Who are the greatest batsmen ever – Part 2 (10-1)?
Continuing off from the Greatest Batsman of all time article, which counted down the best batsmen from 20-11, here are numbers 10-1 in reverse order, with an additional comment at the end for those Test countries not represented in my list:
10. Victor Trumper (Australia) – 48 Tests, 8 100s, 13 50s, Average 39.04, HS 214*
Widely acknowledged as the best Australian batsman before Bradman, Trumper was both stylish and versatile with a penchant for playing match-winning innings on treacherous wet wickets. After scoring 135 not out against England at Lord’s in 1899, Grace gifted Trumper his own bat with the inscription “From the present champion to the future champion.”
9. Herbert Sutcliffe (England) – 54 Tests, 16 100s, 23 50s, Average 60.73, HS 194
Sutcliffe’s name always seems to be inexplicably left on the margins when discussions as to who is the best ever English batsman. Perhaps this is because his he opened the batting with Hobbs and played in the same era as Hammond. Whatever the reasons, Sutcliffe deserves recognition in his own right – the fourth highest Test match batting average of all-time for players with at least 20 innings, a fantastic record against Australia and prodigious run scoring for country and Yorkshire alike.
8. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 131 Tests, 34 100s, 48 50s, Average 52.88, HS 400*
The man with the highest Test and First Class scores of 400 not out and 501 not out respectively, Lara is the fourth of six West Indians on the list. When he started his career, West Indian dominance was on the wane. By the time he finished it, his side was in the doldrums and as a result he spent most of his time trying to keep the West Indies afloat making his record even more impressive. Perhaps his best achievement was in 1999 in the home series against Australia, when he single-handedly won the second and third tests with scores of 213 and 153 not out after his side had been obliterated in the first test. He scored a century too in the fourth and final test, but couldn’t prevent Australia squaring the series.
7. George Headley (West Indies) – 22 Tests, 10 100s, 5 50s, Average 60.83, HS 270*
Like Brian Lara over 60 years later, Headley had to keep a struggling side afloat. He managed this scoring a staggering ten centuries in his 22 Tests with his scoring feats leading to him being dubbed the ‘Black Bradman’. Headley was noted for his phenomenal back foot play and the time he seemed to have to play the ball, with such a shrewd judge as Len Hutton declaring that he had never seen a batsman play the ball later.
6. Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 136* Tests, 38 100s, 48 50s, Average 55.88, HS 257
The outstanding batsman playing the game today, Ponting is widely acknowledged as the best Australian batsman since Bradman – high praise indeed. One of Ponting’s main strengths is his versatility in that he can score quickly, counter-attack or tough it out when the situation demands. Other strengths include his consistency and his habit of playing match winning innings.
5. Vivian Richards (West Indies) – 121 Tests, 24 100s, 45 50s, Average 50.23, HS 291
Regarded by cricket aficionados as probably the most devastating batsman in the history of the game, King Viv was absolutely unstoppable on his day. His style was a mixture of swagger and intimidation and most bowlers seemed to visibly cower when faced with an on-song Richards. It is befitting that he is the scorer of the fastest-ever Test century, from just 56 balls against England in his home island of Antigua during the 1986 tour.
4. Jack Hobbs (England) – 61 Tests, 15 100s, 28 50s, Average 56.94, HS 211
Popularly referred to as ‘The Master’, Hobbs scored more runs (61,760) and more centuries (199) than anyone else in the history of the sport – and but for the Great War these figures could have been more spectacular still. His opening partnership with Herbert Sutcliffe is considered to be the best England and maybe the game has seen. Hobbs made his first class debut against a side captained by W.G.Grace who presciently observed that “He’s goin’ to be a good’un”. Even the learned Doctor could not have realised how ‘good’ Hobbs would become.
3. Walter Hammond (England) – 85 Tests, 22 100s, 24 50s, Average 58.45, HS 336*
Throughout his career, Hammond was often compared to Bradman, which is testament to what a great player he was, and he was included in the Don’s all-time XI. His seven Test double centuries has only been surpassed by Bradman and Brian Lara, and Hammond certainly had an ability to get big scores. His most notable series came on the tour of Australia in 1928-29 when he scored an incredible 905 runs at 113.12 in the five Tests. This has only been surpassed once – by Bradman, of course.
