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Who is the most exciting cricketer ever?

Muhammad10

Muhammad10

T20I Debutant
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What I mean by exciting cricketer is not necessarily someone with an amazing record. The player has to have an aura and a flair about him that makes you want to keep your eyes glued to the TV screen. Watching such players is bound to cause an adrenaline rush and keep the viewers on the edge of their seats.

Several such players who immediately come to mind for me are: Viv Richards, Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen, Shoaib Akhtar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers.

Shoaib Akhtar is probably the most exciting bowler I have watched, while de Villiers may well be the most exciting batsman I've seen (Haven't seen too much of Viv, but I acknowledge his status as a legendary entertainer with the bat).

Who do you consider to be the most exciting cricketer ever?
 
It has to be Shahid Afridi for me. Surprised you have not included him in the list.
 
PakLFC said:
It has to be Shahid Afridi for me. Surprised you have not included him in the list.
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Disappointed too often. Personally, I also require the player to be of a certain quality to find him truly exciting. Knowing beforehand that Afridi will let the team down nine out of ten times was a major dampener as far as the excitement factor was concerned, in my opinion.

However, I am well aware that many will respond with the same answer as you.
 
I suppose it can be a little subjective. Not everyone will find the same player to be extremely exciting. I am certainly not claiming that Afridi was not an exciting player, but he does not make the list for me personally.
 
Muhammad10 said:
Disappointed too often. Personally, I also require the player to be of a certain quality to find him truly exciting. Knowing beforehand that Afridi will let the team down nine out of ten times was a major dampener as far as the excitement factor was concerned, in my opinion.

However, I am well aware that many will respond with the same answer as you.
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Agreed. If you had hope when he came in to bat, it was misplaced.

Gotta be Akhtar out of the bowlers.

Amongst batsmen, at various point in their careers: Sehwag, Gibbs, Gayle, AB.
 
Shoaib Akhtar with the ball.

Mitchell Johnson in his peak. Mitch's YouTube videos from 2013 are still worth watching, Absolute beast.
 
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Muhammad10 said:
Disappointed too often. Personally, I also require the player to be of a certain quality to find him truly exciting. Knowing beforehand that Afridi will let the team down nine out of ten times was a major dampener as far as the excitement factor was concerned, in my opinion.

However, I am well aware that many will respond with the same answer as you.
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Lala's excitement was his unpredictability. First ball could be out of the ground or his middle stump could be uprooted as well. Certainly not a legend in the purist sense but excitement was his middle name in my humble opinion.
 
Muhammad10 said:
I suppose it can be a little subjective. Not everyone will find the same player to be extremely exciting. I am certainly not claiming that Afridi was not an exciting player, but he does not make the list for me personally.
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Abdullah719 said:
Agreed. If you had hope when he came in to bat, it was misplaced.

Gotta be Akhtar out of the bowlers.

Amongst batsmen, at various point in their careers: Sehwag, Gibbs, Gayle, AB.
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Of the players you mentioned Sanath and Gayle disappointed just as often as Afridi
 
In response to the OP

- Kohli
- Afridi
- Razzaq
- Ponting
- Kamran Akmal (at his peak)
- Umar Akmal (at his peak)
- ABD
- QDK
- Dhoni
- Maxwell
 
This one I am almost certain - Sir Gary Sobers.

I won't go to the debate of comparing players of different era or the standard of cricket in 50s & 60s - but, no player in history had been so distinctively above his peer. May be Bradman, but he was a batsman only & not the most entertainer.

Sobers played the game, when it was more of a specialist game - top 6 bats, last 4 bowls & the WK is there or keeping, good if he averages in double digit, great, if it's in 20s. And, that generation didn't experience ODI cricket, played time less or 600 overs Test, played at 2+ run rate & hardly played to force a result - the game was more like art film - you admire the quality of acting & direction, more than the script or end story. In that era, he was like the Burz Khalifa, standing head and shoulders above - as a batsman, bowler or fielder. And, to his credit, he was stunning to watch - a flamboyant entertainer, who played the game for fun, led his side with true sportsman spirit & he was born with every skills of the game coming to him as second nature - I am sure he could have kept wicket as well, if he wished.

