Best Test Batsmen of All Time
This article takes a look at the careers of some of the best test batsman through the decades. Who really is the best batsman of all time?
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There are so many players who could be mentioned in with this list. However I have selected five batsmen who I think are more than worthy of this award-
Don Bradman (AUS)
Innings – 80
Runs – 6996
Average – 99.94
Highest Score – 334
100+ scores – 43
If you are looking for an incredible batsman, you don’t need to look much further than the late, great Don Bradman. He scored nearly 7000 runs in just 80 innings @ an incredible average of 99.94.
Born in 1908 in New South Wales, he spent much of his youth alone in his garden, working on his batting technique. He hit his first century at the age of 12 playing for his school team.
On his first class debut for New South Wales, he hit a century on debut, to start a career that continued in much the same way. On his international debut, his first match ended in disappointent, scoring just 19 runs in both innings. He was then dropped to third man for his second match, but after a injury to a fellow batsman, he grasped the opportunity to shine, and become the youngest player to hit a century in international cricket. His talents led to England creating the infamous “Bodyline” tactic in order to get Bradman and his fellow Australian team out. This consisted of bowling short, and on leg stump, and putting the majority of fielders behind square on the leg side. This cut off scoring, and proved incredibly successful until new laws were introduced to cricket.
One amazing statistic was his scoring conversion rate. He scored just thirteen 50’s, but achieved 43 scores of 100+. Once in, he was a ruthless batsman, and this stat shows this.
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Viv Richards (WI)
Innings – 182
Runs – 8540
Average – 50.24
Highest Score – 291
100+ Scores – 27
Following Don Bradman is never an easy task, but Viv Richards was an incredible cricketer himself. In an illustrious career, he finished his career as a select few that averaged over 50 runs per innings. Just as Don Bradman, Richards was known for his attacking, powerful style of batting, and is regarded by many as the most destructive batsman of all time.
He was born in 1952, and made his international debut in 1974 against India in Bangalore. He currently holds the record for fastest century – just 56 balls. This is a record that came under threat during the 2006-7 Ashes series when Adam Gilchrist hit 100 runs off of 58 balls.
1976 was a special year for Richards. He scored 1710 runs @ 90.00. This was the record for most test runs scored in a calendar year, until Mohammed Yousuf broke it in 2006. He was also a handy legspin bowler, taking 373 wickets in his First Class Career. On top of this, he was recently voted as the all time best One Day Batsman scoring over 6700 runs @ 47.00.
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Garfield Sobers (WI)
Innings – 160
Runs – 8032
Average – 57.78
Highest Score – 365*
100+ Scores – 29
Staying in the Carribean, Garfield Sobers was another incredible batsman who deservedly earns his place in this list of awesome test batsmen. The statistics speak for themselves. With an amazing average of 57.78, and a highest score of an unbeaten 365 runs, it is clear why he is in contention for this prestigious title. A little known fact is that he was born with six fingers on each hand, a problem he sorted himself at childhood with the aid of a catgut and a sharp knife. At an early age he showed he had natural talent – not just in Cricket – but also basketball and football.
He made his test debut at the age of 17 against England. He scored 14* and 26, and took 4 wickets. His batting career started fairly slowly, averaging under 30 in 9 tests. He found himself in the test team as a bowler, and often batted down the order at 8 or 9.
His batting career did take off in 1957. In his next 24 tests, he scored 2250 runs @ 93.75 – an exceptionally high average. He was later given responsibility of West Indies captain, winning over two thirds of matches.
As mentioned, he was also an exceptional batsman. Because of this, and his athletic fielding, he was voted as the Best All Rounder Of All Time. His left arm spin brought him 235 test wickets @ 34.03.
Off the point but a fun statistic – despite his reputation for being a great batsman, his average in ODI’s was 0.00. He played one innings in 1973, and was out for a duck
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Ricky Ponting (AUS)
Innings – 224
Runs – 11150
Average – 56.31
Highest Score – 257
100+ Scores – 42
Perhaps this list needs putting into context. Ricky Ponting may be a surprising entry for some. However, he is by far the highest ranked player who is still playing today – he ranks 4th in the all time list. He is one of eight batsmen who have passed 10000 runs in test cricket, and is closing in on Tendulkar’s record of 12000+ runs.
After leaving his family to join the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide, he quickly showed his talents, becoming the first Tasmanian to score a first class century.
His international career started with him playing in ODI’s, but made his test debut in 1995 against Sri Lanka. He hit 96 on debut, forming a 121 run partnership with Stuart Law (also on debut) to make the 9th ever century partnership by two debutants. By the end of 1998, he had played in 22 tests, scoring 1209 runs @ 36.63.
His career hit a barren spell, including a tour of India which saw him score just 17 runs in the whole series @ 3.4. Despite this, he was promoted to No. 3 in the batting order. After a slow start, Ponting has averaged 64.34 batting at 3.
His successful career continues, and perhaps in years to come, he will be looked back on and be compared with the greats already mentioned in this article.
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Sachin Tendulkar (IND)
Innings – 261
Runs – 12773
Average – 54.59
Highest Score – 248*
100+ Scores – 46
Sachin Tendulkar is one batsman who has no problem blending in with this list of greats. The Little Genius – at just 5″ 5′, scored 12773 runs @ 54.59 during his test career. With 53 50’s and an impressive 43 centuries, he was voted as the second greatest test batman of all time by Wisden – after Don Bradman.
At a young age, he was encouraged to work on his cricketing abilities. His elder brother often played with him and Sachin would spend hours in the nets perfecting his strokes. His coach would often place a one rupee coin on top of the stumps, and if any bowler could dismiss him, they would take the coin. If Sachin could bat the session without getting out, he would keep the coin. He now values the 13 coins he won as some of his most prized possessions.
