Harsh Thakor
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Without doubt Sunil Gavaskar is one of the greatest batsmen to have ever set foot on a cricket field ,arguably amongst the top 5 batsmen and best opening batsmen ever and technically close to the best batsmen ever.No doubt he faced the most lethal and brutal pace and broke batting records more than anyone in his era.Above all he batted without the aid of a helmet or any protective headgaer which makes his achievements all the more creditable or virtuous.
However is it correct to say that Gavaskar was most prolific against the great West Indian four man pace battery of the late 1970's or 80's?In other words can you a tribute Gavaskar's greatness or superstar staure because of his record against the great Carribean pace battery?Many experts,ex-cricketers and fans do but I fel it is inaccurate.Sunil has centuries against Willis,Botham,Imran, Marshall,Holding ,Roberts and Thomson without doubt.However the greateset aggregate,highest average and most number of centuries versus West indies were scored against the less fast bowlers like Sobers(past his peak) ,Utton Dowe,Lance Gibbs,Nobert Phillips,Vanburn Holder,Shepphard etc.He averaged 154.8 in West Indies in 1970-71 and 91.5 in India against such bowlers with only Sylvester Clarke being a bowler of really genuine pace in 1978-79.In 1983-84 Gavaskar payed 11 tests v West Indies away and at home where he averaged less than 45 overall with 3 centuries and 1 fifty.In 21 innings he scored more than fifty only 4 times.He averaged around 30 in the Carribaen with 147 n.o at Georgetwon his highest score and averaged exactly around 50 in 6 tests in India mainly due to his unbeaten 236 at Madras in a dead rubber.There is a considerable difference in Gavaskar's average against the lesser Calypso attacks compared with that against the great pace battery.
Overall I rate Graham Gooch's batting performances better than Gavaskar against the great quartet.Gooch averaged over 57 with 2 centuries at Barbados and Kingston with his unbeaten 153 out of a score of 280 considered one of the game's classics.In 1991 at Leeds he scored an unbeaten 154 out of 252 which is ranked amongst the top 3 test match innings ever by Wisden.Gavaskar has never scored a century against the great Calypso pace battery on as fast wickets as Barbados and Kingston as Gooch nor one in such testing conditions or situations as Gooch did in 1991 at Leeds.I also think on a bouncy track Gundapaa Vishwanath was marginally better than Gavaskar against great pace.Remember Vishy's unbeaten 97 at Madras in 1974-75 and 124 out of 255 at Madras in 1979-80.On the fast Madras track he outscored Sunil completely and it was a great complement to Vishy that he averaged 56.8 facing the likes of Andy Roberts in 1974-75.Gavaskar's hundreds against Holding and Roberts came n the slower batting track at Trinidad in 1975-76.Unlike Vishy's great knock sof 1974-75 Gavaskar's unbetaen 236 at Madras came in a dead rubber ,though his 129 at Delhi and 90 at Ahmedabad were true gems.At his best Mohinder Amarnath played express or genuine pace beter than any batsmen ever aggregating 598 runs at 66.8 but that wa sonly in one series.Alan Border was in Amarnath's shadow in 1984 in the Carribean but was overall more consistent.
In 1977-78 Gavaskar scored 3 centuries in 5 tests in Australia against a depleted attack without Lillee but which included Jeff Thomson.Notably Sunny scored all his centuries in the 2nd innings when the bounce had reduced.Ironically Sunny has no test century against Lillee.Sad we never saw Gavaskar play in Wsc Kerry Packer cricket which would have been a true test. of his comparison to Viv.
