Vijay Hazare vs Vijay Merchant vs Vinoo Mankad

[sayon basak]

Who was the better Indian cricketer?

 

[ankitj]

Mankad's test exploits are more spectacular. Or I am more aware of them than of others.

 

[trundler]

Mankad's test exploits are more spectacular. Or I am more aware of them than of others.

Mankad bashed NZ when they were minnow tier a lot. Hazare better imo. Unfortunate that Merchant didn't play more tests as he impressed on dodgy wickets in tour matches and such.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Mankad bashed NZ when they were minnow tier a lot. Hazare better imo. Unfortunate that Merchant didn't play more tests as he impressed on dodgy wickets in tour matches and such.

Mankad played only 4 matches vs the Kiwis.... He definitely bashed them, but no more than what someone like Weekes did to India. Mankad also did impressively in England (avg 40) and has a century in Australia while opening as well. He also averages 40+ while opening, significantly more than when not.

 

[sayon basak]

Mankad played only 4 matches vs the Kiwis.... He definitely bashed them, but no more than what someone like Weekes did to India. Mankad also did impressively in England (avg 40) and has a century in Australia while opening as well. He also averages 40+ while opening, significantly more than when not.

Don't you think Mankad was bit of a home bully(which Hazare was also guilty of), specially as a bowler?

 

[capt_Luffy]

Don't you think Mankad was bit of a home bully, specially as a bowler?

As a batsman, not one bit. Averages around 30 in Australia and WI and around 40 in England. As a bowler, somewhat yes; but given he was a finger spinner and did pretty well in England and Pakistan; not really a big one. He was good in two places, pretty awful in two others.

 

[trundler]

Mankad played only 4 matches vs the Kiwis.... He definitely bashed them, but no more than what someone like Weekes did to India. Mankad also did impressively in England (avg 40) and has a century in Australia while opening as well. He also averages 40+ while opening, significantly more than when not.

Without NZ he averages 25 with the bat. The NZ bashing also overstates how good of an opener he was as he averages 30 opening without NZ. Good player but Hazare was simply better.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Don't think terms like "home bully" and "minnow basher" mean anything in the context of the time in which these guys were playing.

 

[capt_Luffy]

On basing the assessment on FC, as all 3 missed prime years to varying degrees due to war; Merchant was probably the best imo. The fact that the Don of the East averages 71 in FC (most after Don), 98 in Ranji Trophy, 65 in England (most by anyone after Don and Headley, even including Englishmen) and 156 in the war years..... Given he and Hazare were basically contemporaries, it warrants special mention that Hazare also did brilliantly, but still Merchant was more impressive. But then again, Hazare was proper allrounder in FC, averaging 24 and even having a double in the Lancashire league leading the bowling average lists...... It becomes more complicated but Mankad clearly takes the backseat. Anyways; but Hazare and Mankad both have one ATG match, which I would put in India's Top 5s.

Hazare's Adelaide twin tons vs the Invincibles on two days back to back:

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ia-vs-india-4th-test-62679/live-cricket-score

Mankad's single handed valiant efforts at Lord's scoring 184, 72 and taking a 5-fer:

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nd-vs-india-2nd-test-62738/live-cricket-score

 

[sayon basak]

FC stats:-

Vijay Hazare:-
18740 runs @58.38
595 wickets @24.6

Vijay Merchant:-
13470 runs @71.64
65 wickets @32.12

Vinoo Mankad:-
11591 runs @34.7
782 wickets @24.5

 

[capt_Luffy]

FC stats:-

Vijay Hazare:-
18740 runs @58.38
595 wickets @24.6

Vijay Merchant:-
13470 runs @71.64
65 wickets @32.12

Vinoo Mankad:-
11591 runs @34.7
782 wickets @24.5

I really think had Hazare debuted younger, could he been a proper allrounder in Tests as well.....

 

[sayon basak]

I really think had Hazare debuted younger, could he been a proper allrounder in Tests as well.....

His stats against the WI (visited WI at 38) might be the biggest thing going against him in international cricket. Otherwise decent record imo.

 

[capt_Luffy]

His stats against the WI might be the biggest thing going against him in international cricket. Otherwise decent record imo.

Scored 500+ against them in the 48 home series, just had one poor tour there when he was pretty much done.

And I was moreso (actually solely) talking of his bowling, his batting record is a very small sample but Great overall.

 

[sayon basak]

And I was moreso (actually solely) talking of his bowling, his batting record is a very small sample but Great overall.

Yeah I know.

 

[sayon basak]

@capt_Luffy Who was rated higher as an overall cricketer between Hazare and Merchant? Where was Mankad rated?

 

[capt_Luffy]

@capt_Luffy Who was rated higher as an overall cricketer between Hazare and Merchant? Where was Mankad rated?

Generally Hazare; as he has a proper Test career. Was also a proper All-rounder in FC, wonder what happened in Tests...... Don of the East isn't far behind in ratings though. Though some people rates Nayudu ahead of both; and they definitely are wrong.
Mankad is rated fairly well, as the best all-rounder before Kapil. Though I don't think he is rated as highly as Hazare. Overall, I would say a bit higher than we do here really.

 

[sayon basak]

Generally Hazare; as he has a proper Test career. Was also a proper All-rounder in FC, wonder what happened in Tests...... Don of the East isn't far behind in ratings though. Though some people rates Nayudu ahead of both; and they definitely are wrong.
Mankad is rated fairly well, as the best all-rounder before Kapil. Though I don't think he is rated as highly as Hazare. Overall, I would say a bit higher than we do here really.

I've never come across any list that rates Nayudu ahead of any of them. Thanks for the insight tho.

 

[capt_Luffy]

I've never come across any list that rates Nayudu ahead of any of them. Thanks for the insight tho.

Not by lists, but articles. I can't remember many lists I have seen these two in (not counting forum ones).

 

[Coronis]

Vinod Kambli > all 3

 

[sayon basak]

During the Second World War, there were no international matches played, but domestic cricket continued in India. Merchant and Hazare competed with each other at the expense of the hapless bowlers. Merchant scored 243 against Muslims in the Pentangular, followed by Hazare’s unbeaten 248 against Muslims. Merchant beat this with an unbeaten 250 against The Rest. Hazare went past him with a mammoth 309, but the record stood for a week, for Merchant slammed 359. This continued in the Ranji Trophy as well during the match between Bombay and Baroda, where Merchant scored 141 and Hazare 101.