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Battle of the Cricketers
- Thread starter Jamee999
- Start date
a massive zebra
International Captain
Lara at his best is incomparably the best batsman since Bradman (as shown against England in 1994, Australia 1998/99 and Sri Lanka 2001/02), and I know the legend of Richards is extremely strong but personally I wouldn't put him among the top ten batsmen of all time (nor would Gary Sobers or Charles Davis in his marvellous book, The Best Of The Best, for that matter). Richards simply has too many holes in his resume. Sure, he scored bucketloads of runs against weak teams like England and India, but did not have to face the mighty West Indies lineup and his record against the best attacks available at the time (Pakistan and New Zealand) is well short of world-class leave alone all-time great standard.
Considering that Richards is rated as the best batsman of his generation, it would be fair to say that, like Lillee and Warne, his actual performance falls a long way short of his reputation. Viv Richards is often rated as the better batsman, but it is worth noting that in the 22 five day matches from 1975 to 1980 in which they both played, Greg Chappell averaged 64.2 to Richards 55.7, even though Richards was at the peak of his career and was also facing a less hostile attack.
Considering that Richards is rated as the best batsman of his generation, it would be fair to say that, like Lillee and Warne, his actual performance falls a long way short of his reputation. Viv Richards is often rated as the better batsman, but it is worth noting that in the 22 five day matches from 1975 to 1980 in which they both played, Greg Chappell averaged 64.2 to Richards 55.7, even though Richards was at the peak of his career and was also facing a less hostile attack.
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Slow Love™
International Captain
I'd rate Lara comfortably over Richards, and I've seen quite a bit of both. Viv certainly was one of the most charismatic figures to ever play international cricket, and I sometimes wonder if that causes him to be overrated a tad - which isn't to suggest that he wasn't a marvellous batsman.
But IMO, Lara is capable of, and has been, better than Viv - not only in terms of the heights of his career, but in terms of his overall record, too. This, in addition to his team's massive reliance on him through much of his time in the side, and the pressure that creates, means my vote goes to Brian Lara.
But IMO, Lara is capable of, and has been, better than Viv - not only in terms of the heights of his career, but in terms of his overall record, too. This, in addition to his team's massive reliance on him through much of his time in the side, and the pressure that creates, means my vote goes to Brian Lara.
Anyway:
Barney Rubble
International Coach
Lara, because some sportsmen are just different. There might be better batsmen than him in the future, but there will never again be another batsman quite like Brian Charles Lara - one of a kind.
Jamee999
Hall of Fame Member
13-12 to....
BRIAN CHARLES LARA!!!
Who wins 3rd place in the competition, a magnum of champagne, and a cheer.
LARA! LARA! LARA!
Back to business then.
THE GRAND FINAL
GS Sobers (West Indies) (LHB,LFM/SLA/SLC)
DG Bradman(Australia) (RHB,LB)
You've got 24 hours, and I'll be announcing stuff about my next project tomorrow, if you want to discuss it with me: MSN. jamee9999 @ hotmail . com
BRIAN CHARLES LARA!!!
Who wins 3rd place in the competition, a magnum of champagne, and a cheer.
LARA! LARA! LARA!
Back to business then.
THE GRAND FINAL
GS Sobers (West Indies) (LHB,LFM/SLA/SLC)
DG Bradman(Australia) (RHB,LB)
You've got 24 hours, and I'll be announcing stuff about my next project tomorrow, if you want to discuss it with me: MSN. jamee9999 @ hotmail . com
archie mac
International Coach
I don't understand this, he was not a Test class WK so why is he the greatest cricketer of all time? The greatest footballer does not have to be a great defender and goal keeper to be considered the greatest. I imagine all most all of the greatest players were attacking types?Slifer said:
Bradman is the greatest, we will never see another player average 100
We might see someone ave. 58 with the bat and 34 with the ball.
Although I do have Sobers just behind Bradman
For your next great concept Jamee999 I thought maybe a battle of the best teams in history: Bradmans 48- Lloyds 84- May-56 etc.
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a massive zebra
International Captain
Bradman by a mile.
a massive zebra
International Captain
Kallis is around that mark average wise. However, fine cricketer as he is, I highly doubt anyone in their right mind would rate the South African that highly.archie mac said:
Something close to this was done a while back.archie mac said:
http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7736
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marc71178
Eyes not spreadsheets
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/45789.htmlarchie mac said:
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
For me, Sobers is the second greatest batsman, the greatest all-rounder, one of the greatest slip fielders ever, and one of only a few players who have managed to make all cricket in a decade or two their own.
Still, Bradman was so superlative and simply so much better than every other batsman that it is impossible to not rate him the greatest cricketer of all time. The criteria for me isn't about who could compete best in all the varied disciplines of cricket, but who would have the biggest impact on a team, who people would talk about for decades afterwards, who people would be proud simply to have caught a glimpse of at a ground when they were a kid, 50 years later, and who, quite simply, was the one guy you'd want in your team before any other. And for all those criteria the greatest ever is Bradman.
Still, Bradman was so superlative and simply so much better than every other batsman that it is impossible to not rate him the greatest cricketer of all time. The criteria for me isn't about who could compete best in all the varied disciplines of cricket, but who would have the biggest impact on a team, who people would talk about for decades afterwards, who people would be proud simply to have caught a glimpse of at a ground when they were a kid, 50 years later, and who, quite simply, was the one guy you'd want in your team before any other. And for all those criteria the greatest ever is Bradman.
archie mac
International Coach
Having a look at those results, I don't think it is such a good idea, I thought the 1948 side would win in a canter, but they were well off the pace.a massive zebra said:
archie mac
International Coach
I wonder why we don't rate him, his record is very good, but I would rate any number of A/R in front of him.marc71178 said:
Miller
Khan
Dev
Botham
Rhodes
Noble
Jack Gregory
Procter (not in order)
Slifer
International Captain
He was the greatest and note the most versatile cricketer in my opinion because u could hand Sobers a bat a ask him to bat anywhere in ur batting order and he would make runs. U could hand him a ball and he could give u spin (chinaman and orthodox) + pace. He was an excellent fielder particularly closer in. Mind u he was probably not the best at either trait but he was sufficiently efficient at all three (batting, bowling, fielding) to be considered the best cricketer of all time. IMHOarchie mac said:I don't understand this, he was not a Test class WK so why is he the greatest cricketer of all time? The greatest footballer does not have to be a great defender and goal keeper to be considered the greatest. I imagine all most all of the greatest players were attacking types?
Bradman is the greatest, we will never see another player average 100
We might see someone ave. 58 with the bat and 34 with the ball.
Although I do have Sobers just behind Bradman
For your next great concept Jamee999 I thought maybe a battle of the best teams in history: Bradmans 48- Lloyds 84- May-56 etc.