Sunny's notable innings against great pace were his 111 and 137 at Karachi in 1978-79 ,127 n.o at Faisalabad in 1982-83 against Pakistan ;90 at Ahmeadbad,129 at Delhi,147 n.o at Georgetwon ,236 n.o at Madras and 155 at Trinidad in 1975-76 against West Indies. .His 221 at the Oval was no doubt one of the game's classics but mainly scored against fast-medium and his 205 at Mumbai was scored against a 2nd string Calypso attack bar Sylvetser Clarke.The majority of Gavaskar's great hundreds against genuine pace were score on bating wickets and not on the fast,bouncy surfaces.Gavaskar scored centuries against the great Richard Hadlee,but he was basically fast-medium.
Overall I rate Gavaskar the best defensive batsmen ever against great pace as he opened the batting unlike Border.However the likes of Viv Richards,Barry Richards Ian Chappell,Vishwanath,Gooch,Ponting,Inzamam etc were better batsmen as strokemakers against genuine pace ,particularly on bouncy surfaces.Overall still I rank Sunny a marginallly beter player of genuine pace than Tendulkar or Lara as well as Greg Chappell who often did not relish the bouncing ball.On a batting wicket or brown surface Gavaskar could negotiate the most lethal of pace bowling as well as any all-time great if not better.On a bouncy,green top
I give the edge to the likes of Inzamam,Vishy ,Ian Chappell or Gooch.Maybe it is an unfair comparison as the likes of Ian Chappel,Inzy and Vishy are middle-order batsmen who did not have to face the brand new ball but comparison with Gooch or Barry is fair.
Sorry fans if I sounded biased but I just wished to illustrate the picture more clearly.I repeat again arguably Gavaskar as a test batsmen may even rank 2nd to only the Don.Overall he was a great player against pace bowling without doubt.
Below I am reproducing an article by writer Stuart.
STUART IN HISTORY OF CRICKET BLOG
Sunny Gavaskar is, without doubt, one of the greatest batsmen of all-time. Gavaskar is a true legend of the game. His technique was near faultless, and when combined with limitless patience, you had the mould for the perfect opening batsman. Gavaskar’s test career saw a total of 10122 runs at an average of 51.12, with an astounding 34 test centuries.
Gavaskar retired from test cricket in 1987, and therefore his era would appear to almost completely coincide with the great Windies bowling lineups of the late 70s and 80s. In 27 tests against the West Indies, Gavaskar scored an almost unbelievable 2749 runs at an average of 65.45, with an astonishing 13 centuries. These statistics are often used by fans and supporters to underline his claims as the greatest opening batsman of all-time. However, one of the great myths that has grown up about Gavaskar is his amazing dominance of the otherwise unconquered West Indian four pronged pace battery that these statistics would suggest. If you break down the actual series that he played, Gavaskar’s record doesn’t quite look as impressive as a first glance would indicate.
Gavaskar made his debut for India against the West Indies on the 6th of March, 1971 at Port of Spain. He played four tests, and finished the series with an impressive total of 774 runs at the astronomical average of 154.80 with four centuries. During this series, the West Indies were in a state of change. The leading pacemen of the 60s including Hall, Griffith and Gilchrist had all played their final test. The Windies bowling attack was dominated by spin, with Lance Gibbs well on his way to passing Fred Trueman as the leading test wicket-taker. The fast bowlers that Gavaskar faced during this series were Keith Boyce, Grayson Shillingford, Vanburn Holder and Uton Dowe (he of the 11th Commandment – Dowe shall not bowl). The other medium paced bowlers used included Gary Sobers and John Shepard. With all due respect to the bowlers of the time, it was hardly an attack to cause significant concerns to a player of Gavaskar’s obvious skill.
