Best Batsman Besides Bradman (inactive players only)

[ankitj]

It's between Hobbs, Sobers and Tendulkar.

CW over the years has convinced me that Viv Richards is not in the race.

 

[subshakerz]

It's between Hobbs, Sobers and Tendulkar.

CW over the years has convinced me that Viv Richards is not in the race.

Another shortsighted opinion on this board influenced by a cursory reading of averages. Viv was to his era what Sobers and Smith were to theirs, the absolute top gun.

Just give them a few more years and they will have Kallis in the top ten ever.

 

[honestbharani]

Sobers is definitely #2 for me. Smith may get there if he retains his current level and it would still be close between them IMO but a

i challenge you to a stats fight in a tendulkar vs lara comparison thread...

 

[_00_deathscar]

Yet another thread...

 

[the big bambino]

You started the personal insults mate, not me. And all because I was arguing against your favorite old cricketer online. So you might want to visit that pharmacist first.

It be for Panadol after reading your excruciating posts.

Just out of curiosity how did you know Richards is my favourite cricketer?

 

[Chrish]

Just checked who voted for Gavaskar.. I should have known better.

 

[shortpitched713]

Sure, I agree, as Smith plays longer, this will be less of an issue.

As it stands, there is a notable imbalance in his record in favor of benefitting from the flat era.

All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Honestly, less than 3 points difference in average is not a huge benefit he's getting from the flat pitch era. That can even be down to normal noise. Also, I do not consider 2017 to be a flat pitch year, as average Runs / wicket were already down to the historical mean of 32.

In that case, he benefited not at all from the flat pitch era:

All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

 

[Prince EWS]

Glad this **** is inactive

Only ***ually.

 

[shortpitched713]

Another shortsighted opinion on this board influenced by a cursory reading of averages. Viv was to his era what Sobers and Smith were to theirs, the absolute top gun.

Just give them a few more years and they will have Kallis in the top ten ever.

I don't know about ever, but easily top 10 of the greater modern era ( 1970 - ) . His era adjusted run scoring is no less impressive than Tendulkar's. Tendulkar just did it for a little bit longer.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

1. Sunil Gavaskar
2. Gary Sobers
3. Sachin Tendulkar
4. Brian Lara
5. Viv Richards
6. Graeme Pollock
7. Len Hutton
8. Jack Hobbs
9. George Headley
10. Wally Hammond
11. Ranjit Singhji
12. Victor Trumper
13. Barry Richards

Excluded - Steve Smith and W.G "Arguably better than Bradman " Grace

These are the Only 15 candidates IMO.

 

[shortpitched713]

1. Sunil Gavaskar
2. Gary Sobers
3. Sachin Tendulkar
4. Brian Lara
5. Viv Richards
6. Graeme Pollock
7. Len Hutton
8. Jack Hobbs
9. George Headley
10. Wally Hammond
11. Ranjit Singhji
12. Victor Trumper
13. Barry Richards

Excluded - Steve Smith and W.G "Arguably better than Bradman " Grace

These are the Only 15 candidates IMO.

How about Arthur Shrewsbury though??

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

How about Arthur Shrewsbury though??

He was clearly behind WG.
Otherwise as good as anyone in the list.. So, he too deserve a place in the list.. I think.

 

[subshakerz]

I don't know about ever, but easily top 10 of the greater modern era ( 1970 - ) . His era adjusted run scoring is no less impressive than Tendulkar's. Tendulkar just did it for a little bit longer.

For me

Viv
Gavaskar
Chappell
Border
Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting
Sanga
Smith
Waugh

All ahead of Kallis.

 

[shortpitched713]

He was clearly behind WG.
Otherwise as good as anyone in the list.. So, he too deserve a place in the list.. I think.

Ok. Good to know. Unfortunately I can't add more poll options now, but thanks for the inputs. Especially, as it gave me an opportunity to read more into Ranjitsinjhi. Who was an absolutely fascinating figure.

 

[shortpitched713]

For me

Viv
Gavaskar
Chappell
Border
Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting
Sanga
Smith
Waugh

All ahead of Kallis.

Disagree with a bunch of Australians on the list as being better than Kallis. But anyway, don't want to go down that rabbit hole. Also, where is Miandad and Dravid?

 

[ZK$]

Kallis was definitely better than Border and Waugh.

 

[subshakerz]

Disagree with a bunch of Australians on the list as being better than Kallis. But anyway, don't want to go down that rabbit hole. Also, where is Miandad and Dravid?

Kallis was definitely better than Border and Waugh.

Border and Waugh were champs at times when bowling standards were super high. Notably better than Kallis.

Kallis and Dravid is a toss up. Kallis is better than Miandad.

Posters here are fond of giving Kallis a reputation he never had when he played.

 

[shortpitched713]

A reputation as a rock, and the lynchpin of a SA batting side? The key batting piece in a side that had as their main achilles (besides for quality spinner), middle order batting depth?

I dunno, I think the opposite is the case, and people far overstate the shortcomings of a career in which he was scoring a **** load of runs, in the most reliable possible manner, as his team asked him to do. During his career he was always talked about and considered as a great. Must have been due to his bowling, eh?

 

[ankitj]

Another shortsighted opinion on this board influenced by a cursory reading of averages. Viv was to his era what Sobers and Smith were to theirs, the absolute top gun.

Just give them a few more years and they will have Kallis in the top ten ever.

Heh, pretty much how I have posted about Viv Richards in past. I have just put him below Sobers, Tendulkar, Hobbs tier. He might just be the next one after them in stack rank. I haven't put him below Weekes or Sangakkara.

 

[_00_deathscar]

A reputation as a rock, and the lynchpin of a SA batting side? The key batting piece in a side that had as their main achilles (besides for quality spinner), middle order batting depth?

I dunno, I think the opposite is the case, and people far overstate the shortcomings of a career in which he was scoring a **** load of runs, in the most reliable possible manner, as his team asked him to do. During his career he was always talked about and considered as a great. Must have been due to his bowling, eh?

Surely no one argues he isn’t a great - just that he’s not in contention for best after Bradman.