sayon basak
International Debutant
Better cricketer overall?
-
Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
Brian Statham vs Bob Simpson
- Thread starter sayon basak
- Start date
Patience and Accuracy+Gut
State Vice-Captain
Simpson. Could bowl a bit. And from contemporary report most likely the best slip fielder ever, definitely in the Mount Rushmore of slip fielders.
sayon basak
International Debutant
Also captained AUS for 39 tests; averaged 54 as a captain and all ten centuries as a captain. Pretty underrated imo.
kyear2
International Coach
I generally don't include captaincy for a couple reasons.
Outside of Border never heard a consensus in someone being called a great captain. Not to mention a consensus on what makes a great captain, far less a list of great ones.
Very few players get the opportunity, and it's often a smaller percentage of the player's career.
Also can't swear to the impact. Some of the greatest teams had admittedly ordinary leaders who are then subsequently called great captains.
Do we look at winning percentage, social impact, man management, motivators, tactical ability, some combination of the above. Not to add that all but winning percentage is ridiculously subjective.
Coaches in most sports are rated purely on winning and championships, if we did that the list would look very differently.
Graeme Smith captained practically his entire career, and becuse of that alone many think he was a great one, but in reality there are many who see him as piss poor in the role.
So yeah, I just skip it.
kyear2
International Coach
But yes, Robert Simpson is very underrated.
A rarity at the top, a master at a secondary skill I rate very highly and a proficient 5th bowler, and a rare discipline for 5th bowlers as well.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
It's really close. I think the lead Statham has in the primary in just enough to be better overall. Could go the other way in a different day.
kyear2
International Coach
BazBall21
International Captain
It's arguable. Simpson's record as an opener is likely padded out a bit by era and career timing. I voted Simpson instinctively because of his all round package but I'd need to look into it in more detail to strongly back one guy or the other.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
In primary clearly for me. Statham was a gun bowler, Simpson's stats are a bit soft considering the era.
Coronis
International Coach
Cos Statham didn’t play in a bowler friendly era.
BazBall21
International Captain
Fair point. I hesitate a bit with Statham too because his record v Australia&WI isn't great. Unlike Snow's.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Was once the highest wicket taker and has a better record in flat WI than Trueman.
kyear2
International Coach
And averaging 50 as an opener has ever been easy in test cricket?
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Relative to era, it wasn't super hard. And no, I am NOT going to overlook Simpson's middle order stint.
Coronis
International Coach
Just like you don’t overlook Trumper’s opening stint. At least you’re consistent.
I mean from his era (ignoring the late comeback cos that kinda ruins all era stuff) the only guys with a decent amount of runs averaging over 50 were Barrington, Sobers, Kanhai and Hanif.
sayon basak
International Debutant
What about Statham vs Snow? Snow has a great away record, his 7-40 in Sydney against Australia might've been his best.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Statham for me. Much better longevity and better at home.
BazBall21
International Captain
Body of work - Statham
Maximum performance threshold - Snow.
BazBall21
International Captain
Exclusively in the 1960s, five players averaged above 50 and nine players averaged late 40s or above (min. 2K runs). Pollock and Walters didn't quite meet the 2k threshold but they ran riot when they played in the 60s.