AB de Villiers is a better ODI batsman than Ponting, Tendulkar and even Richards!

[Slog]

Cricket is a team game. Failure to win trophies should not be held against you as long as you yourself are doing great in the big tournaments and big matches and not just padding up your stats in no pressure matches while going missing in the big ones.


On an individual batting metric AB trumps the 2 other ODI batting legends in almost every aspect. He absolutely smokes Tendulkar stats wise and while Viv runs him close I think overall he beats them too.
His world Cup stats are beastly and he averages 64, striking at 117. The other 2 fall way behind in that regard.

The crazy thing is AB has shown no signs of stopping. His record in the previous 4-5 years is mind numbing.

Imo he is already better than the other 2 from a batting perspective as far as ODIs are concerned.

 

[Dios]

If there is any doubt it will be completely removed by the time ABDV is ready to hang up his boots. He is the greatest ever LOI batsman.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Kohli is very close too.

Lot of people forgetting how good Kohli actually is.

 

[Sachin136]

Fact is that nowadays players like Rohit (who are good but not exceptional) are scoring double hundreds for fun. The game has become so ridiculously easy that I wouldn't compare any of the current players with the past ODI greats (players like AB might be better than some of the older generation but because it is such a different game now, it is impossible to compare them). We can't tell how well Richards or Sachin would have done with the current environment or how guys like AB would have faced great ODI bowlers.

 

[Sachin136]

Kohli is very close too.

Lot of people forgetting how good Kohli actually is.

Kohli is much better under pressure and in chases than de Villiers but as an overall ODI batsman AB is far ahead. However Kohli might have not even reached his peak yet (at around 28-30) so we don't know where he will end up.

 

[zains_rulez]

No comparison between kohli and ABD

ABD play for his team and much better than kohli

While kohli is looking for captaincy all the time

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[Sachin136]

No comparison between kohli and ABD

ABD play for his team and much better than kohli

While kohli is looking for captaincy all the time

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How can you tell that Kohli only wants captaincy? And how does wanting captaincy mean he doesn’t play for his team?

 

[zains_rulez]

How can you tell that Kohli only wants captaincy? And how does wanting captaincy mean he doesn’t play for his team?

Look at his body language...
His batting avg in 2015 under dhoni captaincy will give all ur answers

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[Sachin136]

Look at his body language...
His batting avg in 2015 under dhoni captaincy will give all ur answers

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So if he fails under Dhoni that will make him the captain? If anything scoring runs will give him a greater chance of becoming the captain.

 

[Hawkeye]

There are quite a lot of threads on this already. One mega thread as well, how many are we going to see now.

Plus it's obvious.

 

[Acricketfan]

Cricket is a team game. Failure to win trophies should not be held against you as long as you yourself are doing great in the big tournaments and big matches and not just padding up your stats in no pressure matches while going missing in the big ones.


On an individual batting metric AB trumps the 2 other ODI batting legends in almost every aspect. He absolutely smokes Tendulkar stats wise and while Viv runs him close I think overall he beats them too.
His world Cup stats are beastly and he averages 64, striking at 117. The other 2 fall way behind in that regard.

The crazy thing is AB has shown no signs of stopping. His record in the previous 4-5 years is mind numbing.

Imo he is already better than the other 2 from a batting perspective as far as ODIs are concerned.

Funny how you guys forget these words while talking about a certain batsman.

 

[Slog]

Funny how you guys forget these words while talking about a certain batsman.

Don't know about others but the only aspect of Tendulkar I might have criticised is his failings in World Cup finals and that has no conflict with these world.

Also who is 'you guys?'

 

[Aman]

Fact is that nowadays players like Rohit (who are good but not exceptional) are scoring double hundreds for fun. The game has become so ridiculously easy that I wouldn't compare any of the current players with the past ODI greats (players like AB might be better than some of the older generation but because it is such a different game now, it is impossible to compare them). We can't tell how well Richards or Sachin would have done with the current environment or how guys like AB would have faced great ODI bowlers.

Exactly, these days boundaries are brought in 10-15 meters.. AB could have been out 2-3 times today if the boundary hadn't been shortened.