Gavaskar only played two tests of the 1974/75 home series against the West Indies. He struggled, scoring 108 runs at an average of just 27. The quick bowlers he faced in this series included a young Andy Roberts, and the medium paced Holder, Boyce and left armer Bernard Julien. Gavaskar’s next series against the West Indies was again away from home in 1975/76. Gavaskar again batted beautifully, scoring 390 runs at 55.71, with another two centuries. By this time, the Windies fast bowling battery was just starting to take form. The first two Tests saw Gavaskar opening the batting against genuine quicks Michael Holding and Andy Roberts. In support was swing bowler Julien, and spinners Holford and Jumadeen. After disappointing initially with 37 and 1 in the First Test, Gavaskar did score a wonderful 156 in the second. The Third and Fourth Tests saw no Andy Roberts, with Michael Holding in his second series as a Windies player supported by Wayne Daniel, Holder, Julien, Jumadeen, Albert Padmore and Imtiaz Ali. There was not yet any sign of the four pronged pace attack that would soon dominate the cricket world.
The West Indies then toured India in 1978/79. This tour was in the middle of the Packer years, and the West Indies bowling attack was decimated. Rather than facing Holding, Roberts, Garner and Croft, Gavaskar opened the batting in the First Test against the legendary Norbert Phillip, his old nemesis Vanburn Holder, and Sylvester Clarke. The Windies attack again had reverted to spin, with Derek Parry and Jumadeen both playing. Gavaskar again gorged himself, scoring 732 runs at 91.50, with another 4 centuries. A very young Malcolm Marshall made his debut during this very high scoring six test series that India won 1-0, with five draws.
Gavaskar’s second last series against the Windies was away in 1982/83. He scored 240 runs at an average of 30, with one century. Against the full might of the Windies four quicks (Holding, Roberts, Garner and Marshall), he scored 20 and 0 in the First Test, 1 and 32 in the Second, a very good 147 not out in the Third (which was badly affected by weather and India didn’t even finish their first innings), 2 and 19 in the Fourth, and 18 and 1 in the Fifth. This was the first time Gavaskar had played against all of the Windies quicks, and he clearly struggled.
In 1983/84, Gavaskar played the Windies for the last time. This series was at home, and the bowling attack was weakened by the absence of Garner. In the first test, the Windies fielding four quicks, but whilst Holding and Marshall were genuinely fast, neither Eldine Baptiste or Winston Davis really threatened. Gavaskar started poorly with 0 and 7 in the First Test, before finding some form with 121 and 15 in the Second, and 90 and 1 in the Third. 12, 3, 0 and 20 were his scores in the next two tests, before Gavaskar played one of his great knocks. In the final test, he dropped himself down the order to no. 4, with Gaekwad and Sidhu opening. The fact that Malcolm Marshall took two wickets without a run being scored meant that Gavaskar may as well have opened anyway. Gavaskar proceeded to totally dominate the Windies attack and scored a wonderful 236 not out. This was a fantastic innings, and underlined why Gavaskar is a great. There is a wonderful account of this innings at http://tcwj.blogspot.com/2007/10/29.html that is highly recommended reading. Unfortunately, his previous failures in the series were effectively covered up by this large unbeaten double century.
When you examine the record of Gavaskar against the West Indies, it is clear that only the final three centuries were actually scored against an attack that resembled the fearsome Windies pace barrage that we remember. A large percentage of his runs were accumulated in two series against very much weakened bowling attacks. As a consequence of factors outside of his control, Gavaskar didn’t play against the Windies full strength team between 1975/76 and 1982/83. This analysis is not to decry Gavaskar – he is a legend of the game and deserves ultimate respect for what he has achieved. He could, after all, not control who he played against. A very strong argument can be made that Gavaskar should be considered of the best few opening batsmen in the history of the game. However, the claims made by some supporters that he is the greatest opener of all-time based solely on his record against the Windies is one that simply does not hold up to closer scrutiny.
.Below is an assesment by Martin Crowe which I feel arguably does injustice to Viv Richards or Greg Chappell.Even if Sunny was the best his criteria is incorrect.Remember Chappell's great performaces in WSC Supertests averaging over 69 with 3 centuroes in West Indies in 1979 and Viv's demolition of the likes of Lillee and Pascoe in WSC cricket in 1977-78 when he averaged 86.2 and in 1979'80 in a 3 test series when he averaged 96.5.
