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Current players with the potential to be ATGs

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Excluding Steyn who is nearing the end of his career, are there any players who have the potential to be ATGs in the current era?

I would say Kane Williamson, AB de Villiers, and Joe Root. Bowlers I would have said Yasir Shah, but he's off the list. I think Hazlewood has made the perfect start. Not sure about any other bowlers.
 
Steyn, Amla and de Villiers will end up as ATGs. They have the stats, the performances, the consistency, the peaks and the aura of ATGs.

Younis Khan is borderline right now, a good 2016 where he scores runs in England, New Zealand and Australia will put him in elite company as well.

From the younger players, the likes of Williamson, Rahane, Root, Smith, Amir, Starc, Boult and Yasir have the potential.
 
Steyn is a sureshot ATG.Even if he retires now he is an undisputed ATG.

Amla and DeVilliers have to carry SA batting on their own shoulders and take the team away from this phase.If they succeed then they too will end as ATG.

Among young guns, the top contenders are Warner, Smith,Kohli,Root and Kane.Few other young crops can make a case if they do well.

Dhoni will be an ODI great. Cook and YK may end up borderline ATGs..
Among bowlers, Anderson may fall in that category because of longevity and consistency.
Starc,boult,Ashwin in future can emerge as an ATG too.
 
Amla bhai doesn't have the aura of ATGs, but fans will be fans.

Cook, Root, Williamson, Kohli and possible Smith have a great chance.

I think Rahane is great but he will probably fall in the Laxman, Inzamam and Younis bracket - great players, but not ATG material. Amla bhai qualifies for this category as well.

Don't know about de Villiers, he's definitely a very strong contender in ODIs, but he isn't even close to being one in Tests. He could get there in a few years unless the reports of him retiring from Tests are true.
 
^ I should add that Cook is already an ATG. Him, Steyn and Sangakkara are three lock-ins from current players or those who have retired in the last year or so.
 
Mamoon said:
Amla bhai doesn't have the aura of ATGs, but fans will be fans.

Cook, Root, Williamson, Kohli and possible Smith have a great chance.

I think Rahane is great but he will probably fall in the Laxman, Inzamam and Younis bracket - great players, but not ATG material. Amla bhai qualifies for this category as well.

Don't know about de Villiers, he's definitely a very strong contender in ODIs, but he isn't even close to being one in Tests. He could get there in a few years unless the reports of him retiring from Tests are true.
Click to expand...

What more does Amla will have to do to achieve the ATG status? Remember he has scored 7 K test runs and has still 3-4 years left in him.

Give an unbiased opinion
 
hafeezrocks said:
What more does Amla will have to do to achieve the ATG status? Remember he has scored 7 K test runs and has still 3-4 years left in him.

Give an unbiased opinion
Click to expand...

He has good statistics, but i was talking about the aura of great players which was mentioned above. Not every great player has an aura, but if we talk about players who were both great and had a certain aura and charisma, then we are talking about players like Viv Richards, Sobers, Lillee, Imran, Wasim, Waqar, Kapil, Tendulkar, Lara, Warne, Ponting etc.

Purely on stats, he has a good case in Tests but overall I don't think so because he is a proven choker in ODIs on the big stage. Personally speaking, he strikes me a rung below ATG level, i.e. a great for his respective country only. You can call this bias though.
 
Mamoon said:
^ I should add that Cook is already an ATG. Him, Steyn and Sangakkara are three lock-ins from current players or those who have retired in the last year or so.
Click to expand...

And Graeme Smith.
 
hafeezrocks said:
What more does Amla will have to do to achieve the ATG status? Remember he has scored 7 K test runs and has still 3-4 years left in him.

Give an unbiased opinion
Click to expand...

You're asking him to split the moon in half.

Amla and de Villiers are far superior players to Cook, who is a proven failure in ODIs and doesn't match up to the latter in tests either. Younis Khan is the better batsman too. If Cook is already an ATG, the other three are already there as well.
 
Cook has the aura of a brick. No bowler fears him when he's batting, especially in ODIs.
 
