Standout player of 2003??

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Any chanceless Test century is a good achievement. But achievements must always be taken in context, and when comparisons are made the context should always be remembered.

Wasn't he dropped on 335?

 

[Richard]

He'd already made 3 chanceless centuries by then.
Anyway, I didn't see that, I heard of it, but then I also heard that Butcher dropped Jayawardene off Flintoff at The SSC, and he certainly didn't. It was a "hard" chance in the estimation of most, and these usually turn-out not to be chances at all but something the fielder got half a finger on and had no "chance" whatsoever of catching.
I also heard he should have been lbw 1st ball, but thereafter is was a good innings.

 

[Hero_Don]

By far the standout cricketer would have to be Ricky Ponting with his almost Bradman like stats

 

[Richard]

I really wish people would stop talking about "Bradman-like stats" and such.
Bradman averaged 100 over a career. Ponting has done so in one year.

 

[marc71178]

Erm, correct me if I'm wrong, but 100 is the same as 100, so for the year in question, Pontings 100 average was Bradman-like since he also averaged 100 (albeit over a longer time)

 

[Langeveldt]

Erm, correct me if I'm wrong, but 100 is the same as 100, so for the year in question, Pontings 100 average was Bradman-like since he also averaged 100 (albeit over a longer time)

Wahey! A victory for common sense!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Erm, correct me if I'm wrong, but 100 is the same as 100, so for the year in question, Pontings 100 average was Bradman-like since he also averaged 100 (albeit over a longer time)

But Bradman didn't average 100.... :alien8:

 

[krkode]

Mr Mxyzptlk: same difference, mate. :P


Calling someone's yearly average "Bradman-esque" or "Bradman-like" is a fair comparison. Period of time doesn't matter. No one is saying Ponting is Bradman reborn or Ponting is better than Bradman. They're just saying that his average for the year 2003 is very much like Bradman's, which it quite clearly is.

I mean, look at it: 100 vs 99.94...I think the resemblance is close.

 

[Richard]

But the fact remains, Bradman had years where he averaged in excess of 150.
I just don't think there's any point comparing a career to a year.