Who were the best batsmen against genuine pace in the 1990s and 2000s?

[Harsh Thakor]

These are my lists in tentative order of merit for the best batsmen against genuine pace of decade of 1990's and 2000-10.


1990's list


1.Inzamam Ul Haq
2.Sachin Tendulkar
3.Brian Lara
4.Mark Waugh
5.Aravinda De'Silva
6.Steve Waugh
7.Robin Smith
8.Richie Richardson
9.Salim Malik
10.Mark Taylor
11.Alec Stewart
12.Saed Anwar

Inzy's ease and reflexes against express pace and record in the Carribean and at home against West Indies speak s for itself and his batting in South Africa in 1994.No doubt he was inconsistent but played great pace on bouncy surfaces with greater ease than Lara or Sachin.Lara was a genius but was often caught hopping against short-pitched stuff while Tendulkar also could be unsettled.Mark Waugh overall was not as good as brother Steve but had more skill and better wristwork against genuine pace on fast tracks.His bating in 1998-99 at home v South Africa,versus Pakistan in 19995-96,in West Indies in 1991 and his 125 at Durban in 1997 are a testimony to this.He posssed the fluidity of Sachin or Lara on his day.Steve Waugh could mater the worst of wickets and was the best in a crisis although initially he had trouble against the bouncing ball.Aravinda De'Silva was technical organization personified against high pace.Robin Smith was the ultimate epitome of grit and defiance in the West Indies in 1994 giving echoes of past stalwarts like Amarnath and Border in displaying death defying courage against great pace.Richardson on his day batted like Viv Richards.Salim Malik exhibited great skill in counter-attacking fast bowling.Mark Taylor was one of the hardest ever to dismiss.Stewart could bat for his life as much as anyone.Anwar on his day could rip pace attacks apart.

2000-10 list

1.Ricky Ponting
2.V.V.S.Laxman
3.Kevin Pieterson
4.Sachin Tendulkar
5.Brian Lara
6.Rahul Dravid
7.Graeme Smith
8.Matthew Hayden
9.Kumar Sangakaara
10.Virendra Sehwag
11.Mahela Jayewardene
12.Adam Gilchrist


Ponting played more like Viv Richards more than anyone in his era and took the likes of Shoiab Akhtar and Wasim Akram to the sword.No batsmen was a better master of the pull and hook shot or played the short piched delivery so adeptly.V.V.S.Laxman tackled great pace with a poetic touch and a magician's skill overshadowing any batsmen on the ,2001 home series with Australia,2003-04 tour of Australia and also played some truly great innings later versus Australia away and at home.He averaged less than Tendulkar against Australia but was considerably better than Sachin in the 4th innings and in winning games.His 281 v Australai at Kolkata ressurected India from the grave with Rahul Dravid and history repeated itself at Adelaide in 2003-04.Kevin Pieterson too like Ponting rsembled Viv Richards and masacred pacemna like Bret Lee ,Mitchell Johnson and Shoaib Akhtar.At his best he could create the effect of a blitzkreig.Rahul Dravid was the ultimate epitome of technical skil and determination as he proved in Australia in 2--03-04 and in West Indies in 2006.Made the impact of a boulder withstanding the strongest gale when batting combating great pace.Smith had great skill tackling the new ball on any type of pitch.Hayden could be a master -blaster on his day.Sangkaara was elegance personified.Sehwag on flat track could overhsadow anyone with some startling exhibitions of batting against Australia and South Africa away and at home.Jayewardene was an epitome of grace.Gilchrist on his day crucified opponents more than any batsmen for many a decade.

 

[TQ89]

Inzy failed a lot in conditions suited to fast bowling though he had the gift for playing fast bowling. He just couldn't maximise it as he should have and under-achieved.

 

[Junaids]

I'm biased, because I went to school with him, but I'd say Athers for his epic innings against Allan Donald.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I'm biased, because I went to school with him, but I'd say Athers for his epic innings against Allan Donald.

