Who is a better batsman : Alastair Cook or Younis Khan?

[SLcric123]

Just who is a better batter of the two - England opener Alastair Cook or Pakistani Legend Younis Khan?

Alastair Cook: Avg 46.72, Runs-10934
Younis Khan: Avg 52.89, Runs-9679

Cook has poor record vs Aus and SA while Younis struggles vs quality pace bowling attack.

 

[ali ray]

Alastir cook all the way, he is more of a complete batsman against pace and spin and played more gritfull knocks against better bowling attacks, while yk is just a ok batsman.

 

[King Kong]

Just who is a better batter of the two - England opener Alastair Cook or Pakistani Legend Younis Khan?

Alastair Cook: Avg 46.72, Runs-10934
Younis Khan: Avg 52.89, Runs-9679

Cook has poor record vs Aus and SA while Younis struggles vs quality pace bowling attack.

Cook is no better in that regard. Always struggles when a bowler is streaming in with some pace and swing. Both are great players against spin, but Younis edges it out. So Younis for me.

 

[Rotoman]

Cook's struggles against pace can be put down to him being an opener. You don't get 10k runs as an opener without being made look foolish atleast a couple of times by fast bowlers who make the new ball do tricks.

 

[Hitman]

Younis Khan by a long, long way.

 

[Pete Rose]

Cook

 

[shaz619]

Fan of Khan but Cook edges him due to that big series of mega proportions he had against AUS in AUS, it is a tough one though I keep on switching

 

[Hasan123]

Tough one but I'll go with Cook just, I think outside of his comfort zone Cook is better than Younis.

 

[Ankit007]

Cook hands down.. No competition...

 

[Boxer]

Cook in the coming years will be taking over SRT's record. Then a new thread will be there Cook or SRT.

 

[Rotoman]

Maybe it's Alistair Cook that's rated that way.

Kumar = Younis

Cook = Vaas

That's very unfair on Cook then. He averages 55 in Asia OPENING the batting, and I imagine he would have averaged a lot higher than Younis if he were to play most of his cricket in Asia. This is the thing with just looking at averages. They only tell so little. Cook plays most of his cricket opening the batting in England in bowler friendly conditions and still averages 46. Seeing Younis Khan in NZ and ENG, I think it's fair to say that he would have struggled if he were in Cook's shoes. This is not a sleight on Younis but feigning that there is no comparison is pretty stupid.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Cook is better, younus look clueless this series

 

[Bilal7]

Younis Khan is the better batsman in pretty much every single regard. Their ability against pace has been pretty equal over their careers but Khan is clearly superior against spin. Not to mention how Khan trumps Cook in terms of average, centuries/innings ratio, head to head performance, etc.

 

[Chrish]

Should be close by the end of Cooks career

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Younis Khan.

Cook is incredible too.

Both can't play top notch pace bowling though.

However Cook is better than Younis when it comes to playing swing and seam. Younis beats him comfortably when it comes to spin game.

Cook has played supreme knocks in series wins in Aus and India. Younis is super clutch too.

Cook's career isn't over yet so he has a chance to overtake Younis. So let's see.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

^But then a counter argument can be made saying Cook has been better in Asia than Younis outside Asia.

Man...this is tough.

Cook has been more all round. So he may edge out Younis.

Will wait for the his career to finish to judge.

 

[joly]

Younis Khan

 

[Rotoman]

Haha unbelievable. Younis khan has a better average and century/innings ratio but what does that tell actually? One's a middle order batsman and the other's an opener.

 

[Sachin136]

I will go with Cook because he is an opener in England and has done very well in Asia.

 

[Protea Fan]

Both haven't had not much diff imo the awful vulnerability of younis once the ball starts moving and obviously the longevity of cook were the only reason here cooks wins

Bw whatever phenomenal cooks achievements is he is not complete as compared to other ATG's

I don't know what is missing in him may be charisma

 

[The_Odd_One]

I will give it to Cook because:

1. Openers usually average less than middle order batsmen.
2. Openers have a tougher job and that too in England.
These 2 points eliminate the difference in averages.

3. Cook has done better in Asia than Younis has outside Asia.

4. Cook will definitely have a longer career, he already has played more matches and scored more runs.

5. Cook has been among the top 2 openers for good 10 years. Younis was never among the top #2 middle order batsmen.

 

[Bilal7]

I will give it to Cook because:

1. Openers usually average less than middle order batsmen.
2. Openers have a tougher job and that too in England.
These 2 points eliminate the difference in averages.