Sobers was once in a history player - no one came even near to his charisma in contemporary game. And, he was probably the first universal Cricket mega star - equally popular, admired & inspirational in WI, South Asia, Oceania & British Isles. I am sure, even is apartheid South Africa, he was the most, most admired cricket superstar.

I have my reservations regarding cricket before 70s, but the colossus named Gary Sobers was, is & will always be unique in history of cricket.
 
Lara..

Yet to see a player that can match the charisma..
 
From the current generation have to go with Kohli.

All time greatest, from what I have heard, seen on videos, and read on here would have to be Wasim Akram.
 
msb314 said:
Of the players you mentioned Sanath and Gayle disappointed just as often as Afridi
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Gayle has triple hundred in Tests and has 39 international hundreds. :danish

I know he's become a bit of a tullay baaz nowadays but at his prime, he was a destructive opener in all formats.
 
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From the current era, I feel Yasir has a bit of Warne about him in Tests. Poor ODI bowler, though.
 
Waqar Younis during that peak of his was absolutely majestic, all my senior peers rate him as one of the best strike bowlers ever and even though I personally never witnessed that peak myself, I started watching since 1997, but when on song Waqar was another beast altogether.

Shoaib Akhtar was somebody as well who got the blood pumping quite a few times. I remember his spell in Multan 2005 against the English where he blew the middle + lower order while defending that modest total and that Colombo 2002 spell against the Aussies. Genuine match winner and someone who could change the game within the blink of an eye.

Afridi, even after all his antics on and off the field, is quite an exciting cricketer (in all fairness) - The guy did win us a ICC World Event in 2009 so it's not like he was totally useless. The disappointing bit is that Afridi could've been much more of a cricketer had he actually played with his emotions in check since this kid had some serious batting and bowling talent when he first burst onto the scenes.
 
PakLFC said:
Lala's excitement was his unpredictability. First ball could be out of the ground or his middle stump could be uprooted as well. Certainly not a legend in the purist sense but excitement was his middle name in my humble opinion.
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Fair enough. I admitted he was an exciting player, but didn't find him to be among the most exciting. Maybe I would name him as one of the top ten exciting players that I've watched at best.
 
ahmedwaqas92 said:
Waqar Younis during that peak of his was absolutely majestic, all my senior peers rate him as one of the best strike bowlers ever and even though I personally never witnessed that peak myself, I started watching since 1997, but when on song Waqar was another beast altogether.

Shoaib Akhtar was somebody as well who got the blood pumping quite a few times. I remember his spell in Multan 2005 against the English where he blew the middle + lower order while defending that modest total and that Colombo 2002 spell against the Aussies. Genuine match winner and someone who could change the game within the blink of an eye.

Afridi, even after all his antics on and off the field, is quite an exciting cricketer (in all fairness) - The guy did win us a ICC World Event in 2009 so it's not like he was totally useless. The disappointing bit is that Afridi could've been much more of a cricketer had he actually played with his emotions in check since this kid had some serious batting and bowling talent when he first burst onto the scenes.
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Well said. Can't believe I overlooked a legend like Waqar. :facepalm: :kakmal
 
Abdullah719 said:
Gayle has triple hundred in Tests and has 39 international hundreds. :danish

I know he's become a bit of a tullay baaz nowadays but at his prime, he was a destructive opener in all formats.
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o
It's still crazy how most explosive players don't average higher. Gayle, Afridi, Jayasuriya all average under 40 in ODIs, it would be awesome if they scored at a higher average while maintaining that strike rate, but I guess that's the risk of trying to maximize the amount of boundaries.
 
Rayyman said:
o
It's still crazy how most explosive players don't average higher. Gayle, Afridi, Jayasuriya all average under 40 in ODIs, it would be awesome if they scored at a higher average while maintaining that strike rate, but I guess that's the risk of trying to maximize the amount of boundaries.
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Gayle averaged over 40 until his bad form.
 
