Sehwag vs Sangakkara - as batsman

[Himannv]

Im going to go with Sehwag because as much as I like Sangakkara, its hard to really recall any game changing performances from him. He's had a relatively unspectacular career so far whereas Sehwag has put in performances that have singlehandedly turned games on its head.

I can recall a few. He also averages 76 in wins.

 

[Avada Kedavra]

just looking at their records...

Sehwag's got 21 tons,Sanga 23 incl the one today against Ind.

Sanga's got 15 tons at home,Sehwag 11.

In Aus - Sanga 1, Sehwag 2
In England - Sanga 0,Sehwag 1
In NZ - Sanga 2,Sehwag 0
In Pak - Sanga 3,Sehwag 2
In SA - Sanga 0,Sehwag 1
In WI - Sanga 0,Sehwag 1
In Bang - Sanga 0,Sehwag 0
In Zim - Sanga 1,Sehwag 0
Sanga in India 1,Sehwag in SL 2.

 

[pasag]

I reckon Sanga's whole image would be different if he hadn't been sawn off by Rudi at Hobart a couple of years back, instead leading SL to an all-time great victory. That would have been one of the greatest innings ever and you could never then say "its hard to really recall any game changing performances from him"

 

[Ikki]

Sanga miles ahead without the gloves. 53 vs 70 is a huge difference. Sanga is better on difficult pitches as well. Similar to Sehwag, scores big hundreds as well.

Sehwag and Jayawardane are a better comparison as both of them are occupying spots 1 & 2 ATM in ICC rankings, and have a similar records against similar oppositions.

Sanga averages 40.5 with the gloves and 76.5 without. Anyway the above point hides from the fact that Sanga improved as a batsman whilst he had the gloves and hit his peak when taking them off. It's not like he'd be averaging 70+ if he never picked up the gloves.

God this one's tough.

Sanga is better, but Sehwag would be more valuable, if choosing a team from scratch.

There are less "Sehwags" around than "Sangas" in the world, if anyone gets what I mean. Not only because Sehwag is an opener, but the rate he scores his runs, and his ability to just turn a match.

Agree, that's what it essentially comes down to.

 

[Migara]

Agree, that's what it essentially comes down to.

No it doesn't. Sanga scores well against better pace bowling conditions, where his team mates struggle. Sehwag is not even the best player of pace in his side. When touring abroad, Sanga has done better than Sehwag..

 

[Migara]

just looking at their records...

Sehwag's got 21 tons,Sanga 23 incl the one today against Ind.

Sanga's got 15 tons at home,Sehwag 11.

In Aus - Sanga 1, Sehwag 2
In England - Sanga 0,Sehwag 1
In NZ - Sanga 2,Sehwag 0
In Pak - Sanga 3,Sehwag 2
In SA - Sanga 0,Sehwag 1
In WI - Sanga 0,Sehwag 1
In Bang - Sanga 0,Sehwag 0
In Zim - Sanga 1,Sehwag 0
Sanga in India 1,Sehwag in SL 2.

1. SL pitches are inherently difficult to bat on than Indian pitches
2. Why only consider number of centuries? Shall we consider averages? And why not post the number of innings they played against each country as well?

 

[Avada Kedavra]

1. SL pitches are inherently difficult to bat on than Indian pitches

Sangakkara

Average in India 36.50
Average in Sri Lanka 62.02

Sehwag

Average in India 58.20
Average in Sri Lanka 69.14

Whilst Sri Lankan pitches may inherently be more difficult to bat on(sorry I think it's an unsubstantiated claim), both Sehwag and Sanga seem to find Sri Lankan pitches easier to bat on.

2. Why only consider number of centuries? Shall we consider averages? And why not post the number of innings they played against each country as well?

Averages

vs Aus - Sanga 41.50 Sehwag 51.13
in Aus - Sanga 65.16 Sehwag 59.50

vs Eng - Sanga 40.28 Sehwag 31.00
in Eng - Sanga 30.54 Sehwag 39.50

vs NZ - Sanga 59.18 Sehwag 27.46
in NZ - Sanga 66.80 Sehwag 20.00

vs Pak - Sanga 77.29 Sehwag 91.14
in Pak - Sanga 86.87 Sehwag 91.50

vs SA - Sanga 53.72 Sehwag 58.10
in SA - Sanga 39.20 Sehwag 26.44

vs WI - Sanga 49.28 Sehwag 53.58
in WI - Sanga 34.00 Sehwag 51.00

vs Ind Sanga 53.84, in Ind Sanga 36.50
vs SL Sehwag 73.64, in SL Sehwag 69.14


Sehwag number of innings away from home excl Bang/Zim = 61. Number of centuries = 9.