3. Cook has done better in Asia than Younis has outside Asia.

4. Cook will definitely have a longer career, he already has played more matches and scored more runs.

5. Cook has been among the top 2 openers for good 10 years. Younis was never among the top #2 middle order batsmen.

1) That is true.
2) They have a tougher job outside the subcontinent but in it, middle order batsmen have it tougher since they bat when the spinners are well into their spell and the pitch is not as fresh as it is in the beginning.
3) How? Mind giving some numbers?
4) Irrelevant. Tendulker played how many more matches than the likes of Viv, Sobers, Lara, etc? That doesn't make him better. Longevity matters for valid sample sizes but a player who played 150 tests is not superior to one who played 90-100 tests.
5) Since there are only two openers in a team, the competition isn't as tough as it is for middle-order batsmen. An opener being the second best in the world in his position is equal to a middle order bat being the fourth/fifth best in the world. Younis has easily been in the top four middle order bats in the world since 2011, arguably top three.

 

[MMHS]

This is what happens when one drags career for too long - at this rate, in a year YK will come down to Sohaib Malik level, a year more - Shuvagoto Hom ............

YK is 42 now, for havens sake & this is not 1916 - we are less than a month from 2017.

YK in Woolmer era in his late 20s early 30s (from 2004 to 2009), was comparable to any modern greats, even in ODI he had about 5 or 6 hundreds in 2/3 years period - unfortunately, he didn't get that sort of 2/3 - 15/16 Tests calendar year during that period, otherwise he would have been sitting on 40+ Test hundreds & 13K runs at ~54-55 average now.

I agree, he looks ugly now & just defaming own legacy - should have called the day from ANZ tour (might comeback for a short period next AUG-OCT period, just to complete 10K runs). But, I can tell that, if God forbid Cook or Amla drags their career till that age, they indeed will look like Vaas or Phillander ...............

 

[Ab Fan]

YK..

However, Cook should surpass him when he calls it off.

More importantly, I don't think either of the two has a ceiling of ATG level.Both struggle vs quality pace attack and thankfully since that isn't too much they have great stats.

Both are more like an inferior version of Indian legend Rahul Dravid. I mean imagine Dravid was averaging 58 at his peak and hit 3-4 centuries in one single series (2011 England tour) in bowling friendly conditions.I never saw that from either of the two.

Amla isn't an ATG either.

 

[Buffet]

3. Cook has done better in Asia than Younis has outside Asia.

3) How? Mind giving some numbers?

Cook in Asia excluding BD averages 53. Cook in Asia including BD averages 55.

YK outside of Asia excluding Zim averages 39. YK outside of Asia including Zim averages 43.

 

[Buffet]

I rate both around the same level. Since YK is almost done, I will wait till Cook hangs his boot to put exact order.

 

[Ab Fan]

UAE is one of those places where most batsmen have thrived and batting is considered easy with spinners getting assistance later on in the game.

The likes of Amla, AB, Cook, Kane, Root, Taylor all have done well there.

However, one reason this doesn't make me convince that he has been lucky playing on those pattas this long is his record in ASIA(i.e in India and SL particularly) .

Yes, the home conditions are easier for him compared to likes of Amla, AB and Cook but one can't discredit his record in ASIA where he has played super clutch knocks, His centuries in England, NZ and SA in past were super-clutch too and hence I said YK.But I think Cook has a longer career to go and will eventually surpass him,

 

[Cricfan4eva]

YK is a level above Cook, no comparison tbh.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Cook in Asia excluding BD averages 53. Cook in Asia including BD averages 55.

YK outside of Asia excluding Zim averages 39. YK outside of Asia including Zim averages 43.

Asia has been tough only in these last 3-4 years. Usually tracks in BD, India used to be roads. Even SL in SSC used to dish out highways.

 

[Buffet]

UAE is one of those places where most batsmen have thrived and batting is considered easy with spinners getting assistance later on in the game.

The likes of Amla, AB, Cook, Kane, Root, Taylor all have done well there.

However, one reason this doesn't make me convince that he has been lucky playing on those pattas this long is his record in ASIA(i.e in India and SL particularly) .

