Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Runs
- 3,520
- Post of the Week
- 2
In my view the Australian batsmen who did least justice to his true ability in my time was Mark Waugh.An overall test average of 41.83 simply did not showcase his true talent.He had better batting skill than brother Steve and on his day matched the likes of Tendulkar and Lara.On the onside he was the best batsmen in the world.His batting posessed the elegance of Greg Chappell .
My best memories of Mark Waugh were in the 1996 world cup in the sub-continent when he scored 3 centuries.In test matches he was at his best in the 2nd tset at Durban in 1997 when his 125 literally took Australia out of dire straits to reach the pinnacle of glory.Waugh resembled a sculptor or surgeon that day playing on the most precarious of pitches.I also remember his classic 100 on a turning wicket at Sydney in 1997-98 versus South Africa .In that series he outscored brother Steve.In 1996-97 versus West Indies he tackled the West Indies attack with remoteless ease scoring 4 fifties.Scored his highest tset score of 153 at Bangalore,proving his prowess against spin.
Waugh would literally caress the best deliveries to the fence and resembled ballad dancer and a technician rolled into one.In terms of pure skill he ws on par if not ahead of Greg Chappell.Gary Sobers rated Mark ahead of brother Steve and so did Viv Richards in the mid -1990's.I rate Mark a better player of genuine pace than his brother Steve.
Behind Waugh I feel Kim Hughes was the most under-acheived Australian batsmen.At his best he mastered both pace and spin.I can never forget his record aggregate of 596 runs in India at an average of almost 60 in 1979.His unbeaten 100 versus West Indies at Melbourne in 1981-82 is close to the best test inning sever.On a broken wicket he resembled a surgeon curing an incurable patient scoring 100 out of 198.It was batting skill at its supreme height against the best pace attack ever that went on to win the test for Australia.I can't forget how he danced down the pitch to tackle spin.In the 1980 centenary test at Lords Hughes robbed the show with one of the most sparkling exhibitions of batting ,executing truly dazzling strokes.Hi sixes score of Chris Old will permanently be embedded in my memory.He also scored classic 213 v India at Adelaide in 1980-81, a crafty 137 on a turning pitch versus England in 1982-83 and a big century versus Pakistan in 1983-84.In the end Kim's average fell to below 40 when at one stage he looked set to join the greats.
David Hookes mastered great pace in WSC supertests as few batsmen and was right up there with the best.Test average of 34 hardly did him justice.
Bruce Laird was at his best against the lethal calypso pace attack topping the averages in 1979-80 at home.Played some outstanding innings in Kerry Packer WSC supertests.Test average of 35 did not reveal his true ability.
My best memories of Mark Waugh were in the 1996 world cup in the sub-continent when he scored 3 centuries.In test matches he was at his best in the 2nd tset at Durban in 1997 when his 125 literally took Australia out of dire straits to reach the pinnacle of glory.Waugh resembled a sculptor or surgeon that day playing on the most precarious of pitches.I also remember his classic 100 on a turning wicket at Sydney in 1997-98 versus South Africa .In that series he outscored brother Steve.In 1996-97 versus West Indies he tackled the West Indies attack with remoteless ease scoring 4 fifties.Scored his highest tset score of 153 at Bangalore,proving his prowess against spin.
Waugh would literally caress the best deliveries to the fence and resembled ballad dancer and a technician rolled into one.In terms of pure skill he ws on par if not ahead of Greg Chappell.Gary Sobers rated Mark ahead of brother Steve and so did Viv Richards in the mid -1990's.I rate Mark a better player of genuine pace than his brother Steve.
Behind Waugh I feel Kim Hughes was the most under-acheived Australian batsmen.At his best he mastered both pace and spin.I can never forget his record aggregate of 596 runs in India at an average of almost 60 in 1979.His unbeaten 100 versus West Indies at Melbourne in 1981-82 is close to the best test inning sever.On a broken wicket he resembled a surgeon curing an incurable patient scoring 100 out of 198.It was batting skill at its supreme height against the best pace attack ever that went on to win the test for Australia.I can't forget how he danced down the pitch to tackle spin.In the 1980 centenary test at Lords Hughes robbed the show with one of the most sparkling exhibitions of batting ,executing truly dazzling strokes.Hi sixes score of Chris Old will permanently be embedded in my memory.He also scored classic 213 v India at Adelaide in 1980-81, a crafty 137 on a turning pitch versus England in 1982-83 and a big century versus Pakistan in 1983-84.In the end Kim's average fell to below 40 when at one stage he looked set to join the greats.
David Hookes mastered great pace in WSC supertests as few batsmen and was right up there with the best.Test average of 34 hardly did him justice.
Bruce Laird was at his best against the lethal calypso pace attack topping the averages in 1979-80 at home.Played some outstanding innings in Kerry Packer WSC supertests.Test average of 35 did not reveal his true ability.