Also not taking the crucial point of 2 new balls and powerplays into account.

 

[Sachin136]

Don't know about others but the only aspect of Tendulkar I might have criticised is his failings in World Cup finals and that has no conflict with these world.

Also who is 'you guys?'

You're one of the few Pakistanis here who do not use match winner argument against Tendulkar, but the vast majority here do (and they neglect it when it comes to de Villiers).

 

[ChachaCricket]

Not better than Viv and this is coming from the biggest AB fan. Viv played without any boundaries with skinny bats on pitches that offered some level of assistance. He was the pioneer of modern ODI cricket and still unmatched today. You watch some of his old footage and see how easily he's clearing the fence(at least 80-90m), one can imagine the havoc he'd wreak in grounds with boundaries like the one we saw yesterday.

47 at 90 SR in his era would be like 110 at 55 today with the modern rules. I think AB will peak at 105 SR.

 

[Slog]

Exactly, these days boundaries are brought in 10-15 meters.. AB could have been out 2-3 times today if the boundary hadn't been shortened.

Also not taking the crucial point of 2 new balls and powerplays into account.

Lol if boundaries were back you think AB would not take that into account while playing his shots. He is not a mindless slogger like Afridi.

 

[Aman]

Lol if boundaries were back you think AB would not take that into account while playing his shots. He is not a mindless slogger like Afridi.

He mistimed quite a few, he would have still been caught even if he took the boundary size into account.

 

[Hawkeye]

Not better than Viv and this is coming from the biggest AB fan. Viv played without any boundaries with skinny bats on pitches that offered some level of assistance. He was the pioneer of modern ODI cricket and still unmatched today. You watch some of his old footage and see how easily he's clearing the fence(at least 80-90m), one can imagine the havoc he'd wreak in grounds with boundaries like the one we saw yesterday.

47 at 90 SR in his era would be like 110 at 55 today with the modern rules. I think AB will peak at 105 SR.

Viv is above all, but pioneer was Zaheer. No one before him played like that I believe, averaging 50 at that strike rate.

 

[Sachin136]

Lol if boundaries were back you think AB would not take that into account while playing his shots. He is not a mindless slogger like Afridi.

Yes he would take that in to account but that means he would also have a lower SR. Because if he had the ability to play shots that aren't risky (and will get him a similar SR with shorter boundaries) then he would be playing those more often. But he doesn't and has to resort to some very risky shots (which wouldn't be possible with older restrictions). There is nothing wrong with that because he has to play with what he can but that doesn't mean he can replicate anything even close to that if he was playing in an older era.

 

[Sachin136]

Viv is above all, but pioneer was Zaheer. No one before him played like that I believe, averaging 50 at that strike rate.

Richards and Zaheer made their debut and played around the same time (although Richards ended up playing for much longer).

 

[Hawkeye]

Richards and Zaheer made their debut and played around the same time (although Richards ended up playing for much longer).

My bad, I mixed up the dates. The same era they were from, Zaheer started just an year earlier. [MENTION=139353]ChachaCricket[/MENTION]

 

[Belawal2014]

He mistimed quite a few, he would have still been caught even if he took the boundary size into account.

Agreed that he mistimed a few, but that was today.

 

[Hawkeye]

Technically Zaheer started an year earlier and score his first 50 the same year at 93 strike rate. Viv came in an year later.

 

[ChachaCricket]

He mistimed quite a few, he would have still been caught even if he took the boundary size into account.

He wouldn't be playing those shots if boundaries were further back. With larger boundaries, there are bigger gaps between fielders around the boundaries so he'd be hitting more fours.

For goodness' sake, this is AB we're talking about not Umar Akmal.

 

[Aman]

He wouldn't be playing those shots if boundaries were further back. With larger boundaries, there are bigger gaps between fielders around the boundaries so he'd be hitting more fours.

For goodness' sake, this is AB we're talking about not Umar Akmal.

You're assuming he wouldn't look to hit 6s whether 10 meters longer or not he'd still back himself to play those shots.

