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Best Test openers in the world

Ab Fan

Ab Fan

Senior Test Player
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Who is the best test opener in the world? Just throwing up some names who are in contention.

David Warner
Rohit Sharma
Tom Latham
Dean Elgar
Aiden Markram
Dimuth Karunaratne
Any other??

What do you think? Discuss!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Warner is probably the best due to longevity but Tom Latham is definitely up there. Dimuth Karunaratne is an underrated test match player as well.
 
Ab Fan said:
Who is the best test opener in the world? Just throwing up some names who are in contention.

David Warner
Rohit Sharma
Tom Latham
Dean Elgar
Aiden Markram
Any other??

What do you think? Discuss!
Click to expand...

What is rohit sharma's average outside sub continent? Guy is a sitting duck against the moving ball.
 
Everyone's terrible. Probably the kiwi openers are a bit decent. Gill is a good prospect although I feel he should be a no.4 later in his career.
 
Ab Fan said:
In alien conditions, all openers have poor record.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm did not realise that and actually judged rohit with yardstick from a past now distant.
Dean Elgar i think is best among these names in that regard. He's the grit one expects from an opener.
 
Ahmed216 said:
Isnt karunaratne bit of a minnow basher?? I dont follow SL cricket much
Click to expand...

At least he bashes someone. Anyway, he was also instrumental in Sri Lanka winning their first away series in South Africa. Excellent captain and has a knack of playing good rearguard knocks especially in the 2nd innings.
 
I will also add Rory Burns to the list. He played some decent knocks in tough English conditions last couple of years. One to watch out for - along with Dom Sibley.
 
Forward Defensive Push said:
I will also add Rory Burns to the list. He played some decent knocks in tough English conditions last couple of years. One to watch out for - along with Dom Sibley.
Click to expand...

Both openers were completely clueless in the india tour and proved to be weak against spin.

However, Sibley has alot of potential. He will come back and he could be the best opener in the future. He has a very solid defense.
 
Mamoon said:
Rohit Sharma.
Click to expand...

White ball yes, tests no! Rohit has not proved to be the best opener in tests yet. Kiwi openers perform almost everywhere, Karunaratne is far bettet than him in tests, Dean Elgar has some grit as well.

I would consider Rohit similarly to Warner, both play well at home, but sitting ducks on away tours.
 
Mamoon said:
Rohit Sharma.
Click to expand...

I agree. His 166 is one of the finest display of spin batting on a turning wicket. Against pace and bounce, he is anyways remembered as a brilliant player. Only seaming wickets is a question mark which he will prove this World Test Championship final.
 
Ab Fan said:
Who is the best test opener in the world? Just throwing up some names who are in contention.

David Warner
Rohit Sharma
Tom Latham
Dean Elgar
Aiden Markram
Any other??

What do you think? Discuss!
Click to expand...

opening is a hard job. These guys are currently the best. I'd add Karunaratne to the list

Also Abid Ali..JK :p
 
Batsman at opening position since 2018 (min 500 runs)
[table=class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Player [/td][td]Span [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Runs [/td][td]Avg [/td][td]SR [/td][td]100 [/td][td]50 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RG Sharma (INDIA) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]1030 [/td][td]64.37 [/td][td]64.49 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Abid Ali (PAK) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]844 [/td][td]49.64 [/td][td]46.32 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]TWM Latham (NZ) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]22 [/td][td]1634 [/td][td]49.51 [/td][td]47.08 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MA Agarwal (INDIA) [/td][td]2018-2020 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]1005 [/td][td]47.85 [/td][td]54.58 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FDM Karunaratne (SL) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]2004 [/td][td]45.54 [/td][td]53.48 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]12 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]1221 [/td][td]45.22 [/td][td]62.97 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Tamim Iqbal (BDESH) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]902 [/td][td]41 [/td][td]72.91 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]HDRL Thirimanne (SL) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]862 [/td][td]37.47 [/td][td]40.28 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]D Elgar (SA) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]1606 [/td][td]36.5 [/td][td]48.06 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JA Burns (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2020 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]569 [/td][td]35.56 [/td][td]52.58 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AK Markram (SA) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]1380 [/td][td]35.38 [/td][td]57.91 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shan Masood (PAK) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]685 [/td][td]34.25 [/td][td]48.34 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RJ Burns (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]1291 [/td][td]30.73 [/td][td]45.2 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DP Sibley (ENG) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]882 [/td][td]30.41 [/td][td]35.53 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AN Cook (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2018 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]516 [/td][td]28.66 [/td][td]44.06 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KC Brathwaite (WI) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]24 [/td][td]1193 [/td][td]26.51 [/td][td]37.3 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JD Campbell (WI) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]640 [/td][td]23.7 [/td][td]51.15 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[/table]
 