It will a tragedy if de Villiers retires from test format.. I really wanna see what he can ultimately achieve and whether he can live up to the "hype"
 
Based on overall career in Tests:

Sangakkara
Smith
Cook
Amla bhai
Younis
de Villiers

Clarke could have been ATG but he had a short peak and an early retirement. The latter is true for Pietersen as well, so leave them out of the discussion.
 
I reckon Amla won't end up ATG.. Bit like VVS Laxman/ Michael Clerk mold

Cook isn't ATG.. his weakness against quicks is too evident
 
Cook's captaincy is more inspirational than Amla bhai though, who reminds me of MoYo. From Smith to him, that's one serious downgrade.
 
Chrish said:
I reckon Amla won't end up ATG.. Bit like VVS Laxman/ Michael Clerk mold

Cook isn't ATG.. his weakness against quicks is too evident
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Broadly speaking, him, Clarke, Pietersen, Inzamam, Mahela etc. all fall in the same category. Of course some are better than others.

I might put Martyn above them all but then I will be accused of bias again. What a batsman.
 
hafeezrocks said:
What more does Amla will have to do to achieve the ATG status? Remember he has scored 7 K test runs and has still 3-4 years left in him.

Give an unbiased opinion
Click to expand...

May be something which Clarke did between 2011-14.He carried Aus batting on his shoulder and retired when Smith was ready to take the leadership.
 
Mamoon said:
Cook's captaincy is more inspirational than Amla bhai though, who reminds me of MoYo. From Smith to him, that's one serious downgrade.
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Cook has improved with captaincy.. Bit defensive but not bad. It's just Amla is going through lean patch like Cook went through for 2 years. I reckon Amla has 3-4 years of Cricket left in him. Still doubt it either him or Cook will end up what OP is asking
 
Mamoon said:
Amla bhai doesn't have the aura of ATGs, but fans will be fans.

Cook, Root, Williamson, Kohli and possible Smith have a great chance.

I think Rahane is great but he will probably fall in the Laxman, Inzamam and Younis bracket - great players, but not ATG material. Amla bhai qualifies for this category as well.

Don't know about de Villiers, he's definitely a very strong contender in ODIs, but he isn't even close to being one in Tests. He could get there in a few years unless the reports of him retiring from Tests are true.
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Why not Rahane?
 
Completely biased but I will put kusal mendis in the list purely because I like his makeup.

He's just averaging 30 in fc cricket and looked a bit out of sorts against a good but not great nz attack but there is something about him I like.
 
ABD craze, fan following, aura and personality itself puts him in a league of his own ahead of the names mentioned bar Sanga..
 
Acricketfan said:
Why not Rahane?
Click to expand...

I think he lacks consistency. He hasn't really dominated a series by scoring 3-4 hundreds etc., so doesn't steal the headlines. Laxman had a similar problem, wonderful player but not very consistent like Tendulkar and Dravid, even though his great knocks were at times better than their's.

Rahane still has plenty of time though, I am going by what I've seen so far.
 
Ab Fan said:
ABD craze, fan following, aura and personality itself puts him in a league of his own ahead of the names mentioned bar Sanga..
Click to expand...

His craze and fan following shot up after the IPL and he's a superstar in the Limited Overs format. He has no legacy in Tests.
 
With lot of these players, we are witnessing their peaks.. It's easier to get carried away that way

"Ken is better than any NZ cricketer barring Hadlee"

"De Villers is SA's best batsman and better than Kallis"

etc.

There is no realistic way to predict which player will end up being a gun.. Sanga for example fully developed much later in his career. I didn't pay him any attention in the beginning
 
Mamoon said:
His craze and fan following shot up after the IPL and he's a superstar in the Limited Overs format. He has no legacy in Tests.
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And you still see crowds shouting AB, AB..when SA has to chase 200 and he comes to bat at 10/3( mohali 1st test)..!!!
 
