England's best Oneday batsmen?

[deira]

one thing i dont understand is why didn't Knight play in the 1999 world cup? eventhough he was fit.

 

[Richard]

His form had been decidedly poor running into the tournament, and not just over 4 or 5 games either. 2 half-centuries in 17 innings is very poor indeed for an opener, even though he did make 7 scores of between 27 and 45 in the first 8 of them. It was such a disappointment, too, because he'd averaged 48 in his first 27 games.

It's hard to say it was an out-and-out poor decision, but it's just such a shame it ever had to be contemplated, because Knight, along with Graeme Hick, were head-and-shoulders above any other English ODI batsmen at the time (Fairbrother missed most of the ODIs between the 1996 and 1999 WCs).

 

[Richard]

Fairbrother.

He's back.




















Or should I say

Go away, racist

?

 

[iamdavid]

You could argue a case for any of Pieterson, Hick, Knight or Trescothick...

Although by the time his career is done KP will probably be the obvious choice.

 

[Perm]

Pietersen, easily.

Although it's hard to compare players across eras, Pietersen's record speaks for itself. None of the other candidates can match it. I'm almost certain his average and strike rate will drop down by the time he's finished his career, but he'll likely end up with an average of over 40 with a strike rate in the 80's, which is very good. Far better than anything else England have produced.

 

[sunilreddy]

Fairbrother
Trescothick
Pietersen

 

[Richard]

Nah, no way are either Fairbrother or Trescothick better than Knight.

And really, if Pietersen is qualified for selection, he's gotta be #1 really. He's either nowhere, or he's atop. And for me, I'd be happy enough with either.

 

[Jono]

If Pietersen were to never play another ODI again for England, would he be England's best ODI batsman ever?

No IMO, not yet. He almost definitely will go on to become it, but for now I still think its Knight.

 

[Richard]

TBH I'd not be unhappy to give him said crown already. I can understand anyone who wouldn't, but I reckon within, possibly no more than a year, it can be unequivocal.

 

[Perm]

If Pietersen were to never play another ODI again for England, would he be England's best ODI batsman ever?

No. 66 ODIs isn't really enough to judge a player on, IMO.

 

[Fiery]

No. 66 ODIs isn't really enough to judge a player on, IMO.

That's right. It has to be 100 and no less

 

[Unattainableguy]

Pietersen easily. And as much as I hate Trescothic, I'd have to say he's easily number 2.

 

[Matt79]

Pietersen. Then daylight. If there was someone that he was only marginally better than, I'd hold his relative lack of games against him for another year or two, but the gap is so big, that you can already give him the laurel IMO.

 

[Richard]

Pietersen easily. And as much as I hate Trescothic, I'd have to say he's easily number 2.

There's absolutely no way on Earth Trescothick is\was a better OD batsman than Knight. But why anyone would "hate" him is beyond me.

 

[tooextracool]

Knight for me followed closely by Trescothick and then Hick. Fairbrother's achievements are vastly overrated and while he was a fairly decent player theres no way hes remotely close to being the best English ODI batsman ever. Equally, if Pietersen's career lasts as long as it should, he will easily end up as the best ODI player England has ever produced.

 

[Jamee999]

Not sure. In my batting line-up though, it's

Knight
Trescothick
Hick
Pietersen
Lamb

Then probably Stewart would be at 6 to keep. But that says a lot about 80s England onwards, that 3-5 are all African by birth .

 

[Richard]

AWMOTA, but Trescothick'd take first strike.

 

[weldone]

M. Trescothick

 

[Goocheslamb]

Graham Gooch has a very high century rate

 

[weldone]

Kevin Pietersen