Yes, the home conditions are easier for him compared to likes of Amla, AB and Cook but one can't discredit his record in ASIA where he has played super clutch knocks, His centuries in England, NZ and SA in past were super-clutch too and hence I said YK.But I think Cook has a longer career to go and will eventually surpass him,

Well, no one should take credit away from YK for scoring runs in familair conditions, but extra credit should be give to Cook for scoring 2500+ runs, avg 55+ with 9 tons in Asia. That's simply brilliant for an English opener.

 

[Buffet]

Asia has been tough only in these last 3-4 years. Usually tracks in BD, India used to be roads. Even SL in SSC used to dish out highways.

Cook has scored 1500+ runs at 53+ average with 5 tons starting from 2012. So even in this period his performance has been very good. He was one of the main contributor for Eng win in India last time. An English opener playing spin so brilliantly, you can't ask for more.

I don't rate Cook very high against quality pace, but he is brilliant against spin for an English opener.

 

[Ab Fan]

Well, no one should take credit away from YK for scoring runs in familair conditions, but extra credit should be give to Cook for scoring 2500+ runs, avg 55+ with 9 tons in Asia. That's simply brilliant for an English opener.

Cook is a beast in ASIA..No doubt but he gets to face pacers early on which aren't world class from any of SC team in the last 10 years.That 294 at Abu Dhabhi was made on flattest pitch you could ask for,

However, his performance in India particularly in that 2012 tour when he just took the captaincy puts him in a league of his own.

Cook, Hayden and Smith all have done well in Asia averaging 50+ and hence that is what seperates them from other openers in the world.

But Cook hasn't been that great outside ASIA as Smith or Hayden is (both have their flaws too) and hence I consider Cook a little inferior to both.

 

[yasir_shah_fan]

Younis Khan for the following reasons:

a) He could bat in all 4 innings - the difference in class is perfectly illustrated by looking at their 4th innings performances comparitively
b) carried the bat often single handedly with little support and was a big match winner
c) YK bats at a match winning tempo with his far superior SR
d) YK has a better 50 to 100 conversion
e) YK has a better 100 to 150+ conversion i.e. superior in scoring big hundreds
f) YK has far more range of shots whereas cook has 2 - the cut and the flick
g) Cook against quality bowling was far inferior for e.g. against Asif, Amir (pre ban), Mcgrath and Warne
h) YK was brutal against spin and once past 50 runs in his innings could accelerate against the seamers to take the game against the opposition just like we saw at the Oval
i) Maintained an average well over 50 despite Pakistan playing half the matches England does per year in tests
j) Younis Khan was a victim of politics and bullying from sections of the team and Ijaz Butt but still came back with a bang
k) Younis Khan's mental strength and fitness is better (So is cook but YK is tougher)
l) YK's average is like 15-20% better despite some of the constraints he's had to face

This thread is disrespectful towards Pakistan's second best batsman since Javed Miandad...

Anyone who rates Cook higher have probably only started watching cricket last 4-5 years or just simply deluded LOOL...

 

[HitWicket]

k) Younis Khan's fitness is better

I disagree with a decent amount of the green tinted nonsense in your post but surely you're just taking the mick with this one? Cooks quite arguably one of the fittest players to ever grace the game having never missed a single match due a physical injury in a 432 match long (and counting) professional career. The guys hit multiple huge innings whilst hardly breaking a sweat (quite literally) and then walked out to captain a short time later. He's practically a freak when it comes to physical fitness.

 

[Mamoon]

I disagree with a decent amount of the green tinted nonsense in your post but surely you're just taking the mick with this one? Cooks quite arguably one of the fittest players to ever grace the game having never missed a single match due a physical injury in a 432 match long (and counting) professional career. The guys hit multiple huge innings whilst hardly breaking a sweat (quite literally) and then walked out to captain a short time later. He's practically a freak when it comes to physical fitness.

His whole post was a load of nonsense but this was beyond belief. Cook as you said, is arguably one of the fittest (if not the fittest) players of all time. 120+ Tests in 10 years and bats longer than any batsman of his era.

 

[Haroon786]

YK slightly because of his overall record, however the Aus series could see to that and the perception of his calibre too.

Cook will comfortably be the better player upon retirement though.

 

[Buffet]

Cook is a beast in ASIA..No doubt but he gets to face pacers early on which aren't world class from any of SC team in the last 10 years.That 294 at Abu Dhabhi was made on flattest pitch you could ask for,

However, his performance in India particularly in that 2012 tour when he just took the captaincy puts him in a league of his own.