Excecerpt of MARTIN CROWE IN CRICINFO assessing 2nd best batsmen to Bradman.
'Moving on to the next 20 years and to the batsmen who faced the might of the greatest fast-bowling attack ever, the vaunted West Indian big men. This was the hardest assignment of all: to survive, attack and conquer this uncompromising blitz of short fast bowling. The man to do it best was Sunil Gavaskar from India. Roberts, Garner, Holding, Croft, and Marshall - the little master stood up to them and scored seven* fine centuries against them, amongst his 34 Test hundreds overall. Gavaskar pips Viv Richards and Greg Chappell from that era for that one reason alone, that he passed the hardest exam, a test not even Viv would have topped. Gavaskar is candidate No. 3.'
QUOTING ANDY ROBERTS in rediff in 2002.
Andy Roberts, widely regarded as the father of modern West Indies fast bowling, also rated Gundappa Vishwanath a better batsman than Sunil Gavaskar on bouncy wickets.
"Sunny was a great player, probably one of the greatest of all-time. But on a bouncy wicket, he had his problems," Roberts said about Gavaskar, who has 13 Test hundreds from 27 Tests against the West Indies, for an aggregate of 2749 runs at a 65-plus average.
"Vishy, in my estimation, was a better player on a bouncy wicket than Sunil. This was also because Vishy was a wristy player," said Roberts.
Inevitably, Roberts was drawn to comment on Vishwanath's unbeaten 97 on a bouncy Madras pitch in the 1974-75 series, a Test which India won handsomely.
"It was a great innings on a bouncy wicket. A lovely innings and he played very, very well. May be, if the match was played two years later, India wouldn't have won the game.
MICHAEL HOLDING INTERVIEW:
Birmingham: Michael Holding, a former West Indies captain and one of the great fast bowlers of all time, spoke to The Telegraph on Saturday afternoon. Owing to his media commitments, the ongoing series wasn’t touched.
The following are excerpts
Q Who is the one Indian batsman who stood out in the era you played?
A Sunil Gavaskar is obviously the man… He and (Gundappa) Viswanath were the two best in the era when I played a bit against India. There were some other guys who were very good too… Dilip Vengsarkar... Jimmy (Mohinder) Amarnath had a very good tour against us, in 1982-83… Different eras, a different set of batsmen.
DENNIS LILLEE IN REDIFF.
Aussie fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee does not think his contemporary record-breaking Indian rival Sunil Gavaskar had much quality, and surprisingly rates Gundappa Viswanath as the best batsman who played against Australia.
Dennis Lillee"I know he was a great batsman but I cannot rate him among the great batsmen I bowled against," says Lillee in his recently-released autobiography.
"I rated Gavaskar of medium quality only and I have not changed my mind," he wrote.
Lillee instead gives the pride of place to the stylish Viswanath, brother-in-law of Gavaskar.
Viswanath was the best batsman against Australia "who made runs against us and regularly at that", he says.
Both Gavaskar and Viswanath enjoyed a very good average against Australia. Viswanath averaged 53.03 from 18 matches, scoring 1538 runs with four centuries. Gavaskar scored 1550 runs at 51.66 with eight hundreds in 20 matches.
IMRAN KHAN IN INDIAN EXPRESS
Not undermining Sachin Tendulkar’s rich contribution to the game of cricket, Pakistani cricketing legend-turned politician Imran Khan on Saturday said he always rates Sunil Gavaskar above any batsman in the world.
“Sachin never played an innings like Gavaskar did. Look, Gavaskar faced a West Indies attack that had four world class fast bowlers. His record does not tell his actual contribution. I always felt sorry for him when he, alone, used to face a range of fast bowlers when there were none in his own country before Kapil Dev arrived on the scene,” Imran said at ‘Agenda Aajtak’ when asked to compare the two greats.