In his test career, he was quickly brought back down to earth by an extremely hostile Pakistan attack. However despite scoring just 15 runs, he was recognised to face and deal with the numerous blows he suffered by the bowlers. His maiden test century came against England at Old Trafford in 1990. From then on, his career went from strength to strength.
Sachin achieved so much in his test career – it is impossible to mention everything. He holds the record for most runs in test matches (as well as ODI’s). He has scored the most centuries in test cricket (a record he also holds in ODI’s) and remains to be one of an exclusive list of players that still play international cricket today, who started his career in the 1980’s.
There are many other batsmen who could make this list. Below, I have listed a few.
Brian Lara (WI)
Innings – 232
Runs – 11953
Average – 52.79
Highest Score – 400*
100+ Scores – 45
Currently holds records of only quintuple century in First Class cricket – 501* for Warwickshire against Durham. He also holds highest test score with 400* against England. He is the only player in cricket history to have scored a century, double, triple, quadruple, and quintuple centry. Impressively, he has hit a century against every single Test nation, and holds the record for most centuries for West Indies.
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Sunil Gavaskar (IND)
Innings – 216
Runs – 10122
Average – 51.12
Highest Score – 236*
100+ Scores – 38
Widely regarded as one of the best opening batsman of all time. He set records for most centuries and most runs in his career, until both records were beaten by Sachin Tendulkar. He was renowned for his technique against fast bowling, averaging 65.45 against the vicious West Indies attack of the time.
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Jack Hobbs (ENG)
Innings – 102
Runs – 5410
Average – 56.95
Highest Score – 211
100+ Scores – 16
Finally an England player in the list! Jack Hobbs played 61 tests for England between 1908 and 1930. He scored 5410 runs in this time @ 56.95. He is the only English cricketer (and opening batsman) to appear in Wisden’s list of top 5 cricketers of the 20th century. As a first class batsman, up until today, he holds the record for most centuries than any other player in the history of the game
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That concludes my list of the best test batsman of all time. This list is by no means exclusive. There are many other great batsmen who didn’t make this list. Just a post note, notice how the majority of the records are scored against England – most notably the two fastest centuries of all time.
It may be true that Test Cricket is becoming less and less popular with the introduction of the shorter form of the game, but if players continue to play the game of the same class of those mentioned in this list, the beauty of Test Cricket will live on, and the legacy of these players will continue to be etched into cricket history.
Emmie
56 Comments
While I respect your opinions about the best 5 batsman- I believe your criteria needs to be upfront and adhered to.
As such, based on statistics Brian Lara MUST be in the top 3- notice I said top 3.
as with all lists, there will always be some disagreement.
I agree he could well have finished in the top 5 or even top 3
One reason that I didnt put him in is during his career, is his ICC ranking during his career was not as high as many other batsmen. For example his ranking is below the likes of Mike Hussey. This by no means suggests that this is a true indication of a player’s class, but as each player played across different decades, and me myself have seen only a handful of these players, statistics is what I had to go by.
Thank you for your opinion however.
Good day,
To commence. I respect your opinion and to be frank, ranking the best batsman of all time will always be debatable, everyone has his/her own opinion depending the category one chooses, for example most destructive batsman-Vivian Richards-West Indies, most complete batsman-can bat aggressively, patiently, and reliable-Brian Lara-West Indies, Statistic-Donald Bradman-Austraila, Reliability-Sachin Tendular-India, most destructive against pace bowler-Sunil Gavaskar & Vivian Richards, bad wicket-George Headley-West Indies. Elegance-Frank Worrell-West Indies, David Gower-England, nevertheless I will rate my elite testbatsman of all time by countries
England-Jack Hobbs, Leonard Hutton, Herbert Sutcliffe
Austraila-Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting Matthew Hayden
West Indies- Three W\’s-Frank Worrell, Everton Weeks, Clyde Walcott, George Headley, Vivian Richards, Brian Lara, Rohan Kanhai
India-Sachin Tendular, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid
South Africa-Graeme Pollock, Jacques Kallis- Unfortunately I can\’t rank the legendary Barry Richards-due to apartheid
Pakistan-Javed Miandad, Mohammad Yousuf
Sri Lanka-Kumar Sangakkarra, Mahelda Jayawardene-excuse my spelling of aforementioned names, thanks!
Sorry but New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe have great batsmen, but my opinion, no elite.
Thanks and have a blessed day!
Ooops! I forget England great-Wally Hammond.
Sir Bradman played on ten different grounds in two countries only in which six bowlers took 100 or more wickets in their career with half career time less matches with absence of Perth pitch on mat over concrete pitches in which his batting average is 89.78 against England and Headley (his contemporaries) average is 71.33 against them with one match timeless against them.
Lara played on 45-50 different pitches with 50-55 bowlers took 100 or more in their career with 25-30 200 or more wickets in nine different countries. I think Lara is the all time great with 12-15 records, elegance, aggressive and defensive and ability to play against spin and fast both and so many other qualities.
No doubt, Sir Bradman is statistically best but is the statistic the only criteria in cricket.
Lara is why best because highest no. of records in test as well in first class also some records, elegant, aggressive and defensive both qualities at a time, quality to play against spin and fast, quality to score in every corner of the world, strongest against two strongest bowling attacks that are Australia and S. Africa, always score against main strikers of other teams, highest tendency to score individual innings like 400 and 375, tendency to score big knocks that are 19 150 or plus innings in test cricket. I think no one can match his status in test cricket due to these reasons.
Perhaps.
However, in a way, for players such as Don Bradman, statistics ARE all we have to go by simply because none of us witnessed him in action.
I dont think the argument is in the best player, I am more interested in the Brian Lara opinion.
As a sixteen year old, I managed to catch the very end of his career, but not when he was in his complete prime. Therefore with him, and all the other players in the list, statistics are what I had to go by, along with expert opinion.
