Best six hitters

marc71178 · Mar 27, 2004

thierry henry said:
As for the idea that Cairns is "just a hitter" and the likes of Klusener and Richards aren't/weren't, I'm going to try to let that go, because it's pretty obvious that that statement is merely a response to, and excuse for, Cairns' statistical prominence.

Are you trying to say Richards was "just a hitter"?

Did you ever see him play?

If he wanted he could dismantle any attack when in the mood.

Are you saying that Cairns could do the same, because I very much doubt it would happen.

Beleg · Mar 28, 2004

The loftiest six that I have seen hit was by Hansi Cronje, of all people at Sharjah, just before he got the axe.

thierry henry · Mar 28, 2004

marc, that last post had nothing to do with anything I said. I wasn't saying anything about Richards.

thierry henry · Mar 28, 2004

You mean the one at the top of the list?

No, I actually mean Michael Holding, because he has the best sixes/runs ratio:rolleyes:

Do you have to be so childish Marc?? Can you not accept the blindingly obvious, that Cairns is the best from a purely statistical point of view?

Mingster · Mar 28, 2004

marc71178 said:
Are you trying to say Richards was "just a hitter"?

Did you ever see him play?

If he wanted he could dismantle any attack when in the mood.

Are you saying that Cairns could do the same, because I very much doubt it would happen.

Like Thierry said, we are talking about 6s not about your obession with Richards' 'aura'. :rolleyes:

thierry henry · Mar 28, 2004

Exactly.

"I saw Richards play and he was real awesome" is not a valid argument when we're talking about something as straightforward as six-hitting, I'm afraid. Nor are assumptions about how "Richards could have hit 5 times as many sixes if he wanted to".

Eclipse · Mar 28, 2004

thierry henry said:
Exactly.

"I saw Richards play and he was real awesome" is not a valid argument when we're talking about something as straightforward as six-hitting, I'm afraid. Nor are assumptions about how "Richards could have hit 5 times as many sixes if he wanted to".

Well in that case Afridi has hit a **** load more sixes than Cairns in ODI's were batsman are really looking for them.

I cant say Richard's was the best but there is NO WAY you can say Cairns is the best ether. Sure you can make a good argument but so can I about another 5 or so players.

luckyeddie · Mar 28, 2004

Eclipse said:
Well in that case Afridi has hit a **** load more sixes than Cairns in ODI's were batsman are really looking for them.

I cant say Richard's was the best but there is NO WAY you can say Cairns is the best ether. Sure you can make a good argument but so can I about another 5 or so players.

Sehwag?

Gaijin-san · Mar 28, 2004

I've never hit a six in my life. Am I out?

Craig · Mar 28, 2004

luckyeddie said:
Sehwag?

And you can put Ricardo Powell in that boat as well.

Loony BoB · Mar 28, 2004

Swervy said:
the best way to look at this is...your team needs a 6 off the last ball..if they dont get it you die...who would you want to bat for your life in this situation. Gotta be King Viv on that one.Cairns would be close

Brian McKechnie

I agree that it's impossible to use stats to prove who is the best six-hitter. It's possible to use stats to prove who has hit the most sixes or to prove who has the best ratio of sixes:runs, or even who has the heighest average ranking in the two sets of statistics. Stats say how long a six is hit, too. Hell, use ratio and I'm sure you can find someone in the world who has hit a six on the only ball he ever faced in some kind of league or something. I mean, do you include only test sixes? What if there was a player at some time of the world that never played internationally but could hit a six better than anyone else? Stats can prove a lot, yes...

But they don't say which sixes were better. That's purely a matter of opinion. I say Cairns is the best six-hitter because when he hits a six, I feel it. Klusener also ranks highly for me. There's just this... feeling that their sixes have. Lance Cairns and ViV Richards also pulled off this feeling in their day. It was what these batsmen were all about.

In my opinion, the best sixes in the world have the most feeling, and those are the sixes that Chris Cairns hits when Shane Warne is bowling. There's a competitiveness between those two that I really enjoy watching.

They once showed a slow-mo on TV that didn't even show Chris Cairns, it only showed Shane Warne, waist-up. He ran up, bowled his ball watched it travel then he winced a bit, and you just watched him watch the ball go straight over his head and down the park, hand shielding his eyes as it flew. You never saw where the ball landed, I think it left the park, but I can't remember for sure. But when it landed, we were now looking at Shane Warne's back, as he had turned a 180 as he was tracking the ball. Then he turned around to look down the wicket at Cairns, a frown scrunching his eyes and a hand running through his hair, you could watch his mouth as he voiced with distain: "Bugger."

That ball, that six, that shot where I never even saw the batsman hit the ball - no, I didn't see the batsman at all - that six was the best six I have ever seen in my life. And, therefore, in my personal opinion, Chris Cairns hit the best six in the world, and therefore he is the best six-hitter in the cricket world that I know of.

Now, you tell me. Where is a factual statistic that shows how good a six is, and which was best to every single person in the world? There isn't one. It's all a matter of opinion.

luckyeddie · Mar 28, 2004

Loony BoB said:
Now, you tell me. Where is a factual statistic that shows how good a six is, and which was best to every single person in the world? There isn't one. It's all a matter of opinion.

