Best match-winners of the last 40 years?

[Harsh Thakor]

Below is my list in order of merit of best match-winners of the last 40 years.Controversial and not solely based on statistics but also on strength of team played for and impact.Maybe favouring players who represented world champion teams like Viv,Warne,Gilly ,Mcgrath,Waugh, but significant names in neutral teams like Botham,Lillee,Imran,Inzamam,Chappell and important names from relatively weaker teamslike Hadlee,Kapil Dev ,Ambrose and Lara.The very style of play or flair of Viv,Warne,Gilchrist and Botham would make them the ultimate to make the explosive impact of a dynamite to turn the scenario of a game . Imran's professionalism and determination,,Marshall ,Ambrose and Lillee's hostility,Mcgrath's phenomenal consistency ,Inzamam's great flamboyance and Wasimand Lara's supreme artistry or creative genius make them close contenders.


Botham in his heyday was closest to Sobers,while Viv in his peak was the closest to Bradman.Mcgrath and Warne played a phenomenal role in Australia's ascendancy as arguably the best test team ever with Gilchrist joining the pack.Lara single handedly turned a losing cause of a weak team more than anyone while Inzmamam statistically was he ultimate champion as a match-winner.Ambrose was ultimate champion in defending a low 4th innings target,bamboozling oposition like tearing flesh of a body.Imran shaped the destiny of a nation to emerge as a superpower more than anyone.On pure stats the best were Warne,Mcgrath,Inzamam,Gilchrist,Steve Waugh and Marshall.The loss of Mcgrath and Warne had greater effect on Australian cricket than loss of Marshal to West Indies.Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev could well be the equivalent of Brian Lara to their respective sides,considering they solely bore the brunt of relatively weak bowling attacks and still won games.Arguably Steve Waugh is inflated by his stats as he played with really great players.



1.Viv Richards
2.Shane Warne
3.Adam Gilchrist
4.Imran Khan/Ian Botham
6.Malcolm Marshall
7.Curtly Ambrose
8.Glen Mcgrath
9.Inzamam Ul Haq/Brian Lara
11.Denis Lillee
12.Steve Waugh
13.Wasim Akram
14.Sachin Tendulkar
15.Muthiah Murlitharan
16.Greg Chappell
17.Richard Hadlee
18.Kapil Dev
19.Ricky Ponting
20.Jacques Kallis
21.Virendra Sehwag
22.Alan Donald
23.Rahul Dravid
24.Waqar Younus
25.Abdul Qadir

 

[Gilly]

Inzi a bigger match winner than Ponting, lol

 

[Harsh Thakor]

What about others?Rating of Viv,Chappell ,Lara,Imran and Warne?No positive aspects?

 

[Gilly]

What about others?Rating of Viv,Chappell ,Lara,Imran and Warne?No positive aspects?

You just don't make sense with your lists, how could Inzi be a bigger match winner than Tendulkar without being a better batsman.

You rank Tendulkar as a better batsman than Inzi but you rank Inzi a bigger match winner. So if you are selecting a team who would you select a better batsman or a bigger match winner?.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

You just don't make sense with your lists, how could Inzi be a bigger match winner than Tendulkar without being a better batsman.

You rank Tendulkar as a better batsman than Inzi but you rank Inzi a bigger match winner. So if you are selecting a team who would you select a better batsman or a bigger match winner?.

Tendulkar definitely with his consistency.Inzy would not be in an all-time xi.It is not only about winning causes but also overall contribution.Inzy had a better record as a match.winner in games but still in terms of class he was not Tendulkar's equal.Tendulkar was far more effective in saving games.EvenLara was ahead of Sachin as a match winner or Viv but not necessarily s better batsmen.

 

[Gilly]

Tendulkar definitely with his consistency.Inzy would not be in an all-time xi.It is not only about winning causes but also overall contribution.Inzy had a better record as a match.winner in games but still in terms of class he was not Tendulkar's equal.Tendulkar was far more effective in saving games.EvenLara was ahead of Sachin as a match winner or Viv but not necessarily s better batsmen.

The object of the game is to win the match, so who do you select, the best match winner or the best batsman?.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

The object of the game is to win the match, so who do you select, the best match winner or the best batsman?.

Better batsmen.

 

[Gilly]

Batsmen.

So it is pointless being a better match winner then.