Overrated/Underrated

[Matt79]

Sangakarra: Underrated by many - especially those who don't see Sri Lanka! Overrated by some, who would say he's as good as Gilchrist or Andy Flower as a batsman/wicket-keeper.

Ashley Giles

 

[Matt79]

Smith:
Rated about right - he's seen as a combative, capable, and good player but not really a great player, yet. His tour of australia probably dinted his rep as a opener but earned him points for his spirit.

Ashley Giles

 

[oz_fan]

Rated right

Greg Chappell

 

[Francis]

Probably a little underrated. I seriously have Greg Chapell rated as highly as Brian Lara... and I like Lara a lot more. I think when I made a list for the 50 best cricketers ever, Lara was one spot ahead of Chappell for me. Why? Because he was by far the best batsman of the 70s (might have been different if Barry Richards played). Does anybody know the amount of runs Greg Chappell made against the West Indies in the 75/76 series? It was a lot and his average was incredible at the time.

When Greg Chappell's achievments are talked about, we're talking about somebody who made runs against the best. Probably his best innings was against Richard Hadlee on one of the most condusive pitches for seam you could think of. He rarely wilted against the West Indies and in the argument of which batsmen did the best against the best bowling attack I think that after Gavaskar, Chappell faced the toughest competition. (Although I should mention I don't rate competition faced as big a deal as others).

Anytime somebody is one of Australia's five best players you know they're special.

I also wanted to add two things:

Tony Grieg is absolutely ridiculously underrated. The best all-rounder of the 70s. A batting average of 40 for an all-rounder is amazing. A bowling average of 32 is nothing to be ashamed of. Currently Flintoff can't quite claim to be as good as Grieg, although he certainly will eclipe him. But Greig is underrated and I think he's an unfortunate case of somebody who's character overshadowed his ability. His two best centuries were in the two toughest conditions you could imagine, he was a match winner in crucial games like the one in the Windies where he took 13 wickets. Just a fine cricketer. One of England's 15 best ever for me and that's a big complement.

Secondly, Graeme Smith is ridiculously overrated. When Australia kept getting him out in Australia people were acting as if they were stopping this unstoppable force. He's a good batsman, but nothing great, not one of the worlds ten best batsmen. When he made a century in an ODI in South Africa (after Australia missed some chances), people were saying "oh he's back" when it was just one performance. He performed in the last game where Australia bowled awefully. So that's two performances out of 9 games against Australia. Against Sri Lanka he didn't impress either. Again, he's a solid batsman, but I don't think he's ahead of someone like Fleming and definitely behind the like of Ponting, Dravid, Kallis, Hayden, Imzamam, Hussey, Khan, Sehwag, Tresco, Gilchrist, Dhoni and Pietersen.

I think Smith became mostly hype after his awesome display against England at the start of his career. People expected him to take SA to new heights when really Pollock was a better captain. I forget what Tim de Lisle once said about Smith's captaincy, but he said something like he has everything that just doesn't blend together making him an awkward captain... er I forget what it was exactly, but he hit the nail on its head.

I just don't get what is soo special about him. He had one brilliant series and has had a few sining moments, but he's just not up there. My theroy is that people saw his average around 50 and thought he was Kallis. So yes he is overrated because I've heard people call him world class... he's not one of the ten best batsmen in the world.

Chris Harris

 

[Jono]

I agree on the whole, but IMO you're wrong about Smith in ODIs though. When he scored a ton or whatever it was against Australia in ODIs recently (think it was the 1st or 2nd ODI), it was just proving how awesome a ODI batsman he is. Smith is criminally underrated in ODIs, and yes, overrated in tests. Smith just underachieved in the VB Series over here, whereas I think he was just well and truly worked out (not the first time) in the test series.

Anyway I reckon Chris Harris is probably underrated by the general cricket public, but I reckon Kiwis rate him just about right. Very very good fielder, and his weird 'dibbly dobbler that looks utterly crap but isn't' bowling style worked very well.

Mark Boucher

 

[Francis]

I disagree on the Smith is great in ODI's comments. Even against Sri Lanka in Australia I think he only made one 50. Two fine innings is South Africa, one of which involved hoping for random luck, doesn't make him a great ODI player. In fact he's more seen as a test player than ODI player by selecters. When the ICC World XI was chosen he was selected solely for tests.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Before the last 6 months I would have said Boucher was overrated, but against Australia he seemed to take on a bit more responsibility while Smith struggled, and his performances against Aus were massively underrated. So at the moment, I'd say overrated...just.