Where's Richard when we need him?

PY · Mar 28, 2004

Loony BoB said:
Brian McKechnie

I agree that it's impossible to use stats to prove who is the best six-hitter. It's possible to use stats to prove who has hit the most sixes or to prove who has the best ratio of sixes:runs, or even who has the heighest average ranking in the two sets of statistics. Stats say how long a six is hit, too. Hell, use ratio and I'm sure you can find someone in the world who has hit a six on the only ball he ever faced in some kind of league or something. I mean, do you include only test sixes? What if there was a player at some time of the world that never played internationally but could hit a six better than anyone else? Stats can prove a lot, yes...

But they don't say which sixes were better. That's purely a matter of opinion. I say Cairns is the best six-hitter because when he hits a six, I feel it. Klusener also ranks highly for me. There's just this... feeling that their sixes have. Lance Cairns and ViV Richards also pulled off this feeling in their day. It was what these batsmen were all about.

In my opinion, the best sixes in the world have the most feeling, and those are the sixes that Chris Cairns hits when Shane Warne is bowling. There's a competitiveness between those two that I really enjoy watching.

They once showed a slow-mo on TV that didn't even show Chris Cairns, it only showed Shane Warne, waist-up. He ran up, bowled his ball watched it travel then he winced a bit, and you just watched him watch the ball go straight over his head and down the park, hand shielding his eyes as it flew. You never saw where the ball landed, I think it left the park, but I can't remember for sure. But when it landed, we were now looking at Shane Warne's back, as he had turned a 180 as he was tracking the ball. Then he turned around to look down the wicket at Cairns, a frown scrunching his eyes and a hand running through his hair, you could watch his mouth as he voiced with distain: "Bugger."

That ball, that six, that shot where I never even saw the batsman hit the ball - no, I didn't see the batsman at all - that six was the best six I have ever seen in my life. And, therefore, in my personal opinion, Chris Cairns hit the best six in the world, and therefore he is the best six-hitter in the cricket world that I know of.

Now, you tell me. Where is a factual statistic that shows how good a six is, and which was best to every single person in the world? There isn't one. It's all a matter of opinion.

Another New Zealander who loves to write..

:P

Welcome to CW mate. Wish I had seen that video you're talking about because you have to love it when Warne gets hit for six.

You make a valid point though. Probably the best six I've seen was when Notts came to play against my club for Wayne Noon's testamonial last summer. Paul Franks absolutely lamped a ball back over the bowlers head, I was sat 10 yards past the boundary rope enjoying a beer and watched as the ball sailed 30 yards directly over my head and into the next field.

Absolutely awesome strike!! But you can no way say that Franks is the best six-hitter purely because the bowling is not of a comparatively decent standard. There's sooo many factors that can be thrown in that it just cannot be decided.

Langeveldt · Mar 28, 2004

Loony BoB said:
Chris Cairns hit the best six in the world, and therefore he is the best six-hitter in the cricket world that I know of.

hehe i love it.. welcome to CW...

<------------------- By the way, i dont look much like that in real life... just incase your wondering...

marc71178 · Mar 28, 2004

thierry henry said:
Do you have to be so childish Marc?? Can you not accept the blindingly obvious, that Cairns is the best from a purely statistical point of view?

Wrong, purely on stats, Viv has more, thus must be better by your argument.

marc71178 · Mar 28, 2004

Mingster said:
Like Thierry said, we are talking about 6s not about your obession with Richards' 'aura'. :rolleyes:

Yes, and Richards had the ability to do it, but you forget that Test Cricket has changed, and Richards did it against great bowlers seemingly at will.

Mingster · Mar 28, 2004

marc71178 said:
Wrong, purely on stats, Viv has more, thus must be better by your argument.

Cairns is only 3 away from Richards' record. Hmmm and he has only played 58 Tests...

And 'marc', there are any great bowlers in Cairns' era? What a joke...

thierry henry · Mar 28, 2004

Wrong, purely on stats, Viv has more, thus must be better by your argument.

LOL, don't play dumb marc.

thierry henry · Mar 28, 2004

Well in that case Afridi has hit a **** load more sixes than Cairns in ODI's were batsman are really looking for them.

Agreed, I'd go with Afridi in ODIs as well. But I'm talking about tests.

I cant say Richard's was the best but there is NO WAY you can say Cairns is the best ether. Sure you can make a good argument but so can I about another 5 or so players.

I don't see how. The stats point straight to Cairns. No other player comes close to his combination of a)number of sixes b) frequency of sixes in test cricket.

thierry henry · Mar 28, 2004

And 'marc', there are any great bowlers in Cairns' era? What a joke...

oh no Mingster. Not only that, but Richards hit all 84 of his sixes off Hadlee, Lillee, Imran, Dev etc. Cairns has only ever hit sixes off Jacques Rudolph and other part time spinners. Not only that, but lucky Cairns has had the luxury of batting down the order and having the freedom to swing, since NZ have always been so well poised over the years when he's come in. Did you realise that every single non-statistical factor in this argument is actually in Viv's favour? :lol:

:rolleyes:

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