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Herschelle Gibbs versus Saeed Anwar in ODIs

Hasan123

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Mar 25, 2016
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Who would you take in ODIs between these 2?

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Saeed Anwar, because he was a one in a million. A Pakistani ODI opener who was any good.

I do acknowledge that Anwar performed poorly overseas in ODIs but I'm not familiar with the detailed statistics of the two.
 
Saeed Anwar, obviously. Not even Gibbs's mum would pick him over Anwar.
 
Great batsman, both were excellent in World Cups especially. Am going with Anwar because he had the it factor, it's vindicated by his better average in games won as well.
 
I will take Saeed here.


I have seen both and I think Seed performed better. If you want to me dig data then let me take a look.

Anwar was very poor against SA and Aus, but he averaged 35+ against other big boys.
Gibbs had average of 23-30 against Eng, Aus, Pakistan and SL.

Anwar scored 50 or higher 53 times in 216 ODIS against big boys and he averaged 37 & SR 80
Gibbs scored 50 or higher 43 times in 207 ODI against big boys and he averaged 33 & SR 80

Data also confirm what I remembered. Also, quick look at ranking trend puts Anward higher as well. Anwar was higher ranked than Gibbs more frequently. I take that as the more conclusive specially if players played in the same time frame. Ranking trend takes account of some context if not all. Raw data is just raw data.
 
I will take Saeed Anwar as well. He was surely the better player of the two.
 
In Asia, I will take Anwar. He can be brutal against trundlers.

In non Asian conditions, I will take Gibbs.
 
Very close.But i'll take anwar ..just.Indians tend to remember anwar - i think the only pakistani batsman who got a full standing ovation in an indian ground after his 194.
 
Anwar was very poor against SA and Aus, but he averaged 35+ against other big boys.
Gibbs had average of 23-30 against Eng, Aus, Pakistan and SL.

Anwar scored 50 or higher 53 times in 216 ODIS against big boys and he averaged 37 & SR 80
Gibbs scored 50 or higher 43 times in 207 ODI against big boys and he averaged 33 & SR 80

Data also confirm what I remembered. Also, quick look at ranking trend puts Anward higher as well. Anwar was higher ranked than Gibbs more frequently. I take that as the more conclusive specially if players played in the same time frame. Ranking trend takes account of some context if not all. Raw data is just raw data.


Thanks. But surprised at Gibbs average versus those teams.
 
Anyone who has seen Anwar playing would place him among Viv & Sachin, not Gibbsy. Gibbsy was good but Anwar was surreal at times.
 
Hard to do comparison on non ATG players cos their career is not usually closely scrutinized.

Gibbs was devastating while Anwar was stylish.

Post detailed stats as well as important innings played by them (in tourneys and otherwise).
 
Gibbs had some incomparable highs and performances:

143 Vs NZ attack which includes Bond in WC 2003

http://www.howstat.com.au/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard_ODI.asp?MatchCode=2040

101 Vs ATG Aus attack in WC 1999

http://www.howstat.com.au/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard_ODI.asp?MatchCode=1564

And we are well aware of his 175 Vs Aus in 2006.

Add to that the very first t20 WC match between WI and SA.Who won that chase for SA? Gibbs was the man here also.

http://www.howstat.com.au/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard_T20.asp?MatchCode=0020

And what a great fielder he was. But he had massive lows too and was a controversial figure.
 
Great comparison here, I thought both of them underachieved in their respective careers. Anwar was not the same batsman after the tragedy and Gibbs was not as dominating after the scandal, late in their respective careers.

Both natural stroke players but in terms of sheer ability Gibbs take this. However, on terms of grit and determination Anwar takes it. Overall, I believe although Gibbs was the better batsman Anwar gets the nod for me purely because Anwar took responsibility of carrying the team where Gibbs always shy of that responsibility. Anwar contributed to Pak cricket more than Gibbs did to SAF cricket.
 
Very close, both are better than their stats. I might be biased towards Gibbs because he was my favorite cricket back in the day, but there isn't much between them.
 