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[Sachin136]

Technically Zaheer started an year earlier and score his first 50 the same year at 93 strike rate. Viv came in an year later.

Clive Lloyd started a couple of years ahead of Richards and got a quick 50 in that WC match against Pakistan too. But wholly the pioneer was definitely Richards.

 

[ChachaCricket]

You're assuming he wouldn't look to hit 6s whether 10 meters longer or not he'd still back himself to play those shots.

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No, I don't need to assume because I know he possesses a great cricketing brain. He'd be more wary of the fielders when hitting sixes on bigger boundaries.

 

[Sachin136]

He wouldn't be playing those shots if boundaries were further back. With larger boundaries, there are bigger gaps between fielders around the boundaries so he'd be hitting more fours.

For goodness' sake, this is AB we're talking about not Umar Akmal.

And what makes you think he has the ability to hit those shots?

 

[anuk]

tendulkar has longevity on his side and ponting had the ability to play big match winning knocks in big games.

viv was the best of both worlds i guess.

not really sure if ab is better than viv because i never watched viv live. it must be pretty close though.

 

[Ahson8]

And what makes you think he has the ability to hit those shots?

Did you start following cricket a month ago or something ?

 

[Hawkeye]

Clive Lloyd started a couple of years ahead of Richards and got a quick 50 in that WC match against Pakistan too. But wholly the pioneer was definitely Richards.

Clive Lloyd didn't average 50 with the bat at 85 strike rate and isn't known for batting.

Anyway Viv can be termed as pioneer because he's the one who really took on all sorts of bowlers.

 

[Itachi]

New generation kids..... Just bring any tom dick harry and compare them to legends.....

AB is a choker. Viv is a legend. Tendulkar was gidzila and ponting was a king kong.

 

[Sachin136]

Lol

Did you start following cricket a month ago or something ?

It looks like you two lack basic reading comprehension skills. I said how can you assume that, if the boundaries were brought back to where they used to be and made it more difficult to clear the ground, AB will still be able to hit shots that find the gap (and do it consistently enough so that he scores at a similar SR to now)?

 

[Bilal7]

Not better than any of them as of now. Let him finish his career first. As far as we know, he might not even end up as the best ODI batsman of this era if Amla and Kohli have anything to say about it.

 

[ChachaCricket]

It looks like you two lack basic reading comprehension skills. I said how can you assume that, if the boundaries were brought back to where they used to be and made it more difficult to clear the ground, AB will still be able to hit shots that find the gap (and do it consistently enough so that he scores at a similar SR to now)?

I understood you fully well. I just loled at your poor understanding of cricket.

He can pierce the gaps on smaller grounds/boundaries, what makes you think he wouldn't be able to do so on bigger grounds. Adding to the fact, there's nobody in world cricket or perhaps in all of cricketing history that possesses as many cricketing shots as AB.

Factors that would bring down AB's stats are 5 fielders outside from 10-50 and one new ball. Bigger boundaries might help a little or it could actually backfire because he'll be able to find gaps for doubles and fours throughout his innings. There will no need for him to change gears because he'll be striking at a high rate from the start.

 

[Aman]

Gotta love the double standards though.

Rohit scores a 100 (or double for that matter), it's a flat track (or on an Indian road).

AB scores a 100 on the same wicket, he's greater than Viv, Ponting and Tendulkar

 

[Ahson8]

It looks like you two lack basic reading comprehension skills. I said how can you assume that, if the boundaries were brought back to where they used to be and made it more difficult to clear the ground, AB will still be able to hit shots that find the gap (and do it consistently enough so that he scores at a similar SR to now)?

And I asked if you started following cricket a month ago ? Because he has previously scored on bigger grounds...

 

[Sachin136]

I understood you fully well. I just loled at your poor understanding of cricket.

He can pierce the gaps on smaller grounds/boundaries, what makes you think he wouldn't be able to do so on bigger grounds. Adding to the fact, there's nobody in world cricket or perhaps in all of cricketing history that possesses as many cricketing shots as AB.

