Batsman who have performed best against express pace bowling

[Harsh Thakor]

This is my selection of batsman who performed best against genuine or express pace in order of merit.I have only considered scores against extreme pace and not fast-medium.



1.Graham Gooch



No opening batsman ever played express pace of the Calypsos better ,which is proved when he averaged over 57 in West Indies in 1981 and averaging over 46 overall including classic 1541 at Leeds. Averaged over 44 against Australia facing likes of Geoff Lawson and Craig Mcdermott.Averaged above 45 versus Pakistan,Australia and West Indies as an opener which is remarkable and also 45+ in both Australia and West Indies.









2.Mohinder Amarnath



At his peak in 1982-83 played pace better than nay batsman ever.In West Indies and Pakistan in 1982-83 aggregated around 1200 run sin 11 tests scoring 4 centuries and averaging around 70.In that time played Imran at his best and the greats Carribean pace batttery.Averaged over 55 in Pakistan,West Indies and Australia which is truly outstanding.









3.Greg Chappell





In the 1970's no batsman was as successful against the Calypso pace battery as Greg who in 1979 in West Indies averaged 69 scoring 521 runs with 3 centuries.Scored 246 and 174 against a rest of the world attack in WSC supertests in 1977-78.Ever consistent facing Imran and co against whom he averaged over 55.From early 1980's relative form diminished agaisnt hostile pace with the short ball causing him problems.









4.Steve Waugh



An epitome of combat and consistency who was prolific on testing pitches in South Africa and the Carribean.Few batsmen were as meritorious facing Ambrose,Donald and co as Steve ,who above all won tests.Averaged over 50 in South Africa facing the likes of Donald and over 60 in West Indies facing Ambrose and Walsh.













5.Wasim Raja



The most consistent batsman against the fiery Calypso attack in the 1970'swho averaged over 57 in 3 series overall home and away.In 1977 averaged 57.44 in West Indies,aggregating more than 500 runs.









6.David Gower



Most prolific middle order batsman in the Carribean in the 1980's who scored 743 runs at 43.88 over there.Ever consistent against Australia averaging over 44 at home and away facing likes of Lillee,Lawson,Thomson and Mcdermott.Also played many a useful knock facing likes of Imran and Wasim.At his best when scoring an unbeaten 154 at Kingston in 1981 and averaging over 44 down under in 1982-83.









7.Majid Khan





Averaged 53 as an opener in 1977 in a 5 test series in the Carribean which was remarkable.Facing the likes of Lillee and Hogg averaged over 35 as an opener in Australia and overall averaged over 40 against them.Majid was consistency personified facing the likes of Majid,Lillee,Roberts and Willis.His 167 at Georgetown in 1977 virtually ressurected Pakistan from the grave.His 92 at Barbados all but won the game for Pakistan in the 1st test. in 1977.Mjaid also scored a 158 facing Lillee and a 108 facing Rodney Hogg.











8.Mark Waugh



At his best overshadowed brother Steve against top pace like when playing South Africa ta home in 1997-98 or West Indies in 1996-97 or Pakistan in 1995-96.Mark played the short ball on the rise with greater fluency than Steve and was abetter player on a bouncy surface.His 124 at Johannesburg in match-winning run chase in 1997 was one of cricket's classics.Averaged over 40 against powerful attacks of South Africa Pakistan and West Indies and averaged over 43 in South Africa and 49+ in Pakistan which is commendable.Has to his credit around 3 centuries each against Wasim and Donald.











9.Alan Border



Very prolfic in the Carribean in 1984 averaging over 74 and at home agaisnt the Calypsos in 1981-82 averaging over 67.Overall averaged 39 and not so successful on fast pitches at home facing West Indies attacks.The ultimate to bat for your life in his day and the best batsman overseas.











10.Sunil Gavaskar



Not successful against Lillee but the ultimate epitome of consistency facing Imran at his best.Sadly could not prove himself completely against express pace by dropping out of WSC cricket and facing second string Aussie and Calypso pace attacks from 1977-79.Facing the Carribaen battery he averaged around 43 in 1983-84,scoring 3 centuries,including a double hundred in addition to a classy 90.Comparatively he was a failure in West Indies in 1983 and was not consistent at home in 1983-84 with a string of low scores.Nevertheless scored a classic 129 at Delhi,unbeaten 147 at Guyana and unbeaten 236 at Madras.Significant that most of Gavaskar's runs scored against West Indies were against lesser attacks and not agaisnt the great quartet.