Innings/century = 6.78

Sangakkara number of innings away from home excl Bang/Zim = 61. Number of centuries = 7

Innings/century = 8.71

I made a mistake in my earlier post.Sanga has 1 century in NZ,not 2.

Statistically there is nothing much to separate them.I don't think the difference between the two is that big either-definitely not enough to warrant a different class.

I personally think Sanga has a much better technique and would rather have him bat for my life.But if there is a match to be won I would take Sehwag every time.

No it doesn't. Sanga scores well against better pace bowling conditions, where his team mates struggle. Sehwag is not even the best player of pace in his side. When touring abroad, Sanga has done better than Sehwag..

Sorry but how are the bolded parts relevant?What does how good Sanga/Sehwag's team mates are have to do with a direct comparison between the two?

 

[Sir Alex]

Yeah, not Sehwag's fault he has the peerless Sachin in his side.

 

[Furball]

Sangakkara

Average in India 36.50
Average in Sri Lanka 62.02

Sehwag

Average in India 58.20
Average in Sri Lanka 69.14

Whilst Sri Lankan pitches may inherently be more difficult to bat on(sorry I think it's an unsubstantiated claim), both Sehwag and Sanga seem to find Sri Lankan pitches easier to bat on.

Not a brilliant comparison. Sangakkara has to bat against all attacks in Sri Lanka: Sehwag only has to face Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.

 

[Prince EWS]

Not a brilliant comparison. Sangakkara has to bat against all attacks in Sri Lanka: Sehwag only has to face Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.

If anything though that'd hinge it more towards Sehwag as Sri Lanka's bowling attack at home is definitely much better than a cross-section of every team.

 

[Furball]

If anything though that'd hinge it more towards Sehwag as Sri Lanka's bowling attack at home is definitely much better than a cross-section of every team.

Not necessarily, given how good Sehwag is against spin.

 

[akilana]

going by the trend here, I think most people would put Sehwag above Sachin and Dravid.

 

[akilana]

Sehwag has a big advantage of playing with the likes of Sachin, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly etc. When India and SL go foreign countries, the rest of SL batsmen fail miserably and Sanga has to shoulder the responsibility and marshal the team to safety. It's easier Sehwag to bat with Sachin and co and they take the pressure off you. Well this is the theory most people use in order to put down Ponting in Ponting vs Sachin comparisons.

 

[Cruxdude]

Sehwag has a big advantage of playing with the likes of Sachin, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly etc. When India and SL go foreign countries, the rest of SL batsmen fail miserably and Sanga has to shoulder the responsibility and marshal the team to safety. It's easier Sehwag to bat with Sachin and co and they take the pressure off you. Well this is the theory most people use in order to put down Ponting in Ponting vs Sachin comparisons.

Responsibility, pressure are not present in the Sehwag dictionary. The bastard would go after a bad ball regardless of the situation.

 

[Umar_Akmal]

Responsibility, pressure are not present in the Sehwag dictionary. The bastard would go after a bad ball regardless of the situation.

Much like Afridi.

 

[Prince EWS]

Much like Afridi.

No, Afridi is different again entirely. He won't just go after a bad ball - he'll go after any ball. The real difference though is that Sehwag looks to play relatively orthodox cricket strokes - just very regularly. Afridi hits everything in the air.

 

[Cruxdude]

Much like Afridi.

I think I mentioned bad ball.

 

[Athlai]

Since the last world cup

Sehwag 2676 @ 62.23 SR 91
8 100s 9 50s

Sangakkara 2290 @ 61.89 SR 55
9 100s 10 50s

The only real difference is how fast they do it apparently...

 

[Prince EWS]

Since the last world cup

Sehwag 2676 @ 62.23 SR 91
8 100s 9 50s

Sangakkara 2290 @ 61.89 SR 55
9 100s 10 50s

The only real difference is how fast they do it apparently...

Sangakkara looks fractionally more consistent there - more hundreds and more fifties at basically the same average despite scoring less runs (I'm going to assume a couple less innings). Sehwag evidently goes on with his hundreds a bit more while Sangakkara scores them a bit more regularly... not like we didn't know that already though. Personally I'd take the batsman who scores two centuries in two games over the one who gives you a double ton and then nothing every time but I can see the other side.

 

[Sir Alex]

Comparing an opener with a middle order batsman, how many openers have had a run or average like Sehwag's?