Factors that would bring down AB's stats are 5 fielders outside from 10-50 and one new ball. Bigger boundaries might help a little or it could actually backfire because he'll be able to find gaps for doubles and fours throughout his innings. There will no need for him to change gears because he'll be striking at a high rate from the start.

I don’t know about you but in most of the innings I’ve watched of AB he has hit more aerial shots and 6s than boundaries through the gaps. I’m not saying that if the boundary lines are brought back he will be unable to score because he doesn’t know how to find the gap. But I’m sure you will agree that it will at least decrease his scoring rate to a certain extent.

 

[ChachaCricket]

I don’t know about you but in most of the innings I’ve watched of AB he has hit more aerial shots and 6s than boundaries through the gaps. I’m not saying that if the boundary lines are brought back he will be unable to score because he doesn’t know how to find the gap. But I’m sure you will agree that it will at least decrease his scoring rate to a certain extent.

With 4 fielders, it just creates more gaps. 5 fielders, yes. And he won't be the only one affected.

 

[Madplayer]

Gotta love the double standards though.

Rohit scores a 100 (or double for that matter), it's a flat track (or on an Indian road).

AB scores a 100 on the same wicket, he's greater than Viv, Ponting and Tendulkar

maybe because AB scores everywhere and Rohit is a dud anywhere outside the subcontinent/india.

 

[Aman]

maybe because AB scores everywhere and Rohit is a dud anywhere outside the subcontinent/india.

Fair enough, just have look at the number of AB threads that have popped up since the match against India.

 

[ChachaCricket]

maybe because AB scores everywhere and Rohit is a dud anywhere outside the subcontinent/india.

No, no, no, why would that be the case? Also, nobody's actually downplayed Rohit's knock. In fact, most have admitted it was better than AB's.

 

[Pantani]

Without going into World Cups, I disagree. His only great 'exploit' to date is the fastest hundred (made against a pathetic West Indies side). Sachin has a double ton, Viv has the 189* (widely considered the greatest ODI innings ever - at least until people started making double tons), Ponting has the hundred he made at Wanderers in the '03 World Cup final. To my mind de Villiers has done nothing of that sort, other than the fastest hundred, no single innings of his matches the above three innings. He has fantastic stats, but people don't remember stats, they remember the great iconic performances.

 

[Aman]

I don't 'hate' everything Pakistan's likes, I find it annoying when people over rate sportsman. If AB were as great as some make him out to be i.e. among the GOAT, he would have numerous WCs and iconic innings to his name - all he has is that 100 off 30 against a mediocre WI side in altitude. Now compare this to Pontings 100 against India in the WC Final and SRT's 200 against SA.

No, no, no, why would that be the case? Also, nobody's actually downplayed Rohit's knock. In fact, most have admitted it was better than AB's.

I never said anything against Rohit, it was a very good hundred. But I have seen enough cricket over the years to know what a graveyard is for the seam bowlers and this is one of them.

That simply means a bowler can not bowl length stuff but bowl near the toes at the end - keep it simple as that is all you can do. Reverse swing has nothing to do with the pitches - that's all in the air if any is available.

^

 

[AlphaFighter]

I don't 'hate' everything Pakistan's likes, I find it annoying when people over rate sportsman. If AB were as great as some make him out to be i.e. among the GOAT, he would have numerous WCs and iconic innings to his name - all he has is that 100 off 30 against a mediocre WI side in altitude. Now compare this to Pontings 100 against India in the WC Final and SRT's 200 against SA. ^

Let's not over rate Ponting either. Ponting played in the all time best side and had his best moments when he had the dream 11. He got brutally exposed as both a captain and a batsman once all the big once in a life time legends left him.

 

[Aman]

Let's not over rate Ponting either. Ponting played in the all time best side and had his best moments when he had the dream 11. He got brutally exposed as both a captain and a batsman once all the big once in a life time legends left him.

Funny you mention that.

He was able to win a Test series as captain with nobodies in SA.

 

[AlphaFighter]

Funny you mention that.

He was able to win a Test series as captain with nobodies in SA.