I researched thoroughly and for instance did you know, in the ICC all time rankings that recognises “excellent form over a prolonged period”, and is an “indication of how players peaked during their careers”, Brian Lara is outside the top 20. This is by no means a definitive list, but gives one indication why I ranked him outside the top 5.
Wisden also rank him outside the top 5 of best batsmen, although he does rank 5th in the ODI version of the list.
However, I’m just glad that we can’t decide on a top 5 because this indicates that there are so many great players who we (well most of us) have been fortunate enough to see playing cricket.
Because theres so much opinion here, why don’t everyone else list their personal top 5, to see how they differ from mine.
Thanks for reading.
Beside average, question is that is Bradman elegant or not. Answer is, he is not an elegant batsman. He played cricket in two countries only. Had he faced Marshall, Imran, Hadlee and many others. For top 50 leading wicket takers, he faced only one bowler that is Alec Bedser in his career after world war II. No doubt, he is legend and one of finest and greatest man. Had he faced any quality leg spinner like Warne, Grimmett etc.
Lara is the only complete man in history who has each and every thing like records, situation, style and all other things. Only complete man who defined century, double century, triple, quadruple in test and also in first class quintuple as well. What about his complete domination on Murli (leading off spinner). What about his quality to turn any match from any worst situation like his 153 not out against Australia. He also scored 19 times 150 or plus in test cricket too which is still his record beside 501 in first class, 400 in test and also so many records. He is only player who became first man in history to hold seven to eight records at a time. How anyone can match his status in test cricket with him. He is also former leading runs maker in test history too.
Lara runs per inning at home against England is 71.45 with two highest scores 400 and 375 whereas Sir. Bradman runs per inning is 71.33 at home against England with highest scores 270 and 234.
Overall his runs per inning against them is 79.8 and Lara 58.49. It means if Lara scored 3010 runs against them then Bradman 4110 runs but Lara took England one out of seven strong teams as Don Bradman had only one strong team with so many matches timeless.
Bradman played 80% of his innings against the same team with very very slow pace of cricket. Give all these facilities to Lara, I can challenge that he can turn his runs per innings against England near to 100 as he had the highest tendency to score highest individual innings. What could he do if there were timeless matches with weak bowling attack as mostly players were playing cricket not as a profession of that era. Mostly bowlers of England were officers, not direct related to cricket like Verity lost his life in world war II. Then remaining three teams were at very initial stages which Bradman faced.
If there is debate who is the best than all facts and figures should count, not only average. Now choice is your own to choose the best or leave the debate of best and just conclude that both are legends.
I remain firm on my personal opinion, but to be fair, that was an insightful breakdown of the statistics.
I think it is unfair to say that Bradman is not the best just because he was playing against weaker attacks. This is what I meant when I said it is extremely hard to compare players through eras. Who\’s to say he wouldn\’t demolish any bowling attack? Exactly, we don\’t know.
The reverse argument is that Bradman would have generally played on worse quality pitches, and didn\’t have the same quality equipment. For example, in Lara\’s era, helmets were used, and generally made batting easier.
These are all little things that need to be taken into account
Dear Tom, No problem, if you are against Lara.
Just compare Lara with Richard and Sobers, Richard never scores any double hundred at home and Sobers no double hundred at opponent’s home. Lara four at home and five at overseas. Richard totally three double hundreds, Sobers two and Lara nine.
No triple in Richard case, Sobers one and Lara two including one quadruple.
Then 150 or plus scores, Richard only seven, Sobers eleven and Lara 19 times.
One thing I can argue that If Bradman is not using helmet than he was not the only one, all had the same problem. What about the presence of long distance fielding at that time. Gavaskar played his cricket without helmet so should we give some plus points to him or not.
Gavaskar faced bowlers like Derek Underwood, Imran Khan, Micheal Holding, Ian Botham and Malcom Marshall He lost his wickets 50 (12+11+11+8+8) times by these five bowlers in his career and faced others like Wasim Akram, Richard Hadlee, Denis Lillee, Joel Garner, Andy Robert, Bob Willis, John Snow, Thomson, Craig McDermot, Merv Hughes, Lance Gibbs, Abdul Qadir and Garry Sober in his whole career. All eighteen are like jewels of cricket bowling history and all took at least 200 wickets in test cricket in which four are spinners.
Yes this is true that Gavaskar faced the prime time of fast bowling and Lara faced prime time of all type of bowling like history best off spinner, history best leg spinner and also so many fast bowlers like McGrath, Donald, Wasim and many many others.
Even if we are not saying who is the actual best but all facts and figures are true which I have mentioned.There is no doubt that Sir Bradman is legend cricketer.
I assure you I have nothing against Lara. He was an awesome cricketer – as an English fan, I witnessed his 400 not out against England. I know what he was capable of as a cricketer.
My own top ten are as follows without any rating to anyone
Sir Don Bradman, Hobbs, Sobers, Gavaskar, Viv Richard, Javed Miandad, Chappell, Lara, Tendulkar and Ponting.
It is very difficult to judge which one is the best although statistic suggests Don Bradman as no. 1. I think for no. 1, there are three bastmen Bradman, Lara and Tendulkar. I think anyone of them is no. 1.
Beside it, who is the only complete man in test history is Brian Lara with comprises of each and every thing just like quality to dominate spinners. He had complete domination on Murli. He proved himself in all conditions in five different continents. He also had a quality to create master piece innings which I think is not the case of others like 400 not out, 375, 277, 226, 213 and 153 not out. He proved situation and also stylish batting in these innings.
I agree with your top 10 give or take, thank you for your opinion
For my own top five are Don Bradman, Lara, Tendulkar, Gavaskar and Chappell.
Sir Bradman is best among his contemporaries and also Lara is the best among his peers.