I personally think Afridi. When he's on strike, fans around the world get a feeling like no other
 
Definitely Afridi, glad to have watched him during his best years in cricket (2011-2016) and I don't regret missing out on his career before 2011 since there wasn't anything special apart from the 2009 T20 WC win. 2011-2016 were golden years for Afridi who had notable innings in many matches.
 
Probably between Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Vivian Richards. Out of the ones I've seen, I'll go for Sachin in the 90's.
 
last decade was all about Afridi and Akhtar
currently Sharjeel and Fakhar and for bowlers Mohammed Amir
 
ExplicitAI said:
Definitely Afridi, glad to have watched him during his best years in cricket (2011-2016) and I don't regret missing out on his career before 2011 since there wasn't anything special apart from the 2009 T20 WC win. 2011-2016 were golden years for Afridi who had notable innings in many matches.
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Afridis best years were late 90s and early 2000. After 2011 people begged for his retirement.
 
Kevin Pietersen for me.

Never seen a batsman to dismiss the opposition the way he does. I haven't seen Viv play live so can't comment on him.
 
Sehwag in period 2008-2011. He was at his peak at that time and would finish games in 10 overs in ODI & one session in Test cricket.
 
also mitchell johnson in 2013 ashes and 2014 south africa series
 
Shahid Khan Afridi - his inconsistency and style of playing made him exciting to watch.
 
Most Exciting Cricketer Overall = Garry Sobers

Most Exciting Batsmen : Viv Richards
Brian Lara
Gordon Greenidge


Most Exciting Bowlers : Shoaib Akhtar and Michael Holding


Most Exciting All rounders : Sobers and Imran
 
The Googly said:
Most Exciting Cricketer Overall = Garry Sobers

Most Exciting Batsmen : Viv Richards
Brian Lara
Gordon Greenidge


Most Exciting Bowlers : Shoaib Akhtar and Michael Holding


Most Exciting All rounders : Sobers and Imran
Click to expand...

And spinner : Warne
 
todfod 11 said:
Afridis best years were late 90s and early 2000. After 2011 people begged for his retirement.
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Nah man he had too many match winning games from 2011-2016. It's just he had poor tournaments in the 2015 WC, 2012 T20 WC and the 2016 T20 (except for the Bangladesh game). The only time Afridi had a good time before 2011 was in 2005 during Woolmer's time as coach.
 
Lara, Viv and Kanhai had swag.

Warne, Akhtar, Wasim, and Johnson for a few years, also had swag.
 
Chris Cairns at his peak was also an exciting player. No one ever talks off him.
 
idrizzy said:
No one doubts his failures, but you can't doubt the aura he brings every time he's at the crease.
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I enjoyed watching his bowling more than his blind slogging which didn't work on faster pitches or against quality bowlers anyway.

Watching someone like Andre Russel tear apart bowlers is actually exciting to watch because there's a method to his striking. At times, he looks invincible.
 
Past, in descending order:

Lara at his peak, Lara in his middling period and Lara in wretched form.

There was no better sight in cricket than watching him bat. I even watch Darren Bravo because of the passing similarity of batting style, who isn't particularly exciting.

After Lara, there's a huge drop to Shoaib.

Currently, it's a toss-up between Amir and Kohli. I'd have chosen ABD and Steyn, but they're past their best, and unlikely to play Tests or thrill in that format.
 
Afridi: The guy who built a 20 year career based on excitement

The player has to have an aura and a flair about him that makes you want to keep your eyes glued to the TV screen. Watching such players is bound to cause an adrenaline rush and keep the viewers on the edge of their seats.
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Very few players have/had the aura and flair of Afridi. When he was out there with the bat in hand or ball, you knew something was about to happen and he kept your eyes glued to the screen. Adrenaline rush - keeping viewers on the edge of their seat - as [MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] said their is only on earth correct answer to this question
 
Shane Warne - I dont think history has ever seen a leggie bowling with such great control n huge spin

Akhter - at his peak shoaib was fast, fit n extremely box office

Sobers - To be able to bat big left handed with flair n bowl pace or spin u have to be a magic cricketer

Viv - The ultimate master blaster Viv batted like everyone dreamed To take on the best bowlers of his time with impunity made him a v special cricketer
 
In the current era, the most exciting Pakistani cricketer for me is Hasan Ali. Love watching a pacer with an aggressive attitude.
 