2. Garfield Sobers (West Indies) – 93 Tests, 26 100s, 30 50s, Average 57.78, HS 365*
Widely regarded as Cricket’s greatest all-rounder, Sobers was so good with the bat that he also ranks behind only the immortal Bradman on this list. Sobers mixed elegance with power and for a long time held the record for the highest Test score until he was usurped by his fellow West Indian Brian Lara. Perhaps his best innings though came for the Rest of the World against Australia in 1972 when Sobers played an innings of 254 which was described by Bradman as “probably the greatest exhibition of batting ever seen in Australia”.
1. Donald Bradman (Australia) – 52 Tests, 29 100s, 13 50s, Average 99.94, HS 334
Who else? No self-respecting list of the greatest batsmen ever could have anyone else at its head. Has anyone dominated their sport as much as Bradman? It almost defies belief that his average of 99.94 is almost 40 runs higher than the second best for 20 completed innings (Graeme Pollock at 60.97). Of his many staggering batting feats, here are three examples. First, his consecutive triple centuries at Headingley in the Ashes tests of 1930 and 1934. Second, his 974 runs in five tests during the 1930 Ashes series in England including three double centuries – both records. Finally, his second innings knock of 270 during the Third Test at Melbourne during the Ashes series of 1936/37, which was rated by Wisden as the best test match innings of all time in 2001. It enabled Australia, who were two down in the series, to win the match and they completed a remarkable turnaround by winning the fourth (Bradman making 212) and fifth (Bradman, 169) tests – still the only time a team has come back from two down to win a test match rubber, and Bradman was the captain of course.
So, there we have it. Six West Indians, six who represented England, four Australians, two Indians and one each from South Africa and Pakistan. Obviously, a number of great players failed to make the cut and as I said yesterday it was an agonising process to get down to the final 20. Indians, South Africans and Pakistanis may feel aggrieved that their nations do not have a higher representation. Rest assured that Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Dudley Nourse, Barry Richards (ruled out by the virtue of having only played four tests), Zaheer Abbas and Inzamam-ul-Haq were all there or thereabouts.
From England, no place could be found for Denis Compton, Peter May, Ted Dexter or David Gower. On the other side of the World in Australia, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Neil Harvey, Stan McCabe and Adam Gilchrist all failed to make the cut. And those swashbuckling West Indians Frank Worrell, Gordon Greenidge and Clive Lloyd also deserve a mention.
For those countries not represented, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Aravinda da Silva were all considered from Sri Lanka, as was Andy Flower from Zimbabwe and Martin Crowe, Martin Donnelly, Glenn Turner and Bert Sutcliffe from New Zealand. Bangladesh have yet to produce a great batsman, but undoubtedly they will as they continue to improve in the Test match arena.
Hello,
I came across this list of 10 All time Greatest Batsmen today and I am aghast at seeing Sachin R. Tendulkar being out of Top 10! That’s little harsher for the Greatest Ambassador the game has ever seen. Even Bradman wouldn’t argue that!
I would have ideally liked to see Sachin at number 2 behind Don Bradman. Obviously Don will always remain numero Uno. But Sachin has raised his game above his contemporaries and above all those who had played before and exception being Bradman himself.
Sir Viv Richards has himself admitted that Sachin R. Tendulkar is the greatest Modern day batsman and second greatest of all time.
Just a few days back, Pakistan’s yesteryear elegant batsman, Zaheer Abbas has backed Sachin to be the Greatest Batsman of all time.
Even Gary Sobers would admit that in terms of sheer batting prowess, Sachin R. Tendulkar is an automatic choice at Number 2. That should be the end of the debate when these all time Legends themselves believe that if Sachin can be compared at all, it would be only with Sir Don Bradman himself. That itself is a huge compliment to the Gulliver of World Cricket.
