In Tests, who were the batsmen whose statistics least reflected their actual merit?

[Harsh Thakor]

Ranked batsmen whose statistical records hardly did justice to their actual performances or contribution in order of merit

1.Victor Trumper
2.Ian Chappell
3.Majid Khan
4Graham Gooch
5.Hanif Mohammad
6.Rohan Kanhai
7.Asif Iqbal
8.Wasim Raja
9.Clive Lloyd
10.Neil Harvey



Victor Trumper who averaged around 39 unanimously at the top who may have averaged well above 50 had he played toady or even in the 1990's.On wet wickets he was ahead of Bradman and surpassed any batsmen on bad wickets.


Ian Chappell who averaged around 42 was arguably the best batsmen in the world in the 1970's and a better batsmen in a crisis than brother Greg or even Viv Richards.Gary Sobers ranked him as the best batsmen in the world in 1979.Imarn Khan rated Ian a better batsmen than even Greg and so did Gary Sobers.


Majid Khan averaged 39 was on merit should have averaged close to 50.Better than Zaheer Abbas in a crisis or on bad wickets and at his best close to Viv Richards.

Graham Gooch who averaged 42.58 , played the great West Indies pace attack better than any opening batsmen ever and turned or won games more than any opening bat of his time


Hanif Mohammad averaged around 43 who was morally in the Len Hutton or Sunil Gavaskar class.


Rohan Kanhai with a 47 average was rated by mnay as a superior batsmen to even Sir Garfield Sobers,averaging 58 in games won nad 53 at no 3.



Asif Iqbal averaging 38.9 was close to the best no 6 batsmen after Sobers compiling many a classic knock against the best pace attacks in the world like Australia and West Indies.



Wasim Raja who averaged around 34, in the late 1970's was the best performer against the great Calypso pace attack averaging over 57 in 5 tests in West Indies in 1977.


Cllive Lloyd who averaged 46.7 ,as a skipper averaged over 50 and often even outscored Viv Richards.Lloyd was very consistent and often reminded you of Gary Sobers when batting.


Neil Harvey was to many the equal of Graeme Pollock who mastered bad wickets and scored at a merciless rate.

 

[jaisan]

VVS. Would have averaged above 50 if he played at no 5

 

[Amjid Javed]

Have to say Goochs average wasnt a reflection of how good he was against Fast bowling or against Spin either, probably would have averaged 60 in current era.

 

[Chrish]

Trumper is the most overrated player of all time.

 

[Robert]

Have to say Goochs average wasnt a reflection of how good he was against Fast bowling or against Spin either, probably would have averaged 60 in current era.

Lillee used to get him out for fun.

He was curiously vulnerable to medium pace swing. That pulled his average down.

 

[Robert]

Atherton. When he got a century, England usually won or drew. His back troubles were exploited by McGrath as he couldn’t duck and sway well.

 

[the_outsider]

VVS. Would have averaged above 50 if he played at no 5

VVS played majority of his career at no 5 and averaged 47 there. His combined average in positions 3, 4 and 5 is 46.6

VVS surely underachieved given his talent. But I don't think anybody can put it down to his batting position.

 

[Ab Fan]

A certain Englishmen who won his team their only WT20 by contributing in the final.

 

[Savage]

Gundappa Viswanath.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Gundappa Viswanath.

So true sir.In a crisis or on bad wickets Vishy often overshadowed even Sunil Gavaskar.Also a Great match winner.Andy Roberts rated Vishy a better batsmen than Sunny on fast wickets.

 

[pratiktc]

Everyone's average accurately describes their ability if they've played a decent size sample set of matches (say 35-40). If someone displays competence against high quality pace/spin on a greentop/dustbowl, it isn't as if they have a preordained right to succeed against average bowlers on docile pitches.

Test cricket is a test against the skill of your opponents but also of batsman's own ego, commitment to team cause and mental ability to keep churning out runs. Days of batsmen purposely failing to turn up against supposed weaker attacks due to lack of interest went out with amateur era and now live only as exaggerated tales in fawning biographers' records.

Dunno why people get all misty eyed saying stuff like 'Oh he should've averaged 60 if he wasn't prone to brain fades'. If he could have, he would have.

There is a saying in Punjabi loosely translated as 'If my aunt had a moustache, she would have been my uncle'. Apt for this thread.