Clarke is the greatest Australian batsman since Bradman

An excellent list - I would give you 100%. I was lucky enough to see Greg Chappell play - and Dougie and Ian Chappell. And I saw Viv. Greg was the classiest and most stylish batsman that could possibly have played. And yet, despite his effortless looking grace, he could score runs at a helluva rate. Steve W - you have to admire his grit, and AB had even more of that stuff.... And Dougie - the sheer talent and panache. Greg and Viv - the best. Way ahead of Tendulkar, way ahead.... No helmets, no body armour, no bouncer limits, less predictable pitches....and some great fast men to face.

Yeah I agree. I get extremely frustrated when people refer to a player as being Bradmanesque. Its ridiculous. Even when talking in purely statistical terms, Bradmanesque does not mean averaging 100 for a single season but over an entire career. Just sick of hearing all this hyperbole

You are comparing Clarke's purple patch to Bradman in 1948, when he was 40, had avergaed twice Clarke for twenty years and had just come out of years without Test cricket due to the war. Way to cherrypick data, do you work for the IPCC?

Sheek I can't see how you give honourable mentions to Darren Lehmann, and Mark Waugh in particular and also Dean Jones and Damien Martyn. Lehman didn't play much test cricket and Mark Waugh was a lazy player who only averaged 41.

great article- find it very hard to compare different batsmen from different eras. Yet it is no doubt that Clarkes year has been simply outstanding, it should be measured on its own terms and applauded, not in comparison to anybody else.

I must admit, I agree with most on here. How can you judge someone the 2nd best in histpry based on a Highly inconsistent career, and only 18 good months to show for it??!! It is great to see that captaincy and marriage have made a man responsible... But guys like Chappell, Border and Waugh have done it consistently over long periods: It was obvious from the beginning that Greg Chappell was a real champion, and led accordingly. Border did it with virtually NO real support ... and Waugh was another consistent champion. Why has moderndom so easily abandoned these absolute Champions??

Sheek yes I am got very excited about this. And your right technology has changed, and wickets now have covers on them after play. So that would make conditions easier. But one fact that also has to be looked is this. Yes Bradman played in bodyline, he also got a lot of his runs before bodyline too. And today they still pitch the short stuff up. Also no helmets of course is a big issue to. But something Bradman didn't have to deal with was bowlers being fitter today than they were back then. And also bowlers get coached better and get more coaching on bowling technique and also are taught more deliveries to bowl, on top of being physically fitter, they can bowl longer spells of higher quality . Also though batsmen are fitter too so that can't be ignored, and get better coaching now of course too. It's neck and neck. Yes Pup didn't get the toughest conditions to bat on yesterday and plenty of other great players have massed big scores on flat decks. Pup is not a flat track bully, but Kallis went down. then stein later on in the day, and Phillander pulled out on the morning of the test hardly helping STH Africa these issues. Tough to say Bradman is still in front for now but Pup is catching up he can't be ignored. If Pup has a massive series VS England in England, and im talking Mark Taylor type 800 plus runs. Mark Taylor did it in 6 tests in ASHES 1989 when they played 6. But if he pushed the 800 mark then Pup can't be ignored sheek and i think he must be challenging Bradman then. Also Micheal Clarke doesn' have the best team around him either . Ricky Ponting in his prime had a far better team batting and bowling than Pup has right now. Bradman for now but Pup is catching him Sheek no question.

I rate Border very highly too, for the reasons you outlined. Clarke has had an outstanding 18 months, but don't forget during the 10/11 Ashes he was very close to being dropped. Clarke said as much in his post match interview yesterday. He is likely in the prime of his career, and if he can churn out some big numbers of the next 3-4 years he will certainly be among the greatest for Australia.

Nice list. Good to see the often forgotten dougie Walters in there. Was going to add ponsford to your list but realised he was mostly an opener. Clarkes spot seems realistic given his career still has so far to go

Also early days to say Clarke is no2. I.e. if he has another form slump that sees him considering club cricket. Very promising right now though

IMO Clark has shown a lot of character over recent times and he attracts a lot of critics .... in many ways like Harry Kwell .... I for one have never felt there is anything wrong with Clark and what he has produced... in fact modern day test players with ODI & 20 20 must struggle with the different matches.... Sheek has pointed out, new bats, head gear, wickets, and so on ... but you can only play in the time when you were born and the team you have around you... I hope he gets a double in each of his remaining tests this year ... there would be a record... IMO Australia has produced three players with a steel like mind to do it their way and carry the team with them... and my three is no disrespect to others who have all had strength of mind... but here goes... from the top... Broader Waugh Clark.... Honourables to Mark Taylor, the Chappells ... never saw Bradman but from stories he was also a very single minded person...

Ah. Missed that qualification.

If Clarke average away from home gors from 40 to about 45 he would be about level with ponting Take it up to 50 then he would be a serious contender to the greatest since bradman on par with the likes of border, waugh and chappell

Trumper would be near the top of the list.... if he hadn't been dead for 30 years by 1945. One of Clarkes apparent deficiencies has been making larger scores when it counts in the second innings chasing a win or avoiding defeat under pressure. When he starts winning a few games rather than setting them up, he will go up the list.

cannot argue with that too much. g chappell and punter could be switched but im happy with it as it is, could go either way.

Victor Trumper, Clem Hill

One swallow does not make a summer.For years Clarke could be relied upon to crumble when the team needed him and to throw away his wicket in the last over of a session. It is great to see his little purple patch but he has a long way to go to matc the accomplishments of Border, Waugh or Chappell. Everyone is wetting themselves over Clarke scoing more double centuries in a calendar year than Bradman, but Bradman only played one Test series in 1930, and ony 52 tests over a career of almost 20 years. Perspective people.

Excuse me, I have supported Clarke since day 1 and always thought he would be aust leader with the bat, which he is now doing. This is different to saying he is the best since Bradman. Everytime someone goes on a bit of a run spree the same old line comes out.

No he's not. But I think he'll wind up having the best calendar year. And he deserves every plaudit he gets for elevating his batting whilr bearing the pressure of captaincy.

My ranking of Australian middle order batsmen (positions 3-6) since end of WW2 (1945). Right at this moment. 1. Don Bradman 2. Greg Chappell 3. Ricky Ponting 4. Neil Harvey 5. Allan Border 6. Steve Waugh 7. Michael Clarke (let's wait to see if he maintains this current momentum) 8. Doug Walters 9. Mike Hussey 10. Ian Chappell (he actually averged 50 in his favourite no.3 position) Honourable mentions to Lindsay Hassett, Norm O'Neill, Bob Cowper, Dean Jones, Damian Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Mark Waugh.