Imran at his peak(bowling + batting): 1980-1987
Matches: 54
Innings : 70
Not Outs: 19
Total Runs: 2589
Average: 50.76
HS : 136
C: 5
F: 16
Total Wickets: 227
Average: 19.08
Strike Rate: 47.2
B-B: 8-58
5wkts: 15
10 wickets: 5
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Botham has NOWHERE CLOSE to this record in terms of 'batting and bowling' peak.
Imran's batting peak:
Matches: 51
Inings: 65
Not outs: 18
Total Runs: 2494
Average: 53.06
HS: 136
C: 5
F: 15
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Botham's batting peak was nowehre CLOSE to this.
Imran's bowling peak:
Matches: 35
Total wickets: 184
Average: 15.92
B-B: 8-58
5wkts: 14
10wkts:3
St/R: 42.2
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Botham's bowling peak was NOWHERE close to this.
Conclusion: Imran blows Botham outta the ballpark when it comes to cumulative bowling peak, batting peak and allround peak.
In anycase, a player isnt determined by his peak performance, his worth his determined by his overall performance and consistency. Imran had higher highs than Botham and Botham's lows were a helluva lot lower than Imran's too.
Err no, because Ponting has played many great innings. Laxman's 281 is better than any innings anyone in the world currently has played, with the possible exception of Brian Lara, but that doesn't mean he is one of the best batsman, because there are other players who have put in brilliant performances. Imran never played brilliant innings with the bat (with one exception), because he wasn't a brilliant batsman. Botham played many.
So you honestly mean to say you cannot find a single innings of Imran's that is a quality batting knock ? In that case, look harder.
You argued that Botham has 10-or so knocks the like of which Imran never even dreamed of playing and thus is much better batsman.
My counter is, Laxman has played 2 or 3 knocks, the likes of which Ponting never even dreamed of playing, thus Laxman is a much better batsman.
That is logically consistent.
Imran batted lower down the order because like i said, his beleif was that the team's potential could be maximised if some credible batsman stuck it out with the lower order and milked out as much runs as he could.
The idea that he was an extremely competent batsman is proved by the fact that he was excellent up the order as well. He averaged 54 with the bat at #5 and 61 with the bat at #6.
He simply chose not to bat up the order- which is why he has lower # of hundreds. But then again, unless you are talking about blazing geniuses like Sobers or Gillchrist, #6 and below traditionally have a lower century rate than # 1-5, simply because they get stranded with the tail.
As per Imran never matching Botham's 1981 ashes, i disagree.
Botham batted rather well that series - scored 399 runs @ 36.27 with 2 centuries and 1 fifties, including a legendary match where he took 10 wickets and scored a ton.
He also proceeded to take 34 wickets @ 20.58 with 3 five-fers and 1 10-fer.
Imran's best 'allround' series was against India- he scored 324 runs @ 64.80 with 1 century and 2 fifties and proceeded to take 40 wickets @ 13.95, with 4 five-fers and 2 10-fers. He also had a century and 10-fer in a match.
On both counts he overshadows Botham's best series- batting and bowling, but significantly so in the bowling.
If you adjust for the quality of the opposition, Imran still edges it in my opinion or at the least, its pretty close.
But the point is,Imran has very much matched botham's best performances.
Facts prove you wrong- Imran simply was a better batsman, bowler and allrounder than any of the three, particularly Botham.
if anyone is worthy of his place in the side as a specialist batsman, its Imran Khan, who had 50+ average with the bat for over 50+ matches, along with consistent performances.
Not Botham, who was erratic, scored double as many centuries as Imran but didnt average anywhere CLOSE to what Imran did. Centuries or no centuries, i will take a 50+ average batsman any day of the week over a 35-40 average batsman.
Especially considering the batsman in question batted lower down the order and thus missed a lot of opportunities, unlike Botham.
Not to mention,Imran's quality and Botham's hype was brutally exposed against the best team of their times- West Indies.
While Imran struggled to a 27 batting average, Botham bombed out with a meager 21 batting average. And while Imran was stellar with the ball with 21 bowling average, botham got his **** handed to him on a platter with a 35 bowling average.
There is no comparison really. Imran Khan owns Botham, lock, stock and barrell.
Actually, its bloody close between Imran Khan and Sobers as far as the greatest allrounder of all time goes- i will still give it to Sobers, but by a whisker.
After Imran, i would rate the next best as Keith Miller, followed by Kapil,Mankad,Botham,Pollock,Kallis,Hadlee,Cairns,Benaud and Greig. In that order.