Batsman at opening position since 2018 (min 250 runs) vs Aus , Eng , Ind , Pak , NZ , SA and SL
[table=class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Player [/td][td]Span [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Runs [/td][td]Avg [/td][td]SR [/td][td]100 [/td][td]50 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RG Sharma (INDIA) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]1003 [/td][td]71.64 [/td][td]64.79 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]UT Khawaja (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]260 [/td][td]65 [/td][td]45.37 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Tamim Iqbal (BDESH) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]694 [/td][td]53.38 [/td][td]77.89 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]TWM Latham (NZ) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]1356 [/td][td]46.75 [/td][td]45.67 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]1221 [/td][td]45.22 [/td][td]62.97 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MA Agarwal (INDIA) [/td][td]2018-2020 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]668 [/td][td]44.53 [/td][td]51.7 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FDM Karunaratne (SL) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]1347 [/td][td]43.45 [/td][td]55.7 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]10 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Abid Ali (PAK) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]569 [/td][td]37.93 [/td][td]44.83 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]TA Blundell (NZ) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]374 [/td][td]37.4 [/td][td]46.17 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]D Elgar (SA) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]1606 [/td][td]36.5 [/td][td]48.06 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JA Burns (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2020 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]569 [/td][td]35.56 [/td][td]52.58 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AK Markram (SA) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]1380 [/td][td]35.38 [/td][td]57.91 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shubman Gill (INDIA) [/td][td]2020-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]378 [/td][td]34.36 [/td][td]58.69 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RJ Burns (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]900 [/td][td]31.03 [/td][td]46.68 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shan Masood (PAK) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]585 [/td][td]30.78 [/td][td]46.53 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AN Cook (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2018 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]516 [/td][td]28.66 [/td][td]44.06 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KK Jennings (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2018 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]399 [/td][td]28.5 [/td][td]47.55 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AJ Finch (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2018 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]278 [/td][td]27.8 [/td][td]44.98 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DP Sibley (ENG) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]656 [/td][td]27.33 [/td][td]36.34 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]HDRL Thirimanne (SL) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]422 [/td][td]26.37 [/td][td]38.01 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]CT Bancroft (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]267 [/td][td]24.27 [/td][td]44.5 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KC Brathwaite (WI) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]764 [/td][td]23.87 [/td][td]35.12 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MS Harris (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]428 [/td][td]23.77 [/td][td]50.83 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]404 [/td][td]22.44 [/td][td]45.13 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JD Campbell (WI) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]486 [/td][td]22.09 [/td][td]49.64 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KL Rahul (INDIA) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]353 [/td][td]22.06 [/td][td]60.54 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Z Crawley (ENG) [/td][td]2020-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]265 [/td][td]20.38 [/td][td]45.68 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JA Raval (NZ) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]342 [/td][td]17.1 [/td][td]36.61 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[/table]
 
It'll be Sharma and Warner for me outside England and New Zealand. In seaming conditions, I'd probably pick Latham and Elgar.
 
It's safe to say there is no stand out all conditions test opener in the world currently or has been for many years. Warner even in his prime was a nobody in India.

To the think of it, opening in test cricket still remains the toughest and the most elite job in cricket which is why those who pulled it off must be regarded very very highly.