Why Lara is better than Tendulkar because Lara scored nine double hundreds and Tendulkar only four but Lara scored them on big occasions. Tendulkar double hundreds are against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, New Zealand and the only one against Australia. Lara scored three double hundreds against Australia
What about Lara master piece innings like 400not out, 375 and 277 run out, I think Tendulkar is unable to produce any inning like these innings. Then Lara’s highest situational innings like 153 not out, 213, Tendulkar proved situations too but did not score any inning of this calibre in test.
Some one said Lara was not consistent, if so how he scored 11953 runs in test. Lara scored two triple centuries in test whereas Tendulkar unable to produce even one triple hundred. Tendulkar is unable to produce triple hundred in first class too whereas Lara scored quintuple in it. He defined hundred, doubles, triples, quadruples and quintuple in first class. He is the only man in first clas who scored two quadruple in first class in which one is scored in test match. Tendulkar never crossed 250 runs in one inning in test.
Lara is the strongest against two strongest bowling attack that are Australia and S. Africa whereas Tendulkar does not qualify on this point too as his batting average is only 35.35 against S. Africa, although he is the strongest one against Australia.
I think Lara is no. 1 and Tendulkar is no. 2 of this century and then no. 3 is Ponting, no. 4 is Dravid and no. 5 is Haq.
Dear Tom, many thanks to giving me an opportunity. When you start feeling boring that it is too much, just say stop to me.
I am only providing facts and figures and now it is your opinion to select the best one. My own top three are Sir Don, Lara and Tendulkar.
See some more facts regarding the bowlers who took 100 or more which Bradman faced. All research work has been organized by myself, I have not taken it from any article. His career span is from 1928 – 1948.
Only six bowlers took more than 100 wickets in test matches, which he faced. In which three came after world war II, one died during it, one just came before world war II and remaining one left the cricket against Australia in 1930 that is Maurice Tate. Beside all facts, I always count him in the best batsmen, although he is the best among his peers.
1. Tate (1924-35) took 32 wickets against Australia from 1928 to onward with bowling average 39.71.
2. Hedley Verity (1931-1939) took 144 and then in 1943 he died during World War II. Actually he was an army officer. He took 21 wickets in Australia against them with bowling average 34.57 throughout his career.
3. Wright (1938-51) took 108 wickets maintaining career bowling average 39.11. He is the only leg break bowler that he faced with 100 or more wickets in test and also he was right arm medium bowler too.
We may count William Voce (1930-47) in the list as well who took 98 wickets in career. He only face William Voce at home grounds only.
4. Alec Bedser and Jim Laker (1948-59) came after World War 2 when he was finishing his career. Jim Laker took 9 wickets with bowling average 52.44 in only three test matches, which he faced against Bradman in 1948.
5. Also Vinoo Mankad of India took 162 wickets in career with average 32.32. His average was 52.5 with grabbing 12 wickets in five test matches against Bradman throughout his career in the start of his own career in 1947-48. So in list of 150 leading bowlers he faced only 7 bowlers. Yet now 148 bowlers took 100 or more wickets in test.
So this is also fact that the leading fast bowler that he faced is Gubby Allen (grabbing 82 wickets in his career) as Bedser is medium fast bowler.
Aha, no its fine, i’m getting an excellent insight into 100 years of cricket, and its being typed right onto my doorstop. So go nuts, I don’t mind
I just wish everybody took this amount of interest in my article. If they did, I’d be the most popular person on this website
I just want to thank you for your contributions.
I am currently researching for a Top 5 test bowlers list. What would your top 5 be in this category to see if they correspond to mine.
Thanks Again
Tom
Many thanks!
Dear Tom, top five bowlers of mine are (without rating to them) from different eras.
Sydney Barnes, Richard Hadlee, Malcom Marshall, Warne, and Murli. All these five are unique bowlers in history of test cricket.
It is very difficult to recognize who is the best spinner as Warne took wickets in all continents equally and in Murli’s case, his main contribution of wickets is in Asia that are 590 wickets. I am in favour of Warne although it is very difficult to say who is better. Warne also scored more than 3000 runs in test cricket which is another plus point from him. I think Warne is gift of God for cricket.
Dear Tom, please have a look at records of Lara. How anyone can match his status with him from records point of view including all. I think he is matchless.
1. Former highest runs gutter in history of test cricket with highest individual innings that is 400 not out and highest individual innings in first class 501 not out with two quadruple in first class (except Bill Ponsford), two triple centuries in test cricket along with Bradman and Sehwag and also highest numbers of 150 plus scores in test cricket that is 19 times. He held all these record at a time. A unique feat no one has it before him.
2. Statistically the only complete man in history of test cricket who has almost every record except highest no. of centuries like 5 times in calendar year more than 1000 runs
3. In any 12 months period highest runs 1951, scored by him.
4. Century before lunch, another record of him.
5. At least 5 double centuries against 5 different test teams (This record shows the strenght of any test batsman).
6. More than 100 test matches with more than 30 centuries and with near to 50 half centuries with test average at least 50 and runs score more than 10,000. He played 131 test matches with 34 centuries with 48 half centuries and scored 11953 runs with batting average 52.88.
7. Double century and century in one test is another record of him (221 and 130 against Sri Lanka in 2001).
8. He has scored centuries against all Test-playing nations. In 2005, He achieved this feat by scoring his first Test century against Pakistan at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
8. Former record holder for highest number of fours in test that are 1559.
9. Ex-record holder for highest runs with the help of centuries that are 5889 runs
10. Former record holder for highest runs with the help of 50 or plus scores that are 9301 runs in test in 82 innings.
11. First man in First Class history who scored seven centuries in eight consecutive first class innings, the first being the record 375 against England and the last being the record 501 not out in 1994 against Durham.
12. First man in history who defined quintuple, quadruples, triples, doubles, centuries and half centuries at a time in his first class career
13. First man in history who defined quadruple, triples, doubles, centuries and half centuries at a time in test cricket.