Even Don Bradman would put him ahead of all others on the list as far as Test Matches are concerned.
If you take ODIs into account, his record speaks for itself. He has amassed runs and more importantly, he has given unbridled joy to the world over.
He is the greatest ODI Batsman of all time on par with Viv Richards.
And I happened to miss out on some equally elite names such as Sunil M. Gavaskar, Clive Lloyds, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Zaheer Abbas, Inzamam Ul Haq, Steven Waugh, Mathew Hayden & Adam Gilchrist.
Obviously, it’s not right to compare players from different eras. But from the sheer talent that Sachin possesses, he is head and shoulder above almost anybody who played cricket in this era or any bygone eras.
Sachin Tendulkar would have dominated any bowler from any era either in this era or that respective era. He is once in a lifetime Cricketer.
On the contrary, if most of the players could have played for 21 straight years shouldering the responsibility of a Billion die hard fans! I believe not!
Ask Mathew Hayden, he famously quipped, “I have seen God bat. He bats at No.4 for Indian Test Team.”
I have been a die hard Sachin R. Tendulkar fan all my life. Not just for his prowess on the field but for his simplistic, down to earth demeanor off the field as well!
To me, he is the Ultimate Batsman who has ever graced this earth just next to Don Bradman (Don is numero uno just for his amazing average of 99.94.)
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David Siddall Reply:
December 7th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Thanks for your comment Samar. I couldn’t agree with you more. My own opinion is that the list has too much of a historical skew meaning players from the modern era aren’t as high as those players pre WWII. Sachin has proven himself to be better than Ponting and Lara and is definitely the finest batsmen of the modern era for longevity, adaptability, strokeplay, and consistency. Just a little “what if” thought…. how great would it have been to see Tendulkar face up to the great Windies pace attack how Gavaskar did???
Food for thought…
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AJ Reply:
December 21st, 2010 at 8:23 am
David, i have been following your commnets on the greatest batsman ever.
You seem to have rated many players who played in the 30′s to 70′s amongst the modern day greats. I feel that the greatest bowlers of the world have played during 80′s and 90′s. Considerig that i feel you should have looked for batsmen who played during the same period.
Again you also seem to be determined not to rate Sachin above his contemperories. Common,let’s not be biased, you need to give to the man for remaining the most sought after wicket in world cricket. His technique, mental toughness, consistency and natural ability is a level above his contemperories. The only player who could match him is Lara. Ponting never had to face an Australina attack and they were the best in the world. Moreover, Tendulkar and Lara had to shoulder the responsibility of their teams from a very young age and for the major part of their career. Were as Australia were always blessed with exceptional batsmen and bowlers. I have never seen the Don play, but for the average i rate him high. I would say Tendulkar might just come above Lara for his mental toughness and tighter technique. It would be followed by Sobers, Richards, Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Mathew Hayden, Steven Waugh etc
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David Jegan Reply:
January 4th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Mr. David Siddall, you only agreed that “Sachin has proven himself to be better than Ponting and Lara” then don’t you think this list of top 10 is a crap list??? Common….don’t be so silly. Let me tell you one thing, “whether you like it or not, you have to accept the fact”.
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Praveen Varghese Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Well, Don Bradmann is a maestro! So, is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. No issues! I’m clueless at how you have analyzed these cricketers who would never ever replace Sachin’s excellence
And, talking about Bradmann – he is the greatest batsman of all times but I would say, only when his contemporaries had bowled to his willow.
But, if you take Sachin to his days he would have ousted what you have called the greatest batsman ever.
Sad that you have pulled Sachin out of the list
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on what basis u have made this all bullshit..
u hv rankeed batsman like hammond , ponting nd haddely ahead of sachin.
it seems like one’s list nt on any analysis.
do analysis den publish d things.
be precise nd responsible 4 such a lists.
think on it.
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SACHIN TENDULKAR is no.1 Batsman ever
If Bradman had 99 average, Sachin will have 100 Centuries
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viku Reply:
May 17th, 2011 at 1:35 am
sachin is always the best batsman… and remain best for ever..
