All-time XI of most talented cricketers versus statistical champions

[Harsh Thakor]

Below is my selection of an all-time test xi based on pure talent or ability.It does not make a selection on basis of statistics or overall consistency of player but the aspect of creative genius or prowess.


1.Barry Richards
2.Victor Trumper
3.Rohan Kanhai
4.Viv Richards
5.Brian Lara
6.Gary Sobers
7.Adam Gilchrist
8.Wasim Akram
9.Malcolm Marshall
10.Ray Lindwall
11.Subhash Gupte

No paceman ever could do things with ball like Wasim Akram whose variety and variations of reverse swing were sheer genius.No batsmen surpassed Rohan Kanhai in terms of pure talent with Brian Lara his left-handed equivalent.As a cricketer Gary Sobers took all-round cricketing genius to it's highest zenith . Marshall was like a right-arm equivalent of Akram who could swing the ball in and out wit the same action and who could skid a ball better than any paceman ever.Lindwall had more natural ability than even Lillee .In my view Subhash Gupte was a more complete spinner than Shane Warne,Trumper was the best of them all on bad wickets while Barry Richards overshadowed Hutton,Hobbs or Gavaskar in terms of pure ability.It shows that statistics is not necessarily a true reflection of talent of a player.

I am pitting the most talented all-time xi against the statistically best xi of all time.

best all time test xi statistically

1.Sunil Gavaskar
2.Jack Hobbs
3.Don Bradman
4.Sachin Tendulkar
5.Ricky Ponting
6.Jacques Kallis
7.Kumar Sangakaara
8.Imran Khan
9.Shane Warne
10.Dale Steyn
11.Glen Mcgrath


Just play the 2teams against each other.I would back the most talented all-time xi to beat the statistically best all-time xi.It just proves that the game is not only about statistics.Barry and Trumper would edge out Gavaskar and Hobbs.The batting of Viv.Lara,Kanhai in the middle -order may be more effective than Bradman,Ponting and Tendulkar together.The all-round skill of Wasim ,Marshall,Lindwall and Gupte could be more lethal than that of Steyn,Mcgrath and Imran together.Gichrist would overshadow Sangakaara in term sof explosive ability to turn a game.In the end the ultimate deciding factor would be Sobers v Kallis.Sobers would outclass Kallis as a match-winner.

 

[Indiafan]

How on earth is a 19 year old prodigy who scored around the world and dominated some of the great bowlers as a teen not talented? Just because he went on to have a longer carrer his talent disappeared?

 

[Madplayer]

How on earth is a 19 year old prodigy who scored around the world and dominated some of the great bowlers as a teen not talented? Just because he went on to have a longer carrer his talent disappeared?

There would always be contradictions in such lists. Malcolm marshall can be in both the teams too but i see you only pinpointed tendulkar

 

[Harsh Thakor]

How on earth is a 19 year old prodigy who scored around the world and dominated some of the great bowlers as a teen not talented? Just because he went on to have a longer carrer his talent disappeared?

Of course he is talented at the level of a genius.Yet to me in terms of pure creative genius or natural ability he did not surpass the likes of Viv,Lara and Kanhai.At their best they were all marginally more dazzling who penetrated regions that even Bradman did not.Tendulkar may even be the best batsmen or most complete batsmen of al with his record but that dose not make him the batsmen who took creative genius to it's most superlative height.It is subjective but I still give Lara the marginal edge at his best or even Viv Richards.Not selecting Tendulkar dose not undermine his talent.In that respect he could well be in the top 5-6.v batsmen of all.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

How on earth is a 19 year old prodigy who scored around the world and dominated some of the great bowlers as a teen not talented? Just because he went on to have a longer carrer his talent disappeared?

Remember even Bradman felt there were batsmen even more talented than him.Vishwanath was more talented than Gavaskar that dose not make him a better batsmen.I personally feel Viv,Lara and Kanhai arguably even by a very slender margin surpassed Bradman in termsof pure talent.I think you very unfairly tag me as being anti-Tendulkar.Do read my posts on him her.

Of course Tendulkar is talented at the level of a genius.Yet to me in terms of pure creative genius or natural ability he did not surpass the likes of Viv,Lara and Kanhai.At their best they were all marginally more dazzling who penetrated regions that even Bradman did not.Tendulkar may even be the best batsmen or most complete batsmen of all with his record but that dose not make him the batsmen who took creative genius to it's most superlative height.It is subjective but I still give Lara the marginal edge at his best or even Viv Richards.Not selecting Tendulkar dose not undermine his talent.In that respect he could well be in the top 5-6.v batsmen of all.