Overall quality of players in world cricket

[menace2society]

Is it me or is there a distinct lack of world class players in world cricket?

A decade ago we had over 30 truly world class players. Currently I can't even name 10.

Quality of cricket has gone down, cricket is now riddled with trundlers and FTBs.

 

[Fastandfurious]

In before [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION] starts coming with his stats. The quality of cricket has gone down greatly.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

I dont think its gone down by too much, but I do think the gap between the countries is narrowing, Associates are beginning to have some top class players and a lot of test teams are average to good but very few would be great, maybe SA and Aus.

Player wise there are more good players than before but there are fewer greats.

 

[Fastandfurious]

I dont think its gone down by too much, but I do think the gap between the countries is narrowing, Associates are beginning to have some top class players and a lot of test teams are average to good but very few would be great, maybe SA and Aus.

Player wise there are more good players than before but there are fewer greats.

Name three genuine fast bowlers who are actually good.

 

[Energetic]

Current world class players of each country:

Australia - Clarke, Watson and Johnson
Bangladesh - Shakib
England - Cook, Anderson, Bell and Broad
India - Kohli and Ashwin
Pakistan - Ajmal, Misbah and Younis
South Africa - Steyn, Amla and AB DE Villiers
Sri Lanka - Sanga, Matthews and Herath
New Zealand - Ross Taylor
West Indies - Gayle
Zimbabwe - None

Ireland - None
Afghanistan - None
Scotland - None
UAE - None
Hong Kong - None

Players like Narine still hasn't done enough in tests otherwise he too would've instantly been world class. Other players in line to be classified as world class are Williamson, Smith and Dwayne Bravo but not quite there yet.

 

[menace2society]

I have taken the liberty of correcting you. Can thank me later.

Current world class players of each country:

Australia - Clarke
England - Cook, Anderson
India - Kohli
Pakistan - Ajmal
South Africa - Steyn, Amla and AB DE Villiers
Sri Lanka - Sanga


New Zealand - None
West Indies - None
Zimbabwe - None
Bangladesh - None
Ireland - None
Afghanistan - None
Scotland - None
UAE - None
Hong Kong - None

.

So thats 9 world class crickets in the world today. What a pathetic number. This is village cricket.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Current world class players of each country:

Australia - Clarke, Watson and Johnson
Bangladesh - Shakib
England - Cook, Anderson, Bell and Broad
India - Kohli and Ashwin
Pakistan - Ajmal, Misbah and Younis
South Africa - Steyn, Amla and AB DE Villiers
Sri Lanka - Sanga, Matthews and Herath
New Zealand - Ross Taylor
West Indies - Gayle
Zimbabwe - None

Ireland - None
Afghanistan - None
Scotland - None
UAE - None
Hong Kong - None

Players like Narine still hasn't done enough in tests otherwise he too would've instantly been world class. Other players in line to be classified as world class are Williamson, Smith and Dwayne Bravo but not quite there yet.

Brendan Taylor is certainly a world class player IMO. His 93 vs SA last week highlights that.

Ross Taylor is arguably not even NZ's best player so if he's world class so are McCullum and Boult [MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION]

Misbah is not world class. I love the guy but world class he certainly isnt. Dont think Bell is quite world class. Kohli sure as hell isnt (not yet anyway).

As I said there are less world class players but there are more good to very good ones IMO.
[MENTION=136882]Fastandfurious[/MENTION]

Steyn Anderson Boult Broad, Johnson,

Just off the top of my head. Every few years people keep mentioning how cricket is in decline. You have to factor in that there have been several high profile legends who have retired. You have to give the replacements time to assert themselves as world class before you claim that there are no top players left.

 

[Fastandfurious]

Brendan Taylor is certainly a world class player IMO. His 93 vs SA last week highlights that.

Ross Taylor is arguably not even NZ's best player so if he's world class so are McCullum and Boult [MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION]

Misbah is not world class. I love the guy but world class he certainly isnt. Dont think Bell is quite world class. Kohli sure as hell isnt (not yet anyway).

As I said there are less world class players but there are more good to very good ones IMO.
[MENTION=136882]Fastandfurious[/MENTION]

Steyn Anderson Boult Broad, Johnson,

Just off the top of my head. Every few years people keep mentioning how cricket is in decline. You have to factor in that there have been several high profile legends who have retired. You have to give the replacements time to assert themselves as world class before you claim that there are no top players left.