Ab Fan said:
And you still see crowds shouting AB, AB..when SA has to chase 200 and he comes to bat at 10/3( mohali 1st test)..!!!
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Yes because he's loved in India because of IPL and South Asians generally prefer ODIs to Tests.

He's treated like a god on PakPassion which isn't the case in general. This nonsense of him second only to Viv in the last 30 years and better than Tendulkar, Ponting and Lara is PakPassion fantasy only.

Let me tell you his true standing: he's not even in the top 3 Test batsmen in his country of his generation.
 
Mamoon said:
Amla bhai doesn't have the aura of ATGs, but fans will be fans.

Cook, Root, Williamson, Kohli and possible Smith have a great chance.

I think Rahane is great but he will probably fall in the Laxman, Inzamam and Younis bracket - great players, but not ATG material. Amla bhai qualifies for this category as well.

Don't know about de Villiers, he's definitely a very strong contender in ODIs, but he isn't even close to being one in Tests. He could get there in a few years unless the reports of him retiring from Tests are true.
Click to expand...

Why not Rahane? Oops. You have already answered the question.
 
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AB has no leagacy in tests.Still he was rated the 10th best cricketer post 2000s in Aussies poll of greatest test cricketer where likes of Amla, Smith, KP were not even below 20..Even their favorite Clarke was at 15.
 
Bilal7 said:
Steyn, Amla and de Villiers will end up as ATGs. They have the stats, the performances, the consistency, the peaks and the aura of ATGs.

Younis Khan is borderline right now, a good 2016 where he scores runs in England, New Zealand and Australia will put him in elite company as well.

From the younger players, the likes of Williamson, Rahane, Root, Smith, Amir, Starc, Boult and Yasir have the potential.
Click to expand...

I'm not convinced Amla has the aura.
 
Ab Fan said:
AB has no leagacy in tests.Still he was rated the 10th best cricketer post 2000s in Aussies poll of greatest test cricketer where likes of Amla, Smith, KP were not even below 20..Even their favorite Clarke was at 15.
Click to expand...

I'll assure you. Clarke is a very divisive figure with in Australian cricket and not a favourite
 
Mamoon said:
Yes because he's loved in India because of IPL and South Asians generally prefer ODIs to Tests.

He's treated like a god on PakPassion which isn't the case in general. This nonsense of him second only to Viv in the last 30 years and better than Tendulkar, Ponting and Lara is PakPassion fantasy only.

Let me tell you his true standing: he's not even in the top 3 Test batsmen in his country of his generation.
Click to expand...

No love for Gayle and McCullum even with better record...Even our favourite Kohli got overshadowed. Australian rate AB very high too.Still he has no legacy in tests.So sad for others.
 
Of the younger players - Willamson, Smith, Kohli, Rahane and Root will go very far in their careers. I also think De Kock is very talented and hope he succeeds as well.

From the Pakistani lot - Babar Azam has been earmarked for a long term and has the technique and skills to succeed. Haris Sohail is even better but I hope injuries do not hold back his career. I also hope Shehzad can continue to pile on the runs and score big consistently.
 
Ab Fan said:
AB has no leagacy in tests.Still he was rated the 10th best cricketer post 2000s in Aussies poll of greatest test cricketer where likes of Amla, Smith, KP were not even below 20..Even their favorite Clarke was at 15.
Click to expand...

Yes and he was ahead of Dravid and only one position behind Warne. So how credible is that list?
 
Convict said:
I'll assure you. Clarke is a very divisive figure with in Australian cricket and not a favourite
Click to expand...

OK but such a huge difference between AB and others ( Smith, KP, Cook, Hayden).I do agree it was a bit biased but let me tell you only those guys manage hype who deserve.
 
Ab Fan said:
No love for Gayle and McCullum even with better record...Even our favourite Kohli got overshadowed. Australian rate AB very high too.Still he has no legacy in tests.So sad for others.
Click to expand...

Kohli is not a great Test player yet, de Villiers is a much better cricketer than Gayle and Big Mac.
 