Very close, both are better than their stats. I might be biased towards Gibbs because he was my favorite cricket back in the day, but there isn't much between them.

You actually liked a South African cricketer? I'm shocked. But in all seriousness I understand why. He's a rare breed in that he played his greatest knocks against the best bowlers in actual tournament games. Not something the Proteas are known for.

But I'll pick Anwar since Gibbs dropped the World Cup.
 
Anwar was very poor against SA and Aus, but he averaged 35+ against other big boys.
Gibbs had average of 23-30 against Eng, Aus, Pakistan and SL.

Anwar scored 50 or higher 53 times in 216 ODIS against big boys and he averaged 37 & SR 80
Gibbs scored 50 or higher 43 times in 207 ODI against big boys and he averaged 33 & SR 80

Data also confirm what I remembered. Also, quick look at ranking trend puts Anward higher as well. Anwar was higher ranked than Gibbs more frequently. I take that as the more conclusive specially if players played in the same time frame. Ranking trend takes account of some context if not all. Raw data is just raw data.

With regards to those overall numbers I wouldn't look too much into them, what should account for more then anything is their fantastic record on the grandest stage of them all! the showcase of the immortals! the ODI cricket world cup.
 
With regards to those overall numbers I wouldn't look too much into them, what should account for more then anything is their fantastic record on the grandest stage of them all! the showcase of the immortals! the ODI cricket world cup.

WC record is comparable, may be a slight edge to Gibbs, but not much to see there as difference. You have to take account of their career to separate them. Just by my memory, I picked Anwar without looking at anything. I was just trying to justify with their career performance.

Anyway, some one can pick other. It's not a huge gap as suggested by some posters here.
 
WC record is comparable, may be a slight edge to Gibbs, but not much to see there as difference. You have to take account of their career to separate them. Just by my memory, I picked Anwar without looking at anything. I was just trying to justify with their career performance.

Anyway, some one can pick other. It's not a huge gap as suggested by some posters here.

Yeah I agree with, just saying both are great players and their World Cup records are better then their overall output and that matters more to me
 
Very close but I'll take Anwar because he was an opener and played in a weak batting side, compared to Gibbs who was batting with excellent partners and had the support.

Fun fact: Kohli was in India's XI in Gibbs last match, quite surprising how early Kohli played for India
 
Ive seen both and this is a very strange comparison to me. Saeed by a mile and a half.

Might as well compare Quinton De Kock vs Inzamam next
 
My memory of Gibbs is that he was a lot more devastating a batsman than his numbers actually suggest. His record in Australia, New Zealand and even Bangladesh in the 2000s is quite mediocre but has an outstanding WC record (56 @ 87).

He wouldn't have been out of place in the T20 era, really did well on home wickets and had an aggressive style compared to his partner Smith's more attritional style. Maybe a lack of professionalism meant he couldn't achieve further success, his behaviour off the field have been documented.

Anwar dominated in Asia and in England. But he let himself down against and in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, averaging only 17 against the latter. Anwar could be quite frustrating. One of the most stylish batsmen but prone to lapses of concentration - prime example being the flashing drive first ball after a break onto the stumps in 1999 WC final. I felt he could've achieved more given his talent.
 
Ive seen both and this is a very strange comparison to me. Saeed by a mile and a half.

Might as well compare Quinton De Kock vs Inzamam next

If you have seen both and still think that they are incomparable, then I guess you have missed out on Gibbs' best and Anwar's worst.

Both were top players and Anwar might be a little better, but to call him him a mile and a half ahead is a bit of a stretch.

Inzamam vs de Kock is quite a random comparison, but considering the latter's potential, age and performances, he is almost certain to go down as a better player by the time he retires.
 
You actually liked a South African cricketer? I'm shocked. But in all seriousness I understand why. He's a rare breed in that he played his greatest knocks against the best bowlers in actual tournament games. Not something the Proteas are known for.