Boult is not genuine fast, neither are Broad and Anderson.

 

[Convict]

I'm not sure what world Watto is world class but it isn't this one.
I'm not including players who don't play often enough or are just average at international level.

Australia
ATG - None
World Class- Clarke, Harris, Johnson
Very Good International - Warner
Good International - Haddin, Smith



Bangladesh
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - Shakib Al Hasan
Good International - None

England
ATG - None
World Class - None at the moment
Very Good International - Anderson, Bell, Broad, Cook
Good International - Ballance, Root

India
ATG - None
World Class - Dhoni, Kohli
Very Good International - None
Good International - Pujarra, Rahane

New Zealand
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - Taylor
Good International - Boult, McCullum, Southee, Williamson

Pakistan
ATG - None
World Class - Ajmal
Very Good International - Younis, Irfan (when fit) *
Good International - U Akmal, Junaid, Irfan, Misbah,

*Amir will reach this stage in a few years and should be an ATG

South Africa
ATG - Steyn
World Class - Amla, de Villers, Philander
Very Good International - du Plessis
Good International - Morkel

Sri Lanka
ATG - None
World Class - Sangakarra
Very Good International - Herath, Matthews
Good International - Jayawardene

I have to confess to watching less Sri Lankan cricket than I ought and I know there is at least one player I have forgotten.
I also think Herath and Matthews would be very close to world class.

West Indies
ATG - None
World Class - Chanderpaul
Very Good International - None
Good International - Bravo, Gayle

Zimbabwe
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - None
Good International - Taylor

 

[Convict]

I dont think its gone down by too much, but I do think the gap between the countries is narrowing, Associates are beginning to have some top class players and a lot of test teams are average to good but very few would be great, maybe SA and Aus.

Player wise there are more good players than before but there are fewer greats.

It would be a stretch to consider this Aus team great.

Current Australia vs 2004 Australia A would be a closer match than Current Australia vs 2004 Australia

 

[Straight_Drive]

I'm not sure what world Watto is world class but it isn't this one.
I'm not including players who don't play often enough or are just average at international level.

Australia
ATG - None
World Class- Clarke, Harris, Johnson
Very Good International - Warner
Good International - Haddin, Smith



Bangladesh
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - Shakib Al Hasan
Good International - None

England
ATG - None
World Class - None at the moment
Very Good International - Anderson, Bell, Broad, Cook
Good International - Ballance, Root

India
ATG - None
World Class - Dhoni, Kohli
Very Good International - None
Good International - Pujarra, Rahane

New Zealand
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - Taylor
Good International - Boult, McCullum, Southee, Williamson

Pakistan
ATG - None
World Class - Ajmal
Very Good International - Irfan (when fit) *
Good International - U Akmal, Junaid, Irfan, Misbah,

*Amir will reach this stage in a few years and should be an ATG

South Africa
ATG - Steyn
World Class - Amla, de Villers, Philander
Very Good International - du Plessis
Good International - Morkel

Sri Lanka
ATG - None
World Class - Sangakarra
Very Good International - Herath, Matthews
Good International - Jayawardene

West Indies
ATG - None
World Class - Chanderpaul
Very Good International - None
Good International - Bravo, Gayle

Zimbabwe
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - None
Good International - Taylor

i like how you put sangakara in world class and not ATG

 

[Convict]

i like how you put sangakara in world class and not ATG

If it makes Sanga fans feel better this is my list of ATGs who have played this millennium

Australia - Gilchrist, McGrath, Ponting, Warne, S.Waugh
Bangladesh - None
England - None
India - Dravid, Tendulkar
New Zealand - None
Pakistan - Akram, Younis
South Africa - Boucher, Donald, Kallis, Steyn
Sri Lanka - Murali
West Indies - Ambrose, Lara
Zimbabwe - None (Flower's keeping wasn't good enough to make it as a keeper)

 

[trogger]

As far as tests go it's the weakest little era we have seen in a long long time.

 

[Fastandfurious]

If it makes Sanga fans feel better this is my list of ATGs who have played this millennium

Australia - Gilchrist, McGrath, Ponting, Warne, S.Waugh
Bangladesh - None
England - None
India - Dravid, Tendulkar
New Zealand - None
Pakistan - Akram, Younis
South Africa - Boucher, Donald, Kallis, Steyn
Sri Lanka - Murali
West Indies - Ambrose, Lara
Zimbabwe - None (Flower's keeping wasn't good enough to make it as a keeper)

Don't worry. [MENTION=42686]Straight Drive[/MENTION] sleeps better when he trolls.