“Sunny played in an era when Dennis Lillee, arguably the best fast bowler, played. Zaheer’s (Abbas) timing was impeccable. Majid (Khan) was also the best at his peak and then there was Javed (Miandad). But I do not want to undermine Sachin’s achievements and believe comparing players from different eras is not fair,” he added.
However is it correct to say that Gavaskar was most prolific against the great West Indian four man pace battery of the late 1970's or 80's?In other words can you a tribute Gavaskar's greatness or superstar staure because of his record against the great Carribean pace battery?Many experts,ex-cricketers and fans do but I fel it is inaccurate.Sunil has centuries against Willis,Botham,Imran, Marshall,Holding ,Roberts and Thomson without doubt.However the greateset aggregate,highest average and most number of centuries versus West indies were scored against the less fast bowlers like Sobers(past his peak) ,Utton Dowe,Lance Gibbs,Nobert Phillips,Vanburn Holder,Shepphard etc.He averaged 154.8 in West Indies in 1970-71 and 91.5 in India against such bowlers with only Sylvester Clarke being a bowler of really genuine pace in 1978-79.In 1983-84 Gavaskar payed 11 tests v West Indies away and at home where he averaged less than 45 overall with 3 centuries and 1 fifty.In 21 innings he scored more than fifty only 4 times.He averaged around 30 in the Carribaen with 147 n.o at Georgetwon his highest score and averaged exactly around 50 in 6 tests in India mainly due to his unbeaten 236 at Madras in a dead rubber.There is a considerable difference in Gavaskar's average against the lesser Calypso attacks compared with that against the great pace battery.
Overall I rate Graham Gooch's batting performances better than Gavaskar against the great quartet.Gooch averaged over 57 with 2 centuries at Barbados and Kingston with his unbeaten 153 out of a score of 280 considered one of the game's classics.In 1991 at Leeds he scored an unbeaten 154 out of 252 which is ranked amongst the top 3 test match innings ever by Wisden.Gavaskar has never scored a century against the great Calypso pace battery on as fast wickets as Barbados and Kingston as Gooch nor one in such testing conditions or situations as Gooch did in 1991 at Leeds.I also think on a bouncy track Gundapaa Vishwanath was marginally better than Gavaskar against great pace.Remember Vishy's unbeaten 97 at Madras in 1974-75 and 124 out of 255 at Madras in 1979-80.On the fast Madras track he outscored Sunil completely and it was a great complement to Vishy that he averaged 56.8 facing the likes of Andy Roberts in 1974-75.Gavaskar's hundreds against Holding and Roberts came n the slower batting track at Trinidad in 1975-76.Unlike Vishy's great knock sof 1974-75 Gavaskar's unbetaen 236 at Madras came in a dead rubber ,though his 129 at Delhi and 90 at Ahmedabad were true gems.At his best Mohinder Amarnath played express or genuine pace beter than any batsmen ever aggregating 598 runs at 66.8 but that wa sonly in one series.Alan Border was in Amarnath's shadow in 1984 in the Carribean but was overall more consistent.
In 1977-78 Gavaskar scored 3 centuries in 5 tests in Australia against a depleted attack without Lillee but which included Jeff Thomson.Notably Sunny scored all his centuries in the 2nd innings when the bounce had reduced.Ironically Sunny has no test century against Lillee.Sad we never saw Gavaskar play in Wsc Kerry Packer cricket which would have been a true test. of his comparison to Viv.
Sunny's notable innings against great pace were his 111 and 137 at Karachi in 1978-79 ,127 n.o at Faisalabad in 1982-83 against Pakistan ;90 at Ahmeadbad,129 at Delhi,147 n.o at Georgetwon ,236 n.o at Madras and 155 at Trinidad in 1975-76 against West Indies. .His 221 at the Oval was no doubt one of the game's classics but mainly scored against fast-medium and his 205 at Mumbai was scored against a 2nd string Calypso attack bar Sylvetser Clarke.The majority of Gavaskar's great hundreds against genuine pace were score on bating wickets and not on the fast,bouncy surfaces.Gavaskar scored centuries against the great Richard Hadlee,but he was basically fast-medium.
