Michael Vaughan v Michael Atherton

[gettingbetter]

Don't flame me, its my first 'v' thread.

I got uni in a few hours, so I need to sleep, but I'll get back to this post.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Vaughan by an absolute mile.

 

[open365]

Mmmm, hard to say as i'm too young to have seen Atherton play much.

I think Atherton is under-rated by people who look at his average but was he better than Vaughan? I don't know, Atherton played some absolutely fantastic match winning/saving innings but didn't have the same run scoring ability thatn Vaughan does.

Atherton had to face some awesome bowling attacks in his time, but then again Vaughan scored 3 big centuries against imo one of the top 4/5 test bowling attacks of all time and Atherton was McGrath's bitch.

I'm not certain, but i'd probably lean towards Vaughan.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Yeah, the thing that sealed it for me is the way he played McGrath in the 02/03 Ashes, scoring those big 100s, made McGrath look pretty ordinary.

 

[open365]

When did you start watching cricket PF? I'm a year older than you (i think) and i can't seem to remember anything earlier than the 2003 WC though i'm sure i started watching in 2002.

 

[silentstriker]

Ah yes, Atherton vs. McGrath. That was fun for the McGrath fans .

 

[PhoenixFire]

Well I went to see SA play England when they played at Headingley in a Test Match , not sure when that was tbh. I watched televised in 2002/2003 Ashes first I think, but I don't remember too much of it.

 

[Beleg]

Atherton.

Vaughan's pretty good but Atherton was one obstinate bastard.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Vaughan, not completely useless whenever he came up against Ambrose, McGrath etc.

I'd rather have someone who's capable of playing the best while being a bit dire for a while than someone who's just solid but a complete bunny against the best.

 

[Bouncer]

Tough choice but i will for Mike Atherton....the resistance, the determination he had was un matchable...and unlike Vaughn he scored consistently all throughout his career.........i personally have him opening the inning and will have him among my favorite opners from 90's....(Slater and Anwar, the other 2)where as i think Vaughn went rhough that great Purpole patch in 2002-2003 that boosted his record greatly....very good player though.

 

[Sanz]

Artherton.

 

[four_or_six]

Atherton for me. Absolutely loved the bloke, and loved watching him. Just the situation and the team he found himself in, and the bowling he came up against his whole career.

Can't put my finger on why, but can't get that excited by Vaughan. He's just not a player I really root for every time he comes out to bat.

 

[Mister Wright]

Vaughan...hands down. Great batsman to watch and has great ability.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Atherton for me. Absolutely loved the bloke, and loved watching him. Just the situation and the team he found himself in, and the bowling he came up against his whole career.

Can't put my finger on why, but can't get that excited by Vaughan. He's just not a player I really root for every time he comes out to bat.

Warne v Atherton was the most painful cricket I've ever seen, Atherton would stonewall away, get the odd long hop and clip it for a single. Inevitably he'd get out after an hour or two of course. You must love the bloke to love watching him.

 

[Bouncer]

Vaughn: With that purple patch from 2002-2003, where 2 seasons of cricket got him 2000 runs

68 4955 197 43.84

Atherton(with same # of games as Vaughn): Without any major purple patch but still managed to score runs

68 5045 185* 42.39

Vaughn has been unfortunate to get injured many times in his career and that is one of the reasons he has not achieved as much he could have. But on based of information available now and what i remember of Mike Atherton, I'd Pick Mike Atherton any given day!

 

[Shaggy Alfresco]

Vaughan, not completely useless whenever he came up against Ambrose, McGrath etc.

McGrath had a habit of dissecting the beating heart of his opponent's batting and totally dominating them. Look what he did to Lara.

I'll plump for Atherton.

 

[nottypilgrim]

Vaughan purely on his tactical nouse, although having been there on Sunday I do sometimes wonder! But usually he gets it spot on. As a test no 3 batsman he gets too many low scores for my liking,but when he clicks he's a joy to watch.

Athers was technically brilliant but always seemed a reactive skipper, not pro active. Perhaps under him the England dressing room was a bit too chummy, restricting the progress of younger better players in favour of the old guard.

 

[Burgey]

Vaughan - can't help but be influenced by his 2002-2003 series out here in making that judgment. Atherton a good player, very gutsy, but after that Ashes series out here I formed the view that Vaughan was/ is the best Pommie bat since Gower.

 

[Matteh]

Atherton - purely for the stonewalling against SA and an Allan Donald completely fired up.

 

[howardj]

Athers - faced better bowling attacks and I think I'm right in saying that he scored more runs in the 1990's (when his back wasn't inhibiting him) than any other batsman. But for his stellar series in 2002/2003, Vaughan hasn't really done much.

I'm still inspired, when I go out to bat, by Athers' ten hour vigil at Jo'burg in 1995.