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Today is the 75th birthday of the West Indian Stalwart Rohan Kanhai.For sheer batting prowess and creative prowess he would defeat even Tendulkar and Bradman.Kanhai’s statitics never did him true justice and in the modern era ,considering the docile nature of the pitches and the weaker fast bowlers Kanhai might well have averaged 55+and scored over 10000 runs.Kanhai could combat pace bolwing better than Lra or Tendulkar and at one down he averaged 53+,that too 58+ in winning test matches .In his days som experts rated him even above Gary Sobers.
I wish to quote some experts.
Ian McDonald, cricket writer and historian wrote : “If I had to choose , I would have chosen above them all Kanhai. This batsman has something of all the greatness and, in their total combination, I believe surpasses all the others”. ( he named Bradman, Gary Sobers, George Headley, Brian Lara, Viv Richards, Steve Waugh, Sachin Tendulkar ).
Writers Michael Manley and Donna Symonds wrote in their “A History of West Indian Cricket”:: “ No more technically correct batsman ever came out of the West Indies than Rohan Kanhai .”
Sunil Gavaskar: “Kanhai’s gigantic batting feats have not only eugolized him in calypso but also immortalized him in a manner second to none, said this of Kanhai: “Rohan Kanhai is quite simply the greatest batsman I have ever seen. What does one write about one’s hero, one’s idol, one for whom there is so much admiration? To say that he is the greatest batsman I have ever seen so far is to put it mildly. A controversial statement perhaps, considering that there have been so many outstanding batsmen, and some great batsmen that I have played with and against. But, having seen them all, there is no doubt in my mind that Rohan Kanhai was quite simply the best of them all. Sir Gary Sobers came quite close to being the best batsman, but he was the greatest cricketer ever, and could do just about anything. But as a batsman, I thought Rohan Kanhai was just a little bit better.”
Albert Baldeo :”His creative genius surpassed any other batsman in the game, and his flamboyance was spellbinding. There were times in his batting artistry where he touched heights of batsmanship beyond the reach of any batsman, such as in the execution of his unique “roti shot,” or falling hook shot, sometimes played off the eyebrows, the half-pull, half-sweep style stroke, the flick off the toes which dissected the on-side field, the reverse sweep off the leg stump or the late cut off the off stump. Cricketers like him invented and pioneered many innovations to the game which have made it richer and dearer to spectators.”
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This list is not published after a good analysis. How can you place The Greatest Sachin Tendulkar in 11th place.Thisaffordab is unaffordable for the people who know cricket well. The one and only Batsman,who can compete with Sir Donald Bradman and Viv Richards.
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i totaly respect the views of the top ten batsman.but i think that “sir.Brian Charles Lara” is the best batsman that the world have ever seen.considering the pressure that he had to encounter as an individual in the west indies team,and were able to overcome all those pressure and still able to manufacture some incredible inning.
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joshy Reply:
January 20th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
u r correct
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considering the amount of matches Brian Lara has played,test matches to be presise.which is 131.and score a total of 11,953 runs,in 232 inning at an avg of 52.88.if we are to back track on those innings,especially the 1992 series [W.I VS AUS]IN AUSTRALIA.He difinitly dominated that series.But he was had done with some terrible decsision.not only in that series but many.and i think if he was’nt had done at the end of his carier he could of had a total of about 16 to 17 thousand test runs.at a highier avg.
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BRIAN LARA,SACHIN TENDULKAR,SIR GARFIELD SORBAS,SIR VIV RICHARDS,SIR DAN BRADMAN,JAVID MEANDAD,ALLAN BODER,GEORGE HEADLEY,ARAVENDA DE SILVER,WALTER HAMMOND.THESE ARE MY TOP TEN BEST BATSMAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME.I AM NOT BEING BIAS. BUT BRIAN LARA IS THE BEST BATSMAN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE GAME HAS EVER SEEN.”BRIAN WERE IN,STILL IN AND ARE GOING TO BE THE BEST EVER.HE IN A CLASS FOR HIMSELF,THERE IS NO DOUBT”.
