The Unpopular Opinions Thread

[trundler]

Knott didn't keep to top spin though. I'm happy to rank him ahead of Gilchrist as a keeper, but by what distance given this question mark?

How he kept to Underwood's medium pace on stickies was legendary though. Requires the same amount of skill. I wouldn't expect Gilchrist to take all the bottom edged catches that Knott took. He was probably better at stumping too. Plus as I said he averages 41 at 7 over 81 innings. Very impressive. The way I see it: Knott is GOAT keeper plus decent enough batsman whereas Gilchrist is ATVG in both disciplines. An extra catch or 2 would make up for the batting.

 

[Borges]

Knott was at his very best when he stood up to the stumps to Underwood on drying wickets; keeping to spin couldn't get more difficult than that.

 

[Bolo]

How he kept to Underwood's medium pace on stickies was legendary though. Requires the same amount of skill. I wouldn't expect Gilchrist to take all the bottom edged catches that Knott took. He was probably better at stumping too. Plus as I said he averages 41 at 7 over 81 innings. Very impressive. The way I see it: Knott is GOAT keeper plus decent enough batsman whereas Gilchrist is ATVG in both disciplines. An extra catch or 2 would make up for the batting.

Weren't stickies basically done before Knott debuted?

 

[trundler]

Weren't stickies basically done before Knott debuted?

They were gradually phased out in the 60s when he did play. Perhaps they continued longer in County. Dunno about that. Nevertheless he cemented a legendary reputation for it. Even on good wickets he took lots of bottom edged, near the ground, catches as well as stumpings.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Nasser Hussain was better than Matthew Hayden

 

[trundler]

Nasser Hussain was better than Matthew Hayden

Never go full Richard.
I've always thought Nasser looks like Mr. Burns.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Sourav Ganguly clearly an inferior odi batsman to the likes of Anwar, Waugh Jr, Sanath Jayasurya, De Silva.

 

[Jack1]

Dhoni classic today!

 

[Jack1]

Buttler himself probably won't agree with you guys picking him over Dhoni. Apparently the guy deals with pressure situations by imagining what Dhoni would do in such situations.

I was imagining what MS Dhoni would do in pressure situations, Jos Buttler speaks about his match-winning 110 | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

That’s just English modesty and Buttler is incredibly shy and extremely modest even for an Englishman. Sorry mate(s).

 

[Jack1]

Number 7s in Odis shouldn't be judged by their centuries

No. But an appalling strike rate isn’t ideal either, haha.

Dhoni needs to realise his average is irrelevant and hugely boosted by not outs. His strike rate is horrible to be honest.

 

[Red]

I've come to believe Knott>Gilchrist since he averages 41 at 7 and was an immensely superior keeper. Whilst Gilchrist was clearly the superior bat, the difference in batting isn't that huge compared to the keeping difference which makes up for the former since a wicket is worth a lot more than 15 runs. Knott's hest also came in adverse circumstances which Gilly also bailed his team out of tbf. Though the problem is with Knott at 7 you have a guy that can hold an end and play second fiddle whereas Gilchrist can dominate though his explosiveness would come down a couple of notches in an ATG context. Knott is a step above Healy who was clearly superior to Gilly. Knott took some insane ones.
Also, O'Reilly> Warne. Better record against the best players of spin of his time in a batsman friendly era. Got closest to having the wood over Bradman. Great FC stats too.

I fail to understand why Knott is an "immensely better keeper" than Gilchrist. Gilchrist kept wicket to Warne and MacGill, a most difficult task. I cannot recall one instance where I thought Gilchrist was not an elite keeper (barring his last year, and he gave it away promptly once he lost his eye).

The Australian team of that era would not have tolerated a sub-par keeper, and could have easily played Gilly as a bat if they weren't happy with his keeping.

 

[trundler]

Gilchrist was great, no doubt but Knott was just better. It's like the difference between Sobers and a 'normal' batting all rounder. All I'm saying is it makes up for the batting deficit.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Blue whales have bigger hearts than Neil Wagner.

 

[trundler]

I'd make a short joke but I'm no Bijed.

 

[Borges]

I've come to believe Knott>Gilchrist

Yes, there is absolutely no doubt about that in my mind.

Also, O'Reilly> Warne. Better record against the best players of spin of his time in a batsman friendly era. Got closest to having the wood over Bradman. Great FC stats too.

This is not all that clear cut; though I accept that there is a strong case for O'Reilley.

 

[trundler]

Yes, there is absolutely no doubt about that in my mind.




This is not all that clear cut; though I accept that there is a strong case for O'Reilley.

It's a shame there isn't s great deal of footage of Tiger but if what I've read about him is to be believed, he's better than Warne based on the fact that he troubled Bradman the most of any bowler he faced and I simply do not see a Warne being anything but fodder for Don. O'Reilly did better against Hammond and Bradman than Warne did against Lara and Sachin. Also why Tiger>Grimmett.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Kapil Dev better than Ian botham in tests

Saqlain better than Murali in ODIs

Hadlee underrated both in tests and odis

 

[trundler]

Kapil Dev better than Ian botham in tests

Saqlain better than Murali in ODIs

Hadlee underrated both in tests and odis

Over the length of their careers, yes.

Saqlain has a very strong case but Murali has longevity.

And agreed. 3rd greatest fast bowler ever and that's not taking his batting into account.

 

[marc71178]

No. But an appalling strike rate isn’t ideal either, haha.

Dhoni needs to realise his average is irrelevant and hugely boosted by not outs. His strike rate is horrible to be honest.

I’ve already explained to you how wrong you are in the tour thread so won’t spell it out again.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I’ve already explained to you how wrong you are in the tour thread so won’t spell it out again.

You have to be a really, really mathematically challenged (and have a severe lack of common sense) to think that averages are somehow less if they are "boosted by not outs"