15 best batsmen ever against spin bowling

[Harsh Thakor]

This is my list in order of merit of the top 15 batsman ever facing spin bowling.



1.Brian Lara-688 runs facing Murlitharan in 2003 on turning tracks proves the point.Artistry in regions of divinty.





2.Sachin Tendulkar.-noone tore Warne to the shreds as Sachin did be it in India,Sharjah or Australia .Epitome of technical mastery.







3=Rohan Kanhai/Everton Weekes-Batted more like Bradman ever than anyone in their day demolishing the likes of Gupte.Traversed regions of domination unexplored.Huge run aggregates in series versus India.







5.Ian Chappell-The ultimate master on bad wickets beautifully tackling the likes of Prasanna in India in 1969-70.Marvellous footwork.Beautifully danced down the pitch.







6.Zaheer Abbas-Supreme timing and style who on his day could sit besides the Gods of Olympus.No batsman was more prolific against the Indian spin attack when he averaged 195 with 583 runs at home in 1978-79 nor when averaging 130 with 3 centuries in 1982-83.Overall scored 5 double centuries in his career including 2 in England facing top quality spin.Mesmerised Derek Underwood and Bishen Bedi.









7.Virendra Sehwag-Never seen a batsman express such ferocity facing spin on turning tracks as Viru did when scoring 201 in Sri Lanka .No batsman tore spinners apart at such a n incredible strike rate as Sehwag.







8Javed Miandad-Record speaks for itself with his great consistency on Indian soil in 1983 and 1987 scoring a fifty almost each time.In 1978-79 tore the Indian spin quartet to pieces.Few batsman made such subtle technical adjustments







9.Sunil Gavaskar -His 96 on a broken wicket against Pakistan is possibly the best test innings ever in a losing cause or broken wicket.In a total package the ultimate epitome of batting perfection .







10.Alvin Kalicharan -Kanhai.,the other way round.Played a gem when scoring 124 at Bangalore in 1974-75 and also when scoring 187 at Mumbai in 1978-79.







11.Mohammad Azharuddin-Often a class act facing spin with his magical wristwork,resembling a dancer.Simply took spinners by the scruff of the neck to turn or win games,particularly at home.





12.Kumar Sangakkara -His record simply speaks for itself being a master in pulverizing the turning ball.







13.Neil Harvey-At his best revealed magical touch against the turning ball in England and South Africa.





14.Alan Border-Ultimate man to play the role of alone crusader in a crisis.Proved his prowess when scoring 2 150's in a single test at Lahore on turning wicket.Prolific on turning pitches in India .









15.Michael Clarke-The finest Australian batsman of the recent generation facing spin as he demonstrated in India in 2004 and 2010.Could improvise brilliantly on bad tracks.

 

[Ab Fan]

Virender Sehwag is the best ever vs spin bowling. He absolutely murdered spinners.

Andy Flower, Younis Khan and Alastair Cook should be there. Hashim Amla, VVS Laxman and Matthew Hayden deserves a place as well.

Javed Miandad is way too high. That 78-79 series had Indian spinners on its last leg and after that we had mediocre spinners in the 80s. If you want a Pakistani batsmen there, you must pick Younis Khan.

All in all, the list needs a revamp.

 

[therealAB]

Younis, Flower, Smith, Greg chappell (much better than Ian) must be there
Sehwag should be no1

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Virender Sehwag is the best ever vs spin bowling. He absolutely murdered spinners.

Andy Flower, Younis Khan and Alastair Cook should be there. Hashim Amla, VVS Laxman and Matthew Hayden deserves a place as well.

Javed Miandad is way too high. That 78-79 series had Indian spinners on its last leg and after that we had mediocre spinners in the 80s. If you want a Pakistani batsmen there, you must pick Younis Khan.

All in all, the list needs a revamp.

I will take your suggestions.Liked my choices of Weekes,Kanhai Kalicharan and Chappell?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Younis, Flower, Smith, Greg chappell (much better than Ian) must be there
Sehwag should be no1

I seriously disagree.Greg Chappell never played in India and in Pakistan His 235 was not on a turning pitch like in Karachi or Lahore.Border outplayed him in those conditions.Remember Ian Chappell's scores on the 1969-70 tour of India where he played greats like Prasanna with exceptional skill.Derek Underwood prized Ian's wicket more than Greg /Also compare Ian's performances with brother Greg against rest of the world in 1972 when he scored 4 centuries against a spinners like Bedi.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Virender Sehwag is the best ever vs spin bowling. He absolutely murdered spinners.

