Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Runs
- 3,519
- Post of the Week
- 2
This is my list of best batsmen of the 1980's decade in order of merit Only considered era of 1980-89.
1.Viv Richards
2.Alan Border
3.Javed Miandad
4.Gordon Greenidge
5.Sunil Gavaskar
6.David Gower
7.Clive Lloyd
8.Martin Crowe
9.Greg Chappell
10.Dilip Vengsarkar
11.Mohinder Amarnath
12.Graham Gooch
Viv Richards at the top because of total impact even if he fell out on consistency.Even if not as good as in the 1970's could on his day turn a match or decimate an attack like none else.At his best in 1980 in Australia ,England and Pakistan and ever consistent as a skipper in Australasia in 1988-89.In ODI's the absolute king with his unbeaten 189 at Old Trafford the ultimate icing on the cake.
Alan Border in 2nd being an epitome of consistency and having the best overseas average of over 56.Ranked below Viv as he could not take the bowling by the scruff of the neck to turn them and was more the man for retraining a sinking ship.
Javed Miandad in 3rd because although had an outstanding record had a much better record at home than overseas. A master crafstmen who niggled opponents more than anyone .More talented than Border with his wicket prized more but could often loose his col in the middle.One of the craftiest in ODI run chases being a master in improvising.From early 1988-late 1989 the best batsmen in the world .
Gordon Greenidge at 4 because for a short stature in my view he was the best batsmen in the world .In 1984 he looked almost like a re-incarnation of Barry Richards blending technical skill and agression with pefection.In 1984 in England few batsmen could ever surpass the audacity of Greenige's strokeplay when scoring 214 n.o at Lords.In that time he was close to the best opening batsmen ever if not the best batsmen.
Sunil Gavaskar at 5 because even if not at his absolute best was still constituency personified.Lost form in Australia in 198081 and New Zealand but came back strongly against Engalnd in 1981-82 and in Pakistan in 1982-83.Somewhat inconsistency against Clive Lloyd's world beaters in 1983-84 in 11 tests.Ranked below Greenidge because he did not produce as many knocks that turned games or equalled Greenidge at his best in a series .Still played some classic knocks like his 96 in his final innings at Bangalore v Pakistan,129 v West Indies at Delhi and some very fine knock sin ODI's like 90 at Guyana in 1983.Hardest to dismiss still.
David Gower was talent and grace personified.Arguably no batsmen posessed more natural talent bar Viv .At his best versus Australia in home 1985 Ashes and in tours down under in 1982-83 and 1986-87.No batsmen put away a cricket ball with such ease whose strokes reminded you of a ballad dancer.Very prolific in Pakistan in 1983-84 and also scored a classic unbeaten 154 v West Indise at Antigua in 1981.Topped the batting averages in 1983 Prudential world cup.Gower simply took batting art to regions of the sublime .
Clive Lloyd although retired in 1985 was an epitome of consistency,often overshadowing even Viv Richards.It was a sight to behold watching Clive launch blistering blows to set the seal for many famous victories.My mind comes back to his 121 at Adelaide that sealed the 1979-80 Frank Worrell trophy and his unbeaten 77 that enabled West Indies to retain it 2years later in the final test.Clive was revelation in India topping the batting averages averaging over 82 with his unbeaten 161 hitting launching the crucial blow for the West Indies series triumph in India.Also toped run aggreage in home series England in 1981 and averaged over 50 in his last series in England and Australia.His batting was major factor in West Indies emerging arguably the best cricket team ever in the history of the game.
Martin Crowe took batting skill to the height of divinity matching strides with Viv Richards or Greg Chappell.An epitome of batting perfection scoring a 197 at Kingston against the top Carribean attack.Also showed mastery facing the Pakistani bowlers.Averaged 66 in Australia which is remarkable.
Greg Chappell retired in 1984 but still was close to his very best.Hardly toured abroad but at home scored dazzling double centuries against India and Pakistan in 1980 and 81 ,a double century in Pakistan in 1980 and a masterly 176 in New Zealand in 1982.Arguably none was more complete than Greg.