Overall the performance of the Australian team with the all time legends under his reign and after those guys left speaks for itself. He lost series to India in India, lost a home series against south Africa, lost the ashes twice and lost the 2011 WC.

That is a major performance and success deficit.

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[Aman]

Overall the performance of the Australian team with the all time legends under his reign and after those guys left speaks for itself. He lost series to India in India, lost a home series against south Africa, lost the ashes twice and lost the 2011 WC.

That is a major performance and success deficit.

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How on earth do you expect a captain to win you a series in India when you don't have a quality spinner or quality fast bowlers?

Losing a WC to a quality Indian side which was superior and playing at home, and then losing to a strong SA side at home. I don't see what's embarrassing in that.

You're mistaken to think one quality player can take a team to the top (that too when he himself is on the decline). Had Warne or McGrath left, do you think they could have done better? Even though they wouldn't have the likes of Ponting, Hayden or Gilly around to carry the batting.

 

[rollingstoned]

You're mistaken to think one quality player can take a team to the top (that too when he himself is on the decline). Had Warne or McGrath left, do you think they could have done better? Even though they wouldn't have the likes of Ponting, Hayden or Gilly around to carry the batting.

And yet ABdV is overrated because he hasn't won SA a world cup single handedly? Cricket is a team game, i don't think most people hold it against Sachin that he wasn't personally responsible for any of our tourney wins. His most iconic performances like desert storm came in bilaterals. The 98 in 2003 is an exception.

 

[Scrolln]

There was a thread recently about how this current SA side is among the weakest ever. Most people on the forum seem to agree with it. And yet that team is the best team in the world at the moment. What does that say about the current standards of cricket?

Do compare that to the standards of cricket to the 80's, 90's and even 00's before comparing the players.

Richards was easily the best ODI batsman of the 80's. Tendulkar was arguably the second best ODI bat of the 90's and the best ODI bat of the 00's (the greatest if you consider both 90's and 00's). ABDV has dominated for the last 5 years and becomes the best ever?

 

[sivaji]

He mistimed quite a few, he would have still been caught even if he took the boundary size into account.

you can say that about a new player that got a hundred in a small ground. AB has done it all around the world and he knows on a ground like that he's going to go for a six even if he mistimes it so he went after everything. He will play on a bigger ground according to that ground size.

 

[sivaji]

Yes he would take that in to account but that means he would also have a lower SR. Because if he had the ability to play shots that aren't risky (and will get him a similar SR with shorter boundaries) then he would be playing those more often. But he doesn't and has to resort to some very risky shots (which wouldn't be possible with older restrictions). There is nothing wrong with that because he has to play with what he can but that doesn't mean he can replicate anything even close to that if he was playing in an older era.

He can. He adapted to this era better than anyone. He could adapt to any era. I don't think old era players can adapt to the new t20 generation. What sets AB from all others is AB is not about hitting sixes. He always picks up singles and doubles. He does't really play dot balls. He works the singles and doubles. He is too good. A player like that would always pick double and triple in an earlier era and be better than those slow scoring players.

 

[sivaji]

Gotta love the double standards though.

Rohit scores a 100 (or double for that matter), it's a flat track (or on an Indian road).

AB scores a 100 on the same wicket, he's greater than Viv, Ponting and Tendulkar

This is stupid post. Usually Indian fans hype up their players but even they can't hype up Rohit to be better than Viv. Why AB is being regarded the GOAT by some people here is not because he got a hundred today. You must be so childish to assume people just saw him bat and just jumped on the bandwagon. He has been doing this for years and Rohit only just averages 40 now so it's understandable that no one is going to get excited about Rohit hitting a hundred. What do you expect? people to call Rohit better than Tendulkar and Ponting? He's not even close. Even if you don't think AB is not better than Sachin, you gotta admit that he's in the same bracket.. assuming you are a fair-minded cricket fan.

 

[sivaji]

I don't 'hate' everything Pakistan's likes, I find it annoying when people over rate sportsman. If AB were as great as some make him out to be i.e. among the GOAT, he would have numerous WCs and iconic innings to his name - all he has is that 100 off 30 against a mediocre WI side in altitude. Now compare this to Pontings 100 against India in the WC Final and SRT's 200 against SA.

