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Richard Hadlee vs Ian Botham

Who is the greater test cricketer?

  • Botham and it’s not close

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    23

kyear2

International Coach
We are comparing them as cricketers.

1. Botham, could've gone either way tbh.
2. Hadlee.
3. Hadlee should make the 1st AT XI, Botham will make it in the 2nd or 3rd XI.
Hadlee had a pretty special peak as well, and longer.

Hadlee can make an AT XI (literally never seen him in one though), but he makes my 2nd team. Botham at best would be what, 6th?
 

sayon basak

International Debutant
On second thought, it's pretty hard to get Hadlee in.

1st ATG XI IMO(Test &FC):-

Jack Hobbs
WG Grace
Don Bradman
Sachin Tendulkar
Viv Richards
Garfield Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Imran Khan
Malcolm Marshall
Glenn McGrath
Muttiah Muralitharan

Notable ommissions:- Hadlee, Kallis, Warne, Barnes, Akram.
 
Last edited:

kyear2

International Coach
That's mostly because of Marshall, McGrath and Imran being already there. I could sneak him in as the 3rd AR in my team.

Wouldn't place him that low. At least he is one of the top 5 best AT All rounders.
Most AT XI's have Marshall, Lillee, Wasim. More recent ones, McGrath over Lillee.

As an all rounder where does he fit into an AT XI? His batting is well below par for a top 6 spot, I have 7 team and he makes none of them, though he can have a good case for the 6th ahead Grieg.
 

DrWolverine

U19 Vice-Captain
On second thought, it's pretty hard to get Hadlee in.

1st ATG XI IMO(Test &FC):-

Jack Hobbs
WG Grace
Don Bradman
Sachin Tendulkar
Viv Richards
Garfield Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Imran Khan
Malcolm Marshall
Glenn McGrath
Muttiah Muralitharan

Notable ommissions:- Hadlee, Kallis, Warne, Barnes.
Imran at 8? I do not think that was his usual batting position
 

kyear2

International Coach
That has always surprised me
Think Marshall was just seen as the clear best of that era, Wasim seems to make a fair bit (possibly combination of peer rating and left arm variety) and the 3rd votes split quite a bit between Barnes, Lillee, McGrath and here Imran.

For me the opening two are easily Marshall and McGrath, with competition for the 3rd spot being behind Wasim, Steyn and Imran.

Don't think we can have a world XI without (worthy) representatives from each of the major countries (and I controversially already have Barry), so it's between Wasim and Imran.
 

Bolo.

International Captain
Hadlee had a pretty special peak as well, and longer.

Hadlee can make an AT XI (literally never seen him in one though), but he makes my 2nd team. Botham at best would be what, 6th?
We had a poll this year on picking the 3 quicks for an ATG side that you very actively participated in. De facto voting for ATG team. Hadlee got a ton of votes.
 

sayon basak

International Debutant
We had a poll this year on picking the 3 quicks for an ATG side that you very actively participated in. De facto voting for ATG team. Hadlee got a ton of votes.
Guess that would be different outside CW. Botham is rated higher than Hadlee as a cricketer outside cricketweb afaik.
 

Bolo.

International Captain
Guess that would be different outside CW. Botham is rated higher than Hadlee as a cricketer outside cricketweb afaik.
I'm just reponding to his point about never seeing Hadlee making an ATG team. He has, a lot, recently.

Rankings outside of CW can be catastrophically bad from the general public. The newspaper type polls are hilarious.

And even more expert opinions can be hot garbage. Not least because they are seldom actually objectively trying to rank the best players.
 

kyear2

International Coach
Hadlee over McGrath for me
For multiple reasons I'm the opposite.

Don't like teams with Maco, Paddles and Immy. All 3 bowlers from one era is like choosing 3 batsmen from the 30's.

If I'm choosing my two opening bowlers, and I know not everyone agrees, I just want my two best, period.

I mean, those are the guys that's filling the most important positions on your team.

But all just my opinion.
 

Migara

International Coach
For multiple reasons I'm the opposite.

Don't like teams with Maco, Paddles and Immy. All 3 bowlers from one era is like choosing 3 batsmen from the 30's.

If I'm choosing my two opening bowlers, and I know not everyone agrees, I just want my two best, period.

I mean, those are the guys that's filling the most important positions on your team.

But all just my opinion.
Maco, McGrath and Imran makes a fine combo. Top tier and different in height, modus operandi, awkwardness and tactics.
 

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