Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Runs
- 3,520
- Post of the Week
- 2
This is my list in order of merit of the most stylish or elegant batsmen of all time in my opinion.These batsmen may not have been technically the best or perfect,hard-hitting or the best in terms of pure class.However they possessed 'poetry' in their batting.I must assert that this list is purely subjective and it maybe controversial leaving out some names .I feel although Viv Richards,Sobers,Tendulkar Gavaskar ,Hammond or Greame Pollock were the greatest of all batsmen ,certainly amongst the top 12 of all they did not possess the finesse,elegance or artistry of those mentioned.After lot of contemplation I have placed my selection in order and some selections were like photo-finish verdicts.So hard to seperate Worrell,Gower,Cowdrey and Zaheer or Azhar,Vishy,Dexter and Laxman.I have referred to youtube and observed the level of elegance.Zaheer and Vishy or Azhar may have had more artistry than Gower or Cowdrey but were marginally below them in elegance or style.Azhar edged Vishy who was technically better and marginally more talented while Gower edged Zaheer by a whisker who was more artistic and technically better..It was very hard to accurately place Victor Trumper or Denis Compton as Isaw no video recordings but I have made a tentative placing on the basis of my reading.There is a characteristic difference between the classical English elegance and the Oriental Asian touch but I may have shown bias towards the English style.
1.Ranjitsinghji
Invented the leg glance,equivalent of a Beethoven to batting .When batting looked like creating a musical composition. His keen eye, unorthodoxy and speed of reaction meant that introduced the late cut and leg glance, as well as the art of back-foot defence.Quting cricinfo "Ranji, an Indian prince, was probably one of the finest batsmen of all time, not only in terms of runs scored but also because he brought new strokes to the game. His keen eye, unorthodoxy and speed of reaction meant that introduced the late cut and leg glance, as well as the art of back-foot defence. "
2.Frank Worrell
The most elegant batsmen of his time who posessed the artistry of Michelangelo.Looked like a violinist strutting his strings when batting .Would simply caress the best of balls to the fence.At his best when scoring 191 at Trent Bridge in most testing conditions.Mastered turning,seaming and bouncy tracks.A voided hooking and at times averse to the short ball.While Walcott bludgeoned the bowlers and Weekes dominated them, the stylist Worrell waved them away. There was none of the savage aggression of a Sobers in his batting. He was the artist. All three "Ws" were geniuses but Worrell had the most style and elegance. He had all the strokes and the time and capacity to use them without offence to the eye, without ever being hurried.
He was never seen playing across the line. That is why he never hooked. Players and pressmen agreed that even when he ducked beneath a bouncer, he did so with a lack of panic and great dignity. And remember he had Lindwall and Miller to contend with.
3.Victor Trumper
Belonged to the cricketing gods .On bad wickets or at his best even overshadowed Don Bradman and arguably the best ever batsmen in terms of prowess.The most artistic opening batsmen of all.
Quoting the Sydney mail:"Victor Trumper was the greatest batsman Australia had produced and its most accomplished in the history of the game in any country. The solid qualities of Tyldesley and Hobbs, the magnificent skill of Hill and Darling, even the wizardry of Ranjitsinhji, paled before a wonderful grace and orthodox poetry of motion that lifted batting to a standard that had not entered into the dream of those who imagined they had seen all that cricket had to offer when Grace and Shewsbury or those already mentioned had been at the wicket. He was a modest, good-living young man. His courage in his illness was the natural revelation of the Christian character."
4.David Gower
.Elegance personified ,creating the effect of a lark singing.Possessed the grace of ballad dancer and dealt with cricket ball like a shepherd guiding his flock.The most delicate of touches would send the ball scuttling to the fence.Even when hooking or pulling exhibited touch art.Appeared lazy or careless at times but posessed magical timing. I can never forget his batting against the best of West Indian paceman when he scored 154 at Antigua in 1981.Also relished paceman like Dennis Lillee and was at his best on the fast Australian tracks.Held the bat like a painter's brush.Also have vivid memories of his 136 at Perth in 1986-87 and his 154 in Australia in his final series in 1990-91.
Quoting cricinfo:A left-hander with a strong top hand, Gower's strokes had a liquid, graceful feel: in an era of biffers, he was a caresser. When he edged a catch, he would be damned as irresponsible but, with his style, the difference between an exquisite stroke and a nick was little more than an inch.
