Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
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In this list I am ranking in my order of merit the best post-war batsmen against express pace or genuinely fast bowling .Considering the nature of wickets were different in the pre-war era I have avoided assesing the merits of Trumper,Headley,Hobbs,Hammond,Hutton,Compton etc.or even Bradman of the 1930's.I have not only considered mere statistics but also batting skill,ability to dominate and bat for your life.Morally Bradman never proved himself against the express pace bowling and though he was certainly the best batsmen of all time had his major career before the war.I don't deny that he may have had the best average if he played in later eras but still doubt he would surpass Viv or Kanhai against genuine pace bowling.I have considered the fact that wickets got easier from the 1990's and protective headgear made it easier for batsmen.
1.Viv Richards
The undisputed king who took batting domination to it's highest zenith playing express pace with the conviction of an executioner beheading a convict.Viv from 1976-81,particularly in WSC took genuine pace to the sword like no batsmen ever,True,like Gavaskar and the Chappell brothers he never encountered the lethal Carribean quartet of the 1970's or 80's but his body language when batting virtually told the story.Can't imagine even Bradman or Tendulkar treat Dennis Lillee with the disdain that Viv Did,even hooking of the front foot.All fans must read what Lillee and Imran felt about him when bowling.
2.Rohan Kanhai
A touch less dominating as Viv and not as merciless but still took batting genius to a depth no batsmen ever did.No batsmen was ever as inventive as Kanhai who had a characteristic trademark falling hook shot.His 118 at Perth in 1972 was one of the greatest exhibition sof batting or counter-attack on fast wicket.Prolific against likes of Fred Trueman,John Snow,Alan Davidson and Denis Lillee at their best.Destroyed pace like a soldier.boxer,surgeon and pianist moulded into one,merging power,courage technical skill and artistry in proportion like noone else.
3.Garfield Sobers
Blended technical skill and power like a boxer and surgeon moulded into one.No batsmen played great pace with more force.Irrespective of the condition s Sobers could pulverize a great pace attack like when scoring 254 at Melbourne in 1972.No paceman could intimidate Gary who attacked every great pacemna like a sword piercing flesh.
4.Graham Gooch
Played the great set pace quartet in the history of the game better than any opening batsmen ever like when averaging over 57 in the Carribean in 1981 and scoring 154 out of 272 at Leeds in 1991.Never seen an opener play great pace with such conviction like Gooch and his 153 at Jamaica in 1981 was a classic.More prolific than Gavaskar against the best Calypso pace bowling.
5=David Gower/Colin Cowdrey
Both maestros against pace.Gower was the epitome of grace and elegance while Cowdrey was a great exponent of technical skill and artistry..Both had sublime natural ability and on their day took cricketing genius to it's highest degree.Never saw a left-hander play great pace with the remorseless ease of Gower who reminded one of a mother putting a child to sleep..Gower scored an unbeaten 154 at Antigua against the 4 pronged Carribean pace attack and aggregated 732 run sin the 1985 home ashse serise facing the likes of Craig Mcdermott and Geoff Lawson.while Cowdrey's best was his 102 out of 191 at Melbourne in 1954 and his 97 and 11 at Kingston in 1959-60.Their defeats touches would punish the fastest of deliveries.
7.Ian Chappell
Statistics never tell the true story but on fast wicket or against great pace he overshadowed brother Greg.West Indies paceman always prized Ina's wicket more than Greg.His 156 out of 328 at Perth in 1975-76 revealed his great tenacity against express pace and his 141 in the 3rd Wsc Supertest v West Indies in 1977-78.Imran Khan rated Ian one of the 3 best batsmen of the 1970's.Master of the hookshot.Could keep the scoreboard ticking more than Border.
8.Barry Richards
In a full test career would have backed Barry to even join Viv or atleast be runner-up to Viv and Kanhai.Barry revealed batting perfection at it's highest zenith blending technical skill and agression like no batsmen ever.In WSC against Australia down under in 1977-78 he scored an unbeaten 125 and 207 where he overshadowed even Viv Richards.Bradman rated Barry as the best batsmen he saw.Rated at no 8 because he did not face the great West Indians and hardly played test cricket.