Dilip Vengsarkar was for a short tenure from 1986-88 the best batsmen in the world averaging over 90 in his peak era.No overseas batsmen bated beter than Vengsarkar in England in 1986 who won games with the bat at Lords and on bad wicket at Leeds.After Border the 2nd best performer against the great West Indies pace attack topping the averages in home series in 1983-84 and 1987-88 facing the likes of Marshall,Paterson and Holding.Few batsmen were as fluent on the onside or posessed as flowng drives.At his best in the Viv or Chappell class.
Mohinder Amarnath in 1982-83 arguably negotiated great pace bowling better than any batsmen ever averaging over 73 facing Imran and over 66 with 598 runs facing the Calypso attack.It was revelation seeing Amarnath blaze away against the fast men revealing the courage of a military commander.When the chips were down he displayed grit like few cricketers did .Made significant contributions on 1985-86 tour of Australia and in 1984 series in Pakistan.Played a major role in India wining the semi-final and final of the 1983 World cup.Also made a significant contribution in the 1985 World championship tournament in Australia in 1985.For sheer technical skill he was the ultimate man.Adjusted his style of play to the nature of a situation as few could.
Graham Gooch played some of the finest innings of the decade like his 153 at Kingston in 1981 , 120 at Madras in 1981-82 and 197 versus Australia in 1985.However he missed 3 years because of a ban from 1992-84.Topped run aggregate in 1987 world cup and also scored a 210 versus West Indies at Trent Bridge in 1988.Missed many tours which went against him,particularly in the sub -continent.Not at his best against fast-medium swing bowling still played the Calypso pace attack wit more mastery than nay opener.
STATISTICS FROM S.RAJESH OF CRICINFO
Best Test batsmen between 1983 and 1989 (Qual: 3000 runs) Batsman Tests Runs Average 100s/ 50s
Javed Miandad 53 4247 61.55 14/ 16
Allan Border 62 5168 60.09 14/ 27
Dilip Vengsarkar 51 3452 52.30 11/ 16
Gordon Greenidge 60 4257 48.37 12/ 15
Richie Richardson 45 3320 48.11 10/ 13
Martin Crowe 42 3107 47.80 10/ 11
Sunil Gavaskar 44 3038 46.03 9/ 14
Viv Richards 61 3720 45.92 11/ 20
1.Viv Richards
2.Alan Border
3.Javed Miandad
4.Gordon Greenidge
5.Sunil Gavaskar
6.David Gower
7.Clive Lloyd
8.Martin Crowe
9.Greg Chappell
10.Dilip Vengsarkar
11.Mohinder Amarnath
12.Graham Gooch
Viv Richards at the top because of total impact even if he fell out on consistency.Even if not as good as in the 1970's could on his day turn a match or decimate an attack like none else.At his best in 1980 in Australia ,England and Pakistan and ever consistent as a skipper in Australasia in 1988-89.In ODI's the absolute king with his unbeaten 189 at Old Trafford the ultimate icing on the cake.
Alan Border in 2nd being an epitome of consistency and having the best overseas average of over 56.Ranked below Viv as he could not take the bowling by the scruff of the neck to turn them and was more the man for retraining a sinking ship.
Javed Miandad in 3rd because although had an outstanding record had a much better record at home than overseas. A master crafstmen who niggled opponents more than anyone .More talented than Border with his wicket prized more but could often loose his col in the middle.One of the craftiest in ODI run chases being a master in improvising.From early 1988-late 1989 the best batsmen in the world .
Gordon Greenidge at 4 because for a short stature in my view he was the best batsmen in the world .In 1984 he looked almost like a re-incarnation of Barry Richards blending technical skill and agression with pefection.In 1984 in England few batsmen could ever surpass the audacity of Greenige's strokeplay when scoring 214 n.o at Lords.In that time he was close to the best opening batsmen ever if not the best batsmen.
Sunil Gavaskar at 5 because even if not at his absolute best was still constituency personified.Lost form in Australia in 198081 and New Zealand but came back strongly against Engalnd in 1981-82 and in Pakistan in 1982-83.Somewhat inconsistency against Clive Lloyd's world beaters in 1983-84 in 11 tests.Ranked below Greenidge because he did not produce as many knocks that turned games or equalled Greenidge at his best in a series .Still played some classic knocks like his 96 in his final innings at Bangalore v Pakistan,129 v West Indies at Delhi and some very fine knock sin ODI's like 90 at Guyana in 1983.Hardest to dismiss still.