5.Zaheer Abbas
His batting posessed the grace of the divine..Surpassed any great batsman of his time in terms of pure artistry,be it Viv Richards,Gavaskar or Greg Chappell.The best balls would be dispatched to the boundary with the effect of doctor putting his patient to ease.His strokes resmbled the deft touches of painter's brush.The best post-war exponent of the cover-drive and a master of the backfoot.He drove the outgoing ball outside the offstump through the covers like no other batsmen,playing it so late.Only bouncy wickets and short deliveries disturbed him.Hi s batting at it's bset was like seeing a musical symphony.Best batsmen of his day against spin and on slow wickets posessing mastery on the backfoot.Loved to watch his 93 against West Indies in the 1979 world cup semi-final ,240 at the Oval in England and 108 in an O.D.I. in Australia in 1981-82.Quoting Alistair Higneell " When Zaheer was at the crease, the whole thing looked ridiculously simple. Upright and elegant, he was equally at ease off front foot or back, but such were his reflexes that he quite often switched from one to the other mid-shot. Stylish and graceful, he never seemed to hurry a stroke or offer a false one. At the top of a back-lift with more twirls than a cheerleader's baton he seemed to pause for a fraction of a second before bringing the bat crashing down at the last moment to send the ball scorching away to the boundary.
Despite the spectacles he had the eyesight of an eagle. He also had the wrists of a squash player. It may have looked effortless, fluent and rhythmic, and all the other adjectives that were showered on Z's batting, but when Zaheer hit a ball, it stayed hit. And such was his feel for a gap that it rarely went straight to a fielder. Zaheer could play defensively but could not see much point in doing so. Even when he seemed to be going along quietly by his standards, it took only a glance at the scoreboard to see that the runs were still flowing freely. "
6.Colin Cowdrey
Possesed the elegance of a swan swimming or an antelope running in tackling the most hostile of pace attacks.Posessed better timing than any batsmen of his time .Often reminded you of a mother putting her child to sleep when executing strokes.A master of the straight drive and the hookshot who played Lillee and Thomson better than anyone.A medley of Len Hutton and Denis Compton.Sadly often appeared aloof and inhibit his strokeplay,particularly on wicket's that lacked pace.Few batsmen could ever use the pace of a ball more effectively.Remember his 97 and 114 at Kingston in 1959-60 which was sheer classsical batting and his unbetaen 151 for Kent against Australia in 1975 which won the game.
7.Denis Compton
Equivalent of magician to batting who entertained crowds more than any batsmen of his time.Classically unorthodox.Quoting Widen"Compton was a remarkable batsman: loose-limbed with broad shoulders and powerful forearms. He could play all the strokes, though he rarely straight-drove. What made him special was his audacity: he would take risks, standing outside the crease even to quickish bowlers, challenging them to bowl anything other than the length he wanted."
8.Mohammad Azharuddin
Resembled painter Rembrandt when batting and looked like painter making curves on the board.The most elegant and arguably best post-war batsman on the leg-side who posessed the finesse of Ranjitsinghji in executing the leg-glance.The bouncing ball caused him discomfort but he could destroy good length bowling from any great with the gift of the gods.At his best when scoring 121 at Lords in 1990 which was the equal of a viv Richards like the exhibition of a skater or circus acrobat.
Quoting cricifo"Those who saw this supreme batting artist at his peak will never forget him - sinewy wrists transforming a slender piece of willow into a magician's wand. Azhar's leg-side play was reminiscent of Zaheer Abbas and Greg Chappell - a Michelangelo in the midst of housepainters. In later years, he expanded his off-side repertoire, and conjured some of the finest innings played in the modern era - his 121 at Lord's in 1990 was one for the gods. His technique was suspect against the short stuff, a deficiency he sought to overcome through instinctive strokeplay, sometimes with cavalier disregard for the team situation."
9.Gundappa Vishwanath
Posessed creative genius like no batsman of his era and batted in the manner of a musical composer.His best strokes looked like a lotus blooming.Vishy posessed artistry of mythical proportions and was the best ever exponent of the square and late cut.He used his mastery of grammar to create poetry.One of the best batsmen against genuine pace and on fast ,bouncy tracks.Manipulated his wrists with the skill of a magician.At his best when scoring 97 not out against West Indies on a fiery pitch at Madras in 1974-75.