ExplicitAI said:
Nah man he had too many match winning games from 2011-2016. It's just he had poor tournaments in the 2015 WC, 2012 T20 WC and the 2016 T20 (except for the Bangladesh game). The only time Afridi had a good time before 2011 was in 2005 during Woolmer's time as coach.
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Afridi became household name in 90s. He could play at ease because the team was so strong and when he had no pressure then watch him bat and bowl. You should some of his batting video on youtube you will know what i mean. I personally find him very dissapointing after 2009 even though i was his big fan. but except for few innings here n there he didnt so much.
 
The one I have seen live (leaving Viv, because he was 35+ by then), the most exciting 2 has to be Lara & Wasim. At his full flow, Lara was almost unreal - his innings against Murali on rank turners is probably the highest level of perfection that I have ever seen. Wasim was a magician to watch - don't know what he was like to face :(

But, I'll stick to my 1st post - Gary Sobers was like watching Ronny O'Sullivan - who could win it at will & win it with own style.
 
Watching Bradman would be terribly boring considering he was guaranteed to succeed almost every single time.

It leaves almost no space for other "possibilities"
 
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PakLFC said:
Chris Cairns at his peak was also an exciting player. No one ever talks off him.
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Agreed.

Similar to Shahid Afridi, but a much better Test player.

I think [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] is right to go for Sobers, but I suspect in terms of emptying bars at the ground to get fans back into the stands to watch, it's either Keith Miller or Ian Botham.
 
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Junaids said:
Agreed.

Similar to Shahid Afridi, but a much better Test player.

I think [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] is right to go for Sobers, but I suspect in terms of emptying bars at the ground to get fans back into the stands to watch, it's either Keith Miller or Ian Botham.
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Miller was among my top 2-3, for the craze among youngsters. Imran as well - extremely popular even in IND, but I think, Sir Gary of 60s was unique.
 
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Among those I have seen - Lillee, Richards, Botham, Marshall, Waqar.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Gayle has triple hundred in Tests and has 39 international hundreds. :danish

I know he's become a bit of a tullay baaz nowadays but at his prime, he was a destructive opener in all formats.
Click to expand...

Take away those triple hundreds and you will see how inconsistent and poor he was - flattered to deceive more often than not.

Poor mans Sehwag at best...

Same for Jayasuriya - destructive but not any more reliable than Afridi was.

Their peaks however were far greater than Afridis - I'll give them that lol
 
ahmedwaqas92 said:
Waqar Younis during that peak of his was absolutely majestic, all my senior peers rate him as one of the best strike bowlers ever and even though I personally never witnessed that peak myself, I started watching since 1997, but when on song Waqar was another beast altogether.

Shoaib Akhtar was somebody as well who got the blood pumping quite a few times. I remember his spell in Multan 2005 against the English where he blew the middle + lower order while defending that modest total and that Colombo 2002 spell against the Aussies. Genuine match winner and someone who could change the game within the blink of an eye.

Afridi, even after all his antics on and off the field, is quite an exciting cricketer (in all fairness) - The guy did win us a ICC World Event in 2009 so it's not like he was totally useless. The disappointing bit is that Afridi could've been much more of a cricketer had he actually played with his emotions in check since this kid had some serious batting and bowling talent when he first burst onto the scenes.
Click to expand...

haha bro I remember that.

Saw that match on TV.

The ball he bowled to clean bowl Truscothick was just epic. Him and Kaneria were insane that series.
 
Of the bowlers - I think Amir is the most exciting nowadays.

Always expect him to take wickets with the new ball during the first few overs - makes things happen.
 