9=.Inzamam Ul Haq/Ricky Ponting
Both batted more like Viv Richards than any batsmen of their era with razor sharp reflexes who never got cowed down by the short ball.Ponting batted like champion staging Wasim akram and Shoaib Akhatar in 1999 and averaged over 46 in South Africa.Inzamam averaged over 55 in West Inside against the lethal Ambrose and Walsh and overall had abetter record against West Indies than Tendulkar or Dravid.Although Inzy has a relatively lower average against Australia and South Africa at his best he was master like when scoring a century at Hobart in 1999 and 94 in South Africa in 1994.I feel both had more time to execute strokes against express pace than Sachin or Lara.Ponting's statistics support him Inzy's do not ,but I have considered skill and ability here.
11.Alan Border
The best ever defensive left-hander against express pace.His averaging over 74 against the greatest attack in the Caribbean including match-saving 98 and 100 at Trinidad in 1984 are a testimony to this.To bat for your life no batsmen was better in his era.
12.Clive Lloyd
Played Lillee and Thomson at their quickest better than any batsmen of his era topping the aggregate and averages in 1975-76 down under scoring 469 run sat 46.90.In acrisis almost always came out on top and played some of West Indian cricket's most defining innings.Example is his 121 at Adelaide that won West Indies their 1st Frank Worrel tropy in Australia,unbeaten 77 at Adelaide tat enabled them to retain the Frank Worrel trophy and his 102 in the 1979 world cup fina.At his best reminiscent of a tiger leaping on it's prey.
13.Gundappa Vishwanath
Strokes created the effect of a lotus blooming and the wizardry of a magician.At his best Vishy could join even the Viv Richards.His unbeaten 97 at Madras in 1975-76 ranks amongst test cricket's finest test innings ever where Vishy bissected the field on the quickest of pitches against the most hostile attack with the touches of a concert pianist.On fast,bouncy tracks Vishy would more than often overshadow brother-in-law Sunil Gavaskar.His 114 at Melbourne in 1980-81 and 124 v West Indies at Madras in 1978-79 are a testimony to this.
14.V.V.S.Laxman
Technically not a master but flourished against genuine pace more than ever Sachin.His record against the Australian attack of his day is a testimony to this.Posessed a golden touch against quickies like noone of his era and his 281 at Kolkata in 2001 or centuries in Australia in 2003-04 and 2008-9 are a testimony to this.No doubt Tendulkar was overall convincingly better in South Africa and Australia but against express pace I would always back V.V.S who posessed the genius of a Michelangelo.The best batsmen of his era in 4th innings run chases.
15.Sunil Gavaskar
The greatest defensive batsmen against great pace bowling and to bat for your life the best ever opening batsmen.Broke all the batting records against the most lethal pace bowlers ever.Not rated at the top as his best batting was not against the 4 pronged Carribean pace battery of the 1970's and 80's but against the weaker attacks of 1970-71 and 1978-79 and averaged around 43 aginst the great Calypso battery overall.Neverthless he did score 3 centuries including a double against them with his 90 at Ahmedabad in 1983-84 an absolute gem as well as his 129 at Delhi.
16.Majid Khan
On his day took bating genius to it's highest depth .His 167 at Georgetown was a gem in 1977 when he ressurected Pakistan from the grave to save a test,facing Garner,Roberts and Croft.Also scored 158 at Melbourne against the likes of Lillee.Few batsmen could treat even the god balls with such contempt.The best exponent of the hook shot after Viv Richards.
17.Sachin Tendulkar
Maybe the best batsmen ever but played in an era of helmets and protective headgear.A champion in the 'V' but bot always comfortable against the short-pitched rising delivery or bouncer.Did not posess the reflexes of Viv and Inzamam or the wrists of Gower or Vishwanath.
18.Brian Lara
Just a nose behind Sachin against great pace as he did not score a single test century against a great genuinely quick bowler like Wasim Akram or Alan Donald.On his day would probably overshadow Tendulkar or maybe even Sobers but Lara did not prove himself against great express pace as his great double centuries in Australia were staging bowlers like Mcdermott,Merv Hughes and Bret Lee.Lara at times fell into discomfort against the rising ball,unlike Viv.