11.Viv Richards



Had the luxury of not having to negotiate his own great pace quartet but at his best ripped apart the likes of Imran or Willis at their fastest or Lillee at his best.Never proved himself agaisnt Lillee and Thomson at their fastest.In WSC supertest averaged over 86,but did not face Thomson and Lillee was not at his quickest.Still no mean feat to average 96.5 in 1979-80 facing Lillee and Pascoe,over 70 facing Imran in 1980 in Pakistan and 86.2 facing Lillee,Pascoe or Imran.Also took Willis to the sword like noone else.











12.Sachin Tendulkar



No batsman was as consistent in South Africa against top pace like Tendulkar who stood upto Donald and Steyn better than anybody.However hardly played much agaisnt Wasim and Waqar or Walsh and Ambrose and most of his runs in Australia came against top fast-medium bowling.











13.Colin Cowdrey



Prolific against in the Carribean in 1959-60 and 1967-68 and in 1974-75 mastered Lillee-Thomson duo like no batsman ever.His unbeaten match-winning151 against the Aussie attack at its most fiery height,speaks for itself.Avergaed over 60 in West Indies which was remarkable.At his best when scoring 1012 out of 191 at Melbourne in 1954.
















14.Ian Chappell



In a crisis a better batsman than even brother Greg and Viv.In 1975-76 amassed 449 runs against the Calypsos which arguably was more impactful than the 702 run aggregate of brother Greg.In WSC cricket played some outstanding knocks overshadowing brother Greg at home against West Indies and averaging 0ver 35 as an opening batsman in the Carribean in 1979.The cricketing world greatly missed Ian Combating the great Carribaen quartet of the 1980's .In 1967-68 season. scored 5 centuries agaisnt West Indies including first class games.The most defining innnings of his career was at Perth agaisnt est Indies in 1975-76 when he scored 156 out of 328.















15.Clive Lloyd /Ricky Ponting





No batsmen was as prolific of successful as Lloyd against Lillee and Thomson at their fastest who in 1975-76 averaged 46.90 and aggregated 469 run sin 6 tests.Lloyd also scored a classic 151 facing Imran at Barbados in 1977 and an unbeaten 197 in a WSC supertest in 1979 at home.Overshadowed greatly by Viv in WSC cricket in Australia.Ponting dispelled the likes of Shoiab Akhtar like no batsman in 2005-6 or even Wasim Akram earlier.Sadly Ponting hardly was at his best against express quick West Indies or South African paceman,apart from Mkya Ntini.









The likes of Viv Richards,Ricky Pointing,Ian Chappell or Inzamam Ul Haq were truly outstanding facing express pace but lost out statistically.Viv never played his own pace quartet and never conquered Lillee and Thomson at their fastest.Ian did not match his brother Greg's incredible stats although he was a better player in a crisis.Ponting hardly played the best attacks ,basically plundering weaker attacks.Inzy was hardly consistent facing Australian and South African attacks at home and away,inspite of mastering the Calypso quickies.Ironically Lara did not score a single test hundred against an all-time great great express pace bowler like Wasim,Waqar or Donald..Lara was a genius and probably 2nd to Bradman,but amongst express paceman only conquered Brett Lee.

 

[JattMaula]

 

[MenInG]

Majid Khan!

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Majid Khan!

I am a great admirer of Majid too.Liked my rankings?What about Wasim Raja ,Gooch ,Waugh and Amarnath?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Please participate here.Love your contribution on who performed against the fastest men best.
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] @Freelance _cricketer [MENTION=133512]AB_Fan[/MENTION] [MENTION=133315]Hitman[/MENTION]

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Please come here [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]

 

[jeetu]

This is my selection of batsman who performed best against genuine or express pace in order of merit.I have only considered scores against extreme pace and not fast-medium.


10.Sunil Gavaskar



Not successful against Lillee but the ultimate epitome of consistency facing Imran at his best.Sadly could not prove himself completely against express pace by dropping out of WSC cricket and facing second string Aussie and Calypso pace attacks from 1977-79.Facing the Carribaen battery he averaged around 43 in 1983-84,scoring 3 centuries,including a double hundred in addition to a classy 90.Comparatively he was a failure in West Indies in 1983 and was not consistent at home in 1983-84 with a string of low scores.Nevertheless scored a classic 129 at Delhi,unbeaten 147 at Guyana and unbeaten 236 at Madras.Significant that most of Gavaskar's runs scored against West Indies were against lesser attacks and not agaisnt the great quartet.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...n=4;template=results;type=batting;view=series
What about 75-76 series in WI ? , Gavaskar played well against Roberts and Holding in that series.

 

[Savak]

Jacques Kallis, was always at ease against Akhtar and Lee

 

[subshakerz]

Tendulkar was technically the best equipped against pace that I have ever seen.

But in terms of real performance, I don't think anyone beats Steve Waugh. He scored against Ambrose Walsh, Donald/Pollock and Wasim/Waqar in their mid-90 peaks.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Tendulkar was technically the best equipped against pace that I have ever seen.

