Cricket is increasingly becoming a batsman's game and in the last 10 yrs, batsman have set about making tons of runs, records and achievements. The main reason one can attribute this too is the samness of the pitches available throughout the world. I wouldn't classify them as perfectly placid or batting paradise but highly loaded in favour of batsmen. Keeping Lara & Tendulkar aside, here is my take on the other great batsmen in the world. 1 & 2 are Lara & Tendulkar respectively in ranking. 3. Ricky Ponting - I think the australian captain stands the best chance to eclipse most of the batting records because of the sheer weight of runs that he has been scoring over the past 2-3 yrs. The immensely talented tasmanian could end up making 45 centuries in test and 40 in one dayers and has the potential to be at No.1 position for a long time if he is not there already. 4. Jacques Kallis - The consistency of the burly allrounder is amazing. He may not be the most dominating or attractive batsmen to watch but certainly possesses the best technique along with Dravid in the game. Undoubtedly the best allrounder in the game for last 10 yrs. 5. Rahul Dravid - The Wall of India is certainly amongst top 5/6 batsmen in the world. Possesses wonderful technique, unflappable temprament and has the ability to play well in difficult circumstances. He is attractive too when he wants too and he is certainly one of the icons of Indian batting for many years to come. 6. Mathew Hayden - The burly australian opener who possesses the unique ability to intimidate opposition bowlers consistently. The ability is unique because one normally associates caution with openers but here is one who plays with disdain after he settles down. I think he is a power house,not necessarily blessed with immense talent but certainly immense power, concentration and steely resolve and temprament. 7. Mohammad Yousuf - One of the classiest batsmen going around. Has loads of time when he bats and plays wonderfully attractive shots. Its a spectators delight to see him play and makes batting look very easy. He is very much in the mould of Zaheer Abbas and is in contention for one of the premier batsmen pakistan have ever produced. 8. Inzamam Ul Haque - Well what can u say about the sultan of multan. One of the finest batsmen pakistan has ever produced. Wide range of strokes,unflappable temprament and ability to play match winning knocks out of position of difficulty. Was a difficult choice between Yousuf and Inzamam. Very little to separate them.Dont make the mistake of judging him by the shape of his body or languid walk to the crease.He is a serious player. 9 & 10 would be between Kevin Petersen and Kumar Sangakara. They have the potential to reach higher places i must say. KP can become no.1 batsmen in the test arena also. He has amazing handspeed with the bat, domineering effect over the bowlers and wide array of strokes. Just needs to be a little more selective. English selectors need to leave him the way he is. . Kumar Sangakara , srilankan wicket keeper batsmen would rank no.10. One of the most consistent batsmen in the world.Give him the credit, he does a brilliant job behind the stumps and in front as well. Make more big scores and he could be amongst the top 5 pretty soon. Comeon viewers and writers make your top 10 list too.
RE:Current Crop of Star Batsmen in the World
by Varun Chaturvedi on Apr 04, 2007 09:01 PM Permalink
Dear varad
I guess keeping the title current crop in mind, I guess you should also mention the names of Fleming and Gayle in the list. I agree Gayle may not be in great form as of now, but he is one of the most devastating batsman in the world. He has ability to turn around game single handedly. Also Fleming has been the best Player for NZL after Martin Crowe. Considering him to be from NZL,where wickets are not supportive to batsman,he has come a long way.
Also missing from your list is somebody like Jayasuriya
RE:Current Crop of Star Batsmen in the World
by Ankur Khanna on Apr 03, 2007 03:15 PM Permalink
why is Sachin Tendulkar in the list which is called 'Current crop' If you are using historical facts you should rename the list, and maybe you can also add Sunil Gavaskar and Viv Richards up there
RE:Current Crop of Star Batsmen in the World
by Varad Chaturvedi on Apr 03, 2007 03:21 PM Permalink
Well ankur get your facts right!!. He may not have played well in the important matches but he still is a wonderful player and has been one. You have a short memory, get back to malaysia in september last yr, he scored a big century and look at his record in ODI's in last 15 matches. He has not given up on the game and is still amongst the best players in the world though i agree that he doesnt seem to be playing like one.dont be biased and opportunist, give your suggestions rationally. Lets look at ur list and see what u have to say for your top 10 players. All the best mate.
In Series Won Sachin- 127 5548 186* 51.37 19 26 Dravid- 76 2645 153 42.66 2 22 Ponting- 177 7245 145 47.98 18 45
In Test 100's in Tests India Won - 12 100's in Tests India Lost - 8 100's in Test Drawn - 15
Holds the record of maxium number of 100's for loosing team...That means a lone warrior..Thats why once Indian Cricket Team was called as ONE MAN ARMY!!!!
More Intresting Part!!!!!!!! Often said Sachin gets fail at crunch situation...Well 1st we must admit that when Sachin on the crease Win is sure...As soon Sachin gets out..the situation becomes crunchy!!! Sachin is out,now who will win match for us?? Dravid ?? or Sehwag?? or Yuvraj?? Or Ganguly?? No one sure who will win match for them... So bcoz of this thing Teams targets Sachin as the most precious wicket... Nasser Hussain introduced Negative lines for Sachin Tendulkar to stop the flow of runs when he is on wicket!!! Local umpires also involved some times to help their team against Sachin Tendulkar,espeically Australians! Some incidents striking in my mind...I think Sachin is the player who got out maximum numbers of times bcoz of bad or wrong decision by Umpires..I m producing those incidents only which I remember,there may be many other too
RE:Current Crop of Star Batsmen in the World
by bb bbb on Apr 04, 2007 07:02 AM Permalink
thank you, thank you for giving the right stat. We put too much pressure on Sachin and yet he survives. I think turning point (for worse) in his mental preparation came after the Pakistan test which we lost. He played very well with Mongia. He had back problems, got India within 30-40 odd runs of the victory and lost his wicket. India lost the match and people blamed Sachin not rest of the 'gang'. Since then he has shown some weakness in pressure situation. We forget very easily how he must have felt when India lost that match. Now he constantly has to live with the tag of a chocker... I think you were right on the target. Look at Brian Lara, with his mastery W.I. is still a medicore team.