Cook, Hayden and Smith all have done well in Asia averaging 50+ and hence that is what seperates them from other openers in the world.

But Cook hasn't been that great outside ASIA as Smith or Hayden is (both have their flaws too) and hence I consider Cook a little inferior to both.

I don't rate Cook higher than Smith or Hayden. I was just pointing out his brilliant record in Asia which is not a norm for openers from non-Asia.

 

[Buffet]

YK slightly because of his overall record, however the Aus series could see to that and the perception of his calibre too.

Cook will comfortably be the better player upon retirement though.

May not be true if his performance goes down.

 

[Haroon786]

May not be true if his performance goes down.

Obviously if he performs to an acceptable level, if he never makes more than 10 runs in an innings from the next Test onwards then yes my prediction would be completely null and void. However, I trust that he will be able to get around 12,000-13,000 runs at a mid 40s average which would make him better comfortably than YK.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Here is an interesting twist. Younis seems to have enjoyed better ICC ratings. [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION], what do you think? Is Younis a better test batsman?

 

[Buffet]

Here is an interesting twist. Younis seems to have enjoyed better ICC ratings. [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION], what do you think? Is Younis a better test batsman?

First 5 years of both look similar in this graph. 2006-2011 , YK looks better, but that period is first 5 years of Cook. After 2011, there is not much to chose if you take account of YK's lack of series outside of Asia and Cook playing everywhere in that period. You can still give an edge to YK , but Cook is still playing. Given how English batsmen goes, I won't be surprised to see Cook declining and having an inferior career.

 

[Ab Fan]

Here is an interesting twist. Younis seems to have enjoyed better ICC ratings. [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION], what do you think? Is Younis a better test batsman?

A little surprising tbh that Cook never became no.1 in ICC test ranking. I thought he would have given the fact that there aren't many ATGs in the current era.

 

[Buffet]

Obviously if he performs to an acceptable level, if he never makes more than 10 runs in an innings from the next Test onwards then yes my prediction would be completely null and void. However, I trust that he will be able to get around 12,000-13,000 runs at a mid 40s average which would make him better comfortably than YK.

Well, Cook is not going to decline that much, but he can still average in 30s if decline happens.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Younis Khan.

 

[Bilal7]

A little surprising tbh that Cook never became no.1 in ICC test ranking. I thought he would have given the fact that there aren't many ATGs in the current era.

He's been clearly inferior to Amla, Sanga and Younis since 2010 and with the likes of Clarke, KP, de Villiers around as well, there is no surprise he's never been ranked #1.

Will never get to that mark either now that he's declining and some younger batsmen are rising. Of course, ICC rankings is just one of the many indicators of a batsman's quality so this alone doesn't solve the Younis v Cook case.

Thanks for the stats you gave above, [MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION].

 

[Abdullah719]

A little surprising tbh that Cook never became no.1 in ICC test ranking. I thought he would have given the fact that there aren't many ATGs in the current era.

I don't recall Cook having an extended period of excellence which most #1 batsmen have had in their careers which would give him that boost. He was very good in 2010-11 though.

Also harder for openers to have these peaks as they often get dismissed cheaply even when they're at their best - that's simply the nature of the position I guess.

 

[Buffet]

A little surprising tbh that Cook never became no.1 in ICC test ranking. I thought he would have given the fact that there aren't many ATGs in the current era.

Because Cook got to 840+ for only few months. If you are below 830-840 for most of your career, then it's hard to get to rank 1. Different batsmen at different times are likely to get to higher rating than 840 and it makes it hard for someone with lower rating to get to rank 1.

 

[Justcrazy]

Younis Khan has en edge over cook till 2016 mid . After that Younis is clearly on decline , and cook certainly looks a better batsman now.

 

[khurram39]

Definitely Younis khan: bats in middle and sustain more pressure than Cook who opens the innings while wicket is fresh.

 

[Snatch]

From a neutral point of view, I'm much more concerned about getting Cook's wicket when he's in the opposition than I do Younis. Younis is a walking wicket in New Zealand conditions, who I doubt would even do well at First Class cricket level here with the ball swinging and seaming.

Probably the worst supposedly great batsman to tour New Zealand in terms of his reputation.