I must say Rohit Sharma continues to impress. In the last 5 years, every single time I have watched RS bat, I thought who looked better than previously. You can never write off someone who is dedicated to improve himself and RS, Babar Azam are those sort of players.
 
rohit Sharma is only real top class test opener out there in world cricket. the rest are HTB or just mediocre openers.

warner is nothing more than a glorified bully at home. anytime he has played in seaming or spinning conditions recently hes been found to be mediocre.
 
I don't think rohit is the best. He will most struggle in the eng tour.

There really aren't any top class openers in tests. And this has been the case for quite a while now
 
freelance_cricketer said:
It's safe to say there is no stand out all conditions test opener in the world currently or has been for many years. Warner even in his prime was a nobody in India.

To the think of it, opening in test cricket still remains the toughest and the most elite job in cricket which is why those who pulled it off must be regarded very very highly.

I must say Rohit Sharma continues to impress. In the last 5 years, every single time I have watched RS bat, I thought who looked better than previously. You can never write off someone who is dedicated to improve himself and RS, Babar Azam are those sort of players.
Click to expand...

I think the bar should be different for openers. Since the overall average for test openers for top teams currently is JUST 30 since 2015!

The way to solve this problem is to realign expectations:
Opener average 35 = Middle order average of 40
Opener average 40 = Middle order average of 45
Opener average 45 = Middle order average of 50

Due to unrealistic expectations, teams keep recycling openers and never actually let anyone settle down which is worsening the problem. On PP, people are saying drop Abid and Imran after few failures and promote Azhar Ali. This doesn't solve the problem because Azhar Ali himself was struggling. He had a string of 14 tests w/o a 50 as an opener, and he was pretty close to being dropped as well.
If Abid and Imran can maintain a test average between 35 and 40, I'd take it. But above all, they should be given a long rope to find their feet. Chopping and changing is not going to help unless there is a Saeed Anwar waiting.
All i can see is :shan
 
Last edited:
jeetu said:
Batsman at opening position since 2018 (min 250 runs) vs Aus , Eng , Ind , Pak , NZ , SA and SL
[table=class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Player [/td][td]Span [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Runs [/td][td]Avg [/td][td]SR [/td][td]100 [/td][td]50 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RG Sharma (INDIA) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]1003 [/td][td]71.64 [/td][td]64.79 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]UT Khawaja (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]260 [/td][td]65 [/td][td]45.37 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Tamim Iqbal (BDESH) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]694 [/td][td]53.38 [/td][td]77.89 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]TWM Latham (NZ) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]1356 [/td][td]46.75 [/td][td]45.67 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]1221 [/td][td]45.22 [/td][td]62.97 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MA Agarwal (INDIA) [/td][td]2018-2020 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]668 [/td][td]44.53 [/td][td]51.7 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FDM Karunaratne (SL) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]1347 [/td][td]43.45 [/td][td]55.7 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]10 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Abid Ali (PAK) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]569 [/td][td]37.93 [/td][td]44.83 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]TA Blundell (NZ) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]374 [/td][td]37.4 [/td][td]46.17 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]D Elgar (SA) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]1606 [/td][td]36.5 [/td][td]48.06 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JA Burns (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2020 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]569 [/td][td]35.56 [/td][td]52.58 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AK Markram (SA) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]1380 [/td][td]35.38 [/td][td]57.91 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shubman Gill (INDIA) [/td][td]2020-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]378 [/td][td]34.36 [/td][td]58.69 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RJ Burns (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]900 [/td][td]31.03 [/td][td]46.68 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shan Masood (PAK) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]585 [/td][td]30.78 [/td][td]46.53 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AN Cook (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2018 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]516 [/td][td]28.66 [/td][td]44.06 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KK Jennings (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2018 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]399 [/td][td]28.5 [/td][td]47.55 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AJ Finch (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2018 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]278 [/td][td]27.8 [/td][td]44.98 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DP Sibley (ENG) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]656 [/td][td]27.33 [/td][td]36.34 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]HDRL Thirimanne (SL) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]422 [/td][td]26.37 [/td][td]38.01 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]CT Bancroft (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]267 [/td][td]24.27 [/td][td]44.5 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KC Brathwaite (WI) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]764 [/td][td]23.87 [/td][td]35.12 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MS Harris (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]428 [/td][td]23.77 [/td][td]50.83 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]404 [/td][td]22.44 [/td][td]45.13 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JD Campbell (WI) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]486 [/td][td]22.09 [/td][td]49.64 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KL Rahul (INDIA) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]353 [/td][td]22.06 [/td][td]60.54 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Z Crawley (ENG) [/td][td]2020-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]265 [/td][td]20.38 [/td][td]45.68 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JA Raval (NZ) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]342 [/td][td]17.1 [/td][td]36.61 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[/table]
Click to expand...