Ab Fan said:
OK but such a huge difference between AB and others ( Smith, KP, Cook, Hayden).I do agree it was a bit biased but let me tell you only those guys manage hype who deserve.
Click to expand...


Like Afridi?
 
Mamoon said:
Yes and he was ahead of Dravid and only one position behind Warne. So how credible is that list?
Click to expand...

Fair enough but then why Australians rated AB so high even ahead of Dravid? IPL??
 
Ab Fan said:
And nobody consider him in that league barring Pak fans.Have you seen Afridi getting compared with Sachin or Viv?Yes in the trolls..
Click to expand...

Not talking about leagues. You said only those get hype who deserve, which is not correct.
 
I'm sorry but if Steyn decides to hang his boots now, he will end his career as one of the top 5 bowlers who ever played cricket.

Apart from him, others having the potential include Kane, Root, Warner, Kohli, Rahane, Yasir, Ashwin and Smith.

YK, Cook, Amla are semi ATGs already and can end their careers as certified ATGs if they can maintain their consistency in the future. ABD too is one but a level below the trio.

KP was a wasted career, who definitely had a great potential to become one.
 
Mamoon said:
Kohli is not a great Test player yet, de Villiers is a much better cricketer than Gayle and Big Mac.
Click to expand...

There we go.Now you are coming on right path. He did proved his worth in tests.He was only one who did well against Johnson in ATG mode.He did well against Ajmal Sir too.He was the only one who fought in India series.Still no legacy in tests???
 
Bilal7 said:
Aura is a subjective matter. For me it depends on how big a threat he is perceived as, by the opposition.
Click to expand...

For me he's behind Clarke in terms of being an ATG and I don't think Clarke is an ATG
 
Mamoon said:
They respect him for his hundred in Perth in 2008.
Click to expand...

And also the Adelaide knock.. He has transformed himself as a very good test player.You were proved wrong when he did performed in wc knockouts.Tell me who is the most consistent batsmen in last five years? Tell me one country where ABD failed?
 
AB, Ashwin, Smith, Kohli, Amla and Williamson
 
Last edited:
Ab Fan said:
There we go.Now you are coming on right path. He did proved his worth in tests.He was only one who did well against Johnson in ATG mode.He did well against Ajmal Sir too.He was the only one who fought in India series.Still no legacy in tests???
Click to expand...

What right path is that? I have said it already: for now, he's the 6th best Test batsman of the last 10 years, not even 6th if you factor in Kallis. He's not as good as Smith, Kallis and Amla bhai in his own team in Tests.

He would have been lower than that if Pietersen and Clarke didn't have their careers cut short prematurely.

Gayle and Big Mac don't even make the discussion.
 
Convict said:
For me he's behind Clarke in terms of being an ATG and I don't think Clarke is an ATG
Click to expand...

I think posters here are considering captaincy also.I agree Clarke was a great captain. ABD isn't.Overall, well even Australian rate ABD higher than Clarke, Hussey, Hayden.
 
To be brutally honest, only Kohli has the aura to he at some point considered a legit ATG.

To think of it, after all the numbers many people still have onhibitions in admitting to Kallia, Sangakkara type accumulators as genuine ATGs. Then I wonder how would they be able to say the same for Williamson or Smith. ABD belongs to an earlier generation and could go down aw an ATG as well.
 
1. Kane Williamson - Currently the best batsman in the world.

2. Josh Hazelwood - Will be playing most of his tests in England and Australia in conditions good for him.

3. Steven Smith - Has shown that he has the desire to get better.

4. Ashwin - The best spinner in this generation no matter how much Warne hyperboles Yasir.

5. Kohli - Will go down as the best Indian Test captain so far.

6. Joe Root - A high class batsman loved by English media possibly becoming face of English cricket.

7. Stuart Broad - Has come of age and become the best fast bowler.

8. De villiers - Hasn't dominated enough but now is his chance to stamp his authority.

9. Dale Steyn - Already an ATG
 
Ab Fan said:
And also the Adelaide knock.. He has transformed himself as a very good test player.You were proved wrong when he did performed in wc knockouts.Tell me who is the most consistent batsmen in last five years? Tell me one country where ABD failed?
Click to expand...

