Amla and Steyn epitomize.
You cannot be considered a great in ODIs when:
A) You perform only in bilaterals
B) You perform in ICC events only
You need to find a middle ground.
Amla needs to pick up his performances in ICC events if he is to be considered an elite player in the format and on the other hand, Steyn needs to pick up a bit in bilaterals as well.
Going AWOL between ICC events doesn't help his case at all.
In any case, Amla is much closer to achieving greatness i.e if he delivers in Australia in 2015.
But if Steyn continues to be ordinary in ODIs till that World Cup and helps South Africa win there, he will still be an underachiever in ODIs.
i'm hearing a bunch of excuses.
For your info your "gun" player has been pretty poor himself in ICC events.
In 07 WC he could only manage 0, 27, 0 only for India to exit in the group stages.
In India as well was pretty poor, averaged 18 against the top sides (that included SA, Engl, Pak, Aus).
In the quarter finals vs Australia he managed 7 and let others to do the job chasing 260+. Again in the semis vs Pakistan managed 27. Yuvi and SRT carried India not Dhoni. In the final he promoted himself up the order coz he knew Yuvi was in good form anyway and had nothing to lose.
Now if you tell me one innings defines a player or that was the most important knock he could ever play and all that crap then i will want consistency from you.
Here is an example in Test cricket the pinnacle is winning in SA and Australia as only 2 and 3 teams respectively have won a series in these countries. Now JP helped SA win a series in Australia, we were 7 down (trailling too) and he shared a 100+ stand with a tail ender and score 160+. That eventualy led to SA winning a series in that country. Amla, the series is level and on the balance both teams dismissed under 200. He comes in scores a hundred in almost a session scoring at 7+ to the over. That led SA to a 2nd series win in that country.
Whats my point?
Well SRT played with a gun Team, Sehwag, Gambir, Ganguly, Dravid, Laxman etc. And never won a series in SA or Australia. JP and Amla are better than him as per your criteria right?
Coz i could argue that he has scored some easy runs in his career or in those countries. E.g. SA or Australia bat 1st and put 350+ on the board. India gets dismissed for a paltry 200 or less on the very same surface. SA or Aus bat again with a lead of 150+, and score 300 or so. Set India 450+ target. India lose a couple of early wickets. In comes SRT bats at snail pace scores a meaningless 150 to boost his average in a losing cause. So he has not achieved much in Tests right and can not be considered a great?
didn't he score 140 against SL in the warm up as well? Gah he's a rubbish batsmen now because he failed in two tournaments, he should get moved to below Farhat, Malik and Karman in the ICC rankings... pathetic excuse for a batsmen..
)
Your logic is baffling.
