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Are AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Alastair Cook All-Time Greats?

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Majestic

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Three top batsmen who are on the last legs of their international career.

Would you consider them greats of the game or just country greats as they are on verge of retirement?

Discuss!
 
de Villiers is an ATG ODI batsman and Cook is an ATG Test batsman. Amla is not an ATG in any format.

If we take all formats into consideration, de Villiers is a mid-tier ATG because he is brilliant in ODIs and good in Tests. Cook is a low-tier ATG because he is brilliant in Tests but poor in ODIs.

Amla is excellent in Tests and decent in ODIs, but he is not ATG material. Apart from de Villiers and Cook, Kohli is the only active ATG batsman playing at the moment. Smith is on the brink and I think he will get there in the future. Joe Root has a long way to go but I think he will also make the mark eventually.

In my opinion, he is too good batsman in all formats not to reach the ATG level. Williamson will probably fall short like Amla.
 
AB was an ATG even three years ago. Amla is also possibly an ATG

Cook is nowhere near an ATG or even close
 
All three will go down as ATG when they end their careers, but only ABD will be a true all-format great. There's a clear romanticism of the past when it comes to rating legends.

Cook's achievements in India and Australia (has two of the greatest series ever by an opener there and won series on back of that), and Amla's brilliant three year will earn them a place.

However, all three have buttressed their stats with soft runs. But the fact that we are arguing about that means that the standards are higher for true greats. For me the thumb rule that a player is a true great is when we look deep into their record to find flaws to hold against them. You'd never see anyone do that for Jayawardene, Mohd. Yousuf for example!
 
Let them retire first. It is a debatable one.

As of now,

Cook is a great test batsmen and poor in odis.

Amla is also a great test batsmen and good in odis.

AB is also a great test batsmen but ATG in odis.

So, AB is the clear winner and ATG too. He also has more charisma and peer-reputation.

<B>But yes, things change fast in PP.</B>
 
Is there anyone who doubts AB being an ATG? One of the best ODI batsman in history and gun batsman in the test format.

Amla has a better claim than Cook. You have to be gun in one and very good in another in this era to be an ATG. Cook is simply poor in ODI and not in contention.
 
In 21st century if you're not great in both ODI and test, you can't be an ATG. A dingoe format specialist like Cook can never be ATG
 
ABD and Amla are definitely ATGs. Cook isn't one.

Amla is simply better than Cook in every aspect when it comes to test cricket. He's done everything Cook has done in that format and then some. ABD is inferior to both in tests, but is a great test batsman in his own right.

In ODIs, de Villiers has been on a different level to everyone else. Amla, although not as good, has also been excellent in his own right and is one of the best ODI openers of all time. Cook is a failure in the shorter formats.

Tests:

Amla - 9/10
Cook - 8/10
ABD - 8/10

ODIs:

ABD - 9.5/10
Amla - 8.5/10
Cook - 0.5/10

Overall:

Amla/ABD
ABD/Amla
Daylight
Cook
 
Cook is a very good test player
Abd is an ATG for me
Amla isn't an ATG for me
 
Cook and ABDV are for me but not sure about Amla, he's not too far away though
 
AB and Cook are ATGs. Amla needs to get out of the rut soon to keep his place let alone be an ATG
 
ABD is an ATG. Cook only for tests. Amla maybe, but he is going out of the picture fast
 
ABD is surely an ATG in all formats..
Not sure about Amla though.
Cook is not ATG for me as he is too inconsistent. Batsman averaging mid 40s in the era of flat pitches and ordinary bowlers can never be ATG.
 
Cook should not be mentioned with AB and Amla.

AB is an undisputed ATG of the game.

Amla is a test ATG and a good ODI player.

Cook is just a good test batsman, worse than both in all formats.
 
Amla is very close to being test ATG, but if he drags on his career till his average drops to 46/47 or something , then I won't be so sure. Amla in ODIs is nowhere close to ATG.

ABDV is undisputed ODI ATG and SA great in tests (so far).

Cook is not ATG.
 
How can someone be an ATG when they were never even ranked #1 in any format a single day?
 
