Yesterday, I went through the first half of a list of candidates for my top-10 fast bowlers since 1970. Here are the remaining candidates, as well as the much-awaited list.
We start today by looking to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has produced two outstanding batsmen – Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.
Jayawardene’s record really is in two distinct halves with a home average of 61.1 and a mere 39.3 on the road. In 25 Tests at his beloved Singhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo he has scored ten of his 31 career centuries.
Against South Africa at the SSC in 2006 he made 374. A powerful driver through the covers and with the familiar flick of the wrists to the leg side that defines so many sub-continental batsmen, Jayawardene is another all-round player.
In 138 Tests to date he has totalled a Sri Lankan record 10,806 runs at 49.6 with 31 tons. He averages 64.0 in 17 Tests against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Sangakkara loves to compile big scores. In 115 Tests to date he has scored eight double centuries and three scores in the 190s. He has produced 10,045 runs at 55.8 with 30 centuries.
Unlike Jayawardene, he has been consistent both home (55.6) and away (52.3). England has been his Achilles heel with nine Tests in the home of cricket producing an average of just 30.6.
Early on he was a predominantly back-foot player with the bulk of his runs coming square of the wicket. He later bloomed into a far more well-rounded batsman. In 16 Tests against the minnows he boasts a Bradmanesque average of 100.8.
While Sangakkara is a stylist, Shivnarine Chanderpaul is far from it. With the most open stance in the game the 38-year-old has used clever deflections and a powerful pull shot to amass 10,696 runs at 51.7 from 146 matches. He has scored 27 hundreds and 61 half-centuries.
Away from home he has an average of 46.8 against 58.5 at home. His 11 Tests in Australia have produced a highest score of 82 and an average of 30.2. He has played 14 Tests against the minnows for an average of 59.0.
His long-time teammate Brian Lara is a giant of the game. Twice the left-hander has held the world record, both posted against England in Antigua – 375 in 1993/94 and the current benchmark of 400no ten years later.
In his 131 Tests he scored 34 centuries, nine of them doubles, second only to Don Bradman’s 13. Lara thrived against the might of Australia during his time, averaging 51.0 and peeling off nine centuries in 31 matches.
He scored 11,953 runs in all at 52.9. He had an unusually small number of not outs, just six in 232 innings.
A free-flowing player who unfurled from a low stance, he holds the record for the most runs in a losing series – 688 runs in Sri Lanka in 2001/02. At home in 1998/99 he almost single-handedly disposed of Australia with innings of 213, 153no and 100.
At home his benchmark was 58.6 and away 47.8. His four Tests against the minnows produced an average of 65.8.
Sachin Tendulkar has rewritten the record book during a yet to end 23-year, 194 Test career – the most runs (15,645 at 54.3 and a strike rate of 61) and an all-time best 51 centuries.
Tendulkar’s career has been built around one of the straightest bats in the game, yet he at times plays inventive shots that defy description.
The ‘Little Master’ has thrived against Australia, averaging 57.3 and posting 11 centuries in 35 matches.
He has been incredibly consistent with averages slightly either side of 54 both home and away.
He has scored six double centuries with his best being 248no against Bangladesh in 2004/05. Against them and Zimbabwe he has made 1738 runs in 16 matches at 124.1 with eight centuries.
Tendulkar’s long-time teammate, Rahul Dravid was known as ‘The Wall’, such was his seemingly impregnable defence, although his stumps were rattled many times late in his 164-Test career.
In all, his technically correct game and infinite concentration saw him score 13,288 runs at 52.3 with 36 centuries.
He was often far from his best against Australia, with the notable exceptions his 180 in the famous Kolkata Test of 2000/01 and his double century in Adelaide in 2003/04. In his 33 Tests against Australia he averaged a disappointing 38.7.
In South Africa he averaged 29.7 from his 11 Tests, yet his benchmark all-up on foreign soil was 53.0 and at home 51.3. He played against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh 16 times for an average of 85.5 and six tons.