19.Greg Chappell
Statistically a giant and arguably the best batsmen of the 1970's against great fast bowling.However was not at his best against the short,rising ball like in the 1979-80 series against West Indies.Overshadowed on quick wickets by Viv and Barry Richards or brother Ian and not as tenacious as Border or Gavaskar.
20.Martin Crowe
The epitome of batting skill whose strokes flourished like roses blooming in the spring.
21.Mark Waugh
As talented as Sachin or Lara who could tackle great pace in the manner of champion.A master on the onside.His match-winning 125 at Durban in 1997 was one of the bets ever innings in arun chase.Played Wasim,Donald and Ambrose with more certainty than brother Steve .
22.Rahul Dravid
The ultimate Wall who was often the equivalent of a boulder withstanding a gale.The best batsmen down under in 2003-4 aggregating 616 runs and arguably the best batsmen in the world from 2002-06.Alos at his best at Kingston in 2006 on bad wicket where his defiance enabled India to win the test.Rated low because he did not take the attacks to the shreds and not at his best in the initial overs.In a crisis the best batsmen of his time.
23.Graeme Pollock
A batting genius but never fully tested against express pace or hostile short-pitched bowling.Sorry ,he could have been even an equal of Viv or Barry but this rating is based only on great pace bowling.In a full career Graeme would probably have atleast been as good as Tendulkar against great pace.
24.Martin Crowe
The epitome of batting skill whose strokes flourished like roses blooming in the spring.
25.Alvin Kalicharan-
A Left-handed Rohan Kanhai who on his day could devour great pace like a tiger tearing his prey.Mercilessly tore Lillee and Thosmon in league match of 1975 World cup.
26.Kevin Piterson
relished genuine pace like few batsmen ever and literally determined the fate of the 2005 and 2009-10 Ashes.
27=.Wasim Raja/Mohinder Amarnath
Both played great West Indian pace bowling on Carribean better than any batting greats of their era .Wasim averaged 57.71 in 1977 while Amarnath aggregated 589 runs at an average of 66.83 in 1983.Wasim was more artistic while Mohinder was more technicality accomplished.
29.Javed Miandad
Statistically not so great against great pace but neverthless the ultimate street fighter.Batted like a champion in the Carribean in 1988 averaging over 57 with 2 centuries.Wore down great pace niggling bowlers like few other batsmen.
30.Dilip Vengsarkar
Similar to Greg Chapell in many ways with a flourish for drives ,particularly on the onside.Very prolific against West Inside in 1983-84 and 1987-88 averaging over 50 and over 100.
1.Viv Richards
The undisputed king who took batting domination to it's highest zenith playing express pace with the conviction of an executioner beheading a convict.Viv from 1976-81,particularly in WSC took genuine pace to the sword like no batsmen ever,True,like Gavaskar and the Chappell brothers he never encountered the lethal Carribean quartet of the 1970's or 80's but his body language when batting virtually told the story.Can't imagine even Bradman or Tendulkar treat Dennis Lillee with the disdain that Viv Did,even hooking of the front foot.All fans must read what Lillee and Imran felt about him when bowling.
2.Rohan Kanhai
A touch less dominating as Viv and not as merciless but still took batting genius to a depth no batsmen ever did.No batsmen was ever as inventive as Kanhai who had a characteristic trademark falling hook shot.His 118 at Perth in 1972 was one of the greatest exhibition sof batting or counter-attack on fast wicket.Prolific against likes of Fred Trueman,John Snow,Alan Davidson and Denis Lillee at their best.Destroyed pace like a soldier.boxer,surgeon and pianist moulded into one,merging power,courage technical skill and artistry in proportion like noone else.
3.Garfield Sobers
Blended technical skill and power like a boxer and surgeon moulded into one.No batsmen played great pace with more force.Irrespective of the condition s Sobers could pulverize a great pace attack like when scoring 254 at Melbourne in 1972.No paceman could intimidate Gary who attacked every great pacemna like a sword piercing flesh.
4.Graham Gooch
Played the great set pace quartet in the history of the game better than any opening batsmen ever like when averaging over 57 in the Carribean in 1981 and scoring 154 out of 272 at Leeds in 1991.Never seen an opener play great pace with such conviction like Gooch and his 153 at Jamaica in 1981 was a classic.More prolific than Gavaskar against the best Calypso pace bowling.
