Rank these Test openers

[QalandarFan]

These test openers are all very high class test openers who have played in the last 25-30 years and all of them average above 45, which is very good for an opener. So I've took a few openers from the last quarter of a century who have averaged over 45 and would like you to rank them from best to worst.


Saeed Anwar
Gary Kristen
David Warner
Virender Sehwag
Justin Langer
Matthew Hayden
Greame Smith
Alastair Cook
Herschelle Gibbs (I know his career average is only 42 but that includes when he batted at number 3. As an opener he averages 47+ with over 5000 runs so I had to include him.)

 

[QalandarFan]

For me I would go with this

1. Greame Smith
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Alastair Cook
4. Virendar Sehwag
5. Saeed Anwar
6. David Warner
7. Gary Kristen
8. Herschelle Gibbs
9. Justin Langer

 

[Ab Fan]

Graeme Smith
Matthew Hayden
Alastair Cook
Virender Sehwag
Gary Kirsten
Justin Langer
Saeed Anwar
David Warner
Herschelle Gibbs

 

[Junaids]

Kirsten
Langer
Warner
Hayden
Saeed Anwar
Smith
Cook
Sehwag
Gibbs

 

[kuskash]

Kirsten
Langer
Warner
Hayden
Saeed Anwar
Smith
Cook
Sehwag
Gibbs

Junaidbhai, we missed your comments in Ind-Pak matches.

 

[Last Monetarist]

1. Graeme Smith
2. Virender Sehwag
3. Alastair Cook
4. Matthew Hayden
5. Gary Kirsten
6. Saeed Anwar
7. Justin Langer
8. Herschelle Gibbs
9. David Warner

 

[QalandarFan]

Kirsten
Langer
Warner
Hayden
Saeed Anwar
Smith
Cook
Sehwag
Gibbs

Kristen and Langer that high? Interesting.

 

[Junaids]

Kristen and Langer that high? Interesting.

Because Sehwag and Gibbs were hopeless when conditions were unfavourable.

If I remember rightly, Sehwag’s average in the third innings was under 30, and in the fourth innings was 31.

That’s the hallmark of a flat track bully with a dodgy temperament.

 

[Hasan123]

Graeme Smith
Matthew Hayden
Virender Sehwag
Alistair Cook
Justin Langer
Gary Kirsten
Saeed Anwar
David Warner
Herschelle Gibbs

 

[TeymurBlake]

1. Graeme Smith
2. Alastair Cook
3. Virender Sehwag
4. Matthew Hayden
5. Saeed Anwar
6. Justin Langer
7. Gary Kirsten
8. Herschelle Gibbs
9. David Warner

 

[Srtfan]

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] ur best opener langer avg 29 in india, 32 in sl ,20 in uae,30 in sa .

 

[QalandarFan]

Because Sehwag and Gibbs were hopeless when conditions were unfavourable.

If I remember rightly, Sehwag’s average in the third innings was under 30, and in the fourth innings was 31.

That’s the hallmark of a flat track bully with a dodgy temperament.

Sehwag alright, that is debatable, but how are Langer and Kristen ahead of Hayden and Smith?