Abd is definitely an atg
Amla isn't an atg, he must increase his avg to 50+ to become an atg, which i don't think he can. If Amla is hailed as an atg even after having below 50 avg then there will be many other contenders too
 
ABD in all formats. He is better than both in every aspect of batting and also kept wickets for 2 years during his peak in tests.
 
AB is one of top 5 ODI batsmen in history and a shot at being GOAT by the time he retires.. Forget about ATG talks he can be the GOAT in ODI’s if things go his way in 2019.

Amla and cook are great players but probably just one level below ATG.. Depends on your criteria for ATG some people put 50 players in ATG so if that’s the case then you can understand why they put these two in their lists..
 
Lol at AB being "good" in tests. AB is excellent in tests and a clear ATG. The Kohli fanboysim showing up again.
 
AB is a better test player than Amla and cook

In ODI its not even comparable as we all know

Overall AB is a bonafide ATG

Amla is a great player in test,a tier below ATG i would say and good in ODI

Cook is just a good player in test,thats all
 
AB:

Tests- Very close but no.
ODIs - Yes

Amla:

Tests - No
ODIs - No.

Cook:

Tests- Yes
ODIs - No.
 
I think Cook as a test batsman is incredibly underrated on this forum. He was the best batsman on show in two of the hardest achievements recognized in Cricket: Beating Aus in Aus and beating Ind in Ind. He's got a higher away average than home, his lowest average in an Asian country is 48.33 in Sri Lanka, and that's despite being an opener where your average is usually dragged down by a lack of not-outs. He's played some of the most impactful innings in the test arena.

Think the main issue is that Cook isn't elegant, his batting can sometimes be more boring than watching paint dry, and he's done nothing of note in ODI's (still has a decent amount of runs at an average that wasn't terrible by previous standards). I think that his lack of ODI performances are leaking into people's evaluation of him as a test batsman. ATG without fail for me.
 
Rishta Aunty said:
I think Cook as a test batsman is incredibly underrated on this forum. He was the best batsman on show in two of the hardest achievements recognized in Cricket: Beating Aus in Aus and beating Ind in Ind. He's got a higher away average than home, his lowest average in an Asian country is 48.33 in Sri Lanka, and that's despite being an opener where your average is usually dragged down by a lack of not-outs. He's played some of the most impactful innings in the test arena.

Think the main issue is that Cook isn't elegant, his batting can sometimes be more boring than watching paint dry, and he's done nothing of note in ODI's (still has a decent amount of runs at an average that wasn't terrible by previous standards). I think that his lack of ODI performances are leaking into people's evaluation of him as a test batsman. ATG without fail for me.
Click to expand...

A rare good post.
 
AB is an ATG in all formats of the game. One of the best I've ever seen.

Amla and Cook are up there in Tests.
 
If SA wins this series, it will be the first time in years that they would have beaten Australia at home. AB is a test ATG regardless but this will cement his legacy and shut up any haters.

The guy is averaging like a 100 in this series, 71 not out, 0 run out, 126 not out, 20 something, 64 and now heading towards another fifty. He was unlucky to run out of partners in the first match, otherwise he would probably have two hundreds by now.

Personally, i do not care about number of 100's as much as some others do. Yes, they are important but its the quality of runs that ultimately counts- and he has plenty of quality. This is one of the finest series i have seen a batsman play in years.
 
If Amla is an ATG then so was Laxman.
I don't see Hashim lasting for more than 2 balls against that legendary Aussie bowling unit.
 
Only Abdv can be considered a candidate for the ATG title, Amla's average is about to fall below 48, he's not even in the discussion for the ATG title at the moment.
 
hk031992 said:
he is 34 and past his prime.
Click to expand...

At the end of the day his overall average is what that counts the most which if I'm not wrong is hovering somewhere around between 47-48 which is pretty bad in this era of batting friendly wickets and conditions.
 
Amla should start scoring again. He might lose his chance of being called a test ATG is he keeps failing. ATG is not just having good overseas stats, it's also about longevity. Amla has been am average batsman outside his purple patch
 
TM Riddle said:
If Amla is an ATG then so was Laxman.
I don't see Hashim lasting for more than 2 balls against that legendary Aussie bowling unit.
Click to expand...