 

[Aman]

[MENTION=136108]Donal Cozzie[/MENTION] Nah McCullum is good, that's all.

Still early days for Boult.

 

[Fastandfurious]

I'm not sure what world Watto is world class but it isn't this one.
I'm not including players who don't play often enough or are just average at international level.

Australia
ATG - None
World Class- Clarke, Harris, Johnson
Very Good International - Warner
Good International - Haddin, Smith



Bangladesh
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - Shakib Al Hasan
Good International - None

England
ATG - None
World Class - None at the moment
Very Good International - Anderson, Bell, Broad, Cook
Good International - Ballance, Root

India
ATG - None
World Class - Dhoni, Kohli
Very Good International - None
Good International - Pujarra, Rahane

New Zealand
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - Taylor
Good International - Boult, McCullum, Southee, Williamson

Pakistan
ATG - None
World Class - Ajmal
Very Good International - Irfan (when fit) *
Good International - U Akmal, Junaid, Irfan, Misbah,

*Amir will reach this stage in a few years and should be an ATG

South Africa
ATG - Steyn
World Class - Amla, de Villers, Philander
Very Good International - du Plessis
Good International - Morkel

Sri Lanka
ATG - None
World Class - Sangakarra
Very Good International - Herath, Matthews
Good International - Jayawardene

I have to confess to watching less Sri Lankan cricket than I ought and I know there is at least one player I have forgotten.
I also think Herath and Matthews would be very close to world class.

West Indies
ATG - None
World Class - Chanderpaul
Very Good International - None
Good International - Bravo, Gayle

Zimbabwe
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - None
Good International - Taylor

This guy for Pak?

 

[Convict]

This guy for Pak?

I knew I forgot someone from Pakistan.

I'd put him as scrapping into very good (ODIs bring him down).
[MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] can you edit in Younis into the very good category?

 

[leatherface58]

I would say Roach is good international. Darren Bravo is getting there too though he has a weakness against spin.

 

[Convict]

I would say Roach is good international. Darren Bravo is getting there too though he has a weakness against spin.

I haven't seen enough of Roach recently to say.
I rate him and Taylor though. The Windies have a good pace attack in the making

 

[leatherface58]

I haven't seen enough of Roach recently to say.
I rate him and Taylor though. The Windies have a good pace attack in the making

Roach has to bowl with TTFs like Best and Benn but when he gets a good partner like Taylor or Edwards(for half of his career), then he can be deadly. He was good even on the Lankan roads where he toiled without success.

Sammy has tried to damage him as much as possible by making him the third seamer like in India but Roach is a new ball bowler. He even was very good against Oz where he signalled the beginning of the end of Punter's career.

 

[Electron]

Current world class players of each country:

Australia - Clarke, Watson and Johnson
Bangladesh - Shakib
England - Cook, Anderson, Bell and Broad
India - Kohli and Ashwin
Pakistan - Ajmal, Misbah and Younis
South Africa - Steyn, Amla and AB DE Villiers
Sri Lanka - Sanga, Matthews and Herath
New Zealand - Ross Taylor
West Indies - Gayle
Zimbabwe - None

Two jokes.

 

[Red Devil]

I knew I forgot someone from Pakistan.

I'd put him as scrapping into very good (ODIs bring him down).

[MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] can you edit in Younis into the very good category?

Done.

 

[Aman]

is world class.

 

[James]

Cook is world class still IMO.

 

[Fastandfurious]

Cook is world class still IMO.

Hasn't been performing for quite some time now. He has to regain that title.

 

[FreeBird]

Is it me or is there a distinct lack of world class players in world cricket?

A decade ago we had over 30 truly world class players. Currently I can't even name 10.

Quality of cricket has gone down, cricket is now riddled with trundlers and FTBs.

Way, way too much of a cricket being played these days.
Quantity has taken over quality.

A fast bowler's body just cannot take that much of a physical strain to cope with the amount of cricket he has to play. You may have a couple of exceptions but the charm of fast bowling has gone down the crappers.
You mostly got medium pacers trying to prolong their careers.

