Battle of Cricketers - CW's Favorite Cricketer

[pasag]

If Larwood wasn't burned by the English system at the peak of his prime he'd rightly be remembered as one of the all-time greats.

 

[fredfertang]

Rather than say it all again Mr Z I will simply refer anyone interested to my earlier offering

 

[Himannv]

Harold Larwood.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Round Two, Battle Fifteen

Sir Donald Bradman (1908-2001)

6,996 runs in 52 Tests for Australia; 28,067 runs in 234 first class matches
Best batsman of all time etc. etc. etc.

Daniel Vettori (1979-)

3,962 runs and 325 wickets in 100 Tests for New Zealand; 255 ODIs
Second New Zealand cricketer to 100 Tests; debuted at 18
New Zealand captain for the past three years
Began his career as a spinner who could bat a bit; now a batsman, captain and also leading spinner

Fourth and last wildcard play-off

Anil Kumble (1970-)

619 wickets and 2,506 runs in 132 Tests for India; 271 ODIs
Captained India 2008
One of only three bowlers to take 600 Test wickets
Has won at least two Tests against every Test nation; has won Tests everywhere except New Zealand

A. B. de Villiers (1984-)

3,902 runs in 58 Tests for South Africa; 96 ODIs
Has opened, kept wicket, and bashed runs a la Gilchrist...and is still only 26
No ducks in his first 78 Test innings

 

[BoyBrumby]

Vettori, seems a very level headed and together young(ish) man. As unquestionably a great player as he was, Bradman's qualities as a human being rather more open to debate, IMHO.

Kumble in the play-off. Kept on coming at you.

 

[TumTum]

Bradman
AB

 

[GIMH]

Vettori
-1 bouncecatch

 

[andyc]

Bradman and Kumble

 

[morgieb]

Vettori, largely because Bradman didn't seem like a good human being.

AB in the other one.

 

[Athlai]

Vettori is a gun bloke IMO.

Kumble is one of my favourite Indian players though I am an AB fan.

 

[Teja.]

Vettori
Kumble

 

[_Ed_]

Vettori.

 

[pasag]

Vettori, largely because Bradman didn't seem like a good human being.

AB in the other one.

Not true, just because he had personality clashes with some teammates doesn't make him a poor human being at all. This seems like a myth that's getting out of control.

Anyway, something very likeable in Vettori and Kumble for the second one

 

[Somerset]

Highly admire Daniel Vettori but I have to go against patriotism and vote for Bradman. AB in the second.

 

[andyc]

Not true, just because he had personality clashes with some teammates doesn't make him a poor human being at all. This seems like a myth that's getting out of control.

Anyway, something very likeable in Vettori and Kumble for the second one

Indeed. Don't think many poor human beings spent their last years writing letters in response to pretty much every piece of fan mail received.

 

[jondavluc]

Donald Bradman
A. B. de Villiers

 

[Dasa]

Vettori
Kumble

 

[vic_orthdox]

Dan Vettori.
AB De Villiers.

 

[age_master]

Bradman
AB de Villiers

 

[Nate]

Bradman and
de Villiers