But in terms of real performance, I don't think anyone beats Steve Waugh. He scored against Ambrose Walsh, Donald/Pollock and Wasim/Waqar in their mid-90 peaks.

Greatly appreciate your choices of Tendulkar and Waugh.

Was not brother Mark Waugh technically more organized against sheer pace than Steve?Remember his batting against likes of Donald,Ambrose and Wasim on bouncy tracks at home,when he overshadowed Steve.

How do you rate Lara against top pace comparitively?Ricky Ponting up there wit the top against pace?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...n=4;template=results;type=batting;view=series
What about 75-76 series in WI ? , Gavaskar played well against Roberts and Holding in that series.

Remember Gavaskar scored his centuries in 1975-76 on batting or turning pitches in Trinidad and not on the fiery strips of Barbados and Kingston.In that series Roberts did not play in the 3rd test .Above all it was not the pace quartet which was carved from the late 1970's.Against the top pace attack Gavaskar has not equalled the batting of Wasim Raja,Majid or Mohinder.

 

[Ab Fan]

Ponting was certainly better against genuine pace compared to Tendulkar or Lara, so I will put him a little higher. Overall, the list is very good, a lot of players from 80s and 90s unsurprisingly.

But I think from modern era, a case can certainly be made for ABD and KP against genuine pace.

 

[andy0204]

Robin Smith,Alec Stewart

 

[Hitman]

Tendulkar, Ponting, Steve Waugh, Sunny Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath to name a few.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Shewag, Jacques Kali's, ABD and Kohli.

 

[subshakerz]

Greatly appreciate your choices of Tendulkar and Waugh.

Was not brother Mark Waugh technically more organized against sheer pace than Steve?Remember his batting against likes of Donald,Ambrose and Wasim on bouncy tracks at home,when he overshadowed Steve.

How do you rate Lara against top pace comparitively?Ricky Ponting up there wit the top against pace?

Mark Waugh also raised his game against pace but wasn't as consistent as Steve. He was technically better but would often get out in soft fashion whereas Steve put a lot of weight on his wicket.

Lara was a bit shaky against express pace, never scored a ton against Donald or Wasim/Waqar. Against medium or pace he was king.

Ricky Ponting was also great against pace actually, quite comfortable though swing gave him some issues.

 

[Robert]

Please come here [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]

I would say Gooch for his top-order excellence against WI.

Consider also Boycott who averaged 47 overall and had a monster series in Australia against the young Lillee, and even got a century at age 40 against Holding and the boys.

More recently Stewart, who clobbered Wasim and Waqar in 1992 and got two centuries in a Barbados test against Walsh and Ambrose.

Desi Haynes excelled late in his career against Wasim, Waqar and Imran.

 

[Romali_rotti]

The list would have lost creditability had you placed Inzi in there HT.. However the 15 you mentioned is on point.. Jimmy Amarnath right the top as it should always be on any list when compared on facing fast bowlers.

 

[Robert]

The list would have lost creditability had you placed Inzi in there HT.. However the 15 you mentioned is on point.. Jimmy Amarnath right the top as it should always be on any list when compared on facing fast bowlers.

WI sorted him out in India though, he couldn’t buy a run.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I would say Gooch for his top-order excellence against WI.

Consider also Boycott who averaged 47 overall and had a monster series in Australia against the young Lillee, and even got a century at age 40 against Holding and the boys.

More recently Stewart, who clobbered Wasim and Waqar in 1992 and got two centuries in a Barbados test against Walsh and Ambrose.

Desi Haynes excelled late in his career against Wasim, Waqar and Imran.

Any view on Gavaskar?right up there against express pace when you consider best batting in knocks in 1983-84? Prefer Ponting to Lara and Tendulkar against pace?I think Vishwanath was a top class player of pace bowling.Was Inzamam top notch against pace?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Mark Waugh also raised his game against pace but wasn't as consistent as Steve. He was technically better but would often get out in soft fashion whereas Steve put a lot of weight on his wicket.

Lara was a bit shaky against express pace, never scored a ton against Donald or Wasim/Waqar. Against medium or pace he was king.

Ricky Ponting was also great against pace actually, quite comfortable though swing gave him some issues.

Broadly agree.Why Ponting better than Lara?What about Inzamam and Amarnath?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

The list would have lost creditability had you placed Inzi in there HT.. However the 15 you mentioned is on point.. Jimmy Amarnath right the top as it should always be on any list when compared on facing fast bowlers.

Like my rankings?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I would say Gooch for his top-order excellence against WI.

Consider also Boycott who averaged 47 overall and had a monster series in Australia against the young Lillee, and even got a century at age 40 against Holding and the boys.