But I'll pick Anwar since Gibbs dropped the World Cup.

I like quite a lot of South African cricketers other than Gibbs. de Kock, Rabada, du Plessis, Smith, Kirsten, Klusener, Donald etc.

Just not a fan of modern softies like de Villiers and Amla.
 
If you have seen both and still think that they are incomparable, then I guess you have missed out on Gibbs' best and Anwar's worst.

Both were top players and Anwar might be a little better, but to call him him a mile and a half ahead is a bit of a stretch.

Inzamam vs de Kock is quite a random comparison, but considering the latter's potential, age and performances, he is almost certain to go down as a better player by the time he retires.

Look at their averages and overall impact.

Saeed was one of THE premier openers in the world throughout the 90s.
 
I like quite a lot of South African cricketers other than Gibbs. de Kock, Rabada, du Plessis, Smith, Kirsten, Klusener, Donald etc.

Just not a fan of modern softies like de Villiers and Amla.

SA used to fail even with those names too. They had a team to beat any team in the world that time too still they struggled to dominate over England and were poor vs Australia home and away.

And their performance wasn't any great in tests either before Amla and ABDV came into scenes.

Rating those players highly but bashing only these two is unfair.
 
Look at their averages and overall impact.

Saeed was one of THE premier openers in the world throughout the 90s.

I think the problem is that we Pakistanis have hyped up Saeed Anwar a lot. If anything here's for me how he stand across openers of 90s.

Mark Taylor - Mark Taylor wins
Gary Kirsten - Saeed wins, marginally
Jayasuriya - Saeed wins
Tendulkar - Tendulkar wins
Alec Stewart - Saeed wins
Fleming/Astle - Saeed wins, marginally
 
Anwar because of his superior record in World Cups and ofcourse scoring the highest ODI total ever.
 
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He has 3 centuries compared to 2 of Gibbs, plus a MOTM performance in a world cup semi final. Average is almost the same.

One against ZIM. Its almost same I think.

Gibbs has hundreds vs Aus and NZ while Anwar has against Ind and NZ( semi final though).
 
Anwar is the superior player. Gibbs was good, but Ansar is definitely in the tier above him.
 
Anwar.

most clutch (world cup centuries) plus a higher average while chasing 6 runs higher. Although Gibbs gave you an extra 15 to 20 runs an inning with his fielding - and Saeed, we all know
 
Also may not be the fairest comparison, but Gibbs' average dips 6 runs (30 vs 36) vs South Africa's Biggest rival, Australia, and Saeed Anwar's goes up about 4 runs vs his biggest rival (India) -- not apples to apples by any means but big players show up in bigger games.
 
Both very good players in world cups. One must remember that Anwar never had a bad WC. He performed in all 3 world cups he played. Even in these days, modern openers won't give you a start of 84 in 10 overs in an extreme pressure game like Anwar did in 1996.
 
Also may not be the fairest comparison, but Gibbs' average dips 6 runs (30 vs 36) vs South Africa's Biggest rival, Australia, and Saeed Anwar's goes up about 4 runs vs his biggest rival (India) -- not apples to apples by any means but big players show up in bigger games.

Anwar is better, but that is a ridiculous logic. During Gibbs' time, Australia were the strongest bowling line up of McGrath, Gillespie, Lee and Warne/Hogg.

On the other hand, Anwar had Srinath, Kumble, Prasad, Raju and Robin Singh to score off.
 
Anwar is better, but that is a ridiculous logic. During Gibbs' time, Australia were the strongest bowling line up of McGrath, Gillespie, Lee and Warne/Hogg.

On the other hand, Anwar had Srinath, Kumble, Prasad, Raju and Robin Singh to score off.

Sir, its not a comparison of bowling strength - It's a testament of his ability to show up in big games. Don't mean to compare ATG vs Indian bowling in the 90s by any means. Since you bring up Robin Singh, it wasn't like Gibbs was constantly facing world class bowling . he also faced the likes of Andrew symmonds and the Waughs and lehmann
 
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