14. Three double centuries against Australia in which two at their home grounds and two triple centuries against England in which one is quadruple, two double hundred against Sri Lanka, against Pakistan and S. Africa one each, unique feat.
15. Highest runs in one over
Dear Tom,
Which type of bowling Lara faced, please have a look on it.
1. Presence of professional bowlers as more than 50 bowlers took 100 or more than 100 wickets in which 25-30 bowlers took more than 200 wickets in their career that he had ever faced in test cricket in which eleven are related to 300 club and again seven to 400 and four to 500 club. Even top five leading wicket takers are related to his own era including Courtney Walsh and for top ten eight of them are related to him including Ambrose means he faced other six. For leading 50 wicket takers, he faced 25-30 of them.
2. Presence of well-known bowlers in his time like history best off spinner Murlitharan, history best leg spinner Shane Warne, history best left arm fast bowler Wasim Akram (swing and seam with total 12 varieties of bowling, amazing!), Anil Kumble (history best bowler of India) and others like Glen MeGrath (Leading wicket taker as a fast type bowling in test), Allan Donald (history best bowler of South Africa) and many many others.
3. Seam; swing, fast, fast medium, medium, off break, leg break etc all types and all varieties of bowlers are faced by him. He lost his wicket 55 times by the bowlers like McGrath, Nel, Warne, Fraser, Caddick, Donald and Gough (15+8+7+7+6+6+6) respectively.Five continents with nine countries with 45 to 50 grounds with different batting conditions. Seven strong opponents that are England, New Zeeland, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka with two others at initial stage like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Even when he faced Zimbabwe bowling attack, it was comprises of Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut and Reymond Price.
4. Quality to dominate Murlitharan easily as he was the best one against him like his 688 runs (42% of his team) out of 1625 runs in six innings in 2001 in Sri Lanka while Murlitharan took 24 wickets in series. Crushing Australian bowling attack at his home grounds very easily remember his innings of 153 not out and 213. His batting average is 66.04 at home against them including bowlers like Shane Warne and MacGill (also a great leg break bowler after Warne in Australia).
Dear Tom, have a look on Lara 50 or plus scores.
82 fifty plus innings in 232 innings, it means that we can compare it with Steve Waugh also managed 82 fifty plus innings in career in 260 innings.
In which 16 innings are 80 to 99, 15times Tendulkar did.
Then 34 are centuries, we can compare it with Sunil Gavaskar as he has also 34 centuries in test cricket in 214 innings.
In 34 centuries, 19 innings are +150, which we can compare it with Tendulkar. He has eighteen times +150 innings. In these +150 innings, 175 or plus innings are 15 that is 6 at home ground and 9 are others four continents.
In which nine are double centuries for which nearest players are Javed Minadad, Atapattu and Sangakkara with 6 each.
Then two are triple centuries which we can compare with Sehwag from modern players and then Quadruple for which no other batsman is available. Although we can compare it with Mattew Hayden 380 against Zimbabwe.
How can we compare any other batsmen with him? Lara scored all these innings in all continents in different batting conditions against different type of bowlers.
hi, i appreciate your comments, but ive written this article with my personal opinions. I tried to change the subject away from the lara thing but it hasnt worked. Can we please stop now. I’m guessing both of us have better things to do than carry on with this endless argument.
I appreciate you have your opinions, but may I suggest we drop it now?
Many thanks in anticipation
Tom
Dear Tom, no more comments on Lara as there are other batsmen too like most destructive one Viv. Richard.
Lillee, Imran Khan, Wasim, Ambrose and McGrath are also included in my own top ten bowlers. (Five I have already mentioned)
Please see my own dream team for world XI from different eras and from different teams in which your five mentioned batsmen are there.
I hope you will like it.
As an opener Gavaskar and Hobbs,
Bradman at no. 3 (Lara is there but mostly are in his favour)
Tendulkar at no. 4, Sobers at no. 5
Llyod at no. 6 (Captain), Gilchrist at no. 7 (Wicket Keeper)
Warne at no. 8, Marshall at no. 9
Barnes at no. 10 and no. 11 Murli.
I don,t agree with this rating, Players missing are Border, G.Headly, W.Hammond and not in appropriate order after the ranking
My Tests best players ever :
1) Sir Don Bradman 2) Sir Garfield Sobers 3) Sir Vivian Richards 4) Sunil Gavaskar
Yes, the players are all exceptional legends, but when it comes to test cricket, never forget India’s Mr. Dependable Rahul Dravid.
He is India’s best Number 3 batsmen ever.
He has his own style. He was criticized for slow strike rate , but in test cricket the number of important innings he has played for India specially away from India really matters.
The records itself speaks up, fastest to make 9000 runs. First player to score hundreds against all test playing nations on their soil.
Don’t compare records while counting figures.
He has remained India’s most dependable batsmen in tests.Specially in the critical and difficult conditions where no other Indian batsmen can resist, not even Sachin(The Legend), he stood up at one end.
Don’t forget the performances against SA , his first century at J’burg, that was the only test match , India would have won in that tour comprehensively.
Today Ganguly is known as India’s best captain after leveling test series in ENG and AUS. But who was the Player of the series in both the series: It was Rahul Dravid.
Only 5% of hundreds has brought negative results for team, rest India have either drawn or won the match, when Rahul Dravid has made hundred.
For me, he is India’s best test player because he has played from the front in all difficult situations where no player can resist some dashing bowling line ups on bouncy and swinging conditions.
In every foreign tour , Rahul Dravid has left a different image with some solid performances as compared to other Indian batsmen against both spinners and seamers.