Looking at these stats, I would say that any opener averaging 35+ is worth gold these days. As many of us have been saying, Abid is not rubbish. Hopefully Shan can return strongly.
 
Last Monetarist said:
It'll be Sharma and Warner for me outside England and New Zealand. In seaming conditions, I'd probably pick Latham and Elgar.
Click to expand...

I will go with this. In subcontinent, Rohit is miles ahead and in Aus/SA, Warner is miles ahead.

Latham is very good in subcontinent too but a sitting duck on fast and bouncy tracks. Elgar is perhaps the most balanced across all conditions but unfortunately he is no Smith/Cook either.
 
Historically they don't come any better then Sunil Gavaskar. One Michael Atherton and Graeme Gooch were also brilliant.
 
Ab Fan said:
Who is the best test opener in the world? Just throwing up some names who are in contention.

David Warner
Rohit Sharma
Tom Latham
Dean Elgar
Aiden Markram
Dimuth Karunaratne
Any other??

What do you think? Discuss!
Click to expand...

In Asia conditions yes rohit otherwise he isn't in the top 10 in SENA conditions
 
Not sure why Warner is in the list. He does not last past the 2nd over in Eng. I suspect something similar in Ind as well. He is a certified HTB.

But I guess the choices are so very thin that people are picking him.
 
Don't see any opener as outstanding...
I guess across conditions - Elgar and Warner would be my choice with Karuna &Tamim probably second.
Rohit is too much a hit and miss in swinging conditions, Gill has a good eye and hand speed, good reach but his lack of footwork is a worry.
The Eng guys are yet to to tested in aus or saf conditions.
Latham does not do too well in aus or saf. Guptill is a rohit in aus conditions.
Don't know much about WI
pak has changed their openers regularly, so a small sample size to judge.
 
Are we talking off current openers or those of yesteryear too?
 
Batsman's away stats as opener (min 250 runs) from 2018

[table=class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Player [/td][td]Span [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Runs [/td][td]Avg [/td][td]SR [/td][td]100 [/td][td]50 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]BKG Mendis (SL) [/td][td]2018-2018 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]377 [/td][td]75.4 [/td][td]56.52 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shubman Gill (INDIA) [/td][td]2020-2021 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]259 [/td][td]51.8 [/td][td]60.65 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Tamim Iqbal (BDESH) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]659 [/td][td]50.69 [/td][td]72.73 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Abid Ali (PAK) [/td][td]2020-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]490 [/td][td]49 [/td][td]42.75 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]BOP Fernando (SL) [/td][td]2019-2020 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]262 [/td][td]43.66 [/td][td]47.37 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]TWM Latham (NZ) [/td][td]2019-2020 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]355 [/td][td]39.44 [/td][td]44.2 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]HDRL Thirimanne (SL) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]415 [/td][td]34.58 [/td][td]38.74 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KK Jennings (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]269 [/td][td]33.62 [/td][td]42.22 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]D Elgar (SA) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]400 [/td][td]30.76 [/td][td]54.05 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RJ Burns (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]635 [/td][td]30.23 [/td][td]47.88 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DP Sibley (ENG) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]558 [/td][td]27.9 [/td][td]36.21 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shan Masood (PAK) [/td][td]2019-2021 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]445 [/td][td]27.81 [/td][td]43.12 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MA Agarwal (INDIA) [/td][td]2018-2020 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]408 [/td][td]27.2 [/td][td]46.68 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]CT Bancroft (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]267 [/td][td]26.7 [/td][td]45.02 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AK Markram (SA) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]311 [/td][td]25.91 [/td][td]42.08 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FDM Karunaratne (SL) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]738 [/td][td]25.44 [/td][td]47.82 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]288 [/td][td]24 [/td][td]47.92 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KL Rahul (INDIA) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]454 [/td][td]22.7 [/td][td]53.16 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JD Campbell (WI) [/td][td]2020-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]274 [/td][td]21.07 [/td][td]49.28 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Z Crawley (ENG) [/td][td]2020-2021 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]265 [/td][td]20.38 [/td][td]45.68 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]312 [/td][td]19.5 [/td][td]62.4 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KC Brathwaite (WI) [/td][td]2018-2021 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]428 [/td][td]19.45 [/td][td]41.19 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[/table]
 
