Most talented all-time Test XI of the last 50 years (from 1968-2018)

[Harsh Thakor]

I have decided now to seperate eras but I greatly respect the 1970's and 80's.Here I am not rating on basis of pure class or records but just on natural ability or talent.

1.Virendra Sehwag
2.Barry Richards
3.Rohan Kanhai
4.Viv Richards (C)
5.Brian Lara
6.AB Devilliers (W)
7.Gary Sobers
8.Shane Warne
9.Malcolm Marshall
10.Wasim Akram
11.Michael Holding

12th man Ian Botham


The likes of Sehwag.Barry,Lara,Viv Kanhai and Devilliers took imaginative genius in batting to it's highest crescendo or to regions unexplored.Viv was the most punishing,Barry the most complete,Lara the most artistic and Kanhai the most inventive.Sobers took all-round cricketing genius to depths never attained in the history of the game as though God had sent him to play cricket.Warne mesmerized opponents more than any bowler ever.Marshall was more innovative than any right arm fast bowler ever.Wasim was the equivalent of a magician to fast bowling with his spells often resembling a musical composition. He took the craft of bowling to another dimension with his reverse swing and other subtle variations.No paceman consistently posessed such speed through the air as Holding or had such a perfect action.He would exhibit the beauty of a lotus blooming or a gazelle running but create the effect of lightning .Chosen Devilliers as a wicketkeeper because of his batting prowess.

Tendulkar,Gavaskar,Graeme Pollock.Imran Khan,Greg Chappell,Glen Mcgrath,Dennis Lillee etc just miss the cut here not because of class but because they did not supass the natural ability of players selected here.I feeel Tendulkar was not blessed with as much natural ability as the likes of Viv,Lara or Kanhai and similarly Gavaskar was not as talented as Barrry

 

[RickyG]

Admittedly I never saw Kanhai bat but surely Sachin had more ability than him. From what I've seen, Viv, ABDV and Sachin are up there as far as natural talent is concerned. Lara (although I rate him as a superior test batsman to Sachin) and Ponting follow close behind.

With all due respect to the King of Sixes, I don't think I've seen a more talented human being on a cricket field than Ab De Villiers.

 

[Ab Fan]

I am not sure who was more talented between Lara and Tendulkar.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I am not sure who was more talented between Lara and Tendulkar.

To me with conviction Lara.Executed strokes that were surreal.Reminded youbof a batting magician more than Tendulkar.I feel just see Lara at his best in test cricket where he has turned games more than Sachin.Tendulkar was more compact and technically better but I feel Lara by a whisker had more natural or god given talent.At his best Lara more mercurial.

 

[babajee]

Azhar
Imam
Haris
Babar
Salahuddin
Sarfraz
Shadab
Faheem
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Admittedly I never saw Kanhai bat but surely Sachin had more ability than him. From what I've seen, Viv, ABDV and Sachin are up there as far as natural talent is concerned. Lara (although I rate him as a superior test batsman to Sachin) and Ponting follow close behind.

With all due respect to the King of Sixes, I don't think I've seen a more talented human being on a cricket field than Ab De Villiers.

Disagre on Kanhai.read the views of cricket historians and his contemporaries like Sobers.Sobers rated him on par with Viv.Many experts thought Kanhai was the most complete batsmen of all and traversed regions in batting even Bradman did not .Cricket writer .John Woodcock felt if he made full use of his talent Kanhai would have averaged over 87.Against pure pace he was better than Sachin or Lara.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I am not sure who was more talented between Lara and Tendulkar.

Like my selection?any changes?