Is Virender Sehwag the greatest opener in Asian conditions?

[saadsahabjee]

A great avg with high strike rate tells you how dangerous a player is.More than sachin dravid people mostly in srilanka , pak always wanted sehwag to get out as early as possible , also his stats in tests in asian conditions against both sides are extra ordinary.

Vs Pakistan avg 91.14 in 9 matches
Vs Srilanka avg 72.88 in 11 match

in pak avg 91.5
in srilanka avg 69

is ther any opener better than sehwag on asian condiitions....??

 

[The_Odd_One]

Sunil Gavakar

Better opener in every type of condition

 

[saadsahabjee]

Sunil Gavakar

Better opener in every type of condition

what was his SR? 40?

 

[The_Odd_One]

what was his SR? 40?

SR did not matter in tests in those days. Gavaskar played one of the finest innings against great bowling attacks in Asia.

 

[Tusker]

A great avg with high strike rate tells you how dangerous a player is.More than sachin dravid people mostly in srilanka , pak always wanted sehwag to get out as early as possible , also his stats in tests in asian conditions against both sides are extra ordinary.

Vs Pakistan avg 91.14 in 9 matches
Vs Srilanka avg 72.88 in 11 match

in pak avg 91.5
in srilanka avg 69

is ther any opener better than sehwag on asian condiitions....??

Added S/R to your stats.

Vs Pakistan avg 91.14 in 9 matches at a S/R of 80
Vs Srilanka avg 72.88 in 11 match at a S/R of 99.83

in pak avg 91.5 at a S/R of 85.91
in srilanka avg 69 at a S/R of 95.71

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35263.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

 

[Tusker]

SR did not matter in tests in those days. Gavaskar played one of the finest innings against great bowling attacks in Asia.

That is until players found out that it could be a very useful strategy .... its called evolution.

 

[Syed1]

Not sure about greatest, but certainly the most destructive.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Greatest flat track bully. Cricketing justice that he ended up with sub 50 average.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Arguably yes.

 

[Ab Fan]

Asia- Yes.. But from his era, Smith, Hayden and now Cook are better openers than Sehwag. What I disliked about Sehwag was he never changed his game as per the requirement of team and never showed grit and patience in the conditions where he struggled.

 

[yasir_shah_fan]

In Asian conditions - Sehwag

Sunil Gavaskar greatest opener of all time. 14 x 100s against that WI attack is evident of that...

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Actually Sehwag is probably the greatest batsman let alone an opener in Asian conditions.

In fact, a lot of batsmen from India, Pak and SL are in the best Asian bat contenders list.

 

[Buffet]

Sehwag over anyone in Asian conditions. He has taken on gun bowlers and won games for his team where draw was a certainty. He also played one of the best knocks on rank turners against SL when his team mates couldn't score much.

I will take Sehwag over anyone in Asian conditions. Reducing the set to openers make it even easier.

 

[The_Odd_One]

I think most of the people are assuming that Asian pitches are always flat. I still remember what happened to Sehwag in Karachi (2006), Nagpur (2006), and Ahmedabad (2008).

On a flat pitch, yes Sehwag will be the most dangerous batsman in Asia let alone opener. However, when there is something for seamers, he will be a walking wicket.

 

[Buffet]

I think most of the people are assuming that Asian pitches are always flat.

90% tests will have either flat or turners.

 

[geraltofrivia]

I think most of the people are assuming that Asian pitches are always flat. I still remember what happened to Sehwag in Karachi (2006), Nagpur (2006), and Ahmedabad (2008).

On a flat pitch, yes Sehwag will be the most dangerous batsman in Asia let alone opener. However, when there is something for seamers, he will be a walking wicket.

He was weak against swing but flat pitches and turners he was insane. When you talk Asian pitches you usually mean that.

Just like when you say overseas you usually mean seaming/swinging wickets although Sehwag has 100s in WI, Aus(2), Eng, SA in somewhat flattish conditions.

 

[The_Odd_One]

He was weak against swing but flat pitches and turners he was insane. When you talk Asian pitches you usually mean that.

Just like when you say overseas you usually mean seaming/swinging wickets although Sehwag has 100s in WI, Aus(2), Eng, SA in somewhat flattish conditions.

That's what I said and that is why I prefer Sunil Gavaskar, the greatest opener in test cricket history over Sehwag.

 

[Cricket-passion]

A great avg with high strike rate tells you how dangerous a player is.More than sachin dravid people mostly in srilanka , pak always wanted sehwag to get out as early as possible , also his stats in tests in asian conditions against both sides are extra ordinary.

Vs Pakistan avg 91.14 in 9 matches
Vs Srilanka avg 72.88 in 11 match

in pak avg 91.5
in srilanka avg 69

is ther any opener better than sehwag on asian condiitions....??

