Who were the most talented batsmen ever to have averaged over 50 in Test cricket?

[Harsh Thakor]

This is my list ranking the most talented batsmen to have averaged above 50 in test matches.It does not analyze overall merit or class but depth of talent,prowess or genius of the players.


1.Brian Lara
2.Viv Richards
3.Don Bradman
4.Barry Richards
5.Denis Compton
6.Walter Hammond
7.Everton Weekes
8=.Graeme Pollock/Sachin Tendulkar
10.Gary Sobers
11.Greg Chappell
12.Jack Hobbs
13.Kumar Sangakaara
14.Javed Miandad
15.George Headley
16.Clyde Walcott
17.Rahul Dravid
18.Sunil Gavaskar
19.Len Hutton
20.Younus Khan




No batsmen surpassed Lara's creative genius just arguably a whisker ahead of Viv Richards.Bradman could accumulate runs at a phenomenal rate like a machine.Barry Richards blended power with technical skill and artistry like no batsmen ever.Compton was simply creativity personified.Hammond and Weekes could murder bowling attacks as though carrying a sword or a gun.Pollock and Tendulkar could dissect the most impregnable fields.Greg Chappell was an epitome of elegance .Sobers blended breathtaking power with phenomenal skill and versatility.Sangakaara in full flow looked like a motor boat never stopping.Jack Hobs exhibited genius on wet pitches on which he could lauch a relentless attack on opposing bowlers.Miandad had his own blend of genius and could innovate shots of his own ,being a master of the pull shot.Headley would ouscore Bradman on wet tracks dispalying mastery on the backfoot.Walcott at his best held the bat like a bludgeon.Dravid blended water-tight technique with artistry blending power and wristwork in perfect proportion.Gavaskar and Hutton could bat like geniuses on bad wickets .Younus Khan on his day displayed wizardry in the art of batting.

Bradman was the greatest but to me still in full flow could not equal the imperious domination of Richards and Lara who posessed the wizardry of a magician executing strokes that were surreal.When batting they blended the skill of an architect with the creativity of a musical composer .Infull flow they resembled a surgeon dissecting a body with Lara executing it with the finesse of a sculptor while Viv resembling a bulldozer.Arguably Lara just had that barely marginally more natural talent.The likes of Headley,Hobbs,Dravid,Hutton and Gavaskar have been ranked low down in terms of natural talent as they were basically batsmen of the more defensive mould and did not launch blistering attack son opponents as players like Viv,Lara,Hammond ,Weekes Pollock or Tendulkar did. Headley or Hutton rarely massacred bowling in the manner of Hammond or Richards or displayed the imagination of a Compton or Lara.


I excluded Barry Richards as he only played 4 test matches.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I don't rate Sachin at all in ODI's frankly but has to be him in Tests. To average 50+ for quarter of a century is beyond belief.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I don't rate Sachin at all in ODI's frankly but has to be him in Tests. To average 50+ for quarter of a century is beyond belief.

Did not Lara have more natural talent or flair?Remember Lara at his best.Even Viv.

 

[Godhelpma]

I agree to OP. Brain Lara as much as I have seen him playing cricket was the most genius batsman.Supremely talented batsman he was , playing shots and punishing bowlers at will.

 

[Billy1999]

Steven smith

 

[Justcrazy]

[MENTION=132062]Harsh Thakor[/MENTION]

Make some worst lists also , it would be interesting.