Geoffrey Boycott vs Virat Kohli

[PlayerComparisons]

Virat Boycott

 

[BazBall21]

Can see the reasoning, and I generally prefer slower scoring openers to wrung out the life of of bowlers, just not selfish pricks like Boycott. Mine is a Boycott only problem.
In Harvey's time, two touring countries were challenging. He is legit one of the Greatest ever in SA (though played relatively milder attacks), but in that Era where England were pretty much the best team, his 34 average in England is a little on the lower side for me.

Harvey tailing off once England recovered from the War is a drawback. He was still good in the second half of his career but his dominance came early.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

It’ll probably take another really poor year for Kohli for this to become a legit comparison although Kohli will have better longevity

 

[Coronis]

It’ll probably take another really poor year for Kohli for this to become a legit comparison although Kohli will have better longevity

In matches perhaps, but Boycott had a test career spanning 18 years.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

In matches perhaps, but Boycott had a test career spanning 18 years.

Boycott actually missed a lot of games so it was basically 11 years. Availability is extremely important in real life.

 

[Johan]

His 3 year ban was more or less board politics and Boycott being a ****, not really anything to do with Batsmenship.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Guess he has no one to blame but himself I guess

 

[BazBall21]

It’ll probably take another really poor year for Kohli for this to become a legit comparison although Kohli will have better longevity

Better longevity in terms of games played but not in terms of performance sustainability if he carries on struggling.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Better longevity in terms of games played but not in terms of performance sustainability if he carries on struggling.

Yea one more poor year for Kohli and this probably becomes a legit comparison for me (never thought I’d be saying that)

 

[BazBall21]

Yea one more poor year for Kohli and this probably becomes a legit comparison for me (never thought I’d be saying that)

I rated Kohli ahead until very recently

 

[Coronis]

Better longevity in terms of games played but not in terms of performance sustainability if he carries on struggling.

Yeah also a good point.

 

[BazBall21]

Yeah also a good point.

Yeah, for me, better longevity relates to performance sustainability, not just games played.

I get that Boycott didn't service England for 18 years despite there being an 18 year gap between debut and final match, but he averaged 47 in the last 5 years of his career while opening against some good attacks.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

2025 will probably be Kohlis last chance to bring his average back up. Some relatively easier series there. I think he’ll average around 35-45 in Aus.

 

[Gob]

Somebody should do Kohli v Amla v Vaughan

Fixed

 

[Johan]

Guess he has no one to blame but himself I guess

as a person Yes, mostly him to blame because per every source Boycott was a prima donna but I don't think it effects his batsmenship much, he only costed himself his prime years.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

as a person Yes, mostly him to blame because per every source Boycott was a prima donna but I don't think it effects his batsmenship much, he only costed himself his prime years.

It affects the quality of his career which is what players are usually rated on

AB de Villiers could have potentially been rated in the same class as Lara and Viv if he didn’t opt out of playing test cricket during his prime

 

[Johan]

It affects the quality of his career which is what players are usually rated on

AB de Villiers could have potentially been rated in the same class as Lara and Viv if he didn’t opt out of playing test cricket during his prime

I mean, you can just rate him on what career we've of him, 100+ tests and a long career is more than enough of a sample size and you don't need to degrade his batsmenship on the basis of "longetivity" (which is as legitmate by matches as by years, unless you're intentionally skipping matches) that is impacted by factors external to his batsmenship.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

I mean, you can just rate him on what career we've of him, 100+ tests and a long career is more than enough of a sample size and you don't need to degrade his batsmenship on the basis of "longetivity" (which is as legitmate by matches as by years, unless you're intentionally skipping matches) that is impacted by factors external to his batsmenship.

Longevity/avialbilility (whichever term you prefer) is certainly a valid criticism of Boycott when comparing his career to actual ATG careers in my opinion.

Personally I think years are a better metric than matches . Different countries/eras play a different amount of tests.

 

[Johan]

Longevity/avialbilility (whichever term you prefer) is certainly a valid criticism of Boycott when comparing his career to actual ATG careers in my opinion.

Personally I think years are a better metric than matches . Different countries/eras play a different amount of tests.

Kohli's career isn't one, though, even if he may himself be one. if it was against modern English players who grind like 15-16 matches a year then I'd certainly understand that sentiment however.

 

[BazBall21]

I don't think Kohli can take much credit just for playing on if the performances aren't really there. The argument for him over Boycott is he was a more complete batsman in his prime.