I actually felt sad for him, it was a quite embarrassing the way he looked in this recent series.

 

[Snatch]

Definitely Younis khan: bats in middle and sustain more pressure than Cook who opens the innings while wicket is fresh.

Lol, are you being sarcastic with that argument?

 

[KhalidRafi]

Younis, by a mile.

 

[Moh@n]

Younis, by a mile.

How?

Agreed he is a champion of UAE pitches and other flat phattas, but what has been his contributions in away matches which Pakistan have won, apart from the double hundred in the fourth test in England recently (again on a flat phatta).

Cook has won England a test series in India with the bat, won England the Ashes with the bat in 2011. He has a debut hundred in India in 2006. So Cook is much better in alien conditions compared to Younis.

 

[Mamoon]

Cook is better by some distance.

As far as averages are concerned, it has been covered already. An average of 46-47 for a Test opener after 120 Tests is as good as a 50+ average for a middle-order batsman. Compare the number of Test openers with a 50+ average to the number of middle-order batsmen with a 50+ average and people will get their answer.

As far as head-to-head performances are concerned, again, it is not true that Younis beats him.

They have so far faced off in four series - 2006, 2012, 2015, 2016.

In 2006, both were very good, however, Cook was a rookie at that time. It was his second/third series.

In 2012 in the UAE, Younis prevailed but Cook was the only English batsman to get close to three figures.

In 2015 in the UAE, both had one big innings. Younis scored a century but Cook scored a 260.

In 2016 in England, Cook was consistent throughout the series but Younis failed in every innings but one. However, that innings was bigger than any of Cook's individual innings, but Cook had the better series overall.

Overall, they have been pretty much equal when it comes to head to head and Younis doesn't trump him.

Cook isn't the greatest player of pace bowling, but if Younis opens the innings overseas, he will do well to average above 30. Cook is better in Asia than Younis is overseas, when you consider top teams.

Cook has won his team series in India and Australia by dominating the series and scoring big hundreds. That alone is good enough to make you a legend.

What has Younis one for his team outside Asia? I know that Cook wasn't the only factor, but Younis has not replicated Cook's individual performance either.

He plays one good innings and fails in the rest. You cannot win a series if your main batsman has such a high failure rate.

As for as time spent as number one and ranking graphs are concerned, the ICC ranking system is too flawed for the rankings to be conclusive. Simply put, you cannot establish a comparison between two players simply based on the time spent as number one.

Cook is simply a bigger batsman and a bigger cricketer, and he is not done.

 

[Majestic]

Alastair Cook vs Younis Khan?

Who will you pick in tests?

Cook- 154 matches 12000 runs Avg 45.73
Yk- 118 matches 10099 runs Avg 52.06

 

[WildSwing]

Very close, cook just edges it for being an opener

 

[Hitman]

Younis Khan anyday.

 

[Ab Fan]

Younis khan by a distance. He scores runs on consistent basis, scores big and scores when matters, although had issues with quicks but so does Cook.

Cook never had an extended period of excellence like YK.

I never got to understand why would anyone like Cook. He is boring, lacks flair, cant take on quicks and all his career was overshadowed by KP and then Root.

 

[Hitman]

Younis khan by a distance. He scores runs on consistent basis, scores big and scores when matters, although had issues with quicks but so does Cook.

Cook never had an extended period of excellence like YK.

I never got to understand why would anyone like Cook. He is boring, lacks flair, cant take on quicks and all his career was overshadowed by KP and then Root.

Hasn't he retired?

 

[Ab Fan]

Hasn't he retired?

#he used to score

 

[Robert]

YK better against top quicks.

 

[BreadPakoda]

YK in Asian conditions. Cook, everywhere else.

 

[soso_killer]

Tough one, I like Cook. Not many bats stood out when the big four were at their peak dominating world cricket. But he was there or thereabouts. I think he averaged 50 away as well.
However against quality attacks there's always been question marks. His average might look pretty in Asia, but we shouldn't forget how poor he was against Ajmal. And there's the issue of quality quicks.

I'd say YK, just though. Not very often I rate an Asian bat over a quality SENA one bar SRT. But I guess YK was a class bat.

 

[Kaka4pope]

Both top test batsmen, Younis the more rounded though, as a middle order batsman should be. He did also survive plenty of the new ball and could milk spinners.