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RICKY POINTING CANNOT BE ON MY LIST OF 10,15,20,NOT EVEN 25 TOP PLAYERS.HE BAT WITH TOO MUCH BROAD BAT.HE CANNOT MAKE THE LIST OF TOP FIVE AUSTRALIAN.THERE ARE, MARK WOUGH,STEVE,WOUGH,DAVID BOON,MARK TAYLOR,ALLAN BORDER,DAN BROADMAN,
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Aj10 Reply:
July 7th, 2011 at 2:08 am
I agree…
1st let ponting b a fair cricketer..
Than think him as a batsman..
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I’m not even Indian but it has to be said that the lack of a Tendulkar in a top ten list of test batsmen is a singularly unique mystery. I know that its an opinion based list but in that case its an opinion that is either biased or simply a poor one.
He’s been a thorn in the side of every test playing nation for a period spanning over two decades. Even in his 21st year of domination he’s averaging above 50 while other batsmen who have been hailed as greats are simply melting away in terms of effectiveness.
No one in the world has scored more test runs than him. The man is an absolute genius, adapting his game day in and day out to stay at the top of the food chain. His consistency and technique are meticulous and he personifies hard work and dedication in his game.
I dont think he’s the best batsman in the world, but for the top ten, absolutely a shoo-in.
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How the hell u can leave the god of cricket (Sachin Tendulkar)in the top ten list. This is really stupid and unacceptable.
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Wait? You seriously left sachin tendulkar out of the top 10?!
This is just mistifying. I know lists like these are opinion-based, but leaving not putting tendulkar in the list is baffling.
I don’t need to mention any of his batting records or statistics because to be honest everyone knows what he’s achieved. He holds virtually every major batting record.
What most people outside asia don’t know is how unreasonable our expectations from sachin are. Literally every time he goes out to bat, one billion people not only hope, and pray, but EXPECT him to get a hundred. And we indians also have the shortest memory spans of any nation. If he doesnt play at his best for a few matches, inevitably, the media starts doubting his ability.
Several times, he’s been asked not-to-politely by the media to retire. There was even a famous article named “Endulkar?” posted a few years ago when he was struggling with his form due to the tennis elbow problem. But as always, he silenced his critics in the same manner he’s done for 20 years, with his bat.
Another incredible thing about him is that with the ridiculous amount of pressure on him to perform, he never loses his head, and has remained more humble and dignified than any of his peers. Tony greig recently called him “the most well-behaved cricketer of the modern era”
For me, all these factors, humility, composure, class, and of course his brilliance with the bat combine to make him easily one of the best batsmen ever. Personally, he is my number 1 favorite batsman ever, but thats probably beacuse im an indian. But even non-indians cannot in their right mind argue that he isnt in the top 3 of all time atleast.
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No complaints about bradman and sobers being 1 and 2, my own top ten would be
Bradman
Sobers
Richards
Lara
Tendulkar
Pollock
Hammond
Ponting
Hobbs
Gavaskar
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stupid list.
tendulkar is the greatest batsman in the world,not for his runs and centuries.but for his technique and strokeplay. at one point of his career he has had the best stroke ever,any stroke defensive or attacking barring the hook.which was wonderful though not the best. rest of the strokes no one can even touch him.
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yeah i completly agree with the author
tendulker desreves only 11 position but u missed one name Jaques Kallis in this list & Brian Lara should come at No 2
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Chill out folks.
There’s only ever a hair’s breadth separating batsmen of this calibre. I think there’s way too much emphasis on statistics; most people read statistics like they are directly comparable with each other.
In reality, there has never been (and never will be) a true common frame of reference that makes all statistics directly comparable.
Trust me, I am a statistician for a living, and you can justify completely opposite points of view from the one set of numbers; it’s all about interpretation.
Do I think Sachin belongs on any list of top 10? Sure. But the same can be said about a dozen other batsmen, for one reason or another.
Just enjoy these lists for what they are; a platform for discussion.
David Green: Keep it coming, mate.
