Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
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- Oct 1, 2012
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This is my list in order of merit of England's best batsmen after the war in order of merit.
1.Graham Gooch-On top because he dominated great West Indian bowling at home and away as well as mastered spin bowling home and away..In 1981 in the Carribean averaged above 57 including a 150 at Kingston.In 1991 at Leeds scored arguably the best century ever against West Indies.Also mastered turning sub-continent tracks in India with a masterly century at Madras in 1981-82.In 1990 versus India ammased a record aggregate of 752 runs in a 3 test match series.In 1992 at Leeds showed mastery against the swing of Waqar and Wasim.In combined cricket the most prolific batsmen ever.He could take the best of pace attacks by the scruff of the neck wit the spirit of a tiger in combat.His drives and hook shots were truly majestic.At times vulnerable against fast-medium as he showed against Terry Aldermna in 1981 and 1989 in home Ashes series.
2.Ted Dexter
Rated above May and Cowdrey because he scored runs when most needed.Ina crisis possibly the best batsman in the world of his era.He could master any type of conditions or any kind of bowling attack.His two great innings against West Indies and Australia were classic examples of combat in batting.Very stylish and never curbed strokeplay.Gary Sobers rated DExter as the best Englsih batsmen he ever played against.
3.Peter May
Outstanding consistency with a great flair for driving.Generally regarded by English critiques as the best post war middle-order batsmen who played for England.However in Gary Sober's view did not relish the short ball and refrained from hooking.Mya did not prove himself on Carribean or Australian tarcks and to me lacked Dexter's combative spirit.
4.Ken Barrington
Statistically the best English post-war batsman averaging 58.67 and a great batsman to bat for your life.In terms of statistics in the Viv Richards or Sunil Gavakar l class.However he lacked consistent agression to win matches.
5.Geoff Boycott
Often boring an unexciting but after Len Hutton the most technically accomplished English batsman of all.No post-war Englishman posessed the depths of concentration or the technical mastery of Geoff Boycott.His batting was like a lesson in the coaching manual.Defied the great West Indian pace attack like a boulder in 1981.True at times selfish but often scored prolifically in low-scoring games which gave England a chance of winning.In first class cricket the only batsman to average above 100 in 2 English seasons.Arguably the most difficult batsman to dislodge in his era.Made a significant contribution to England's victories in the 1977 home Ashes and the 1969-70 Ashes win in Australia.
6.Colin Cowdrey
On his day arguably the best batsman in the world and the best player of pace bowling in the middle -order.Colin was outstanding technically and played great fast bowling as well as any great batsman like Viv Richards.In the 1959-60 tour of West Indies scored 2 centuries,averaging over 66.At Kingston he compile a classic 114 and 97.On the 1967-68 tour again scored 2 centuries,including a masterly 150 at Trinidad.Arguably played Wes Hall and Griffiths better than any one.However not at his best on slow wickets where the ball did not come on to the bat.On those pitches he looked out of sorts.Made a remarkable comeback facing Lillee and Thomson in 1975 and won a game scoring 151 n.o.His 102 out of 191 v Australia was a batting classic .
7..David Gower
Had he done justice to his extraordinary natural ability he would have been classed with Viv Richards or Graeme Pollock..No left-handed batsmen had as much inborne talent or posessed Gower's elegance.His batting reminded you of a violinist strutting his strings.At his best against great pace bowling like when scoring 154 n.oat Kingston in 1981 .In 1984 in Pakistan averaged around 100 and in the 1985 home Ashes amassed 732 runs.Superbly tackled Australian pace bowling on the 1982-83 tour of Australia and averaged above 77 in the 1986-87Ashes tour down under.In terms of talent the most gifted post-war English batsman .
8.Kevin Peterson
At his best like a modern day Viv Richards.No batsmen tore apart great pace like Kevin Pieterson.He was master on bouncy pitches and relished the short ball.Above all he was great match-winner.
9.Dennis Ammis
One of the best batsman against the West Indian pace attack.At his best in 1973-74 in West Indies when scoring 262 at Barbados.and topping the batting averages.Also scored a huge aggregate in 1976 against Holding and Roberts.One of the best opening batsmen of the 1970's ,almost Boycott's equal.
10.Alistair Cook
His outstanding statistics has to rank him with the best of batsman averaging around 50 with a staggering aggreagate about 2 years ago.Superb down under in 2010-11.
11.Alec Stewart
Ever consistent and brilliant in a crisis.Never sacrificed the team's interests and came out on top in the most difficult of situations.Faced Wasim Akram or Curtly Ambrose with meticulous skill.
12.Alan Lamb
At his best against the great West Indian pace attack like he showed when scoring 3 centuries in 1984 and 2 in the Carribean later.Brilliant improviser and master in run chases or finishes on one day games.
My order maybe controversial.Graham Gooch's great combative mastery over pace bowling and spin won him top spot.Ted Dexter is ahead of Cowdrey or May because of mastery in a crisis.Peter May is chosen because of his great flair and consistency.Barrington ,not at the top as he lacked the match-winning flair.Boycott is rated very high because of consistency and ability to bat for your life.Gower and Cowdrey were outstandingly talented but often seemed to loose interest and not assert themselves over bowlers.At their best they could have made the all -time world xi's.Alan Lamb is taken because of his mastery at improvisation while Alistair Cook's record speaks for itself.