Cook a brilliant test opener, no one new his off stump better.

Younis and also Yousuf were both fabulous test players, very classy in their own ways.

 

[Ab Fan]

Cook is retiring with huge round of applause and appreciation and with scores of 71 & 147 in final test. Obviously, at this point, people would prefer Cook over Younis.

Personally, it is a close call. Younis was a more dynamic bat of the two.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Ahhh man this is hard. Both players have got pro's and cons but personally I would go with Younis Khan. I've seen some great, entertaining knocks from him despite being inconsistent. The same could be said about Cook personally, his knock against Aus and India are brilliant but personally I would take Younis

 

[Pete Rose]

Cook. not really a close comparison in my view.

 

[Last Monetarist]

I'd go with Younis. It's tough to decide though, because both men were not as good against high quality pace as some of the true ATG batsmen. Both men more often than not shone in periods of crisis, so it's a hard question. Going with Younis only because I feel he was a more rounded batsman and could play aggressively if the situation so merited.

 

[Mamoon]

I can definitely see Cook averaging 50+ as a number four batsman in Asia, but I cannot see Younis averaging 45 as an opening batsman, playing the bulk of his matches in England.

Cook is the better player, and I agree that it is not close.

 

[Ab Fan]

Cook was perfectly suited to slow and dusty wickets of UAE/Sri Lanka or Asia on whole.

However, there are quite a few names I would pick over Cook when it comes to pperforming on those fast pitches of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Hayden and Smith are two of them for sure and they were very much comparable to Cook in Asia as well.

 

[Xoib]

Younis Khan can’t average 45 in England even though he averages 45 in 13 tests which is a good sample size now wait for the attention seeker to justify himself with his half baked theories.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

YK was better imo. He practically opened for Pakistan for much of his career and engineered some amazing wins at 3 and 4.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Cook. not really a close comparison in my view.

This coming from the man who thinks Shafiq should be in the ODI team. Yeah, ok.

 

[SL_Fan]

Overall might be close but in Tests alone YK quite comfortably for mine.

 

[Mamoon]

Younis Khan can’t average 45 in England even though he averages 45 in 13 tests which is a good sample size now wait for the attention seeker to justify himself with his half baked theories.

Or perhaps you should learn to read better. I specifically mentioned opening, because I don’t think that Younis can average 45 as an opener in England over such a large sample.

This ongoing series should give you an indication of how tough it is to open in England compared to batting in the middle-order. Undoubtedly the toughest job in the game for a batsman.

 

[SL_Fan]

Or perhaps you should learn to read better. I specifically mentioned opening, because I don’t think that Younis can average 45 as an opener in England over such a large sample.

This ongoing series should give you an indication of how tough it is to open in England compared to batting in the middle-order. Undoubtedly the toughest job in the game for a batsman.

Cook averages under 40 at home opening the batting against the top five teams btw. I think you are severely underrating YK here.

 

[Mamoon]

Cook averages under 40 at home opening the batting against the top five teams btw. I think you are severely underrating YK here.

That is not a surprise. No opener can consistently score big against top class bowlers in English conditions. If I am not wrong, even G.Smith and Amla don’t have high averages against the top teams in south Africa, which is a very tough place to bat for a top-order batsman.

I have seen enough of Younis to know that he was a very average player of lateral movement. 9/10 times he has failed against swing and seam regardless of the quality of the opposition bowlers.

He was a fisherman who never understood where his off-stump was, but his great temperament and tremendous skill against spin helped him carve out a stellar career.

 

[Mainul]

No comparison.Opening is the toughest job as a batsman.

 

[SL_Fan]

That is not a surprise. No opener can consistently score big against top class bowlers in English conditions. If I am not wrong, even G.Smith and Amla don’t have high averages against the top teams in south Africa, which is a very tough place to bat for a top-order batsman.

I have seen enough of Younis to know that he was a very average player of lateral movement. 9/10 times he has failed against swing and seam regardless of the quality of the opposition bowlers.

He was a fisherman who never understood where his off-stump was, but his great temperament and tremendous skill against spin helped him carve out a stellar career.

Not saying that YK was a better player of swing/seam but there are plenty of other things to consider as well. Would be interesting to see YK's point of entry averages. Like Sanga I reckon he was pretty much an opener for large portion of his career. Lost count of the number of times he bailed Pak out with wickets tumbling all around him.