For the greatest is without doubt Brian Lara. richards, bradman, sobers never faced the greatest spinners in ever in murali & warne. lara dominated both. lara played brilliantly for 100 test in a struggling team & thats wut makes him the greatest.
my ratings would be
1. Lara
2. Richards (for making world cricket exciting)
3. Bradman
4. Sobers
5. Gavaskar (for making 13 hundreds against the feared W.I. fast bowlers)
My top 10 rating of Test bestman are as below :-
1-Lara
2-Bradman
3-Ponting
4-Tendulker
5-Dravid
6-Gavasker
7-Viv Richardds
8-Mohd.Yusuf
9-Jayawadhane
10-M.Haden
Best Team Forever :-
1-Gavasker
2-Haden
3-Bradman
4-Tendulker
5-Lara
6-Gilcrist
7-Wasim Akram
8-Ion Botham
9-Richard Hadley
10-Macgrath
11-Shane Wane
12-Murlidharan
Best one day team :-
1-Gilcrist
2-Haden
3-Ponting
4-Peterson
5-Richards
6-Martin Crow
7-Flintoff
8-Warne
9-Akram
10-Macgrath
11-Ambrose
12-Kapil Dev
Best 20-20 Team:-
1-Haden
2-Gilcrist
3-Peterson
4-Symonds
5-Devilers
7-Yuvraj
8-Flintoff
9-Afridi
10-Bret Lee
11-Dale Stain
If it was just about stats we could feed the info into a computer and get the answer – its got to be about the best you’ve seen live or on TV, for that reason I can’t comment on Hutton, Bradman etc.Therefore from the early 60’s.
TEST xi
B.Richards
Gavaskar alt. Hayden,Haynes,
Ponting
Tendulkar
V.Richards alt. Pollock,Lara
Sobers
Gilchrist
Procter alt Khan,Botham
Warne
Marshal
Lillee
my list wud say
1lara
2 lara
3lara
Harold Larwood believed that Bradman was caught by long leg at Leeds off Larwood’s first ball in 1930. Subtracting 334 runs from Bradman’s total reduces his life-time test average to somewhere in the 80’s. An impressive total but nothing like the 99.94 with which he is normally credited
SACHIN TENDULKAR (MASTER BLASTER)
test odi
matches 165 440 266 527
Runs scored 13341 17,394 22,123 20,946
Batting average 55.35 44.80 59.15 45.53
100s/50s 46/54 45/93 72/100 56/111
Top score 248* 186*
almost he made centuries against all countries and in their home ground also…..soon he will reach 50’s: 100 and 100’s: 50
Hey guys my list of top batsmens in both odi and test
1) sachin
1) sachin
1) sachin
unbeatable sachin….forever
jai ho….sachin keep on going (Little champion)
My top five is:
1:sachin
2:Brandan
3:Lara
4:Shane Warne
5:Richards
Who is actual best, it is not possible to judge it. However I have some comparsion between Tendulkar and Bradman. I am not saying who is best, just putting some facts which you will enjoy. Both are legends in two different eras.
For leading 148 bowlers took 100 or more in test matches.
38 + 45 + 6 + 5 + 40 + 14=148.
Fast + Fast Medium + Medium Fast + Medium + Off Break / Slow left arm Orthodox + Leg break / slow left arm chinaman = 148.
0+ 0 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 6/148. (Don faced)
18 + 22 + 0 + 0 + 11 + 6 = 57 (Tendulkar faced)
1. Tendulkar scored more than 31000 runs as compare to Don only 6996 in very limited circumstances against amatuers.
2. Tendulkar scored 93 centuries at international level as compare to Don 29.
3. Tendulkar played on 57 different grounds as compare to Don only 10.
4. Tendulkar never played timeless match, Don half career was comprises of timeless matches. Presence of three, four, five and six days matches also.
5. Total cricket in ten countries and Bradman only in two Australia and England.
6. 57 bowlers took 100 or more wickets then 28 to 200 wickets then 15 to 300.Only six bowlers in Don case, 100 or more in which only one to 200, medium fast bowler Alec Bedser.
7. Tendulkar batting average 55.5 and Don 99.9.
8. All types of bowler on all type of conditions. Quality bowlers were Tate and Larwood only.
9. Only 14% innings against England and Don 79%.
10. Runs per inning 55.12 against England and Don 79.8 with several timeless matches. (5028 / 63 = 79.8)
I can say both are equivalent with legends in two different eras.
Tendulkar batting average is 55.5 in test with facing 57 bowlers with 100 or more wickets in test matches on 57 different grounds in 10 countries including home grounds.
For Fast Bowling, he faced 18 bowlers
Walsh, Hadlee, Wasim, Ambrose, Ntini, Waqar,
Imran, Donald, Lee, Macdermott, Gillespie, Flintoff,
Hughes, Styen, Johnson, Shoiab, Bishop and Malcom.
For Fast Medium bowling, he faced 22 bowlers
Mcgrath, Pollock, Vaas, Kallis, Hoggard, Caddick,
Harmison, Carins, Streaks, Martin, Fraser, Morrison,
Nel, Dillion, Anderson, Cork, Defreites, Kasprowic,
Reifel, Reid, Collin and Razzaq.
For Off Spinner / Slow left arm orthodox, he faced 11 of them.
Murli, Vettori, Saqlain, Emburrrey, Panesar, Giles,
Tufnell, Hooper, Bracewell, Boje and Rafique
For Leg Break / Slow left arm Chinaman, he faced six.
Warne, Kaneria, Qadir, Macgill, Mushtaq, Adams.
Don average 99.9 on ten grounds in which five in Australia with 60% cricket on home grounds.
He faced six out of 148 in which 5 from England and one from India.
Medium Fast 1, Alec Bedser.
Medium 1, Tate
For Off Spinner / Slow left arm orthodox, he faced 3 of them.
Verity, Laker and Mankad
For Leg Break / Slow left arm Chinaman, he faced one, Wright.
That’s why I am saying if someone comparing their averages only 99.9 to 55.5, is not possible due to above reason. I think both are equivalent from talent point of view.
Please also enjoy the knowledge, it is for cricket lovers only.