5=David Gower/Colin Cowdrey
Both maestros against pace.Gower was the epitome of grace and elegance while Cowdrey was a great exponent of technical skill and artistry..Both had sublime natural ability and on their day took cricketing genius to it's highest degree.Never saw a left-hander play great pace with the remorseless ease of Gower who reminded one of a mother putting a child to sleep..Gower scored an unbeaten 154 at Antigua against the 4 pronged Carribean pace attack and aggregated 732 run sin the 1985 home ashse serise facing the likes of Craig Mcdermott and Geoff Lawson.while Cowdrey's best was his 102 out of 191 at Melbourne in 1954 and his 97 and 11 at Kingston in 1959-60.Their defeats touches would punish the fastest of deliveries.
7.Ian Chappell
Statistics never tell the true story but on fast wicket or against great pace he overshadowed brother Greg.West Indies paceman always prized Ina's wicket more than Greg.His 156 out of 328 at Perth in 1975-76 revealed his great tenacity against express pace and his 141 in the 3rd Wsc Supertest v West Indies in 1977-78.Imran Khan rated Ian one of the 3 best batsmen of the 1970's.Master of the hookshot.Could keep the scoreboard ticking more than Border.
8.Barry Richards
In a full test career would have backed Barry to even join Viv or atleast be runner-up to Viv and Kanhai.Barry revealed batting perfection at it's highest zenith blending technical skill and agression like no batsmen ever.In WSC against Australia down under in 1977-78 he scored an unbeaten 125 and 207 where he overshadowed even Viv Richards.Bradman rated Barry as the best batsmen he saw.Rated at no 8 because he did not face the great West Indians and hardly played test cricket.
9=.Inzamam Ul Haq/Ricky Ponting
Both batted more like Viv Richards than any batsmen of their era with razor sharp reflexes who never got cowed down by the short ball.Ponting batted like champion staging Wasim akram and Shoaib Akhatar in 1999 and averaged over 46 in South Africa.Inzamam averaged over 55 in West Inside against the lethal Ambrose and Walsh and overall had abetter record against West Indies than Tendulkar or Dravid.Although Inzy has a relatively lower average against Australia and South Africa at his best he was master like when scoring a century at Hobart in 1999 and 94 in South Africa in 1994.I feel both had more time to execute strokes against express pace than Sachin or Lara.Ponting's statistics support him Inzy's do not ,but I have considered skill and ability here.
11.Alan Border
The best ever defensive left-hander against express pace.His averaging over 74 against the greatest attack in the Caribbean including match-saving 98 and 100 at Trinidad in 1984 are a testimony to this.To bat for your life no batsmen was better in his era.
12.Clive Lloyd
Played Lillee and Thomson at their quickest better than any batsmen of his era topping the aggregate and averages in 1975-76 down under scoring 469 run sat 46.90.In acrisis almost always came out on top and played some of West Indian cricket's most defining innings.Example is his 121 at Adelaide that won West Indies their 1st Frank Worrel tropy in Australia,unbeaten 77 at Adelaide tat enabled them to retain the Frank Worrel trophy and his 102 in the 1979 world cup fina.At his best reminiscent of a tiger leaping on it's prey.
13.Gundappa Vishwanath
Strokes created the effect of a lotus blooming and the wizardry of a magician.At his best Vishy could join even the Viv Richards.His unbeaten 97 at Madras in 1975-76 ranks amongst test cricket's finest test innings ever where Vishy bissected the field on the quickest of pitches against the most hostile attack with the touches of a concert pianist.On fast,bouncy tracks Vishy would more than often overshadow brother-in-law Sunil Gavaskar.His 114 at Melbourne in 1980-81 and 124 v West Indies at Madras in 1978-79 are a testimony to this.
14.V.V.S.Laxman
Technically not a master but flourished against genuine pace more than ever Sachin.His record against the Australian attack of his day is a testimony to this.Posessed a golden touch against quickies like noone of his era and his 281 at Kolkata in 2001 or centuries in Australia in 2003-04 and 2008-9 are a testimony to this.No doubt Tendulkar was overall convincingly better in South Africa and Australia but against express pace I would always back V.V.S who posessed the genius of a Michelangelo.The best batsmen of his era in 4th innings run chases.