Then u have ever shrinking boundaries, tree trunks used in the name of cricket bats, and all rules going in favor of the batsman to hit - essentially making him a tulla in a hope that more boundaries will create more excitement and pull more crowds, and hence we will make more money.

So they systematically killed the art of pace bowling and turned the batsmen into tullaas - in order to do what? MAKE MORE MONEY!

It has reached to a point where folks have started to yawn at sixes.

Remember the days when spectators would jump outta their seats at a boundary the same way the crowd does behind the goal keeper when a crucial goal is scored? Electrified reaction! No more to be seen on a cricket ground.

(I guess the only that has improved is the ground fielding).

And then there is also too much of money involved. Many players have lost the actual and true passion of playing the sports of cricket. It's now all about how many carores I can make.
So what if we lose this game? I got another coming that will pay me $10,000 so who cares?

I will NOT be surprised to see 20/20 shrinking into 5/5 and being played into grounds smaller than my kitchen.

 

[lilFlip]

I'm not sure what world Watto is world class but it isn't this one.
I'm not including players who don't play often enough or are just average at international level.

Australia
ATG - None
World Class- Clarke, Harris, Johnson
Very Good International - Warner
Good International - Haddin, Smith



Bangladesh
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - Shakib Al Hasan
Good International - None

England
ATG - None
World Class - None at the moment
Very Good International - Anderson, Bell, Broad, Cook
Good International - Ballance, Root

India
ATG - None
World Class - Dhoni, Kohli
Very Good International - None
Good International - Pujarra, Rahane

New Zealand
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - Taylor
Good International - Boult, McCullum, Southee, Williamson

Pakistan
ATG - None
World Class - Ajmal
Very Good International - Younis, Irfan (when fit) *
Good International - U Akmal, Junaid, Irfan, Misbah,

*Amir will reach this stage in a few years and should be an ATG

South Africa
ATG - Steyn
World Class - Amla, de Villers, Philander
Very Good International - du Plessis
Good International - Morkel

Sri Lanka
ATG - None
World Class - Sangakarra
Very Good International - Herath, Matthews
Good International - Jayawardene

I have to confess to watching less Sri Lankan cricket than I ought and I know there is at least one player I have forgotten.
I also think Herath and Matthews would be very close to world class.

West Indies
ATG - None
World Class - Chanderpaul
Very Good International - None
Good International - Bravo, Gayle

Zimbabwe
ATG - None
World Class - None
Very Good International - None
Good International - Taylor

(supposing test cricket only)
Kohli is not world class. If he is world class then Rahane is world class too.

Ajmal is definitely an ATG.

Younis Khan/Clarke/Cook/Anderson are world class on way to ATGs.

Overall balanced list.

PS: Stuart Broad is criminally under-rated cricketer

 

[jusarrived]

Most teams are going through a transition ..lots of young potentially great players and am sure some will fullfill that .

 

[jusarrived]

Hasn't been performing for quite some time now. He has to regain that title.

That's just lack of form , happens to evry player

 

[Electron]

- Mathews World Class.. but Rahane is no one.
- Shakib very good, but Ashwin and Jadeja nowhere.
- Irfan and Junaid are Very good and Good internationals, but Bhuvi isn't even rated.

Don't think anyone's judgement here can be taken too seriously after that. As for the quality of Cricket going down, I would say that its more the case where the change in playing conditions has caused enormous loss in the quality of Cricket, specially in ODIs.

Test Cricket is doing fine. A lot of top teams have undergone huge transitional phase recently, and they are in the process of rebuilding. Expect some more players being tested, and more Test hacks being found out. But eventually, things will settle down.

 

[jusarrived]

The 90s decade was extremely overrated...30 world class players ? Give me a break

 

[Aman]

(supposing test cricket only)
Kohli is not world class. If he is world class then Rahane is world class too.

Ajmal is definitely an ATG.

Younis Khan/Clarke/Cook/Anderson are world class on way to ATGs.

Overall balanced list.

PS: Stuart Broad is criminally under-rated cricketer

Someone sure has high standards.

 

[Convict]

(supposing test cricket only)
Kohli is not world class. If he is world class then Rahane is world class too.

Ajmal is definitely an ATG.

Younis Khan/Clarke/Cook/Anderson are world class on way to ATGs.

Overall balanced list.

