Finding out the best decade for test cricket: The tournament thread! 12 ATG XIs duke it out.

[Victor Ian]

Swagger is worth 10rpm and chewing gum another 5.

 

[trundler]

I AWTA. Sportspeople constantly get better and better in all sports so modern day players and teams are better than those from yesteryear. In short, the current NZ team must be the GOAT cricket team.

Only saving grace in this thread

 

[_00_deathscar]

Only saving grace in this thread

Got knocked out in the early rounds.

 

[stephen]

Can someone remind me the result of BG trophy 2003 where Ponting batted like Bradman.
Did they win the series ?

D, W, L, D.

I should remind you that Dravid averaged more than Ponting that series. 7 batsmen averaged over 50, 6 over 60 and 2 over 100 that series and there was still two results. Only one bowler averaged under 30 - Kumble who averaged 29.5. Every other bowler averaged >30. In fact there was only 3 bowlers who averaged under 40 - Kumble, Gillespie and Agarkar.

That series can't be used to prove much except that the batting on both sides was way better than the bowling. And yet there were still two results!

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Spare a thought for the mister man here. He has to sift through all this tripe looking for votes.

 

[sunilz]

D, W, L, D.

I should remind you that Dravid averaged more than Ponting that series. 7 batsmen averaged over 50, 6 over 60 and 2 over 100 that series and there was still two results. Only one bowler averaged under 30 - Kumble who averaged 29.5. Every other bowler averaged >30. In fact there was only 3 bowlers who averaged under 40 - Kumble, Gillespie and Agarkar.

That series can't be used to prove much except that the batting on both sides was way better than the bowling. And yet there were still two results!

So, basically 2 batsmen averaged 100 , yet neither could win series for their sides because bowling wasn't good enough.

 

[h_hurricane]

Spare a thought for the mister man here. He has to sift through all this tripe looking for votes.

He also has to put up with reading dozens of posts with tooth brush emojis.

 

[stephen]

So, basically 2 batsmen averaged 100 , yet neither could win series for their sides because bowling wasn't good enough.

Yeah but neither lost the series either.

Ultimately it doesn't matter in this match up because the bowling attack that the 30s have is enough to take 20 wickets and their batting is miles ahead of the 80s batting.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

He also has to put up with reading dozens of posts with tooth brush emojis.

Let's hope there's no need for a recount.

 

[kyear2]

And Bradman scored more hundreds than him in less than half the tests.

Even the "peak Viv" argument only beats Bradman in his worst series.

I'm not saying they are on the same level, I'm saying the gap isn't as wide for top 6 all time batsman as when comparing Marshall and Hadlee to Martindale

 

[kyear2]

I've said it once and I'll say it again, Viv is overrated and we don't make the concessions we make for him with any other batsman because #swagger.

Was an ATVG, 45 averaging bat outside of 1976. Fact

And to a certain point you are right. But so are Akram and Lillee to similar extents.

But it wasn't just the swagger, it was the ability to destroy an attack like no one else. To take in an attack and change the course of a game in a session.

But yes, Sir IVA is a little over rated.

 

[kyear2]

And Bradman scored more hundreds than him in less than half the tests.

Even the "peak Viv" argument only beats Bradman in his worst series.

Again you are missing context. And yes Viv isn't Bradman. But look at the quality of bowlers faced, nothing exists in a vacuum.

 

[Slifer]

The 80s West Indies were helped by the fact that they drew a lot. Their over rates were notoriously slow and if the pitch didn't have much in it they didn't really push for the win.

Stephen have you or anyone else bothered to research why several wi matches ended in draws?? It wasn't that they didn't push for wins. Back then, when matches were affected by weather, they didn't start early or do anything else to make up for time lost. I'll give you a few examples;

3rd test Wi in Pakistan 1986 most of 4th day lost
2nd test WI vs India 1987-88
First two tests Australia in west indies 1984
Etc etc

I use the above examples because had weather not affected those matches and had the time been made up, WI would've won those matches rather easily.

 

[sunilz]

Please declare the winner @mr_mister

 

[mr_mister]

Sorry boss I'm drunk again as it's Friday. Will have the results by tomorrow morning I swear

 

[The Sean]

Just going to spam now with multiple votes for '30s and '40s and take the chance you won't notice...

 

[stephen]

Stephen have you or anyone else bothered to research why several wi matches ended in draws?? It wasn't that they didn't push for wins. Back then, when matches were affected by weather, they didn't start early or do anything else to make up for time lost. I'll give you a few examples;

3rd test Wi in Pakistan 1986 most of 4th day lost
2nd test WI vs India 1987-88
First two tests Australia in west indies 1984
Etc etc

I use the above examples because had weather not affected those matches and had the time been made up, WI would've won those matches rather easily.

Of course rain was a problem. But equally the West Indies often would only bowl 75 overs in a day. Many of their draws were 80 overs short and with those 80 overs they might have seen a result. The 90s WIndies brought Hooper into the side in part to get through those overs.

 

[ataraxia]

But equally the West Indies often would only bowl 75 overs in a day.

heavily doubtful

 

[Slifer]

Of course rain was a problem. But equally the West Indies often would only bowl 75 overs in a day. Many of their draws were 80 overs short and with those 80 overs they might have seen a result. The 90s WIndies brought Hooper into the side in part to get through those overs.

Hooper debuted in the late 80s when WI were already on the decline. In any event, slow overrates or not, wi draws were due mostly rain affected matches. Nothing more nothing less. Did you even research the examples i gave??

 

[Victor Ian]

Has anyone got the stats, or a Cricinfo article on how slow 80s Windies bowled?