Overall I rate Gavaskar the best defensive batsmen ever against great pace as he opened the batting unlike Border.However the likes of Viv Richards,Barry Richards Ian Chappell,Vishwanath,Gooch,Ponting,Inzamam etc were better batsmen as strokemakers against genuine pace ,particularly on bouncy surfaces.Overall still I rank Sunny a marginallly beter player of genuine pace than Tendulkar or Lara as well as Greg Chappell who often did not relish the bouncing ball.On a batting wicket or brown surface Gavaskar could negotiate the most lethal of pace bowling as well as any all-time great if not better.On a bouncy,green top
I give the edge to the likes of Inzamam,Vishy ,Ian Chappell or Gooch.Maybe it is an unfair comparison as the likes of Ian Chappel,Inzy and Vishy are middle-order batsmen who did not have to face the brand new ball but comparison with Gooch or Barry is fair.
Sorry fans if I sounded biased but I just wished to illustrate the picture more clearly.I repeat again arguably Gavaskar as a test batsmen may even rank 2nd to only the Don.Overall he was a great player against pace bowling without doubt.
Below I am reproducing an article by writer Stuart.
STUART IN HISTORY OF CRICKET BLOG
Sunny Gavaskar is, without doubt, one of the greatest batsmen of all-time. Gavaskar is a true legend of the game. His technique was near faultless, and when combined with limitless patience, you had the mould for the perfect opening batsman. Gavaskar’s test career saw a total of 10122 runs at an average of 51.12, with an astounding 34 test centuries.
Gavaskar retired from test cricket in 1987, and therefore his era would appear to almost completely coincide with the great Windies bowling lineups of the late 70s and 80s. In 27 tests against the West Indies, Gavaskar scored an almost unbelievable 2749 runs at an average of 65.45, with an astonishing 13 centuries. These statistics are often used by fans and supporters to underline his claims as the greatest opening batsman of all-time. However, one of the great myths that has grown up about Gavaskar is his amazing dominance of the otherwise unconquered West Indian four pronged pace battery that these statistics would suggest. If you break down the actual series that he played, Gavaskar’s record doesn’t quite look as impressive as a first glance would indicate.
Gavaskar made his debut for India against the West Indies on the 6th of March, 1971 at Port of Spain. He played four tests, and finished the series with an impressive total of 774 runs at the astronomical average of 154.80 with four centuries. During this series, the West Indies were in a state of change. The leading pacemen of the 60s including Hall, Griffith and Gilchrist had all played their final test. The Windies bowling attack was dominated by spin, with Lance Gibbs well on his way to passing Fred Trueman as the leading test wicket-taker. The fast bowlers that Gavaskar faced during this series were Keith Boyce, Grayson Shillingford, Vanburn Holder and Uton Dowe (he of the 11th Commandment – Dowe shall not bowl). The other medium paced bowlers used included Gary Sobers and John Shepard. With all due respect to the bowlers of the time, it was hardly an attack to cause significant concerns to a player of Gavaskar’s obvious skill.
Gavaskar only played two tests of the 1974/75 home series against the West Indies. He struggled, scoring 108 runs at an average of just 27. The quick bowlers he faced in this series included a young Andy Roberts, and the medium paced Holder, Boyce and left armer Bernard Julien. Gavaskar’s next series against the West Indies was again away from home in 1975/76. Gavaskar again batted beautifully, scoring 390 runs at 55.71, with another two centuries. By this time, the Windies fast bowling battery was just starting to take form. The first two Tests saw Gavaskar opening the batting against genuine quicks Michael Holding and Andy Roberts. In support was swing bowler Julien, and spinners Holford and Jumadeen. After disappointing initially with 37 and 1 in the First Test, Gavaskar did score a wonderful 156 in the second. The Third and Fourth Tests saw no Andy Roberts, with Michael Holding in his second series as a Windies player supported by Wayne Daniel, Holder, Julien, Jumadeen, Albert Padmore and Imtiaz Ali. There was not yet any sign of the four pronged pace attack that would soon dominate the cricket world.