Tendulkar faced 29 bowlers with 200 or more wickets in test matches.
Leading 56 bowlers took 200 or more in test matches.
Fast + Fast Medium + Off break / SLAO + Leg break
13 + 9 + 3 + 4 = 29
For Fast Bowling, he faced 13 bowlers
Walsh, Hadlee, Wasim, Ambrose, Ntini, Waqar,
Imran, Donald, Lee, Macdermott, Gillespie, Flintoff and
Hughes
For Fast Medium bowling, he faced 9 bowlers
Mcgrath, Pollock, Vaas, Kallis, Hoggard, Caddick,
Harmison, Carins and Streaks
For Off Spinner / Slow left arm orthodox, he faced 3 of them.
Murli, Vettori and Saqlain
For Leg Break / Slow left arm Chinaman, he faced four.
Warne, Kaneria, Qadir and Macgill
Don faced one, that is Bedser, Medium fast bowler.
Who is better is still unsolved as one batting average is 99.9 and other played all type of bowling on all type of conditions. Both are legend, there is no doubt about it.
I think knowledge should be transferred if anyone loves cricket.
The knowledge which is search after spending many hours is a gift of mine for all.
Sir Bradman played in two countries with 80% innings against the England. 63/ 80 = 80%.
No speed guns like Shoib Akhtar, Lee, Thomson or Frank Tyson.
No Richard Hadlee, Lillee, Dev, Botham, Imran Khan, Bob Wills and Trueman and many others.
No Marshall, Garner, Holding, Robert, Colin Croft, Ambrose, Walsh, Bishop and Hall.
No Wasim, Waqar, Allan Donald, Pollock, Ntini, Steyn, McGrath, Hughes and many many others.
No Warne, Kumble or Gupte, Macgill or Benaud, Abdul Qadir or Mushtaq Ahmed or Kaneria.
No Murli or Underwood and other quality spinners. Laker is there but he played only three test matches against him.
He is legend and one of the best and finest batsman but placing him the best of best due to 99.94 is debatable. Although I think he is equal to or slightly better than Sachin Tendulkar.
i think rahul dravid should also include in this list
I think your judgment is excellent regarding all time best test batsmen. My own top five are Lara, Gavaskar, Viv Richard, Tendulkar and Don Bradman which are almost same with your own choice.
Rating the best batsman of all time will always remain debatable, it is very difficult to judge who is better than others. Complete batsman is Brian Lara who can play aggressively and also in defensive mode too. His records, style, ability to play in other continents and so on.
Best batsman against fast bowlers is Sunil Gavaskar in defensive mode. He score 13 centuries against W. Indies. Gary Sobers said Gavaskar is the best including all. He played bowlers like Imran, Lillee, Thomson, Botham, Wills and also fast battery of W. Indies. Please note Colin Croft never played against India.
The most destructive batsman in aggressive mode against genuine fast bowling is Vivian Richards. I think his destruction is main point, not average.
Statistic in numbers like highest no. of centuries, runs and so on suggest Sachin Tendular-India is the choice.
Statistic regarding batting average suggests Don Bradman is the best.
Sir Bradman is one of the best and will remain legend of cricket due to his skills of batting.
Please do not make comparison with Tendulkar due to 99.9 to 55.5 due to following reason although I think Sir. Bradman is slighty better than Tendulkar.
For 200 or more wickets in test, there are following categories.
23+ 16 + 1 + 0+ 8 + 8= 56.
F + FM + MF + M + OB / SLAO + LB / SLAC = 56
For fast bowling, 23 took 200 or more. Sir Don played none of them.
No Walsh, Hadlee, Wasim, Ambrose, Ntini, Marshall,
Waqar, Imran, Lillee, Donald, Willis, Lee,
Trueman, MacDermott, Garner, Gillispe, Holding, Mackenzie, Lindwall, Flintoff, Hughes, Robert and Thomson.
For fast medium, 16 took 200 or more. Sir Don played none of them.
McGrath, Dev, Pollock, Botham, Vaas, Kallis,
Sthatham, Hoggard, Zaheer Khan, Srinath, Caddiack, Gough, Harmison, Carins, Streak and Snow.
For Medium Fast,
(Only one is there, Alec Bedser, only bowler played by Bradman with 200 or more wickets in test)
For Off break / slow left arm, eight took 200 or more. Sir Don played none of them.
Murli, Harbajhan, Vettori, Gibbs, Underwood, Bedi,
Sober and Saqlain.
Totally eight bowlers are there. Sir Don played none of them.
For leg break / Slow left arm chinaman
Warne, Kumble, Dinesh, Benaud, Chandrashekar, Qadir, Grimmett or Macgill.
From above, you can get all name of bowlers with all catogories of bowling too. Also note that no Medium bowler took 200 or more. There are six types of bowlers.
Dear Tom, I am unable to understand why people are not taking too much interest in cricket.
I think Gavaskar and Tendulkar, are equal batsmen to Sir. Don Bradman as they played superior bowlers of all time against which they scored runs. Yes he scored 12 double hundreds but against whom is also very important.
Bradman scored his runs in an era of uncovered pitch but faced ordinary bowlers in which Maurice Tate was better but his actual time was past in bowling when Bradman started in 1928. Then Larwood came and ended his career in 1932.-33 after body line series.
Then onward upto end of his career in 1948, Bradman faced pace and spin bowlers who were ordinary only. Although in his last period he faced another quality bowler Alec Bedser only. Jim Laker was there but he played only 3 test against him.
In Sir Bradman case, fast bowlers was Larwood (fastest bowler in his case) and Gabby Allen (highest wicket taking fast bowler) grabbing 82 wickets totally.
Gavaskar faced the prime era of fast bowlers like Botham, Wills, Holding, Rober, Marshall, Garner, Croft, Lillee, Thompson, Imran, and Hadlee.