1.Graham Gooch-On top because he dominated great West Indian bowling at home and away as well as mastered spin bowling home and away..In 1981 in the Carribean averaged above 57 including a 150 at Kingston.In 1991 at Leeds scored arguably the best century ever against West Indies.Also mastered turning sub-continent tracks in India with a masterly century at Madras in 1981-82.In 1990 versus India ammased a record aggregate of 752 runs in a 3 test match series.In 1992 at Leeds showed mastery against the swing of Waqar and Wasim.In combined cricket the most prolific batsmen ever.He could take the best of pace attacks by the scruff of the neck wit the spirit of a tiger in combat.His drives and hook shots were truly majestic.At times vulnerable against fast-medium as he showed against Terry Aldermna in 1981 and 1989 in home Ashes series.
2.Ted Dexter
Rated above May and Cowdrey because he scored runs when most needed.Ina crisis possibly the best batsman in the world of his era.He could master any type of conditions or any kind of bowling attack.His two great innings against West Indies and Australia were classic examples of combat in batting.Very stylish and never curbed strokeplay.Gary Sobers rated DExter as the best Englsih batsmen he ever played against.
3.Peter May
Outstanding consistency with a great flair for driving.Generally regarded by English critiques as the best post war middle-order batsmen who played for England.However in Gary Sober's view did not relish the short ball and refrained from hooking.Mya did not prove himself on Carribean or Australian tarcks and to me lacked Dexter's combative spirit.
4.Ken Barrington
Statistically the best English post-war batsman averaging 58.67 and a great batsman to bat for your life.In terms of statistics in the Viv Richards or Sunil Gavakar l class.However he lacked consistent agression to win matches.
5.Geoff Boycott
Often boring an unexciting but after Len Hutton the most technically accomplished English batsman of all.No post-war Englishman posessed the depths of concentration or the technical mastery of Geoff Boycott.His batting was like a lesson in the coaching manual.Defied the great West Indian pace attack like a boulder in 1981.True at times selfish but often scored prolifically in low-scoring games which gave England a chance of winning.In first class cricket the only batsman to average above 100 in 2 English seasons.Arguably the most difficult batsman to dislodge in his era.Made a significant contribution to England's victories in the 1977 home Ashes and the 1969-70 Ashes win in Australia.
6.Colin Cowdrey
On his day arguably the best batsman in the world and the best player of pace bowling in the middle -order.Colin was outstanding technically and played great fast bowling as well as any great batsman like Viv Richards.In the 1959-60 tour of West Indies scored 2 centuries,averaging over 66.At Kingston he compile a classic 114 and 97.On the 1967-68 tour again scored 2 centuries,including a masterly 150 at Trinidad.Arguably played Wes Hall and Griffiths better than any one.However not at his best on slow wickets where the ball did not come on to the bat.On those pitches he looked out of sorts.Made a remarkable comeback facing Lillee and Thomson in 1975 and won a game scoring 151 n.o.His 102 out of 191 v Australia was a batting classic .
7..David Gower
Had he done justice to his extraordinary natural ability he would have been classed with Viv Richards or Graeme Pollock..No left-handed batsmen had as much inborne talent or posessed Gower's elegance.His batting reminded you of a violinist strutting his strings.At his best against great pace bowling like when scoring 154 n.oat Kingston in 1981 .In 1984 in Pakistan averaged around 100 and in the 1985 home Ashes amassed 732 runs.Superbly tackled Australian pace bowling on the 1982-83 tour of Australia and averaged above 77 in the 1986-87Ashes tour down under.In terms of talent the most gifted post-war English batsman .
8.Kevin Peterson
At his best like a modern day Viv Richards.No batsmen tore apart great pace like Kevin Pieterson.He was master on bouncy pitches and relished the short ball.Above all he was great match-winner.
9.Dennis Ammis
One of the best batsman against the West Indian pace attack.At his best in 1973-74 in West Indies when scoring 262 at Barbados.and topping the batting averages.Also scored a huge aggregate in 1976 against Holding and Roberts.One of the best opening batsmen of the 1970's ,almost Boycott's equal.
10.Alistair Cook
His outstanding statistics has to rank him with the best of batsman averaging around 50 with a staggering aggreagate about 2 years ago.Superb down under in 2010-11.
11.Alec Stewart
Ever consistent and brilliant in a crisis.Never sacrificed the team's interests and came out on top in the most difficult of situations.Faced Wasim Akram or Curtly Ambrose with meticulous skill.
12.Alan Lamb
At his best against the great West Indian pace attack like he showed when scoring 3 centuries in 1984 and 2 in the Carribean later.Brilliant improviser and master in run chases or finishes on one day games.
My order maybe controversial.Graham Gooch's great combative mastery over pace bowling and spin won him top spot.Ted Dexter is ahead of Cowdrey or May because of mastery in a crisis.Peter May is chosen because of his great flair and consistency.Barrington ,not at the top as he lacked the match-winning flair.Boycott is rated very high because of consistency and ability to bat for your life.Gower and Cowdrey were outstandingly talented but often seemed to loose interest and not assert themselves over bowlers.At their best they could have made the all -time world xi's.Alan Lamb is taken because of his mastery at improvisation while Alistair Cook's record speaks for itself.
My best English batsman was Graeme Hick coz he was awful against us