Quoting V.Ramnarayan"The little man was arguably the inventor of the technique of playing from beside the ball, rather than behind it, on bouncy tracks, and his square-cutting has scarcely been equalled."
cricinfo:Gundappa Viswanath was a true artist with the willow - his strokeplay, particularly the late-cut executed with lumberjack-strong wrists, was nothing less than divine
10.V.V.S.Laxman
Played great pace blowing with greater artistry than any player of his time showing contempt for the Australian pace attack.Equally artistic in driving ,cutting ,pulling or hooking creating the effect of a glider plane.Relished his 167 in the 3rd test of the series in Australia in 1999-2000 which posessed every element of a perfect innings.Also marvellous when scoring 281 at Kolkata in 2001 and centuries at Adelaide and Sydney in 2003-04.Posessed magical touch.
11.Martin Crowe
Elegance personified.His strokes posessed god's gift with the grace of a ballad dancer..Wasim Akram thought he was harder to bowl to than Lara or Tendulkar.
12.Ted Dexter
Although combative posessed great elegance in his strokes.Most effective against great pace.Defied conventional English style with attacking play. At his best when scoring 73 at Lord v West Indies when he too the bowling to the sword.
13.Majid Khan
Oriental magic-a more artistic version of Viv Richards and supremely gifted.Hooked and drove with supreme artistry.On his day a batting genius.Remember his century of 88 balls in the 1974 Prudential trophy.Lot of cross -bat but still beautiful to watch in command.
14.Neil Harvey
One of the most artistic of left-handers whose strokes resembled the flowing water of a stream.His best was his match-winning 151 out of 336 in aw inning run chase on bad wicket in South Africa in 1950.
15.Mark Waugh
Carried the willow like a wand and executed strokes with the delicacy of a baker making the final touches on cake. Relished his strokeplay on all kinds of tops.Loved his 125 at Durban in 1997 in the 2nd test which won the tset in arun -chase for Australia.At his best on fast wickets and aginst pace ,relishing Wasim Akram,Curtly Ambrose and Alan Donald.
16.Greg Chappell
Even if not so artistic still posessed elegance in batting ,particularly on the onside.Had a characteristic English style to his batting .Loved his 131 at Lords in 1072.which was a true classic.
17.Lawrence Rowe
An epitome in batting style and grace who had the appearance of a musical conductor when batting.Huge range of strokes and inspite of playing marathon innings never lost his elegance.His 302 against England at Barbados was one of the game's gems.
18.Alvin Kalicharan
Most organized technique but a great artist in both attack and defence.His 78 in the 1975 Prudential cup at the Oval is the best ever onslaught against pace bowling.
19.Rohan Kanhai
The best batting genius of all who could surpass even the Don at his best.Yet his strokes posessed a feline touch of his very own.Will always remember his 115 for the Rest of the World against Australia in 1972 in the unofficial tests which arguably surpassed even Sober's 254.Also remember his 2 classic centuries in the 3rd test of the historic 196o-61 series in Australia scored at a run per minute.
20.Brian Lara
Although phenomenally destructive posessed a feline grace in his strokes,overshadowing ever Sir Garfield Sobers.Loved his 277 at Melbourne for artistic value where his domination was complete.
1.Ranjitsinghji
Invented the leg glance,equivalent of a Beethoven to batting .When batting looked like creating a musical composition. His keen eye, unorthodoxy and speed of reaction meant that introduced the late cut and leg glance, as well as the art of back-foot defence.Quting cricinfo "Ranji, an Indian prince, was probably one of the finest batsmen of all time, not only in terms of runs scored but also because he brought new strokes to the game. His keen eye, unorthodoxy and speed of reaction meant that introduced the late cut and leg glance, as well as the art of back-foot defence. "
2.Frank Worrell
The most elegant batsmen of his time who posessed the artistry of Michelangelo.Looked like a violinist strutting his strings when batting .Would simply caress the best of balls to the fence.At his best when scoring 191 at Trent Bridge in most testing conditions.Mastered turning,seaming and bouncy tracks.A voided hooking and at times averse to the short ball.While Walcott bludgeoned the bowlers and Weekes dominated them, the stylist Worrell waved them away. There was none of the savage aggression of a Sobers in his batting. He was the artist. All three "Ws" were geniuses but Worrell had the most style and elegance. He had all the strokes and the time and capacity to use them without offence to the eye, without ever being hurried.
He was never seen playing across the line. That is why he never hooked. Players and pressmen agreed that even when he ducked beneath a bouncer, he did so with a lack of panic and great dignity. And remember he had Lindwall and Miller to contend with.
3.Victor Trumper
Belonged to the cricketing gods .On bad wickets or at his best even overshadowed Don Bradman and arguably the best ever batsmen in terms of prowess.The most artistic opening batsmen of all.