I think Aiden Markram has potential to average 45+ in tests. He is brilliant Vs pace and bounce and has improved Vs spin considerably. He played well in Pakistan this year.
 
Attiq_Lone said:
White ball yes, tests no! Rohit has not proved to be the best opener in tests yet. Kiwi openers perform almost everywhere, Karunaratne is far bettet than him in tests, Dean Elgar has some grit as well.

I would consider Rohit similarly to Warner, both play well at home, but sitting ducks on away tours.
Click to expand...

Rohit Sharma is one of the greatest batsmen ever. You cannot compare him to players like Elgar, Karunaratne, Latham etc. who are solid but not in his league.

The only reason he does not have ATG stats in Test cricket is because India held him back for far too long. He should have been promoted as an opener by 2014-15 when he had already established himself as a world class LOI opener.

Had India done that, he would have eclipsed Sehwag.
 
Mamoon said:
Rohit Sharma is one of the greatest batsmen ever. You cannot compare him to players like Elgar, Karunaratne, Latham etc. who are solid but not in his league.

The only reason he does not have ATG stats in Test cricket is because India held him back for far too long. He should have been promoted as an opener by 2014-15 when he had already established himself as a world class LOI opener.

Had India done that, he would have eclipsed Sehwag.
Click to expand...

Rohit Sharma cannot eclipse Sehwag even in Asian conditions. Also Sehwag has scored tons in England, SA and has a good record in Australia as well. Rohit cant play if the ball is moving even an inch. Hes a terrific player when there is no lateral movement and it's no wonder that his ODI record is excellent from 2013 onwards when swing and seam declined in ODIs. He was mediocre before that.
 
There is no legendary opening batsman going around the world right now, and what I mean by that is that each of these guys has some weakness regarding the conditions they play in.

Every batsman does have his own weaknesses, but for me, I haven't really seen a stand-out opener in recent times in test cricket.

Warner and Rohit are neck and neck, Warner being marginally ahead due to a longer career. Latham does well under the radar, but I personally think that he scores soft runs, haven't seen many match-winning innings from him.

Karunaratne is great for Sri Lankan standards, but he is ageing and will probably retire in a few years.

Abid shouldn't even be on that list, he has proved nothing against quality oppositions.
 
PakLFC said:
Wasim Jaffer seemed good enough. Don't know why he was thrown out of the Indian team.
Click to expand...

Wasim is a legend in domestic circuit.
But he couldn't replicate his domestic form in internationals. He played 31 matches for India and averaged only 34.
I don't think any specialist batsman can get more chances in Indian team if he averages below 35.
 
Thanos said:
Wasim is a legend in domestic circuit.
But he couldn't replicate his domestic form in internationals. He played 31 matches for India and averaged only 34.
I don't think any specialist batsman can get more chances in Indian team if he averages below 35.
Click to expand...

34 isn't that bad. Perhaps he would have improved if given more chances. He did okay against us I remember.
 
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