^

Lol Sachin's 200 on a flat pitch in India is an iconic innings. LOL. AB has played so many good innings. In 2007, he ripped the Australian attack on his way to 92 off 72 balls. He was run out. Then he hit two more hundreds in the WC. Then was absolutely amazing throughout the next two WCs.

 

[Aman]

And yet ABdV is overrated because he hasn't won SA a world cup single handedly? Cricket is a team game, i don't think most people hold it against Sachin that he wasn't personally responsible for any of our tourney wins. His most iconic performances like desert storm came in bilaterals. The 98 in 2003 is an exception.

AB has had quality players around him, there's no excuse for him not winning a WC.

 

[Mamoon]

Not yet, but he is on his way.

 

[rollingstoned]

Blame the team then not him. Better Saf teams have failed in the past, see '99. The team's failure can't be laid at the feet of 1 or 2 individuals, especially not just to justify some preconceived notion that you have.

 

[Aman]

This is stupid post. Usually Indian fans hype up their players but even they can't hype up Rohit to be better than Viv. Why AB is being regarded the GOAT by some people here is not because he got a hundred today. You must be so childish to assume people just saw him bat and just jumped on the bandwagon. He has been doing this for years and Rohit only just averages 40 now so it's understandable that no one is going to get excited about Rohit hitting a hundred. What do you expect? people to call Rohit better than Tendulkar and Ponting? He's not even close. Even if you don't think AB is not better than Sachin, you gotta admit that he's in the same bracket.. assuming you are a fair-minded cricket fan.

All talk of AB being the GOAT is premature, till he is able to win a WC or has the same success by batting up the order (against the new ball) I won't put him in the same bracket as Viv (striking at a SR of 90+ at an average of close to 50 in that era is remarkable). I won't compare him to Ponting and SRT, because it's too difficult to do that with all the new rules that have implemented in the last 4-5 years i.e. two new balls, which allows batsmen to score much quicker at the death, also takes reverse swing out of equation.

FYI Sachins double came against an attack which included Dale Steyn, it was also the very first double in ODIs making it special. Compare this to AB's marquee performance against the WI attack of Holder, Taylor, Benn, Russell, Sammy, Samuels and Smith in altitude.. CA had already plundered the same attack for record ton a year earlier too (which was stronger with Narine in the attack).

 

[sivaji]

AB has had quality players around him, there's no excuse for him not winning a WC.

haha such a bad post. Sachin failed in so many WCs and Dhoni had to win it for him. That's how he won a WC. It's a team sport. One player can lose the WC. AB has so many quality players around him but most of them made themselves names in test cricket, not ODI cricket.

 

[Mamoon]

AB has had quality players around him, there's no excuse for him not winning a WC.

What more could he have done? got runout vs. India, was the last man standing vs. us, played an insane knock vs. WI and his innings in the semifinal vs. NZ was great too. He cannot bat for others.

Only criticism I can personally make is that he needs to bat higher up the order, and the World Cup was a good opportunity. de Kock was badly out of form and du Plessis did not set the world alight either, along with Amla choking as usual.

He can grab the game by the scruff of its neck if he bats at 3, rather than limit himself to 20-25 overs only.

 

[Aman]

Blame the team then not him. Better Saf teams have failed in the past, see '99. The team's failure can't be laid at the feet of 1 or 2 individuals, especially not just to justify some preconceived notion that you have.

Well players who are considered the best in the field have world titles and championships to back up their claim.

It's the same reason why people argue against Messi being the GOAT.

 

[SL_Fan]

Modern-day Viv Richards. Seriously is there any thing AB can't do with the bat in hand. I would take this AB over Sachin and Ponting at their best any day of the week.

 

[sivaji]

All talk of AB being the GOAT is premature, till he is able to win a WC or have the same success by batting up the order (against the new ball) I won't put him in the same bracket as Viv (striking at a SR of 90+ at an average of close to 50 in that era is remarkable). I won't compare him to Ponting and SRT, because it's too difficult to do that with all the new rules that have implemented in the last 4-5 years i.e. two new balls, which allows batsmen to score much quicker at the death, also takes reverse swing out of equation.