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sachin,sewag&gamvir as very succesfully batsman. india take the world cup
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WHERE IS SACHIN TENDULKAR
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he is in mumbai………….hahahahahaha
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stupid list …………….sachin is the number one batsman in the world.
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dude you seem to be some one stupid or rather jealous of sachin , a player who not only is the best modern day batsmen but also the best placer of the ball given his sublime footwork and amazingly outrageous range of shots
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Sachin should be in the top 5 and Lara should be 2nd.
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Wrapped up in this cricket world cup fever which affects me every 4 years, I have been reading endless articles about who is the greatest batsman of all times, top 10, top 20 and what not…
Conceding that I am not a cricket maniac like my father or like any other cricket buffs who would talk all night about the game until their mouths run dry, I have to ask who do people even approach preparing such lists.
If one prepares such a list by being subjective, then the possibilities are endless. I love the swashbuckling Sehwag, but should he be on such esteemed lists???
However, if one prepare such a list by being more informative and objective…then you don’t have to go anywhere else by this HowSTAT’s website.
For example, my argument against Bradman being the best, except the test batting’s average, the name Donald Bradman hardly features anywhere else. But check out where Sachin’s name does and you will have found a lot of self-convincing evidence. In our era, yes ERA! (and that’s what talked on sports like Cricket should begin with), there are 2 formats of the game where you have be dominating to be called “the greatest”..and its ODI and Test. 20/20 has just picked up and so I am discounting it…In both those formats, Sachin’s record is unassailable. I can also call him greatest if I compare him against a standard that Mohammad Ali set, who came back more than once to take THE BELT. Sachin too lost his mojo, had injuries due to that stupid heavy bat, has a lost year or two but he did come back. Changed his style and gathered more runs…
From a stat’s perspective, another point to make. Funny how the stats say Sachin’s tops the list of players being out in the 90s… 17 times!..that 17 “coulda shoulda” centuries…This is an example of a stat that you can subjectively speculate with to make your case but all while being on the basis of being INFORMED and not just hear, see and say.
10 years from now, I will look at the stats again and see who has been consistent in all 3 forms of the game ODI (which might change to 4 inns of 25), Tests and 20/20s, has had comebacks and left or is leaving a mark on the game…
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Ha ha…Good joke…Sachin plays modern day cricket when bowlers bowl more than the speed of 150km/hr…There are spinners like Warney and Murlitharan who can bowl miracle spells……The cricket has changed a lot now…Don’t be a fool by bringing those old days players to this list…
Sachin is undoubtedly the No. 1 in both one day and test format…
With due respect to Sir Don who left cricket after bodyline was introduced to pace attack then, all other old day heros of crickets doesn’t impress me a lot….
David !! Why don’t you come out of this bookish calculations….
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My god, screw this list..any list without sachin in it is a farce for obvious reasons. Ponting??? what is he there for?
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This list looks sad without sachin.
And why was my previous comment deleted? wtf? I wrote 3 huge paragraphs trying to explain how rididulous it was that Sachin had been excluded. Bah, cant type it again.
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absurd.u can’t put sachin tendulkar out of ten.he is head and shoulders above any other batsman apart from bradman in the list,by virtue of his gigantic stats or by any other parameter u wish to attach………
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sir, it is great injustice not to include sachin as the greatest batsman . I’m sure these remarks will surface but if you come after 20 or 30 years then that generations will say there will never be another tendulkar . sachin is not competing with sir Don ,he is with himself .In one or two years every one will unanimously say sachin is the best. From Nasar Hussain to Zaheer Abhass To Richard Hadlee said about that. so please if you make such list you should remind that those who are viewing this list atleast have a sensible list rather than utter foolishness
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Sir,Sachin is the only batsman can be the BEST BATSMAN EVER in both format of game that’s true,is the only true u agree or not doesn’t matter.Sir don’t speak lets Run speak,lets record speak,lets bat speak,lets xyz also speak and over n above 22 yrs cricket in test n one day international not a single controversies involved what so ever name it…?