Andy Flower, Younis Khan and Alastair Cook should be there. Hashim Amla, VVS Laxman and Matthew Hayden deserves a place as well.

Javed Miandad is way too high. That 78-79 series had Indian spinners on its last leg and after that we had mediocre spinners in the 80s. If you want a Pakistani batsmen there, you must pick Younis Khan.

All in all, the list needs a revamp.

Zaheer Abbas-Right up there?Also Weekes,Kanhai,Azhar or Ian Chappell?Any comments on ranking?

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Inzi was a really good player of spin as well. So were Sanga and Mahela!

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

Inzi was a really good player of spin as well. So were Sanga and Mahela!

Inzamam always struggled against leg spinners. Never looked comfortable facing them.

 

[therealAB]

I seriously disagree.Greg Chappell never played in India and in Pakistan His 235 was not on a turning pitch like in Karachi or Lahore.Border outplayed him in those conditions.Remember Ian Chappell's scores on the 1969-70 tour of India where he played greats like Prasanna with exceptional skill.Derek Underwood prized Ian's wicket more than Greg /Also compare Ian's performances with brother Greg against rest of the world in 1972 when he scored 4 centuries against a spinners like Bedi.

Chappell is arguably the best ever player of spin Australia has produced. If much, much better than Ian. Have u watched them by any chance as Chappell was way more accomplished than Ian
Can u show me where the underwood quote comes from

 

[gani999]

I will take your suggestions.Liked my choices of Weekes,Kanhai Kalicharan and Chappell?

Mahela Jayewardene? I thought he was one of the best.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Sehwag hands down

No single.player in history has bashed great spinners as much and as consistently as he did.

Ironically, his game never did look natural to be that good against spin but he was, he sure as hell was a slayer of spin bowling.

 

[qurram4u]

The list cannot be complete without Salim Malik.

 

[therealAB]

Sehwag hands down

No single.player in history has bashed great spinners as much and as consistently as he did.

Ironically, his game never did look natural to be that good against spin but he was, he sure as hell was a slayer of spin bowling.

Agree with this. His story with Harbajan is hilarious

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Younis should be there

 

[Kaddy]

No Younis.....?
No Andy........?

 

[Saksham]

15 Best Players of Spin Bowling according to me in no particular order :
1. Virender Sehwag
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. Brian Lara
4. Younis Khan
5. Andy Flower
6. Matthew Hayden
7. Alastair Cook
8. Hashim Amla
9. Jacques Kallis
10. Allan Border
11. Clive Lloyd
12. VVS Laxman
13. Zaheer Abbas
14. Michael Clarke
15. Rahul Dravid

 

[therealAB]

Sehwag hands down

No single.player in history has bashed great spinners as much and as consistently as he did.

Ironically, his game never did look natural to be that good against spin but he was, he sure as hell was a slayer of spin bowling.

15 Best Players of Spin Bowling according to me in no particular order :
1. Virender Sehwag
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. Brian Lara
4. Younis Khan
5. Andy Flower
6. Matthew Hayden
7. Alastair Cook
8. Hashim Amla
9. Jacques Kallis
10. Allan Border
11. Clive Lloyd
12. VVS Laxman
13. Zaheer Abbas
14. Michael Clarke
15. Rahul Dravid

A good contemporary list.
A couple issues:
Hayden only had i good series
Clarke didn’t performed as well as he looked, Smith much better
Jayawardene should be there for me

 

[Bhaijaan]

A good contemporary list.
A couple issues:
Hayden only had i good series
Clarke didn’t performed as well as he looked, Smith much better
Jayawardene should be there for me

From my memory, mostly mid 1990s onwards, Steve Waugh, Martyn, Clarke seemed best Aussie batsmen against spin. Of course right now Smith is there, he gave an ATH level performance in India last time he came here.

South Africans were a lot better on average.

England were horrible until KP, Cook

 

[anoop]

Virender sehwag
Brian lara
Greg chapel
Sachin
Zaheer abbas
Salim malik
Younus khan
Andy flower

 

[therealAB]

From my memory, mostly mid 1990s onwards, Steve Waugh, Martyn, Clarke seemed best Aussie batsmen against spin. Of course right now Smith is there, he gave an ATH level performance in India last time he came here.