PS: Stuart Broad is criminally under-rated cricketer

I'm giving plenty of weight to ODIs as well. Not as much as test but they still play a part- hence Kohli as world class

 

[Aman]

Kohli is world class based on ODI's and T20's, may even finish as GOAT in ODI's.

 

[lilFlip]

I'm giving plenty of weight to ODIs as well. Not as much as test but they still play a part- hence Kohli as world class

Then, as [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] would say, Steyn is rubbish in ODIs and Ajmal is arguably goat

 

[Energetic]

Rankings and stats across all forms in at least 4 years of International Cricket don't lie hence my list 100% accurate.

 

[Energetic]

[MENTION=136108]Donal Cozzie[/MENTION] - lol you clearly don't know anything about Cricket. You say Taylor (Zimbabwe) is world class? yet disagree with Taylor (New Zealand)??? - have you even checked the stats and rankings of those 2 Taylor's? and so what Taylor of Zimbabwe scored a 90 something against South Africa? how can 1 innings classify you as world class or not?

Let's not act idiotic.

 

[Straight_Drive]

the OP hasn't mentioned the names of 30 world class players a decade ago

iirc there would be 5 (warne,mcgrath,ponting,gilly,waugh)australian , 2 (tendulkar dravid)indian,2(Ws)pakistani,1(murali) sri lankan, NZ( can't name any), England(0), 2(pollock donald ) s.a ,3 (lara,walsh,ambrose) west indies

that is about 15 players.....obviously this is not a exhaustive list...but i can't seem to recall 30 world class players a decade ago

and mind you waugh ambrose walsh 2 Ws were near the end of their career so no where near that good

 

[Gigii]

World class is only relative to that era. So Ajmal is world class, but he won't be an ATG IMO.

And you can't compare eras until they are finished. I don't think anyone in this era (I'm counting anyone who made their debut since 2006 (since Cook made his debut before you ask why I plucked that year out)) will go onto to be test match greats. Hence it's why I think it's a poor era for cricket quality. Coupled with the well known reasons of it essentially being a batsman game these days.

 

[Emperor2kings]

If it makes Sanga fans feel better this is my list of ATGs who have played this millennium

Australia - Gilchrist, McGrath, Ponting, Warne, S.Waugh
Bangladesh - None
England - None
India - Dravid, Tendulkar
New Zealand - None
Pakistan - Akram, Younis
South Africa - Boucher, Donald, Kallis, Steyn
Sri Lanka - Murali
West Indies - Ambrose, Lara
Zimbabwe - None (Flower's keeping wasn't good enough to make it as a keeper)

No it does not make me feel any better.If averaging 40+ in ODIs and 50+ tests with over 10,000 in both does not make you a ATG I don't know what does.

 

[NZcricketfan]

Why nobody rates Southee when he is averaging 22 over the last 2-3 years?

That's right because he is a New Zealander. Everybody raved about Flintoff when he was half the player Chris Cairns was. But once again a New Zealander.

 

[Convict]

No it does not make me feel any better.If averaging 40+ in ODIs and 50+ tests with over 10,000 in both does not make you a ATG I don't know what does.

ATG has nothing to do with just accumulation.

 

[thivaakar]

- Mathews World Class.. but Rahane is no one.
- Shakib very good, but Ashwin and Jadeja nowhere.
- Irfan and Junaid are Very good and Good internationals, but Bhuvi isn't even rated.

Don't think anyone's judgement here can be taken too seriously after that. As for the quality of Cricket going down, I would say that its more the case where the change in playing conditions has caused enormous loss in the quality of Cricket, specially in ODIs.

Test Cricket is doing fine. A lot of top teams have undergone huge transitional phase recently, and they are in the process of rebuilding. Expect some more players being tested, and more Test hacks being found out. But eventually, things will settle down.

I think lot of people would agree with whats said on the highlighted part . Shakib is a weirdo but he is the only that performs for Bangladesh and he is very good. Ashwin does well with Bowling in Odi and Batswell in Test. Anyone would take Shakib over Ashwin or Jadeja. Same goes for Mathews and Rehane, Rehane just started performing England now and he looked horrible in ODI. I'd however say Bhuvi and Junaid are very close, will still give an edge to Junaid. Im rating Bhuvi over Irfan.