Tendulkar faced best verity of bowlers like Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib, Donald, Pollock, Ambrose, Walsh, McGrath, Lee with two greatest spinners Shane Warne and Murli.
Dear Tom, I think Tendulkar faced the best verity of bowlers which are as follow, countrywise for 100 or more wickets in test.
9+ 12 + 13 + 8 + 5 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 1= 57.
Nine from Pakistan
Imrran, Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib, Kaneria, Qadir, Saqlain, Mushtaq Ahmed and Razzaq.
Twelve from Australia
Warne, McGrath, Lee, Gillespie, Macdermott,Gillespie, Hughes, MacGill, Johnson, Kasprowic, Reifel, Reid
Thirteen from England
Flintoff, Malcom, Hoggard, Caddick,Harmison, Fraser, Anderson, Cork, Defreites, Emburrrey, Panesar, Giles and Tufnell.
Eight from Africa.
Ntini, Donald, Styen, Pollock, Kallis, Nel, Boje and Adams.
Five from New Zealand
Hadlee, Vettori, Carins, Morrison and Bracewell
Six from W. Indies
Walsh, Ambrose, Bishop, Dillion, Collin and Hooper
From Sri Lanka two and Bangladesh and Zimbabwe one each Murli, Vaas, Rafique and Streak.
One of the best batsman of all time great and best batsman of this century. He played in five continents in ten countries on 57 different grounds.
Sachin Tendulkar has played cricket on 57 grounds in which 29 are in Asia, 6 in Europe, 10 in Oceania, 7 in Africa and 5 in America in test cricket. 57 bowlers took 100 or more in which 28 took 200 or more and so on.
Continent-wise
Asia + Europe + Oceania + Africa + America = 57
29 + 6 + 10 + 7 + 5 = 57.
Country-wise
In Asia, 14 in India, 6 in Pakistan, 5 in Sri lanka and 3 in Bangladesh
India + Pakistan + Sri Lanka + Bangladesh = 29.
14 + 6 + 5 + 4 = 29.
Europe in England 6 grounds totally.
Oceania in Australia and New Zealand 5 each.
Australia + New Zealand, 5+ 5 = 10
Africa, South Africa 5 and Zimbabwe 2
S. Africa + Zimbabwe = 5 + 2 = 7.
In America, West Indies 5 grounds only,
One of the best batsman of all time great and probable best batsman of 20th century. He played in two continents in two countries on ten different grounds. On pure statistic, no one can match his status with him in batting.
Don Bradman played cricket on 10 grounds in which 5 in Australia and 5 in England in which 100 or more wickets took by six bowlers with 200 or more only one, Alec Bedser.
Continent-wise
Europe + Oceania = 10
05 + 05 = 10
Country-wise
Europe in England 5 grounds totally.
Oceania in Australia, 5 grounds with absence of Perth.
Fastest bowler that Bradman played only one, who could be placed among the fastest bowlers, Harold Larwood. He could bowl over 100 mph, a fastest one just like Jeff Thompson. From England, Frank Tyson, fastest one. Other speed guns like Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan who had ability to cross 100 mph.
Bradman, scored 974 runs in the 1930 test series in England against Larwood with support of aging Maurice Tate, who was better bowler in 1920, Another amatuer fast bowler, Gabby Allen was also there. Highest wicket taker in fast bowling in Bradman case, 82 wickets.
After 1932-33 Lawrood left and then through the rest of his entire career, almost batting against England only, he faced that pace attacks in which no one could be called fast and then he faced Alec Bedser in 1946-48, medium fast seam bowler.
Slow left arm orthodox in the style of Underwood, Hedley Verity was also there. How can we put Verity in the class of Underwood, Locke, or Bedi.Verity proved himself only once against Australia on sticky wicket of England where he took 15 wickets. But in Australia, Verity’s record was poor with striking rate 113 with bowling average 34.57. Others spinners are Peebles, Wright, Hollies or Smith. I think all of them were average or below average bowlers. Jim Laker was also there but played only three test matches against him at initial level.
The best spinners of his era are Grimmet and O’Reilly.
who could only played against Bradman in domestic seasons only, on Australian pitches which hardly favoured spinners. If Bradman faced these two greats on English pitches, it would have tested all his skills against spinners.
So debate is Don no. 1 for all time is still still unsolved due to above reasons. Please see the big picture and then decide it. But there is no doubt he is one of the best and he is a legend in cricket. In my own opinion he is slightly better than Tendulkar.
RAHUL DRAVID IS THE BEST BATSMEN IN THE WORLD
NOBADY LIKE HIM AND I THINK RAHUL SHOULD HAVE ON THE TOP
TEST 11
1. RAHUL DRAVID
2.RAHUL DRAVID
3.RAHUL DRAVID
4.RAHUL DRAVID
5.RAHUL DRAVID
6.RAHUL DRAVID
7.RAHUL DRAVID
8.RAHUL DRAVID
9.RAHUL DRAVID
10.RAHUL DRAVID
11.RAHUL DRAVID
.
My Best Test Team Ever(With Batting Order)
1. Sunil Gavaskar (C)
2. Mathew Hayden
3. Donald Bradman
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Brian Lara
6. Gary Sobers
7. Adam Gilchrist(WK)
8. Wasim Akram
9. Shane Warne
10.Joel Garner
11.Curtly Ambrose
Agressive!!!!! where is Gilchrist man????
I think these guyz
WR Hammond (Eng)
DPMP Jayawardene
R Dravid
K Sangakkar
must in the best 11 test batsman forever…
Im glad ive got so many people giving their opinion on this. This is great!
i appreciate everyones opinion here, feel free to keep arguing your cause by all means!
All players mentioned by the 50 comments above are/were awesome players, but if im just picking a small selection, you must appreciate that it is hard to choose!
Keep the debate going guys, its really interesting to hear everyones opinion!