More recently Stewart, who clobbered Wasim and Waqar in 1992 and got two centuries in a Barbados test against Walsh and Ambrose.

Desi Haynes excelled late in his career against Wasim, Waqar and Imran.

Goood choice of Gooch and Stewart.Liked my ranking soverall?What about Waugh brothers,Ponting and Inzamam?Also was Sunil Gavaskar at the top agaisnt sheer pace?

Remember Boycott shied away from facing Lillee and Thomson at their quickest in 1974-75 and had advantage of facing lesser Aussie bowling in 2 Ashes series.Ofcourse he was a boulder in the Carribaen in 1981 but overall I feel Gavaskar faced express pace better.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I would say Gooch for his top-order excellence against WI.

Consider also Boycott who averaged 47 overall and had a monster series in Australia against the young Lillee, and even got a century at age 40 against Holding and the boys.

More recently Stewart, who clobbered Wasim and Waqar in 1992 and got two centuries in a Barbados test against Walsh and Ambrose.

Desi Haynes excelled late in his career against Wasim, Waqar and Imran.

Goood choice of Gooch and Stewart.Liked my rankingso verall?What about Waugh brothers,Ponting and Inzamam?Also was Sunil Gavaskar at the top agaisnt sheer pace?

Remember Boycott shied away from facing Lillee and Thomson at their quickest in 1974-75 and had advantage of facing lesser Aussie bowling in 2 Ashes series.Ofcourse he was a boulder in the Carribaen in 1981 but overall I feel Gavaskar faced express pace better.

 

[umarf76]

Robin Smith and Alan Lamb for England. Gooch was good against everyone.
Ponting for Australia
Wasim Raja and Majid Khan for Pakistan and later Inzamam
Amarnath and Gavaskar for India. Maybe Sehwag also?
Martin Crowe for Newzealand - ask Wasim and Waqar
Arvinda De Silva for Srilanka - best hooker from the subcontinent?
Richards and Richardson from West Indies maybe even Greenidge, Fredricks and Lara

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Kallis, KP, and Sangakkara(in latter part of his career).
Kallis was a machine regardless of how much pace you would throw at him, he would be at total ease. Domination wouldn't be the word but he negotiated them easily.
KP on his day massacred any bowling attack he faced. His Headingley knock against Steyn, Morkel and Vern was a treat to watch.
Sanga's 203 in NZ 2015, 192 in Aus 2009, and 108 against SA 2011 in 3rd inning.

 

[Robert]

Goood choice of Gooch and Stewart.Liked my rankingso verall?What about Waugh brothers,Ponting and Inzamam?Also was Sunil Gavaskar at the top agaisnt sheer pace?

Remember Boycott shied away from facing Lillee and Thomson at their quickest in 1974-75 and had advantage of facing lesser Aussie bowling in 2 Ashes series.Ofcourse he was a boulder in the Carribaen in 1981 but overall I feel Gavaskar faced express pace better.

As for Mark Waugh, I felt he was a fine player but always felt Steve was the real hard man.

Ponting averaged 47 against the top quicks of the nineties and turned into a run machine when they all finished in 2002.

Inzaman has a good rep against quicks but I only saw him face English medium pacers.

I don’t think Boycott shied away, he lost confidence against all bowling at test level - while he carried on facing Roberts, Proctor and Snow for Yorks - came back to get a hundred against Lillee and Thommo in 1977, and got a hundred at age 40 against two Lillees and two Thommos on a flier.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Robin Smith and Alan Lamb for England. Gooch was good against everyone.
Ponting for Australia
Wasim Raja and Majid Khan for Pakistan and later Inzamam
Amarnath and Gavaskar for India. Maybe Sehwag also?
Martin Crowe for Newzealand - ask Wasim and Waqar
Arvinda De Silva for Srilanka - best hooker from the subcontinent?
Richards and Richardson from West Indies maybe even Greenidge, Fredricks and Lara

great choices..appreciate Why not David Gower ?Pieterson?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

As for Mark Waugh, I felt he was a fine player but always felt Steve was the real hard man.

Ponting averaged 47 against the top quicks of the nineties and turned into a run machine when they all finished in 2002.

Inzaman has a good rep against quicks but I only saw him face English medium pacers.

I don’t think Boycott shied away, he lost confidence against all bowling at test level - while he carried on facing Roberts, Proctor and Snow for Yorks - came back to get a hundred against Lillee and Thommo in 1977, and got a hundred at age 40 against two Lillees and two Thommos on a flier.

How do you rate Lara against express pace?Or Gavaskar?

 

[alexjohn_tcr]

Richie Richardson,Haynes & Greenidge,Carl Hooper-All were top notch against express pace-Grew up watching these guys play.