Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
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When comparing some great batsmen in the history of the game belonging to similar eras there are some who are only seperated by the margin of a whisker.In the few batsmen were more exciting than Graham Gooch or Gordon Greenidge and no opening batsmen were more consistently dominating.Both carved out a niche amongst the all-time great batsmen.Both were prolific at the level of the best batsmen in their peak.Very batsmen ever came into such touching distance of each other as Gooch and Greenidge,both opening batsmen.
It is amazing that in all 3 books choosing the top 100 cricketers of all time Gooch is selected but Greenidge is ommited.As surprisingly when choosing all time world XI's in Richard Sydenham's 100 cricket legend's all-time World XI book no player selected Gooch but Greenidge won 26 votes.Greenidge won more votes than even Barry Richards.Many cricketers chose Greenidge to join Gavaskar rather than Boycott or Barry Richards,like Dean Jones and Waqar Younus or even Jeff Dujon.Some preferred Greenidge to Gavaskar.John Woodcock placed Gooch at 53rd place,Cristopher Martin Jenkins at 43rd and Geoff Armstrong at 83rd.
To me it is a virtual photo as both had averages close to each other and a similar number of centuries.What placed the verdict in favour of Gooch was his prolific scores against the greatest West Indies pace attack of all time in 1981 in West Indies and in 1991 in England.Gooch averaged 57.71 in the Caribaen in 1981 and scored an unbeaten 154 at Leeds in 1991 against them.Gooch was also more prolific in first class cricket aggregating over 40000 runs with over 100 centuries.Against pure pace Gooch proved himself more than Gordon.In Gordon's favour are his reaching close to the the stature of the best batsmen in the world in the mid 1980's ,more match-wining efforts and better O.D.I.record.Greenidge was also technically sounder although Graham was more combative.Greenidge had more power but at his best Gooch could surpass him in terms of sheer domination.Arguably on bad wicket Gooch could be the stauncher competitor.Greenidge averaged 44.72 with 19 hundreds and 7558 runs while Gooch averaged 42.58 with 20 centuries and aggregated 8900 runs.Gooch's best ever knock of 154 n.o v West Indies at Leeds marginally just edges Greenidge's best effort of an unbeaten 214 at Lords in 1984.
To me where Greenidge may just win in International cricket were his greater consistency and higher technical skill.Adding 1st class cricket Gooch would rate ahead.Arguably Greenidge was more complete with more clinical precision.
It is amazing that in all 3 books choosing the top 100 cricketers of all time Gooch is selected but Greenidge is ommited.As surprisingly when choosing all time world XI's in Richard Sydenham's 100 cricket legend's all-time World XI book no player selected Gooch but Greenidge won 26 votes.Greenidge won more votes than even Barry Richards.Many cricketers chose Greenidge to join Gavaskar rather than Boycott or Barry Richards,like Dean Jones and Waqar Younus or even Jeff Dujon.Some preferred Greenidge to Gavaskar.John Woodcock placed Gooch at 53rd place,Cristopher Martin Jenkins at 43rd and Geoff Armstrong at 83rd.
To me it is a virtual photo as both had averages close to each other and a similar number of centuries.What placed the verdict in favour of Gooch was his prolific scores against the greatest West Indies pace attack of all time in 1981 in West Indies and in 1991 in England.Gooch averaged 57.71 in the Caribaen in 1981 and scored an unbeaten 154 at Leeds in 1991 against them.Gooch was also more prolific in first class cricket aggregating over 40000 runs with over 100 centuries.Against pure pace Gooch proved himself more than Gordon.In Gordon's favour are his reaching close to the the stature of the best batsmen in the world in the mid 1980's ,more match-wining efforts and better O.D.I.record.Greenidge was also technically sounder although Graham was more combative.Greenidge had more power but at his best Gooch could surpass him in terms of sheer domination.Arguably on bad wicket Gooch could be the stauncher competitor.Greenidge averaged 44.72 with 19 hundreds and 7558 runs while Gooch averaged 42.58 with 20 centuries and aggregated 8900 runs.Gooch's best ever knock of 154 n.o v West Indies at Leeds marginally just edges Greenidge's best effort of an unbeaten 214 at Lords in 1984.
To me where Greenidge may just win in International cricket were his greater consistency and higher technical skill.Adding 1st class cricket Gooch would rate ahead.Arguably Greenidge was more complete with more clinical precision.