15.Sunil Gavaskar
The greatest defensive batsmen against great pace bowling and to bat for your life the best ever opening batsmen.Broke all the batting records against the most lethal pace bowlers ever.Not rated at the top as his best batting was not against the 4 pronged Carribean pace battery of the 1970's and 80's but against the weaker attacks of 1970-71 and 1978-79 and averaged around 43 aginst the great Calypso battery overall.Neverthless he did score 3 centuries including a double against them with his 90 at Ahmedabad in 1983-84 an absolute gem as well as his 129 at Delhi.
16.Majid Khan
On his day took bating genius to it's highest depth .His 167 at Georgetown was a gem in 1977 when he ressurected Pakistan from the grave to save a test,facing Garner,Roberts and Croft.Also scored 158 at Melbourne against the likes of Lillee.Few batsmen could treat even the god balls with such contempt.The best exponent of the hook shot after Viv Richards.
17.Sachin Tendulkar
Maybe the best batsmen ever but played in an era of helmets and protective headgear.A champion in the 'V' but bot always comfortable against the short-pitched rising delivery or bouncer.Did not posess the reflexes of Viv and Inzamam or the wrists of Gower or Vishwanath.
18.Brian Lara
Just a nose behind Sachin against great pace as he did not score a single test century against a great genuinely quick bowler like Wasim Akram or Alan Donald.On his day would probably overshadow Tendulkar or maybe even Sobers but Lara did not prove himself against great express pace as his great double centuries in Australia were staging bowlers like Mcdermott,Merv Hughes and Bret Lee.Lara at times fell into discomfort against the rising ball,unlike Viv.
19.Greg Chappell
Statistically a giant and arguably the best batsmen of the 1970's against great fast bowling.However was not at his best against the short,rising ball like in the 1979-80 series against West Indies.Overshadowed on quick wickets by Viv and Barry Richards or brother Ian and not as tenacious as Border or Gavaskar.
20.Martin Crowe
The epitome of batting skill whose strokes flourished like roses blooming in the spring.
21.Mark Waugh
As talented as Sachin or Lara who could tackle great pace in the manner of champion.A master on the onside.His match-winning 125 at Durban in 1997 was one of the bets ever innings in arun chase.Played Wasim,Donald and Ambrose with more certainty than brother Steve .
22.Rahul Dravid
The ultimate Wall who was often the equivalent of a boulder withstanding a gale.The best batsmen down under in 2003-4 aggregating 616 runs and arguably the best batsmen in the world from 2002-06.Alos at his best at Kingston in 2006 on bad wicket where his defiance enabled India to win the test.Rated low because he did not take the attacks to the shreds and not at his best in the initial overs.In a crisis the best batsmen of his time.
23.Graeme Pollock
A batting genius but never fully tested against express pace or hostile short-pitched bowling.Sorry ,he could have been even an equal of Viv or Barry but this rating is based only on great pace bowling.In a full career Graeme would probably have atleast been as good as Tendulkar against great pace.
24.Martin Crowe
The epitome of batting skill whose strokes flourished like roses blooming in the spring.
25.Alvin Kalicharan-
A Left-handed Rohan Kanhai who on his day could devour great pace like a tiger tearing his prey.Mercilessly tore Lillee and Thosmon in league match of 1975 World cup.
26.Kevin Piterson
relished genuine pace like few batsmen ever and literally determined the fate of the 2005 and 2009-10 Ashes.
27=.Wasim Raja/Mohinder Amarnath
Both played great West Indian pace bowling on Carribean better than any batting greats of their era .Wasim averaged 57.71 in 1977 while Amarnath aggregated 589 runs at an average of 66.83 in 1983.Wasim was more artistic while Mohinder was more technicality accomplished.
29.Javed Miandad
Statistically not so great against great pace but neverthless the ultimate street fighter.Batted like a champion in the Carribean in 1988 averaging over 57 with 2 centuries.Wore down great pace niggling bowlers like few other batsmen.
30.Dilip Vengsarkar
Similar to Greg Chapell in many ways with a flourish for drives ,particularly on the onside.Very prolific against West Inside in 1983-84 and 1987-88 averaging over 50 and over 100.
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