 

[Saqs]

If it makes Sanga fans feel better this is my list of ATGs who have played this millennium

Australia - Gilchrist, McGrath, Ponting, Warne, S.Waugh
Bangladesh - None
England - None
India - Dravid, Tendulkar
New Zealand - None
Pakistan - Akram, Younis
South Africa - Boucher, Donald, Kallis, Steyn
Sri Lanka - Murali
West Indies - Ambrose, Lara
Zimbabwe - None (Flower's keeping wasn't good enough to make it as a keeper)

Waqar not an ATG? If Ambrose is in this list for this millennium..? Unless the Younis is for Waqar and not Younis Khan.

G Smith and Sehwag will surely go down as the best test openers of their generation so probably warrant a mention.

 

[Saqs]

I have taken the liberty of correcting you. Can thank me later.



So thats 9 world class crickets in the world today. What a pathetic number. This is village cricket.

Make it 7. Cook and Jimmy are England greats, but are questionable as ATGs.

 

[thivaakar]

I kinda feel like more players are now less manly. I don't see any tough, masculinity and Alpha male. I see a lot of nervous, beta male.

 

[Electron]

I think lot of people would agree with whats said on the highlighted part . Shakib is a weirdo but he is the only that performs for Bangladesh and he is very good. Ashwin does well with Bowling in Odi and Batswell in Test. Anyone would take Shakib over Ashwin or Jadeja. Same goes for Mathews and Rehane, Rehane just started performing England now and he looked horrible in ODI. I'd however say Bhuvi and Junaid are very close, will still give an edge to Junaid. Im rating Bhuvi over Irfan.

Shakib only performs against minnows in Tests or ODIs. His performances outside minnow-battles, both with ball and bat have been inferior to Jadeja and Ashwin.
Ashwin and Jadeja destroy teams in the subcontinent. What has Shakib ever done to be rated ahead of these guys? Opposite to what you said, I would say that the fact that he plays for the minnows, is the reason he is rated so high.

As for Rahane just starting to perform, I would like to remind that Mathews too has just started to perform in tougher conditions. He has been horrible everywhere else and his recent English show has been a exception to the norm. Yes, if I take ODIs into account too, then I would put Mathews ahead. But to say that Mathews is World Class and Rahane is not even two classes below him is a pure joke.

 

[Aman]

Why nobody rates Southee when he is averaging 22 over the last 2-3 years?

That's right because he is a New Zealander. Everybody raved about Flintoff when he was half the player Chris Cairns was. But once again a New Zealander.

Don't bother, if you ever stand up and defend one of your own, you're bragging and hyping them up to ATG level

 

[Convict]

Waqar not an ATG? If Ambrose is in this list for this millennium..? Unless the Younis is for Waqar and not Younis Khan.

G Smith and Sehwag will surely go down as the best test openers of their generation so probably warrant a mention.

Younis is for Waqar.

 

[Mamoon]

Why nobody rates Southee when he is averaging 22 over the last 2-3 years?

That's right because he is a New Zealander. Everybody raved about Flintoff when he was half the player Chris Cairns was. But once again a New Zealander.

Don't bother, if you ever stand up and defend one of your own, you're bragging and hyping them up to ATG level

Cry. me. a. river.

 

[Aman]

Cry. me. a. river.

We'll render you to tears in November.

 

[James]

the OP hasn't mentioned the names of 30 world class players a decade ago

iirc there would be 5 (warne,mcgrath,ponting,gilly,waugh)australian , 2 (tendulkar dravid)indian,2(Ws)pakistani,1(murali) sri lankan, NZ( can't name any), England(0), 2(pollock donald ) s.a ,3 (lara,walsh,ambrose) west indies

that is about 15 players.....obviously this is not a exhaustive list...but i can't seem to recall 30 world class players a decade ago

and mind you waugh ambrose walsh 2 Ws were near the end of their career so no where near that good

Alec Stewart and Darren Gough for England

 

[Aman]

NZ - Bond

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Australia, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies were all better test sides than they are now. I'd put England in that category too.

Bangladesh are just as bad now and they were then.

South Africa and New Zealand have improved.

So yes on the whole I would say the quality has decreased.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Alec Stewart and Darren Gough for England

Both retired from test cricket in 2003 I think.

 

[James]

Both retired from test cricket in 2003 I think.

Guy I quoted was talking about 90s players

 

[Haz95]

Kemar Roach is a quality bowler. And now with Taylor they are making a good newball pair. Windies are pretty disastrous atm but they still have a lot of talent

 

[Executioner]

sadly its true.