Merv Dillon

 

[Jono]

I disagree on the Smith is great in ODI's comments. Even against Sri Lanka in Australia I think he only made one 50. Two fine innings is South Africa, one of which involved hoping for random luck, doesn't make him a great ODI player. In fact he's more seen as a test player than ODI player by selecters. When the ICC World XI was chosen he was selected solely for tests.

Exactly, hence my point that he's criminally underrated. I would have had Smith (or possibly Trescothick or another opener, obviously Sachin if he was fit) to take Sehwag's place in the World XI ODI team.

Have you seen Smith's ODI record against Australia? Superb. Before the Super Series he was averaging 60 against them, and he still averages 40+.

He was in a form slump in the ODI series. I'm not going to argue that he's in a Ponting, Sachin or Inzy league in ODIs, but what I'll say is that he's a very very good player.

 

[NZTailender]

Before the last 6 months I would have said Boucher was overrated, but against Australia he seemed to take on a bit more responsibility while Smith struggled, and his performances against Aus were massively underrated. So at the moment, I'd say overrated...just.

I would say he's slightly overrated as a batsman in tests (though in ODI's he's underrated). However, his keeping is underrated.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Merv Dillon

Over-rated by those who thought he could be the next Courtney Walsh/Curtly Ambrose and carry the West Indian attack in a post Walsh/Ambrose climate.

Under-rated by those who call him rubbish.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

(Haven't read very far back, so forgive me if he was called in recent times)

 

[oz_fan]

Underrated - very good average (around 45) and doesn't really get the aknowledgement he deserves. Has been overshadowed by Lara.

Michael Holding

 

[Craig]

I would say he is rated just right because his record is just awesome, but I never saw him bowl so I can't quite make an informed judgement. I loved his comment when he hit Australian opener Bruce Laird where his box is lacted and Holding walked up to him and said "Sorry Bruce, by the way to you have any kids?" "Yes three" replied Laird, "That's good" was Holding's response as he walked back to his mark

Andy Roberts

 

[oz_fan]

Underrated - IMO the most underrated of the great WI quicks of the 70's and 80's and a very underrated ODI bowler.

It isn't a cricketer but Greenidge and Haynes Opening Partnership

 

[Zinzan]

It isn't a cricketer but Greenidge and Haynes Opening Partnership

Overated if you look at their records compared to some others ....

Alan lamb

 

[Goughy]

Overated if you look at their records compared to some others ....

Alan lamb

Over rated during his playing days but underrated now as he is virtually ignored.

Paul Adams

 

[C_C]

Over rated during his playing days but underrated now as he is virtually ignored.

Paul Adams

rated about right - he is crap.

Fanie deVilliers

 

[vic_orthdox]

Personally, I think Adams is marked a bit harshly. 134 wickets @ 32 over a Test career is nothing to be sneezed at, especially for a spinner in SA. Amazing to think he's still only 29. I guess in the end teams found it a fair bit easier to face him, the shock factor at first probably bought him a few wickets.

Fanie was one of those guys who people don't appreciate until after they've stopped playing - a bit like Reiffel and Fleming (although I rate Fanie as better bowler than them). I still think he's slightly underrated, but not as much as when he was actually playing - Donald cast too large a shadow over him for he to receive proper recognition, IMO.

Roger Harper

 

[C_C]

I think the problem with Adams was that he had little actual variety and poor control for a spinner to begin with. He didnt work on those aspects- instead he improved his fielding and tried to get into a batting contest with Boje. After the initial disorientation at facing Adams wore off, he was almost a non-factor.

Fanie IMO was quite underrated when he played as you said. He was a perfect compliment for Donald and Pollock - got good movement both ways at steep bounce and kept a very consistent line.

Harper - IMO he was an underrated spinner but then again, under Viv and Lloyd, even Warne would be boasting figures like Giles. I think he is a bit underrated, primarily because of his fielding - he was within touching distance of Rhodes as far as i am concerned and along with Gus Logie, easily the best fielder in the 1980s.

Navjot Sidhu

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Roger Harper

For all his brilliance, he is still probably under-rated as a fielder. One of the great fielders the game has seen.

As a bowler he was also under-rated IMO, as his record backs the claim that he was quite handy indeed. As a batsman he was probably rated about right - useful, but nothing remotely extraordinary.

So overall I would say he was under-rated when he played and is under-rated in the legacy of West Indies cricket.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Navjot Sidhu

He was one of those Indian batsmen with a pretty good record, but he seemed to score heavily at home and was mediocre abroad. That said, a lot of Indian batsmen were the same way.

Over-rated, I'd say. His stats flatter his batsmanship in my estimation.

Sanath Jayasuriya