinion has remained sharply divided between those who saw Barry Richards bat and those who didn't. As that old generation disappears, Gavaskar's reputation continues to flourish as the father figure of a thriving modern Indian cricket scene.