David Gower was talent and grace personified.Arguably no batsmen posessed more natural talent bar Viv .At his best versus Australia in home 1985 Ashes and in tours down under in 1982-83 and 1986-87.No batsmen put away a cricket ball with such ease whose strokes reminded you of a ballad dancer.Very prolific in Pakistan in 1983-84 and also scored a classic unbeaten 154 v West Indise at Antigua in 1981.Topped the batting averages in 1983 Prudential world cup.Gower simply took batting art to regions of the sublime .
Clive Lloyd although retired in 1985 was an epitome of consistency,often overshadowing even Viv Richards.It was a sight to behold watching Clive launch blistering blows to set the seal for many famous victories.My mind comes back to his 121 at Adelaide that sealed the 1979-80 Frank Worrell trophy and his unbeaten 77 that enabled West Indies to retain it 2years later in the final test.Clive was revelation in India topping the batting averages averaging over 82 with his unbeaten 161 hitting launching the crucial blow for the West Indies series triumph in India.Also toped run aggreage in home series England in 1981 and averaged over 50 in his last series in England and Australia.His batting was major factor in West Indies emerging arguably the best cricket team ever in the history of the game.
Martin Crowe took batting skill to the height of divinity matching strides with Viv Richards or Greg Chappell.An epitome of batting perfection scoring a 197 at Kingston against the top Carribean attack.Also showed mastery facing the Pakistani bowlers.Averaged 66 in Australia which is remarkable.
Greg Chappell retired in 1984 but still was close to his very best.Hardly toured abroad but at home scored dazzling double centuries against India and Pakistan in 1980 and 81 ,a double century in Pakistan in 1980 and a masterly 176 in New Zealand in 1982.Arguably none was more complete than Greg.
Dilip Vengsarkar was for a short tenure from 1986-88 the best batsmen in the world averaging over 90 in his peak era.No overseas batsmen bated beter than Vengsarkar in England in 1986 who won games with the bat at Lords and on bad wicket at Leeds.After Border the 2nd best performer against the great West Indies pace attack topping the averages in home series in 1983-84 and 1987-88 facing the likes of Marshall,Paterson and Holding.Few batsmen were as fluent on the onside or posessed as flowng drives.At his best in the Viv or Chappell class.
Mohinder Amarnath in 1982-83 arguably negotiated great pace bowling better than any batsmen ever averaging over 73 facing Imran and over 66 with 598 runs facing the Calypso attack.It was revelation seeing Amarnath blaze away against the fast men revealing the courage of a military commander.When the chips were down he displayed grit like few cricketers did .Made significant contributions on 1985-86 tour of Australia and in 1984 series in Pakistan.Played a major role in India wining the semi-final and final of the 1983 World cup.Also made a significant contribution in the 1985 World championship tournament in Australia in 1985.For sheer technical skill he was the ultimate man.Adjusted his style of play to the nature of a situation as few could.
Graham Gooch played some of the finest innings of the decade like his 153 at Kingston in 1981 , 120 at Madras in 1981-82 and 197 versus Australia in 1985.However he missed 3 years because of a ban from 1992-84.Topped run aggregate in 1987 world cup and also scored a 210 versus West Indies at Trent Bridge in 1988.Missed many tours which went against him,particularly in the sub -continent.Not at his best against fast-medium swing bowling still played the Calypso pace attack wit more mastery than nay opener.
STATISTICS FROM S.RAJESH OF CRICINFO
Best Test batsmen between 1983 and 1989 (Qual: 3000 runs) Batsman Tests Runs Average 100s/ 50s
Javed Miandad 53 4247 61.55 14/ 16
Allan Border 62 5168 60.09 14/ 27
Dilip Vengsarkar 51 3452 52.30 11/ 16
Gordon Greenidge 60 4257 48.37 12/ 15
Richie Richardson 45 3320 48.11 10/ 13
Martin Crowe 42 3107 47.80 10/ 11
Sunil Gavaskar 44 3038 46.03 9/ 14
Viv Richards 61 3720 45.92 11/ 20