A true Gentleman for a Gentleman’s Game.
I list my Top Ten Batsman Ever
1.Sir Sachin.R.Tendulkar
2.Sobers
3.Don
4.vivian
5.Lara
6.Gavaskar
7.Border
8.Rahul
9.Hobbs
10.Richy
Plz reply david
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I think the list maker perhaps Australian or European. However your list is stupid like.
Thats why he neglects Asian batsman.
One of the greatest ever player is Sachin Tendulkar.
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Mr. David Green
If any Australian or European Or any batsman over the world will able to touch Sachin’s Runs and Century both in TEST Cricket and ODI matches I will agree with you otherwise your lists proves invalid.
So make a new list for the greatest players.
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I am not a cricket maniac and neither am i from India but you ask me to name any 1 cricketer and my answer will be Sachin Tendulkar…Comeon man..I can’t beleive that he is not in your Top 10…He is by far the best we have seen or heard of….and all this talk of statistics not determing the Greatness, then how come bradman is the best…have any 1 seen him playing….For me Sachin is the best player of all time..bradman second…richards 3rd…..lara 4th..Rest are all same….
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No other batsman has played so much of matches and kept their form intact. This is a fact that Sachin has been playing since last 20 years and others have faded away. His stroke play and shot selection has changed but still he is one of the best in contemporary cricket. How many you have named have played so much of cricket?? Can any one be named the best batsman who plays 20 matches, scores some centuries and fade away? It needs that much of mental and physical toughness to play for so long. On my view looking at his techniques and records no other player come at par not even Bradman. He is the nemero uno of course.
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Had you seen the great Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards bat ,you would change the selection of the top ten
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Sreejith Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
the great graeme pollock and barry richards themselves will tell sachin is better than them
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Hi,
One of the foolest list given in this article I have seen in my entire life. It must be given by either an amateur Australian. I don`t know why every Australian fear Sachin Tendulkar. Might be bcoz he is GOD of cricket now!!!!!!!
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Sachin Tendulkar is the best batsmen of all times. Do a unbaised analysis mate and be true to yourself and you’ll find out what I say is correct
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A banner at the ground summed up Australia’s affection for Sachin Tendulkar.there is a wonderful saying “Commit all your crimes when Sachin is batting,” it read. “They will go unnoticed because even the Lord is watching.”
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I do not agree that bradman is the best batman,Brian lara,Vivian richards are even better.”Sachin tendulkar is the best,the greatest,the best there is,the best there was,and the best there ever will be”.But every nation has its heroes,and even the cricketers will not agree on the same.But on the polls,aussies themselves think sachins the best.Im an Indian fan and i suggest we can compare sachin with Brian lara,ohh you beauty.Brian lara is the prince of cricket,there is a reason why he is so popular,a great ambassador of cricket.3 world cup wins on a row for the aussies is impressive,but it doesnt make don bradman or ricky ponting the better batsman.The beauty about brian and sachin is that in their best years they played with a rather weak west indian and india team.But now look at them they are the superstars of world cricket,even pc games are named after lara.And now Sachin has become the god of cricket,Im very happy that he got everthing he dreamt after a superb world cup win.Tough luck to lara but we luv u too just the way you are.99.34 batting averages,well aussies why dont you give your great captain the credit he deserves,you are so cold on that great guy
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now who is this guy,ha3,listen my friend,even the best bowlers are admitting that sachins the best batmen,don jackman who went up in a hill and stumbled,i have never seen that guy bat.Lets instead compare LARa with sachin
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I AM NOT AN INDIAN BUT I BELIV SIR DON IS THE BEST BY FAR. IF SOME BATSMAN IS NEAR TO SIR DON THEN HE IS LITTLE MASTER SACHIN. MY LIST IS..
RICKY PONTING
1) SIR DONALD BRADMAN
2) SACHIN TENDULKAR
3) SIR GARRY SOBERS
4) WALTER HAMMOND
5) JACK HOBBS
6) SIR VIV RICHARDS
7) BRAIN LARA
9) HERBERT SUTCLIFFE
10) SUNIL GAVASKAR
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U FOOL I THINK U DNT KNOW ABOUT CRICKET IT SEEMS.CRICKET IS SACHIN ANND SACHIN IS CRICKET. WITHOUT SACHIN THERE IS NO CRICKET AT ALL.