Laxman is definitely an Indian ATG but not an overall ATG, and Amla is similar to his level. A South African ATG. Amla has really regressed in the last few years; averages less than 40 for the last 4 years if I remember right.
 
Rishta Aunty said:
Laxman is definitely an Indian ATG but not an overall ATG, and Amla is similar to his level. A South African ATG. Amla has really regressed in the last few years; averages less than 40 for the last 4 years if I remember right.
Click to expand...

Fair point, I think it's somewhat to do with his serene nature. If he had a bit more drive, I'm sure he would be assured of ATG status without question.
 
The_Odd_One said:
Cook should not be mentioned with AB and Amla.

AB is an undisputed ATG of the game.

Amla is a test ATG and a good ODI player.

Cook is just a good test batsman, worse than both in all formats.
Click to expand...

But Cook has longevity and yet averages 45 as an opener in England conditions.
 
Majestic said:
But Cook has longevity and yet averages 45 as an opener in England conditions.
Click to expand...

Amla, to his credit, also averages 47 batting in the top 3 all his career in SA conditions which are tougher than England one because you gotta handle bounce as well.

All three have scored their share of soft runs and had their moments but neither are ATGs. All of them are Country greats in Tests at max, although ABD is an ODI ATG.

True ATGs are Smith and Kohli IMO, although still some way to go.
 
Cook is as much ATG as Harbhajan Singh. A complete nobody in LOIs and averages < 50 in tests.
 
AB of course, Amla is brilliant but doesn't make the cut, Cook no, longevity doesn't get you over the top alone.
 
Cook :- I will consider him ATG in test only if he could play few more years and score 4-5 centuries. He has underachieved in what he started with.

AbD :- ATG only in one day. He retired way too early.

AMla :- Scored tooo many soft runs to be considered ATG.
 
Umm... why is Amla not given his due? He averages an amazing 49 odd in ODIs with a great strike rate of 89, even though he plays correct cricketing shots.

In tests he averages 47 odd even though he plays a majority of tests in South Africa which is not exactly a batsman's paradise. If he were an India he would have 60+average at home and consequently a considerably higher average possible close to 55.

I think he is much better than Dravis in ODI's and close to him in Tests. If Dravid is an ATG, Amla should also be given some recognition.

Just my two cents
 
Oligochaetes said:
Umm... why is Amla not given his due? He averages an amazing 49 odd in ODIs with a great strike rate of 89, even though he plays correct cricketing shots.

In tests he averages 47 odd even though he plays a majority of tests in South Africa which is not exactly a batsman's paradise. If he were an India he would have 60+average at home and consequently a considerably higher average possible close to 55.

I think he is much better than Dravis in ODI's and close to him in Tests. If Dravid is an ATG, Amla should also be given some recognition.

Just my two cents
Click to expand...

Dravid played too many match winning innings whereas Amla had hardly any in test.. We not matching them In ODI... because dravid wasnt a great player In odis.
Dravid was known as the wall because when wickets would fall early he would block one end and stood like a wall On the other hand Amla scored too many soft runs. Hardly any Inning whivh could be remembered. And pkease dont fall into stats trap
 
Oligochaetes said:
Umm... why is Amla not given his due? He averages an amazing 49 odd in ODIs with a great strike rate of 89, even though he plays correct cricketing shots.

In tests he averages 47 odd even though he plays a majority of tests in South Africa which is not exactly a batsman's paradise. If he were an India he would have 60+average at home and consequently a considerably higher average possible close to 55.

I think he is much better than Dravis in ODI's and close to him in Tests. If Dravid is an ATG, Amla should also be given some recognition.

Just my two cents
Click to expand...

Amla has been awful in SL and WI, and below average in NZ. His stats in India are also very flattering, he cashed in on back when India still produced roads in tests. On rank turners Amla got brutally exposed. His away stats are pretty misleading imo.

He's decent in ODIs however. Somewhat underrated even. His WC stats aren't as bad as some make it out to be. He can't score tons in elimination rounds, but same for all Saffers.
 
AB is all format ATG. Cook is a test ATG but Amla falls short in tests and ODIs.
 
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