ExplicitAI said:
Definitely Afridi, glad to have watched him during his best years in cricket (2011-2016) and I don't regret missing out on his career before 2011 since there wasn't anything special apart from the 2009 T20 WC win. 2011-2016 were golden years for Afridi who had notable innings in many matches.
Click to expand...

LOL his best years were from 2004-2007.

In fact, most of our players did enjoy their peak years under Woolmer's coaching.

Afridi had a resurgence with the ball from 2011-13 but was mediocre otherwise.
 
msb314 said:
Of the bowlers - I think Amir is the most exciting nowadays.

Always expect him to take wickets with the new ball during the first few overs - makes things happen.
Click to expand...

I find his bowling very entertaining when he gets on a roll, (like the CT17 final) but I don't think he has been as much of a consistent threat as Hasan since he returned from his ban. Needs to have fewer matches where he goes wicketless or struggles to make an impact.
 
Muhammad10 said:
I find his bowling very entertaining when he gets on a roll, (like the CT17 final) but I don't think he has been as much of a consistent threat as Hasan since he returned from his ban. Needs to have fewer matches where he goes wicketless or struggles to make an impact.
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Amir just needs to pitch up more to extract more assistance from the pitch.

With the new ball - there is always a chance he strike early in his spell.

I like Hassan, don't get me wrong, but I think the wheels will come off at some point. He has pace going for him and can get some reverse swing but he needs to find a way to be more economical in flat wickets.

I remember he almost went for a 100 runs during the 4th of 5th ODI against Australia earlier in the year - Amir is unlikely to have such figures so Hassan needs to work on that aspect.
 
msb314 said:
To put things in perspective - Gayle averaged 15 in ODIs from 2013-15.
Click to expand...

That's still more than half of Afridi's career batting average, despite it being a mere lean patch that lasted two years.

Gayle was always far more consistently destructive and a lot more capable of playing big, match-winning knocks than Afridi was. Afridi rarely scored enough runs for his innings to amount to anything more than a glorified cameo.

Gayle had 39 hundreds across all formats at an overall average of almost 39 and averaged over one six per every international match.
Meanwhile, Afridi only had 11 hundreds in internationals despite playing 100 more matches than Gayle. He also averaged less than a six per game and it's pretty obvious that Gayle was a far superior, cleaner six-hitter.

None of this even takes into account Gayle's legendary T20 career where he had 16 hundreds (excluding T20Is), while Afridi had zero T20 hundreds in over 250 games! He averaged over 2.5 sixes per T20, while Afridi averaged less than 0.8 sixes per T20! I think the quality of the two is incomparable.
 
msb314 said:
Amir just needs to pitch up more to extract more assistance from the pitch.

With the new ball - there is always a chance he strike early in his spell.

I like Hassan, don't get me wrong, but I think the wheels will come off at some point. He has pace going for him and can get some reverse swing but he needs to find a way to be more economical in flat wickets.

I remember he almost went for a 100 runs during the 4th of 5th ODI against Australia earlier in the year - Amir is unlikely to have such figures so Hassan needs to work on that aspect.
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For me, what makes Hasan such an exciting player is his aggressive approach. It may not always work, but it makes him an extremely entertaining pacer to watch and has yielded great results so far.
 
Starc is probably the most entertaining pacer in world cricket at the moment. No one else can bowl yorkers at express pace to demolish the batsman's stumps as consistently as he does.
 
Out of the players I have seen

Batsmen-Kohli,ABD,KP,Lara,QDK,Sannath,Sehwag

Bowlers-Starc,Warne,Akthar,Asif,Murali.
 
Misbah ul Haq / Moeen Ali [MENTION=865]Big Mac[/MENTION], Shoaib Akhtar, Adam Gilchrist, KP, Matthew Hayden, Brian Lara, Saqlain Mushtaq, Wasim Akram, Asif, Dale Steyn, Murali, Sehwag , Mohammad Amir and Adil Rashid / Ishant Sharma for the giggles [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION]
 
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