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Lol you kidding me sachin tendulkar is out of top 10. he should be no 2 after Don Bradman
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WTF. what sort of list is this? i almost totally disagree with it. it should be as follows:
1) don- 99.94 period!
hammond- it was a contest between him and bradman to see who was better
2) sachin- who else can be no.2 wtf
3) Hobbs- consistency was his middle name
4) v richards- aggressive
5) gavaskar- he revolutionized the opening pos.
6) sobers- great cricketer
7) hedley- the black bradman!
9) Sehwag- how many bastman can you name who average in mid 50s and are as aggressive as him
10) Gilly- for a very long time average over 60 in his career
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i think u don’t know about this game.get knowledge about cricket and yes learn counting.tell me
who scored maximum
runs
100s
50s
in test and oneday
SACHIN
1 sachin
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m sory bt cant b patient to c d list changed.
David i guess u r an Australian.?
So dats preety clear, y ponting ahead of d best.?
Cumon leav ur personal liking, n playing gambel wid bookish stats
N its hard to do bt try not b jelous of dat great man.n
simply hate him bcoz u favour ponting
DID UR PONTING face mcgra, lee, warne, gilespee.?
N luk at warne’s record in india(considrd as pitch for spinrs).?
Sachin is d bst.?
Plz cum out of ur mindprison
N aceept d trueth wid eyes wide open,
N heart pure.!
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The only issue I would have with the list is the lowliness of Tendulkar, who surely ranks above everyone I have seen (since 1960), bar Richards and Sobers. I never saw Hammond or Bradman, but my father and grandfather raved about both of them and saw both live in the 20′s, 30′s and 40′s. Bradman’s record speaks for itself.
For me personally, nobody comes close to the great Viv Richards. He had everything – every shot in the book and was simply untameable when he was on song. Will never forget that 189 at Old Trafford. I saw him at Notts in a tour match in ’84 against the great Kiwi, Richard Hadley, who had bowled 4 consecutive maidens and taken Greenidge and Haynes’ wickets. Intent on stamping his authority, Viv hit his first four balls from Hadley straight back past him for 4 – legend.
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David Siddall Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Thanks for the comment Mutara. I didn’t see much of Viv Richards being born in 1984 but from what everyone says he was the most destructive batsmen in world cricket.
The 189 at Old Trafford is at YouTube at the following link if you want to relive it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj2PCictIL8
Enjoy!
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I must say that above list is perfect. Sachin Tendulkar is “TOP OF THE WORLD” but not in this list. Very Funny……He is “GOD OF CRICKET”…So he is undoubtedly beyond of this funny listing……Everybody knows without you….
Badly waiting for more funny listing from you…keep it up.
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According to me Sachin deresve top 3 or top 5 slot reason is not that he hold multiple record but because you will find the sportmanship an spriti in any other playery in this entire globe.He is icon.He is widely regarded as best sportman ever came across by man cricketers means only figures dont speak but cricket speak it to.
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mr.David Green,i want to know the criteria you followed for making the list .it is interesting to see Sachin not there. Let’s have a discussion.what are the qualities you are seeing in other ten players over Sachin?
YOu take the average or aggregate runs or consistency .how can you exclude Sachin from your list.So it is clear.A list excluding Sachin Tendulkar is more catching than a list including him. ALL THE BEST!
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Who cares about this rating? It is David Green’s personal opinion. By listing these players as top 10 batsmen doesn’t really mean that they are top 10. He has freedom to express his opinion. I wouldn’t agree with his list.
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David Siddall Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Thanks for the comment Aby. You are right it’s an opinion and the whole point is to start some debate. Tendulkar should be number 2 in my opinion but this piece was written ages ago. There are also a number of people who think that Barry Richards should be in the top 10 as well that are equally as upset.
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