Len Hutton vs Viv Richards

[DrWolverine]

In Tests

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Viv

 

[Johan]

Viv or Hutton...?

 

[Coronis]

Ez

 

[kyear2]

Very easy.
One dominated like no other, one was oft criticized for not dominating opposing attacks like he could and should have, even the weaker ones.

And I love Hutton, but that was his downside.

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

Leaning towards Hutton. Best opener to debut in over 100 Years.

 

[Coronis]

Leaning towards Hutton. Best opener to debut in over 100 Years.

100 years and 5 months to be precise.

 

[Johan]

Leaning towards Hutton. Best opener to debut in over 100 Years.

160 years imo

 

[ataraxia]

Hutton is in general badly rated on CW tbh. There are some who inexplicably place him above Hobbs, and there are others who seemingly don't rate him at all. In my view, there's a big gap between Hutton/Sobers and all "modern" batters aside Tendulkar. They rise above their compatriots in a way that none other than Smith have achieved in the post-war period. To put Viv on that same level requires a big stretch IMO.

I wonder the degree to which opener tax is applicable to him. He did after all face the first great new-ball pairing (with success).

 

[Johan]

going with Viv after thinking about it, finest player ever of fast bowling and I don't think Hutton has enough of an edge against spin to negate it.

and I'm probably the biggest Hutton fanboy on the site.

 

[BazBall21]

Very easy.
One dominated like no other, one was oft criticized for not dominating opposing attacks like he could and should have, even the weaker ones.

And I love Hutton, but that was his downside.

I voted for Viv but "very easy" does a disservice to Hutton. His resume is virtually flawless except the post-war strike rate when in actual fact he did well to adjust to a War-inflicted injury. It made him a more rigid batsman, but he was still very effective.

 

[Coronis]

I voted for Viv but "very easy" does a disservice to Hutton. His resume is virtually flawless except the post-war strike rate when in actual fact he did well to adjust to a War-inflicted injury. It made him a more rigid batsman, but he was still very effective.

He may have had to change his batting a bit but based on the available data he had a similar SR pre-war.

 

[DrWolverine]

I voted for Viv but "very easy" does a disservice to Hutton. His resume is virtually flawless except the post-war strike rate when in actual fact he did well to adjust to a War-inflicted injury. It made him a more rigid batsman, but he was still very effective.

Wasn’t batting slowly just a norm back then?

 

[BazBall21]

He may have had to change his batting a bit but based on the available data he had a similar SR pre-war.

Fair enough. I might well have been told a myth. It's not really a big issue in tests though when you're still scoring heavily in tough conditions and against some good attacks.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Saying Viv "easily" is a huge disservice to Hutton. On revision, I now rate Hutton above both Viv and Sunny.