The only d

 

[Dagger]

What a ludicrous generalization. Surprised this thread has stayed alive for so long.

 

[Energetic]

If the players today were playing in the 90s era then half of them would've been mediocre or below back then due to the quality. The 90s was the golden era of Cricket.

 

[thivaakar]

Shakib only performs against minnows in Tests or ODIs. His performances outside minnow-battles, both with ball and bat have been inferior to Jadeja and Ashwin.
Ashwin and Jadeja destroy teams in the subcontinent. What has Shakib ever done to be rated ahead of these guys? Opposite to what you said, I would say that the fact that he plays for the minnows, is the reason he is rated so high.

As for Rahane just starting to perform, I would like to remind that Mathews too has just started to perform in tougher conditions. He has been horrible everywhere else and his recent English show has been a exception to the norm. Yes, if I take ODIs into account too, then I would put Mathews ahead. But to say that Mathews is World Class and Rahane is not even two classes below him is a pure joke.

Mathews started to click nearly 2 years ago, if it wasn't for his 90s and high 80s he'd have 12-14 centuries by now in Tests. People have seen him perform in Test for over the last 2 years while Rehane only started clicking 2 matches ago. See the difference ? You can't compare one who is been performing for over a year vs one who started performing 2 matches ago. Isn't Jadeja a FTB as well while Ashwin only performs well in SC ?

 

[Straight_Drive]

ahhh.....mathews the wonder buoy from lanka who was everyone's childhood hero even when he was a child ....will be exposed real soon when his golden phase ends .....rahane will have a better career than mathews

 

[Electron]

Mathews started to click nearly 2 years ago, if it wasn't for his 90s and high 80s he'd have 12-14 centuries by now in Tests. People have seen him perform in Test for over the last 2 years while Rehane only started clicking 2 matches ago. See the difference ? You can't compare one who is been performing for over a year vs one who started performing 2 matches ago. Isn't Jadeja a FTB as well while Ashwin only performs well in SC ?

- Mathews has been a failure abroad for the last 2 years, and 1 Test match in England wouldn't make him World Class all of a sudden.
- As for Jadeja and Ashwin are ONLY good in the subcontinent, guess what, Shakib isn't good anywhere. So, I still fail to see why one would rate him higher than those two.

Would have loved to back this up with stats on Shakib, but having some issues with Statsguru right now.

 

[thivaakar]

- Mathews has been a failure abroad for the last 2 years, and 1 Test match in England wouldn't make him World Class all of a sudden.
- As for Jadeja and Ashwin are ONLY good in the subcontinent, guess what, Shakib isn't good anywhere. So, I still fail to see why one would rate him higher than those two.

Would have loved to back this up with stats on Shakib, but having some issues with Statsguru right now.

Abroad as where ? Outside SC and UAE ? He has been only gone outside England since he started going on beast mode and he has 2 centuries in 3 matches that he played there. If you want me to go ahead and add the 3 match Test series vs Australia in Australia prior to his beast mode to make you feel better, he had an average of 29 in that series with highest score of 75, a wrongly given LBW and a Run Out. If you think that is because of the condition well Thirimanne and Mahela scored the most in that series and this was before his beast mode. Even if Mathews isn't a world class for you, why would you compare him with Rehane who averages in mid 20s in ODI EVERYWHERE COMBINED, averaging the most in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe while averaging in single digits vs rest (except England) and didn't have any test century till 2 weeks ago ?

Shakib isn't good anywhere ? which stats would you use to prove that Shakib isn't good "anywhere" ? and Jadeja is better than him ?

 

[Straight_Drive]

hahah....

Beast mode:-

a superpower that turns an average batsman into the next bradman

only works in subcontinent and subcontinent-like conditions...is prone to malfunction where ever there is something in the pitch

conditions apply ....read the offer documents carefully

 

[Electron]

Abroad as where ? Outside SC and UAE ? He has been only gone outside England since he started going on beast mode and he has 2 centuries in 3 matches that he played there. If you want me to go ahead and add the 3 match Test series vs Australia in Australia prior to his beast mode to make you feel better, he had an average of 29 in that series with highest score of 75, a wrongly given LBW and a Run Out. If you think that is because of the condition well Thirimanne and Mahela scored the most in that series and this was before his beast mode. Even if Mathews isn't a world class for you, why would you compare him with Rehane who averages in mid 20s in ODI EVERYWHERE COMBINED, averaging the most in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe while averaging in single digits vs rest (except England) and didn't have any test century till 2 weeks ago ?

