To be honest I don't think there's really much evidence to suggest that Watling is as good a batsman as Hopkins either outside of one day cricket - particularly not down the order. Hopkins has put him to shame with the bat in the Plunket Shield.
Exactly. If Hopkins is dire despite smashing attacks for fun on an admittedly flat home track since moving to Auckland, what does that make BJ Watling and his one good season?
Prior's better. Haddin and Dhoni are about equal with him. He's better than the rest IMO. Prassana Jayawardene, Kamran Akmal, Dinesh Ramdin and Mark Boucher are his competition - he's got it covered.
Julian would have a fit.
Yeah I agree with that entirely, Haddin is better too IMO and Dhoni will be when he sorts himself out but he is better than all the rest and is hardly much lesser than Prior and co. anyway.
Haddin's still a better package than Prior though.
Different debate for a different day but the fact that anyone could think that Haddin isn't >>>>>>>> Prior at everything doesn't compute with Julian.
Nah. Close though.
Yeah, but if you looked only at how the two batsmen look when they're at the crease, Haddin would be miles ahead.
Yeah, but then even I'd be better than Vettori. If anything it just shows how easily he gets under-rated. He's averaged 40+ over the last 5 years or more.
Yeah true, aesthetics get far too much weight in judging players.
He's averaged over 40 since 03 actually. Was pretty surprised to see.
Even if you take Bangladesh out?
Yuvraj clearly the worst name on that list. Bar Haddin and Bell (polar opposite of Vettori as to when he scores runs imo) I agree with those who are better.
Dunno maybe not.