The West Indies then toured India in 1978/79. This tour was in the middle of the Packer years, and the West Indies bowling attack was decimated. Rather than facing Holding, Roberts, Garner and Croft, Gavaskar opened the batting in the First Test against the legendary Norbert Phillip, his old nemesis Vanburn Holder, and Sylvester Clarke. The Windies attack again had reverted to spin, with Derek Parry and Jumadeen both playing. Gavaskar again gorged himself, scoring 732 runs at 91.50, with another 4 centuries. A very young Malcolm Marshall made his debut during this very high scoring six test series that India won 1-0, with five draws.
Gavaskar’s second last series against the Windies was away in 1982/83. He scored 240 runs at an average of 30, with one century. Against the full might of the Windies four quicks (Holding, Roberts, Garner and Marshall), he scored 20 and 0 in the First Test, 1 and 32 in the Second, a very good 147 not out in the Third (which was badly affected by weather and India didn’t even finish their first innings), 2 and 19 in the Fourth, and 18 and 1 in the Fifth. This was the first time Gavaskar had played against all of the Windies quicks, and he clearly struggled.
In 1983/84, Gavaskar played the Windies for the last time. This series was at home, and the bowling attack was weakened by the absence of Garner. In the first test, the Windies fielding four quicks, but whilst Holding and Marshall were genuinely fast, neither Eldine Baptiste or Winston Davis really threatened. Gavaskar started poorly with 0 and 7 in the First Test, before finding some form with 121 and 15 in the Second, and 90 and 1 in the Third. 12, 3, 0 and 20 were his scores in the next two tests, before Gavaskar played one of his great knocks. In the final test, he dropped himself down the order to no. 4, with Gaekwad and Sidhu opening. The fact that Malcolm Marshall took two wickets without a run being scored meant that Gavaskar may as well have opened anyway. Gavaskar proceeded to totally dominate the Windies attack and scored a wonderful 236 not out. This was a fantastic innings, and underlined why Gavaskar is a great. There is a wonderful account of this innings at http://tcwj.blogspot.com/2007/10/29.html that is highly recommended reading. Unfortunately, his previous failures in the series were effectively covered up by this large unbeaten double century.
When you examine the record of Gavaskar against the West Indies, it is clear that only the final three centuries were actually scored against an attack that resembled the fearsome Windies pace barrage that we remember. A large percentage of his runs were accumulated in two series against very much weakened bowling attacks. As a consequence of factors outside of his control, Gavaskar didn’t play against the Windies full strength team between 1975/76 and 1982/83. This analysis is not to decry Gavaskar – he is a legend of the game and deserves ultimate respect for what he has achieved. He could, after all, not control who he played against. A very strong argument can be made that Gavaskar should be considered of the best few opening batsmen in the history of the game. However, the claims made by some supporters that he is the greatest opener of all-time based solely on his record against the Windies is one that simply does not hold up to closer scrutiny.
.Below is an assesment by Martin Crowe which I feel arguably does injustice to Viv Richards or Greg Chappell.Even if Sunny was the best his criteria is incorrect.Remember Chappell's great performaces in WSC Supertests averaging over 69 with 3 centuroes in West Indies in 1979 and Viv's demolition of the likes of Lillee and Pascoe in WSC cricket in 1977-78 when he averaged 86.2 and in 1979'80 in a 3 test series when he averaged 96.5.
Excecerpt of MARTIN CROWE IN CRICINFO assessing 2nd best batsmen to Bradman.