FYI Sachins double came against an attack which included Dale Steyn, compare this to AB's marquee performance against the WI attack of Holder, Taylor, Benn, Russell, Sammy, Samuels and Smith in altitude..

It's not premature. Sachin was talked about as a GOAT when he kept choking repeatedly and he did absolutely nothing when India won the WC. It was the other guys winning it. It's a team sport and almost everything has to go your way to win a WC. It's different from a tennis, motorsport or things like that because you have to pass every stage by yourself. In ODI WC, you can fail all the matches and still get to play a WC final like Dhoni did in 2011.

AB is better than both Ponting and Sachin. I will have AB on the top of the pile with Viv. Two new balls also help bowlers to get early wickets.

Sachin's double could have come against Steyn but it didn't come in SA's pitches. Steyn isn't an great ODI bowler either. So it came against a decent ODI bowler in Indian phatta road and it's an iconic innings.

 

[Aman]

What more could he have done? got runout vs. India, was the last man standing vs. us, played an insane knock vs. WI and his innings in the semifinal vs. NZ was great too. He cannot bat for others.

Only criticism I can personally make is that he needs to bat higher up the order, and the World Cup was a good opportunity. de Kock was badly out of form and du Plessis did not set the world alight either, along with Amla choking as usual.

He can grab the game by the scruff of its neck if he bats at 3, rather than limit himself to 20-25 overs only.

If he's the GOAT, he needs to be able to find a way to get his side over the line. The greats always find a way, look at JT from rugby league for example - he recently won his team their very first NRL championship and cemented himself as the undisputed GOAT after kicking the winning points in golden point.

He had countless other successes such as World Cups, MVP's and SoO wins, but it wasn't till he won a NRL title that he was acknowledged as the GOAT.

 

[Aman]

It's not premature. Sachin was talked about as a GOAT when he kept choking repeatedly and he did absolutely nothing when India won the WC. It was the other guys winning it. It's a team sport and almost everything has to go your way to win a WC. It's different from a tennis, motorsport or things like that because you have to pass every stage by yourself. In ODI WC, you can fail all the matches and still get to play a WC final like Dhoni did in 2011.

AB is better than both Ponting and Sachin. I will have AB on the top of the pile with Viv. Two new balls also help bowlers to get early wickets.

Sachin's double could have come against Steyn but it didn't come in SA's pitches. Steyn isn't an great ODI bowler either. So it came against a decent ODI bowler in Indian phatta road and it's an iconic innings.

Sachin isn't the GOAT, never was close.

Viv and Don beat him quite comfortably.

 

[sivaji]

Well players who are considered the best in the field have world titles and championships to back up their claim.

It's the same reason why people argue against Messi being the GOAT.

Well because Messi did absolutely nothing in the final and had one chance and blew it. It's different from AB. AB didn't fail the semi. He batted very well to get a good total. The bowling wasn't good and the fielding wasn't good enough to win the match.

 

[sivaji]

If he's the GOAT, he needs to be able to find a way to get his side over the line. The greats always find a way, look at JT from rugby league for example - he recently won his team their very first NRL championship and cemented himself as the undisputed GOAT.

by bowling himself the last over? This is a stupid post again. He's goat so he does what he does best. Scores 64 runs in quick time but he is not a bowler. He got the team a good score what else could he do to get the win? It's just ******** you are talking now. Say Messi scores 5 goals and the team still loses... Is it his fault? then why didn't Viv win more WCs if he is unreally good?

 

[SL_Fan]

If he's the GOAT, he needs to be able to get the side over the line. The greats always find a way, look at JT from rugby league for example. He recently won his team their very first NRL championship and cemented himself as the undisputed GOAT.

A batsman gets one shot most times to make his mark. One opportunity. To seize everything he has ever wanted.