Put Viru in bangalore agaist pak on a minfield of a wicket and see if he scores a 50, Gavaskar was the lone man till he got out at 92

 

[Sachin136]

That's what I said and that is why I prefer Sunil Gavaskar, the greatest opener in test cricket history over Sehwag.

The thread is only about Asian conditions though, which are usually flat or turners.

 

[captain.hansolo]

if we limit our observation to 2000 and beyond, along with Jayasuriya, Aalister Cook and Grame Smith, he is the greatest opener in all conditions in test matches.

in limited overs cricket, the greatest opener has been a head and shoulder above the rest - Sachin Tendulkar.

 

[Big Mac]

Good shout, Sehwag has dished some of the most epic phainty ever when it comes to Pakistan-India games.

 

[captain.hansolo]

The thread is only about Asian conditions though, which are usually flat or turners.

that is a misconception. if you look at the statistics, you will notice that for a visiting team, opening partnerships lengths are indistinguishable across different countries.

 

[Justcrazy]

Arguably yes.

He scored and scored fast , that gave chance for his bowlers to get 20 wickets.

 

[Tusker]

Put Viru in bangalore agaist pak on a minfield of a wicket and see if he scores a 50, Gavaskar was the lone man till he got out at 92

he is not that bad .... for example the Galle inngs. Conversely Sunny would never ever get anywhere close to Sehwag's epic Strike rate no matter how flat the pitch.

 

[SuperKhan]

for destructive openers how about Saeed Anwar?

Asia- Yes.. But from his era, Smith, Hayden and now Cook are better openers than Sehwag. What I disliked about Sehwag was he never changed his game as per the requirement of team and never showed grit and patience in the conditions where he struggled.

 

[Haroon786]

It's either between Gavaskar or Sehwag, both brilliant openers - up there with any Pakistani batsman that's ever played.

Can someone post detailed stats ?

 

[Ab Fan]

for destructive openers how about Saeed Anwar?

Anwar was a good test batsmen too but he was more of a superior odi batsmen.

 

[Justcrazy]

he is not that bad .... for example the Galle inngs. Conversely Sunny would never ever get anywhere close to Sehwag's epic Strike rate no matter how flat the pitch.

Both played in different eras , but overall Gavaskar is a better opener.

Just on flat pitches , Sehwag has definite edge because he scores fast , and that would give time to the bowlers to force results.

 

[The_Odd_One]

The thread is only about Asian conditions though, which are usually flat or turners.

Gavaskar was a master of all types of pitches. He faced better bowlers: Imran, Wasim, Marshall, Holding, Garner, Roberts, Hadlee, etc.

 

[troodon]

Sehwag was brutal on Lanka and Pakistan. He always seemed to perform against them.

If I have to pick a player in Asia, Sehwag will be on top of the list after Sachin.

 

[Buffet]

Good shout, Sehwag has dished some of the most epic phainty ever when it comes to Pakistan-India games.

Not only Pakistan ,

Steyn & Co - 319(304), 165(174), 109(139)

McGrath & Co - 155(221)

Murali & Co - 293(254), 201*(231), 131(122), 109(118)

Anderson & Co - 117(117), 83(68)

I have not seen any other batsmen taking quality attack to cleaners so regularly. It was in conditions he liked , but even then I have not seen anyone doing it so consistently. Some of the matches got result simply due to Sehwag scoring lots or runs very quickly to leave Indian bowlers enough time to bowl out oppositions even on flatter tracks. He was gun on turning tracks as well.

 

[Tusker]

Both played in different eras , but overall Gavaskar is a better opener.

Just on flat pitches , Sehwag has definite edge because he scores fast , and that would give time to the bowlers to force results.

Most Test pitches are good for batting. They certainly are NOT dust bowls like B'lore 86 or Mumbai 2004. Sehwag and Haydos the ideal Test Opening pair IMHO. Both capable of playing spin and fast bowling.

 

[Tusker]

Not only Pakistan ,

Steyn & Co - 319(304), 165(174), 109(139)

McGrath & Co - 155(221)

Murali & Co - 293(254), 201*(231), 131(122), 109(118)

Anderson & Co - 117(117), 83(68)

I have not seen any other batsmen taking quality attack to cleaners so regularly. It was in conditions he liked , but even then I have not seen anyone doing it so consistently. Some of the matches got result simply due to Sehwag scoring lots or runs very quickly to leave Indian bowlers enough time to bowl out oppositions even on flatter tracks. He was gun on turning tracks as well.

Gillespie, MacGill - 195 MCG 2003

105 vs Allan Donald in 2001. Though I think this was not as fast as the others.