Morally where would Inzy rank against pace?above Sachin or Lara?equal to Ponting and Chappell brothers,particularly Ian Chappell?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Inzy failed a lot in conditions suited to fast bowling though he had the gift for playing fast bowling. He just couldn't maximise it as he should have and under-achieved.

ahead of Lara and Tendulkar in your view against pace or later V.V.S.Laxman ,Pieterson and Ponting?

 

[TQ89]

ahead of Lara and Tendulkar in your view against pace or later V.V.S.Laxman ,Pieterson and Ponting?

Certainly not ahead of lara & tendulkar. Can put him in VVS laxman category

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Morally where would Inzy rank against pace?above Sachin or Lara?equal to Ponting and Chappell brothers,particularly Ian Chappell?

please reply. want your opinion as it is complex to analyze

 

[Junaids]

Morally where would Inzy rank against pace?above Sachin or Lara?equal to Ponting and Chappell brothers,particularly Ian Chappell?

I think he had the ability but was mentally weak, to be honest.

In the West indies in 92-93 Inzamam was AWOL until the series had already been won by Lara and Haynes.

It's outside the range of this thread, but I liked the two Richards and Greg Chappell best against pace, with Allan Border just behind.

Tendulkar was also superb, better than Lara against genuine pace.

 

[Junaids]

please reply. want your opinion as it is complex to analyze

I missed the best of Ian Chappell. He was a better puller and hooker and cutter than his brother, but he sometimes played too many shots and got himself out.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I think he had the ability but was mentally weak, to be honest.

In the West indies in 92-93 Inzamam was AWOL until the series had already been won by Lara and Haynes.

It's outside the range of this thread, but I liked the two Richards and Greg Chappell best against pace, with Allan Border just behind.

Tendulkar was also superb, better than Lara against genuine pace.

Where would you rank Gavaskar compared to Greg Chappell against pace ?I rate him marginally ahead of Greg and Sachin.

 

[Junaids]

Where would you rank Gavaskar compared to Greg Chappell against pace ?I rate him marginally ahead of Greg and Sachin.

I'd probably pop Greg Chappell just ahead, to be honest. All three are ATGs though.

 

[thehub]

I stopped reading once I saw inzi at number 1. You must have taken imrans word literally. He was not bad but def not no 1.

 

[subshakerz]

For me, it's Steve Waugh, Ponting and Tendulkar.

Steve Waugh struggled against pace early on, but by the mid-90s, he gave up the hook and risky shots, gained a new resolve and put a high price on his wicket. He has not technically the best but was willing to suffer blows against pace but not back down. He faced Waqar, Akram, Ambrose and Donald at their peak in the mid-90s and scored against them all, at home and in their backyard.

Tendulkar was not really dominant against pace but rarely seemed troubled by pure pace alone. He scored enough against Donald and others and his technique was good enough to adapt and adjust.

Ponting was excellent against pure pace thanks to his natural reflexes and generally positive attitude.

The others worth considering are Mark Waugh, who played many quality innings against pure pace but lacked consistency, and Inzimam, who had the natural ability against pace but no real standout inning.

 

[Hasan123]

90s-Steve Waugh, Sachin, and Lara.

2000s- this list is fine, wouldn't disagree with many on there. Maybe could have added Kallis in place of Mahela. I would say Ponting was the best player of pace in the 2000s.

 

[TestMatch]

In the 1990s, Steve Waugh and Carl Hooper had crazy records against the fastest bowlers, Waugh mostly blocking and playing defensively, Hooper aggressively. During that decade, Waugh in particular had countless tons against legitimate ATG bowling crews (Walsh, Bishop, Ambrose, Wasim, Waqar, Donald etc). Hooper has the most counterattacking tons vs Wasim/Waqar.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Mark Waugh in the 90s and Ponting in the 2000s.

One just need to check the number of 100s, Waugh scored against Pakistan, WI, and SA.

I will also add Langer and Kirsten to that list. Both were very hard to dismiss.

 

[Abdullah719]

Out of the batsmen I've seen, Ponting.