 

[SL_Fan]

by bowling himself the last over? This is a stupid post again. He's goat so he does what he does best. Scores 64 runs in quick time but he is not a bowler. He got the team a good score what else could he do to get the win? It's just ******** you are talking now. Say Messi scores 5 goals and the team still loses... Is it his fault? then why didn't Viv win more WCs if he is unreally good?

Only a very select few you can say helped win their country the WC. Viv was definitely one of em (1979). Scored 130 odd not out in the final (half the runs) and some 40 odd in the semi as well.

 

[ChachaCricket]

AB has had quality players around him, there's no excuse for him not winning a WC.

Do tell what more could he have done in the semis? He came in at 114/3, 26 overs and took the team to 281 in 43 overs. He ended with 65 not out looking well set for a 100 only to lose 7 overs due to rain.

It's not his fault his team has some of the biggest chokers in the world in Steyn and Amla.

 

[sivaji]

A batsman gets one shot most times to make his mark. One opportunity. To seize everything he has ever wanted.

The thing he doesn't understand is in football for example.. Say Messi scores 5 goals and still loses, you can't really fault him. But still you can say, he could have done little better because he is still in the field till the last minute trying to score a goal. But in cricket, you bat really well and then you come to field, now it's your bowlers responsibility to defend that total. So if the bowlers are leaking runs, what can you do? you can't go back and bat even better. When people can't really argue with points, they just cling to some rubbish.

Mahela plays for me, the best WC final innings till date, still loses the WC finally. Is it his fault that his fielders couldn't defend it? What else could he do to win the WC other than bat well and get his team a good score.

 

[sivaji]

Do tell what more could he have done in the semis? He came in at 114/3, 26 overs and took the team to 281 in 43 overs. He ended with 65 not out looking well set for a 100 only to lose 7 overs due to rain.

It's not his fault his team has some of the biggest chokers in the world in Steyn and Amla.

Now lol Steyn choker haha what a world. Love it.

 

[sivaji]

Only a very select few you can say helped win their country the WC. Viv was definitely one of em (1979). Scored 130 odd not out in the final (half the runs) and some 40 odd in the semi as well.

Aravinda too.

You see Dhoni getting a lot of credit for winning the WC but he was very lucky to play the final because he was merely a passenger throughout the WC. Compare that to someone like Aravinda.

 

[SL_Fan]

Yeah winning a WC should not even come into it. It's very much a team effort.

 

[Aman]

Yeah winning a WC should not even come into it. It's very much a team effort.

Maybe if you had a terrible side you could ignore it, but you can't for AB.

Just to give you an indication of how highly AB rates his side..

I believe if we play to our full potential, no one is going to stop us in this tournament

 

[sajeebmcj]

viv is the goat in odi. sachin is 2nd and abd is close distance 3rd. if ab continue this for 3-4 he will arguabbly surpass viv. but what does ponting here? ab is soo soo ahead of him thats not comparable.

 

[sivaji]

Maybe if you had a terrible side you could ignore it, but you can't for AB.

AB's own words..

Then why did India not win it? They are not a terrible side. Why not NZ not win it. They are not a terrible side.

that's what everyone says because you don't want to give an impression you are not confident enough.

You are not answering how else could AB have won the WC for SA.. is it by bowling the last over?

 

[Aman]

Then why did India not win it? They are not a terrible side. Why not NZ not win it. They are not a terrible side.

that's what everyone says because you don't want to give an impression you are not confident enough.

You are not answering how else could AB have won the WC for SA.. is it by bowling the last over?

NZ didn't win because they weren't the strongest side in the tournament.

GOAT's have success follow them, like Viv, JT and Michael Jordan have.

They don't have to use their teammates inability as an excuse, they stand up in the big moments and ensure they get the team over the line.

What could AB have done? He could have batted NZ out of the game earlier, yes it's harsh because he did play really well, but he didn't exactly take the game away from NZ (even though he was looking set to). Who knows if he'll get another opportunity to win a WC again, that may be the closest he ever gets.

 

[sivaji]

NZ didn't win because they weren't the strongest side in the tournament.

they should have won it. They are not a terrible side.

 

[Aman]

they should have won it. They are not a terrible side.

I never said we were terrible, Australia are just a better side.