 

[Ab Fan]

Most Test pitches are good for batting. They certainly are NOT dust bowls like B'lore 86 or Mumbai 2004. Sehwag and Haydos the ideal Test Opening pair IMHO. Both capable of playing spin and fast bowling.

But not in swing conditions. Both are rubbish in Eng, NZ and SA.

 

[Tusker]

But not in swing conditions. Both are rubbish in Eng, NZ and SA.

Sehwag did Ok'ish in Eng except for his last series which he shouldnt have played. Every player has a bogey team or two. But yes if can pick horses for courses I will pick Sunny in Eng,NZ,SA over Sehwag and Hayden. But by and large I would be ok with Sehwag and Hayden as most pitches are good for batting.

 

[gunner]

Flat track bully

 

[leatherface58]

Best batsman in Asian conditions.

He was not only a great batsman, he also drew fans to watch test cricket because of the pure entertainment factor. He also was not a dumb slogger like Afridi who some morons here compare him to.

That knock of 83 against England enabled India to chase a 4th innings total of almost 400 which is unbelievable by any standards.

In Asian conditions, a peak Sehwag will be my first pick not even Sachin (he will be my second).

 

[Big Mac]

Not only Pakistan ,

Steyn & Co - 319(304), 165(174), 109(139)

McGrath & Co - 155(221)

Murali & Co - 293(254), 201*(231), 131(122), 109(118)

Anderson & Co - 117(117), 83(68)

I have not seen any other batsmen taking quality attack to cleaners so regularly. It was in conditions he liked , but even then I have not seen anyone doing it so consistently. Some of the matches got result simply due to Sehwag scoring lots or runs very quickly to leave Indian bowlers enough time to bowl out oppositions even on flatter tracks. He was gun on turning tracks as well.

Yup. Sehwag was the man. My favourite Sehwag story, I don't know how true this is but I want to believe it happened, is from when he was playing county cricket.

Razzaq was bowling and Sehwag was batting. Popeye was reversing the ball and it was becoming quite difficult to bat so Sehwag told his partner not to worry because he had a plan. Next over he smashed the ball out of the ground, umpires had to call for a replacement ball and Sehwag told his partner "We should be OK for the next hour"

 

[HitWicket]

Stats whilst opening in Asia :

 

[90MPH]

Yes he was - I feared him not just because he opened the innings but because he literally destroyed bowling attacks.

2006 series was one I remembered fondly - thankfully he was contained in the last Test in Karachi on a green seamer.

 

[shaz619]

I think he is by some margin, followed by Saeed Anwar. Gavaskar is up there to.

 

[GenericBrand]

Massacred Pakistanis
Brutalized Lankans
Trolled BDeshis

The Nightmare of Asia

 

[Bhaijaan]

On this day, Virender Sehwag smashed 293 off 254 in a Test match against Sri Lanka

One of the most brutal test knocks of all time

 

[BreadPakoda]

Iconic innings but interestingly after he fell 7 short of 300, he never made even a 200 again.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Sehwag's career trajectory changed after the series against NZ in Nov 2010 though. For the next 2-3 years he averaged 28 and was eventually dropped for good.

 

[Varun]

Those were the days.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Sehwag is the greatest batsman in SC condition, period. No opener/top/middle order, he's the best. I have never see any batsman in SC half as dominant as Sehwag. Everybody was playing test cricket, Sehwag was playing his own game.

 

[Revolution]

Sehwag is the greatest batsman in SC condition, period. No opener/top/middle order, he's the best. I have never see any batsman in SC half as dominant as Sehwag. Everybody was playing test cricket, Sehwag was playing his own game.

Devdutt is having few qualities of him. quick learning will make him to T20s then ODIs and then tests. It might take some time period if he is transformed.

Hope he will prove in Ranji trophy 2019/20

 

[Banton10]

It was super flat pitch.

 

[Pakhs]

Generally most Asian openers will have high averages opening in Asia as its not as difficult as SENA but what was good about him was he scored them quick too. So in one world yes.

 

[Bel_Homme]

Sehwag's career trajectory changed after the series against NZ in Nov 2010 though. For the next 2-3 years he averaged 28 and was eventually dropped for good.

Sehwag was dropped due to politics by Dhoni. I still felt he had couple of years left in him. But being a gracious man Viru was, he accepted the verdict and moved on with life. And then we have Dhoni himself whose power game was finished around 2013 but still not retiring 7 years on

 

[Ab Fan]

Arguably the most destructive batsmen of all-time even in tests.

 

[Khan12]

The greatest FTB.

 

[Hyperion66]

Yes and no one comes close, even Gavaskar is a distant second. I have not seen any player having as much impact on the game as him, perhaps only KP or Gilchrist comes close.