Shakib isn't good anywhere ? which stats would you use to prove that Shakib isn't good "anywhere" ? and Jadeja is better than him ?

Beast mode was nothing but a sequence of series in UAE,Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on surfaces where EVEN Bangladesh managed to draw a Test against Sri Lanka. 1 good innings in England on a subcontinental track isn't beast mode by any standards. But yes, I agree to the point that I probably shouldn't be rating Rahane this high because he hasn't done a whole lot in ODIs. Infact, he has been poor there.

As for Shakib, eleven 5fers in 34 matches in Tests, zero 10fers. Ashwin has nine 5fers and two 10fers already in just 21 Tests. Ashwin's batting in tests has been far superior too.
In ODI Cricket too, Shakib (minus Zimbabwe, Ireland, Kenya, Scotland, Bermuda etc) is nothing special. So to rate him so high, and not to even mention other better allrounders isn't fair at all.

 

[Energetic]

Yeah! I just done a research and according to ICC, top 10 players of batting and bowling are considered top class in that particular format. All-rounders if they have rating points of 300 or more are also considered top class.

According to ICC rankings and rules, these are the overall world class players across all forms:

Clarke
Amla
Ajmal
De Villers
Steyn
Dhoni
Kohli
Johnson
Shakib
Sanga
Bell
Cook
Anderson
Watson
Ross

 

[MarkCooper]

If you think there is not much quality in the world you should see the Yorkshire CCC first team. It would give any INTntl team in the world a run for their money.

 

[Energetic]

If you think there is not much quality in the world you should see the Yorkshire CCC first team. It would give any INTntl team in the world a run for their money.

Yorkshire are overrated. They don't have any top spinners and will flop against spin bowling. Didn't Ajmal destroy county sides this season?

 

[Bilal7]

Yeah! I just done a research and according to ICC, top 10 players of batting and bowling are considered top class in that particular format. All-rounders if they have rating points of 300 or more are also considered top class.

According to ICC rankings and rules, these are the overall world class players across all forms:

Clarke
Amla
Ajmal
De Villers
Steyn
Dhoni
Kohli
Johnson
Shakib
Sanga
Bell
Cook
Anderson
Watson
Ross

No way is Clarke at top. A merely good batsman in the shorter formats.

 

[90MPH]

Def agree, especially on the bowling. Very few high class bowlers around, especially quickies.


Main reason I suspect there
is too much 20-20 nonsense, especially the meaningless money leagues.

 

[Swanny]

Give the current crop 5-8 years we will see many world class & atgs. Expect ballance, root, williamson, matthews, junaid, southee, steve smith, shehzad, umar to be world class or ATGs

 

[Bilal7]

Give the current crop 5-8 years we will see many world class & atgs. Expect ballance, root, williamson, matthews, junaid, southee, steve smith, shehzad, umar to be world class or ATGs

This. This is a new generation and we'll definitely see quite a few ATGs and greats in the future.

 

[Fastandfurious]

Garbage cricketers all around the world today, rarely see any quality. SA and Aus are above the rest.

 

[SL_Fan]

It's all about quantity these days not quality $$$$

 

[Straight_Drive]

Give the current crop 5-8 years we will see many world class & atgs. Expect ballance, root, williamson, matthews, junaid, southee, steve smith, shehzad, umar to be world class or ATGs

Lol no......forget about ATG.....from the list you mentioned only root and smith have the potential to reach anywhere near Great status.....haven't seen Williamson much so won't comment on him.....mathew might come good.....The rest however will fade away....shehzad lol....wat were you thinking

 

[Swanny]

lol at people calling kohli world class. We all saw his true class in England. Scoring only on the flat tracks in hits & giggles format doesn't make you a world class player.
Kohli reminds me of mahela if tests & odi stats are reversed. Bradmanesque vs minnows on flat tracks but tailenderesque against good bowlers & helpful conditions.

 

[Electron]

It's all about quantity these days not quality $$$$

For once, I agree.

 

[Convict]

If you think there is not much quality in the world you should see the Yorkshire CCC first team. It would give any INTntl team in the world a run for their money.

Aaron Finch

 

[menace2society]

This era has to be the strongest.

Sachin was Imrans bunny. You can only imagine which others players played between 1980-1995.