Quoting the Sydney mail:"Victor Trumper was the greatest batsman Australia had produced and its most accomplished in the history of the game in any country. The solid qualities of Tyldesley and Hobbs, the magnificent skill of Hill and Darling, even the wizardry of Ranjitsinhji, paled before a wonderful grace and orthodox poetry of motion that lifted batting to a standard that had not entered into the dream of those who imagined they had seen all that cricket had to offer when Grace and Shewsbury or those already mentioned had been at the wicket. He was a modest, good-living young man. His courage in his illness was the natural revelation of the Christian character."
4.David Gower
.Elegance personified ,creating the effect of a lark singing.Possessed the grace of ballad dancer and dealt with cricket ball like a shepherd guiding his flock.The most delicate of touches would send the ball scuttling to the fence.Even when hooking or pulling exhibited touch art.Appeared lazy or careless at times but posessed magical timing. I can never forget his batting against the best of West Indian paceman when he scored 154 at Antigua in 1981.Also relished paceman like Dennis Lillee and was at his best on the fast Australian tracks.Held the bat like a painter's brush.Also have vivid memories of his 136 at Perth in 1986-87 and his 154 in Australia in his final series in 1990-91.
Quoting cricinfo:A left-hander with a strong top hand, Gower's strokes had a liquid, graceful feel: in an era of biffers, he was a caresser. When he edged a catch, he would be damned as irresponsible but, with his style, the difference between an exquisite stroke and a nick was little more than an inch.
5.Zaheer Abbas
His batting posessed the grace of the divine..Surpassed any great batsman of his time in terms of pure artistry,be it Viv Richards,Gavaskar or Greg Chappell.The best balls would be dispatched to the boundary with the effect of doctor putting his patient to ease.His strokes resmbled the deft touches of painter's brush.The best post-war exponent of the cover-drive and a master of the backfoot.He drove the outgoing ball outside the offstump through the covers like no other batsmen,playing it so late.Only bouncy wickets and short deliveries disturbed him.Hi s batting at it's bset was like seeing a musical symphony.Best batsmen of his day against spin and on slow wickets posessing mastery on the backfoot.Loved to watch his 93 against West Indies in the 1979 world cup semi-final ,240 at the Oval in England and 108 in an O.D.I. in Australia in 1981-82.Quoting Alistair Higneell " When Zaheer was at the crease, the whole thing looked ridiculously simple. Upright and elegant, he was equally at ease off front foot or back, but such were his reflexes that he quite often switched from one to the other mid-shot. Stylish and graceful, he never seemed to hurry a stroke or offer a false one. At the top of a back-lift with more twirls than a cheerleader's baton he seemed to pause for a fraction of a second before bringing the bat crashing down at the last moment to send the ball scorching away to the boundary.
Despite the spectacles he had the eyesight of an eagle. He also had the wrists of a squash player. It may have looked effortless, fluent and rhythmic, and all the other adjectives that were showered on Z's batting, but when Zaheer hit a ball, it stayed hit. And such was his feel for a gap that it rarely went straight to a fielder. Zaheer could play defensively but could not see much point in doing so. Even when he seemed to be going along quietly by his standards, it took only a glance at the scoreboard to see that the runs were still flowing freely. "
6.Colin Cowdrey
Possesed the elegance of a swan swimming or an antelope running in tackling the most hostile of pace attacks.Posessed better timing than any batsmen of his time .Often reminded you of a mother putting her child to sleep when executing strokes.A master of the straight drive and the hookshot who played Lillee and Thomson better than anyone.A medley of Len Hutton and Denis Compton.Sadly often appeared aloof and inhibit his strokeplay,particularly on wicket's that lacked pace.Few batsmen could ever use the pace of a ball more effectively.Remember his 97 and 114 at Kingston in 1959-60 which was sheer classsical batting and his unbetaen 151 for Kent against Australia in 1975 which won the game.
7.Denis Compton
Equivalent of magician to batting who entertained crowds more than any batsmen of his time.Classically unorthodox.Quoting Widen"Compton was a remarkable batsman: loose-limbed with broad shoulders and powerful forearms. He could play all the strokes, though he rarely straight-drove. What made him special was his audacity: he would take risks, standing outside the crease even to quickish bowlers, challenging them to bowl anything other than the length he wanted."