South Africans were a lot better on average.

England were horrible until KP, Cook

SA were poor. Even blokes like Kallis weren't great. It isn't until recently with Amla, Smith and ABdV that thyey have improved. Dominated by Warne
Waugh was a funny one vs spin. Didn't have the crisp footwork or the wrists like some players but very hard to get out

 

[MP2011]

Waugh was a funny one vs spin. Didn't have the crisp footwork or the wrists like some players but very hard to get out

Steve Waugh was extremely hard to get out against any type of bowling. Period.

I remember the dreaded feeling I used to have whenever he walked into bat against us.

 

[adzzy786]

Saleem Malik was brilliant against spin

Mohammed Yousuf was really good against spin still remember his 100 in Australia smashing Shane Warne all over the park

 

[Bhaijaan]

SA were poor. Even blokes like Kallis weren't great. It isn't until recently with Amla, Smith and ABdV that thyey have improved. Dominated by Warne
Waugh was a funny one vs spin. Didn't have the crisp footwork or the wrists like some players but very hard to get out

Shane Warne embarrassed South Africans like no one else has ever done. They never quite figured him out. He could do what he wanted against them, pretty much at will..

 

[Robert]

In the modern era (i.e. people I have seen bat)...

Sir Clive Lloyd

David Gower

 

[Bhaijaan]

In the modern era (i.e. people I have seen bat)...

Sir Clive Lloyd

David Gower

Clive Lloyd averages 75 in India.

David Gower however averages 37 in India after 12 tests

 

[Bhaijaan]

India is the gold standard for a non Asian batsman to prove himself against spin bowling.

Not particularly durnto our spin bowlers but because of the conditions and atmosphere

 

[Bhaijaan]

India is the gold standard for a non Asian batsman to prove himself against spin bowling.

Not particularly because of our spin bowlers but because of the conditions and atmosphere

 

[Majid Khan]

Saleem Malik made Shane Warne look ordinary on that 1994 tour, he was an amazing batsman against spin bowling.

Best batsmen of spin bowling that I’ve seen in no specific order:

- Saleem Malik
- Javed Miandad
- Younis Khan
- Zaheer Abbas
- Mohammed Azharuddin
- Sachin Tendulkar
- VVS Laxman
- Virendar Sehwag
- Brian Lara
- Mahela Jayawardene

 

[Harsh Thakor]

15 Best Players of Spin Bowling according to me in no particular order :
1. Virender Sehwag
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. Brian Lara
4. Younis Khan
5. Andy Flower
6. Matthew Hayden
7. Alastair Cook
8. Hashim Amla
9. Jacques Kallis
10. Allan Border
11. Clive Lloyd
12. VVS Laxman
13. Zaheer Abbas
14. Michael Clarke
15. Rahul Dravid

Appreciate your list .good work.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Saleem Malik made Shane Warne look ordinary on that 1994 tour, he was an amazing batsman against spin bowling.

Best batsmen of spin bowling that I’ve seen in no specific order:

- Saleem Malik
- Javed Miandad
- Younis Khan
- Zaheer Abbas
- Mohammed Azharuddin
- Sachin Tendulkar
- VVS Laxman
- Virendar Sehwag
- Brian Lara
- Mahela Jayawardene

Great list complement.No Gavaskar,Border ,Clarke?Appreciate your rating of Malik.A great player against spin no doubt.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

In the modern era (i.e. people I have seen bat)...

Sir Clive Lloyd

David Gower

Was not Kalicharan better than Lloyd playing spin?Or Gooch better than Gower?see record in India.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Saleem Malik was brilliant against spin

Mohammed Yousuf was really good against spin still remember his 100 in Australia smashing Shane Warne all over the park

You said it.Mailk was a champion

 

[Majid Khan]

Great list complement.No Gavaskar,Border ,Clarke?Appreciate your rating of Malik.A great player against spin no doubt.

Well I just listed the top 10 I’ve seen play but actually the thread does say 15 , so I would add the following 5:

Sunil Gavaskar
Rahul Dravid
Alan Border
Mohammed Yusuf
Kumar Sangakkara

So in total my list of Top 15 includes 6 Indians, 5 Pakistani, 2 Sri Lankan’s, 1 Australian and one Batting Genius from Trinidad.