I didn't say he will fail in the knockouts, I said that he needs to perform in them to be considered a great ODI player, he did and that's why I consider him as an ODI great. He was fantastic at the World Cup but his usual teammates let him down.

In Tests I will consider him a legend when he deserves it. Simple as that.
 
Bilal7 said:
An away average of 39 is a statistical fact. So is an away average of over 50.
Click to expand...

A blind statistical fact and doesn't take into fact a variety of factors.

Not to mention that Clarke was a great Captain who Captained that 5-0 series and also won two world cups including one as Captain
 
Ab Fan said:
I think posters here are considering captaincy also.I agree Clarke was a great captain. ABD isn't.Overall, well even Australian rate ABD higher than Clarke, Hussey, Hayden.
Click to expand...

These Australians need to watch more cricket. No one who considers de Villiers better than Hayden as a Test cricketer can be taken seriously.

Same goes for those who voted him ahead of Graeme Smith and Dravid, and just one below Warne.
 
Surprised to see de Villiers not being on most of these lists. I can understand someone like [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION], who has openly declared his hatred of South African cricketers not rate him but to see him missing from the lists of other people is weird.

Root, Smith, Kohli, Kane, Shah and Ashwin haven't done anything in their careers, compared to ABD. Surely the latter is better placed to make it than his younger colleagues are.
 
GoUgandaCranes said:
1. Kane Williamson - Currently the best batsman in the world.

2. Josh Hazelwood - Will be playing most of his tests in England and Australia in conditions good for him.

3. Steven Smith - Has shown that he has the desire to get better.

4. Ashwin - The best spinner in this generation no matter how much Warne hyperboles Yasir.

5. Kohli - Will go down as the best Indian Test captain so far.

6. Joe Root - A high class batsman loved by English media possibly becoming face of English cricket.

7. Stuart Broad - Has come of age and become the best fast bowler.

8. De villiers - Hasn't dominated enough but now is his chance to stamp his authority.

9. Dale Steyn - Already an ATG
Click to expand...

Anderson is vastly superior to Broad.
 
A lot of people have ordinary standards for ATGs. If we go by their norms. The game has probably seen 500 ATGs.

As far as I'm concerned I have only known 5 ATGs in last 25 years of Cricket. Sachin, Lara, Warne, Wasim and McGrath.
 
Convict said:
A blind statistical fact and doesn't take into fact a variety of factors.

Not to mention that Clarke was a great Captain who Captained that 5-0 series and also won two world cups including one as Captain
Click to expand...

I agree, it doesn't take into account the fact that Clarke hid down the order at #5 for most of his career and had a terrible time when he batted higher up.

His intelligent and aggressive captaincy is partly why I rate him as a very good cricketer.
 
Mamoon said:
I didn't say he will fail in the knockouts, I said that he needs to perform in them to be considered a great ODI player, he did and that's why I consider him as an ODI great. He was fantastic at the World Cup but his usual teammates let him down.

In Tests I will consider him a legend when he deserves it. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

I do like most of your posts and you do give credit to those who do well.I don't know what sort of problem is there with ABD.He is rated below YK who has hardly played enough games outside Asia and then cook who was going through a terrible phase.
 
Bilal7 said:
Surprised to see de Villiers not being on most of these lists. I can understand someone like [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION], who has openly declared his hatred of South African cricketers not rate him but to see him missing from the lists of other people is weird.

Root, Smith, Kohli, Kane, Shah and Ashwin haven't done anything in their careers, compared to ABD. Surely the latter is better placed to make it than his younger colleagues are.
Click to expand...

Simply because he hasn't achieved greatness in Tests, and is about to retire according to reports. Can you be an ATG if you are behind 2/3 batsman in your own team and 5/6 overall in your generation? I don't think so.
 