'Moving on to the next 20 years and to the batsmen who faced the might of the greatest fast-bowling attack ever, the vaunted West Indian big men. This was the hardest assignment of all: to survive, attack and conquer this uncompromising blitz of short fast bowling. The man to do it best was Sunil Gavaskar from India. Roberts, Garner, Holding, Croft, and Marshall - the little master stood up to them and scored seven* fine centuries against them, amongst his 34 Test hundreds overall. Gavaskar pips Viv Richards and Greg Chappell from that era for that one reason alone, that he passed the hardest exam, a test not even Viv would have topped. Gavaskar is candidate No. 3.'
QUOTING ANDY ROBERTS in rediff in 2002.
Andy Roberts, widely regarded as the father of modern West Indies fast bowling, also rated Gundappa Vishwanath a better batsman than Sunil Gavaskar on bouncy wickets.
"Sunny was a great player, probably one of the greatest of all-time. But on a bouncy wicket, he had his problems," Roberts said about Gavaskar, who has 13 Test hundreds from 27 Tests against the West Indies, for an aggregate of 2749 runs at a 65-plus average.
"Vishy, in my estimation, was a better player on a bouncy wicket than Sunil. This was also because Vishy was a wristy player," said Roberts.
Inevitably, Roberts was drawn to comment on Vishwanath's unbeaten 97 on a bouncy Madras pitch in the 1974-75 series, a Test which India won handsomely.
"It was a great innings on a bouncy wicket. A lovely innings and he played very, very well. May be, if the match was played two years later, India wouldn't have won the game.
MICHAEL HOLDING INTERVIEW:
Birmingham: Michael Holding, a former West Indies captain and one of the great fast bowlers of all time, spoke to The Telegraph on Saturday afternoon. Owing to his media commitments, the ongoing series wasn’t touched.
The following are excerpts
Q Who is the one Indian batsman who stood out in the era you played?
A Sunil Gavaskar is obviously the man… He and (Gundappa) Viswanath were the two best in the era when I played a bit against India. There were some other guys who were very good too… Dilip Vengsarkar... Jimmy (Mohinder) Amarnath had a very good tour against us, in 1982-83… Different eras, a different set of batsmen.
DENNIS LILLEE IN REDIFF.
Aussie fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee does not think his contemporary record-breaking Indian rival Sunil Gavaskar had much quality, and surprisingly rates Gundappa Viswanath as the best batsman who played against Australia.
Dennis Lillee"I know he was a great batsman but I cannot rate him among the great batsmen I bowled against," says Lillee in his recently-released autobiography.
"I rated Gavaskar of medium quality only and I have not changed my mind," he wrote.
Lillee instead gives the pride of place to the stylish Viswanath, brother-in-law of Gavaskar.
Viswanath was the best batsman against Australia "who made runs against us and regularly at that", he says.
Both Gavaskar and Viswanath enjoyed a very good average against Australia. Viswanath averaged 53.03 from 18 matches, scoring 1538 runs with four centuries. Gavaskar scored 1550 runs at 51.66 with eight hundreds in 20 matches.
IMRAN KHAN IN INDIAN EXPRESS
Not undermining Sachin Tendulkar’s rich contribution to the game of cricket, Pakistani cricketing legend-turned politician Imran Khan on Saturday said he always rates Sunil Gavaskar above any batsman in the world.
“Sachin never played an innings like Gavaskar did. Look, Gavaskar faced a West Indies attack that had four world class fast bowlers. His record does not tell his actual contribution. I always felt sorry for him when he, alone, used to face a range of fast bowlers when there were none in his own country before Kapil Dev arrived on the scene,” Imran said at ‘Agenda Aajtak’ when asked to compare the two greats.
“Sunny played in an era when Dennis Lillee, arguably the best fast bowler, played. Zaheer’s (Abbas) timing was impeccable. Majid (Khan) was also the best at his peak and then there was Javed (Miandad). But I do not want to undermine Sachin’s achievements and believe comparing players from different eras is not fair,” he added.