8.Mohammad Azharuddin
Resembled painter Rembrandt when batting and looked like painter making curves on the board.The most elegant and arguably best post-war batsman on the leg-side who posessed the finesse of Ranjitsinghji in executing the leg-glance.The bouncing ball caused him discomfort but he could destroy good length bowling from any great with the gift of the gods.At his best when scoring 121 at Lords in 1990 which was the equal of a viv Richards like the exhibition of a skater or circus acrobat.
Quoting cricifo"Those who saw this supreme batting artist at his peak will never forget him - sinewy wrists transforming a slender piece of willow into a magician's wand. Azhar's leg-side play was reminiscent of Zaheer Abbas and Greg Chappell - a Michelangelo in the midst of housepainters. In later years, he expanded his off-side repertoire, and conjured some of the finest innings played in the modern era - his 121 at Lord's in 1990 was one for the gods. His technique was suspect against the short stuff, a deficiency he sought to overcome through instinctive strokeplay, sometimes with cavalier disregard for the team situation."
9.Gundappa Vishwanath
Posessed creative genius like no batsman of his era and batted in the manner of a musical composer.His best strokes looked like a lotus blooming.Vishy posessed artistry of mythical proportions and was the best ever exponent of the square and late cut.He used his mastery of grammar to create poetry.One of the best batsmen against genuine pace and on fast ,bouncy tracks.Manipulated his wrists with the skill of a magician.At his best when scoring 97 not out against West Indies on a fiery pitch at Madras in 1974-75.
Quoting V.Ramnarayan"The little man was arguably the inventor of the technique of playing from beside the ball, rather than behind it, on bouncy tracks, and his square-cutting has scarcely been equalled."
cricinfo:Gundappa Viswanath was a true artist with the willow - his strokeplay, particularly the late-cut executed with lumberjack-strong wrists, was nothing less than divine
10.V.V.S.Laxman
Played great pace blowing with greater artistry than any player of his time showing contempt for the Australian pace attack.Equally artistic in driving ,cutting ,pulling or hooking creating the effect of a glider plane.Relished his 167 in the 3rd test of the series in Australia in 1999-2000 which posessed every element of a perfect innings.Also marvellous when scoring 281 at Kolkata in 2001 and centuries at Adelaide and Sydney in 2003-04.Posessed magical touch.
11.Martin Crowe
Elegance personified.His strokes posessed god's gift with the grace of a ballad dancer..Wasim Akram thought he was harder to bowl to than Lara or Tendulkar.
12.Ted Dexter
Although combative posessed great elegance in his strokes.Most effective against great pace.Defied conventional English style with attacking play. At his best when scoring 73 at Lord v West Indies when he too the bowling to the sword.
13.Majid Khan
Oriental magic-a more artistic version of Viv Richards and supremely gifted.Hooked and drove with supreme artistry.On his day a batting genius.Remember his century of 88 balls in the 1974 Prudential trophy.Lot of cross -bat but still beautiful to watch in command.
14.Neil Harvey
One of the most artistic of left-handers whose strokes resembled the flowing water of a stream.His best was his match-winning 151 out of 336 in aw inning run chase on bad wicket in South Africa in 1950.
15.Mark Waugh
Carried the willow like a wand and executed strokes with the delicacy of a baker making the final touches on cake. Relished his strokeplay on all kinds of tops.Loved his 125 at Durban in 1997 in the 2nd test which won the tset in arun -chase for Australia.At his best on fast wickets and aginst pace ,relishing Wasim Akram,Curtly Ambrose and Alan Donald.
16.Greg Chappell
Even if not so artistic still posessed elegance in batting ,particularly on the onside.Had a characteristic English style to his batting .Loved his 131 at Lords in 1072.which was a true classic.
17.Lawrence Rowe
An epitome in batting style and grace who had the appearance of a musical conductor when batting.Huge range of strokes and inspite of playing marathon innings never lost his elegance.His 302 against England at Barbados was one of the game's gems.
18.Alvin Kalicharan
Most organized technique but a great artist in both attack and defence.His 78 in the 1975 Prudential cup at the Oval is the best ever onslaught against pace bowling.
19.Rohan Kanhai
The best batting genius of all who could surpass even the Don at his best.Yet his strokes posessed a feline touch of his very own.Will always remember his 115 for the Rest of the World against Australia in 1972 in the unofficial tests which arguably surpassed even Sober's 254.Also remember his 2 classic centuries in the 3rd test of the historic 196o-61 series in Australia scored at a run per minute.
20.Brian Lara
Although phenomenally destructive posessed a feline grace in his strokes,overshadowing ever Sir Garfield Sobers.Loved his 277 at Melbourne for artistic value where his domination was complete.