Bilal7 said:
Surprised to see de Villiers not being on most of these lists. I can understand someone like [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION], who has openly declared his hatred of South African cricketers not rate him but to see him missing from the lists of other people is weird.

Root, Smith, Kohli, Kane, Shah and Ashwin haven't done anything in their careers, compared to ABD. Surely the latter is better placed to make it than his younger colleagues are.
Click to expand...

Almost everyone has mentioned him.
 
freelance_cricketer said:
A lot of people have ordinary standards for ATGs. If we go by their norms. The game has probably seen 500 ATGs.

As far as I'm concerned I have only known 5 ATGs in last 25 years of Cricket. Sachin, Lara, Warne, Wasim and McGrath.
Click to expand...

No love for Steyn? (In tests)
 
street cricketer said:
Anderson is vastly superior to Broad.
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Well, I actually thought about it but Broad unlike Anderson is revered down under.

An ATG status comes a lot from respect from your fiercest opposition; Broad has that, Anderson doesn't.
 
Ab Fan said:
I do like most of your posts and you do give credit to those who do well.I don't know what sort of problem is there with ABD.He is rated below YK who has hardly played enough games outside Asia and then cook who was going through a terrible phase.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your appreciation. As you probably know, I don't consider Younis a top class batsman and he's no ATG in my book, but he has certainly done better than him in Tests so far. Younis has dodged one away tour but the fact that he has not played much away isn't his fault.

I don't even recall de Villiers dominating a big series and being head and shoulders better than any player on both sides, the way Younis dominated Australia last year. Before that, I would have had de Villiers ahead of him.
 
Bilal7 said:
I agree, it doesn't take into account the fact that Clarke hid down the order at #5 for most of his career and had a terrible time when he batted higher up.

His intelligent and aggressive captaincy is partly why I rate him as a very good cricketer.
Click to expand...

Because his technique wasn't suited for higher up.

Where are the complaints about Steve Waugh batting down at 5?
 
Mamoon said:
These Australians need to watch more cricket. No one who considers de Villiers better than Hayden as a Test cricketer can be taken seriously.

Same goes for those who voted him ahead of Graeme Smith and Dravid, and just one below Warne.
Click to expand...

Hayden? Lol..He is a failure in swinging conditions i.e.NZ, SA, Eng. Smith - the batsmen is a bit overrated. He failed in India and Aus- two of the best teams through his career. Also in SL.But he is a great leader and hence SA is missing him.Dravid I agree well.
 
Mamoon said:
Simply because he hasn't achieved greatness in Tests, and is about to retire according to reports. Can you be an ATG if you are behind 2/3 batsman in your own team and 5/6 overall in your generation? I don't think so.
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Yes, you can, especially when the three batsmen you're talking about are ATGs too. Plus, he's improved from when Kallis and Smith were at their peaks.
 
Mamoon said:
Thank you for your appreciation. As you probably know, I don't consider Younis a top class batsman and he's no ATG in my book, but he has certainly done better than him in Tests so far. Younis has dodged one away tour but the fact that he has not played much away isn't his fault.

I don't even recall de Villiers dominating a big series and being head and shoulders better than any player on both sides, the way Younis dominated Australia last year. Before that, I would have had de Villiers ahead of him.
Click to expand...

Have you seen De Villiers fighting as a lone warrior? Watch Aus series in 2014 in home conditions. Also who has been the best batsmen for SA post kallis retirement?
 
Convict said:
Because his technique wasn't suited for higher up.

Where are the complaints about Steve Waugh batting down at 5?
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You can be afforded one or two negatives but Clarke had far too many to come anywhere near the ATG tag. Besides, Steve had better batsmen batting above him than Clarke did.
 
Ab Fan said:
Have you seen De Villiers fighting as a lone warrior? Watch Aus series in 2014 in home conditions. Also who has been the best batsmen for SA post kallis retirement?
Click to expand...

He wasn't a lone warrior in that series. Maybe for one match but not for the entire series.
 
I am not saying that he is an ATG in tests but he is definitely better than cook and YK.Only Amla is ahead among current peers
 
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