Best Batsman Besides Bradman (inactive players only)

[shortpitched713]

So this is something that I don't think CW has a consensus on. If I did the best bowler of all time, I'm sure I would get Marshall and McGrath leading the way ( I lean McGrath because I actually saw him in my time, but whatever ).

A lot of people say the BBBB is going to be Steve Smith. But one wonders, who exactly is/are the batsman(s) that he needs to surpass? What are the actual actual achievements / batting record of someone who fits such a description? As opposed to some impossible amalgamation, with the longevity of Tendulkar and the average of Barry Richards, etc.

So I've put all these bad mother****ers in a poll ( and yes, I'm sure I forgot some, and included some unworthy, etc. please don't take it personally ). Just mention their name, and if it's a reasonable shout, I'll add them in, kthx.

Also listen to this:

Angels sang out in a melodious bar, down from the heavens descended Tendulkar. And he gave a swing of the bat that a brain could rattle, into the head of Greg Chappell.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Voted Hobbs. Don't think Harvey and May should be in the poll as I can think of some I rate their equal or better who aren't included. Also am not sure if Weekes is the best of the 3 Ws.

 

[shortpitched713]

I'll go with Weekes. The man just belted the ball with such a combination of conviction and flair. Out of all the batsmen whose old footage I've been binging on, his has been the batting I've most fallen in love with (Sobers a close second). I wish there was an almanac of footage on him, I could watch it anytime.

 

[shortpitched713]

Voted Hobbs. Don't think Harvey and May should be in the poll as I can think of some I rate their equal or better who aren't included. Also am not sure if Weekes is the best of the 3 Ws.

Just say their names, I guess.

 

[Burgey]

Went for Sobers. Large number of tests, played from mid-late 50s til the 70s so adapted as the game changed and a brilliant average with it.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Graeme Pollock
Rahul Dravid
Victor Trumper
Walcott
Worrell

would do. Don't want too many names.

 

[CricAddict]

Graeme Pollock
Rahul Dravid
Victor Trumper
Walcott
Worrell

would do. Don't want too many names.

Rahul Dravid should not be near a conversation of BBBB. He was not even the best batsman in his team.

 

[Godard]

Impossible to decide between Hobbs and Tendulkar(both slightly above Viv for me, and more than slightly above Sobers and Lara). Tendulkar‘s longevity is seriously impressive(clearly more than Sobers), but Hobbs was good enough to master two different eras(not longevity perhaps but adaptability). Tendulkar perhaps played in more varying condition and statistically has the perfect home/away record, but Hobbs’ played on the toughest pitches out of any era and dominated his peers to an extent only surpassed by Bradman(relative to his generation).

 

[Godard]

Went for Sobers. Large number of tests, played from mid-late 50s til the 70s so adapted as the game changed and a brilliant average with it.

I think this is good way of bringing out Sober’s case, adaptability instead of longevity in the conventional sense.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Rahul Dravid should not be near a conversation of BBBB. He was not even the best batsman in his team.

He's better than several batsmen in this list.

The actual list should be 10 guys at max

 

[shortpitched713]

Graeme Pollock
Rahul Dravid
Victor Trumper
Walcott
Worrell

would do. Don't want too many names.

Done!

 

[Godard]

He's better than several batsmen in this list.

The actual list should be 10 guys at max

I propose the following:

Tendulkar
Hobbs
Viv
Sobers
Lara
G Chappel
Gavaksar
Hammond
Hutton
Headley

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

J.B Hobbs.Hobbs managed to do well against everyone in all types of pitches.And also played as long as it is possible for a batsman.

And top of all,he also managed to do dominate series.

 

[shortpitched713]

I'm not trimming the list, lol. That only makes it worse, as I'd rather have a couple of joke options in the eyes of some, than leave out anyone who someone in good faith would vote for.

 

[Godard]

J.B Hobbs.Hobbs managed to do well against everyone in all types of pitches.And also played as long as it is possible for a batsman.

And top of all,he also managed to do dominate series.

I wouldn’t say all types of pitches, since he didnt tour many countries which say Tendulkar/Viv/Lara etc did, but yes dominating series is one area where he has a definite edge over SRT.

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

I wouldn’t say all types of pitches, since he didnt tour many countries which say Tendulkar/Viv/Lara etc did, but yes dominating series is one area where he has a definite edge over SRT.

Hobbs managed to master playing in Matting,Uncovered wickets in England as well as in Australia,where it was virtually unplayable.The latter generations didn’t face those challenges too.

 

[Godard]

Hobbs managed to master playing in Matting,Uncovered wickets in England as well as in Australia,where it was virtually unplayable.The latter generations didn’t face those challenges too.

i agree that he perhaps played on the toughest pitches(that’s one of the reasons I rank him so high) , but if you maybe look at variety of pitches and conditions faced by a batsmen, I think some batsmen like Sachin/Viv have seen more.

 

[honestbharani]

Sobers.

To me, it goes...

Bradman
Sobers
Lara
Sachin
Viv

 

[Coronis]

I'm not trimming the list, lol. That only makes it worse, as I'd rather have a couple of joke options in the eyes of some, than leave out anyone who someone in good faith would vote for.

Nah should be a 3 man poll. Cbf choosing between those 3 right now, gonna have a nap and might decide after work.

I'll go with Weekes. The man just belted the ball with such a combination of conviction and flair. Out of all the batsmen whose old footage I've been binging on, his has been the batting I've most fallen in love with (Sobers a close second). I wish there was an almanac of footage on him, I could watch it anytime.

Also wow at voting for Weekes and even bigger wow at the reasoning behind it.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

We voted on top 50 batsman about a year ago.


The top 10 was:
Bradman
Hobbs
Sobers
Tendulkar
Richards
Lara
Hutton
Hammond
Gavaskar
Smith

Maybe make a poll of 8 with Bradman and Smith removed from those 10.