Aside from Greg Chappell, three other Australian captains have flourished since 1970 – Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
Border was the epitome of the street fighter, all grit and determination. With a powerful cover drive allied to piercing shots square of the wicket, he retired after his 156 Tests with a then world record 11,174 runs at 50.6 with 27 centuries.
He had the misfortune to have to take on the mighty West Indian sides of his era 31 times during which he produced an average of 39.5. On the sub-continent the pugnacious Border averaged 54.5 and he is one of few players to have played over 100 Tests to have performed better away than at home with averages of 46.0 and 56.8 respectively.
Waugh, like Border, was seen as a scrapper who loved nothing more than a fight out in the middle. Debuting at 20, he was initially a free-flowing stroke maker who over time gave away the pull shot.
As a result, he was attacked to the body by fast bowlers everywhere, yet it hardly ever brought about his demise.
In 168 Tests he made 10,927 runs at 51.1.
It took Waugh 27 Tests to score his first century before going on to compile a career total of 32. Like Border, he performed better on the road – on home soil he averaged 47.6 and 55.9 away. Strangely, he averaged just 38.5 against New Zealand.
But against the strong West Indian pace attack he averaged 49.8 in 32 outings. He is the only player to have scored in excess of 150 against all nine opponents.
In five Tests against the minnows he produced an overall average of 273.0.
Ponting retired having equalled Waugh’s Australian record of 168 Tests. He struggled for runs for the bulk of his last three years in the game but that cannot detract at all from his overall record – 13,378 runs at 51.8 with 41 centuries, six of them beyond 200.
In 2003 he amassed 1503 runs at 100.2 with six hundreds.
Sometimes a candidate for leg before early in his innings, if he got through that phase the opponents were in trouble as he scored freely off both back and front foot. He was one of the finest exponents of the pull shot in the game.
He averaged 57.0 in Australia and 45.8 away. His lower mark on foreign soil was largely as a result of a poor record in India where his 14 Tests produced the meagre average of 26.5. He suited up against the minnows seven times, scoring 550 runs at 78.6.
Jacques Kallis has built a career around being virtually unbreakable. His 285 wickets have been largely overshadowed by his gargantuan feats at the batting crease – 160 matches, 13,048 runs at 56.7 and 44 centuries.
He approaches his job with the bat very much in the way Dravid did – defence first, attack second. That approach has resulted in a strike rate to date of 46. For a player blessed with such a well-formed technique and boundless levels of concentration he has surprisingly scored just two double centuries, with his first coming 142 matches into his career.
Against Australia he has an average of 41.2 after 29 matches. At home he boasts a standard of 58.2 and away 53.8. His 12 Tests against the minnows have produced four centuries and 996 runs at 124.5.
Few batsmen have impacted the game outside the top six in the order like Adam Gilchrist did. One of the cleanest hitters of a cricket ball he is the only man to have struck 100 sixes at Test level.
In 96 consecutive matches he blasted 17 centuries on the way to 5570 runs at 47.6.
He averaged 50.2 at home and 45.9 away. He struggled on the sub-continent with his hard-handed approach often bringing him undone against the spinners.
His 15 Tests on the dusty, turning tracks produced an average of 37.3 with his efforts in India coming at 28.5.
The fall of the fifth Australian wicket often brought massive headaches to the opposition as Gilchrist either shored up a stuttering innings or put the icing on the cake with a rapid fire knock. His career strike rate was 82. He played six Tests against the minnows for 332 runs at 83.
Inzamam-ul-Haq wasn’t the most fleet of foot but he built a magnificent career – 120 Tests, 8830 runs (two less than Miandad’s Pakistan record) at 49.6 with 25 centuries, the best of them 329.
He was more lethal at home then away – 53.7 versus 45.9. He always found the Australian attack hard work with his 11 Tests producing an average of just 31.4. He played ten times against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, averaging 61.5.
Inzi’s teammate Mohammad Yousuf played 90 Tests and scored 7530 runs at 52.3 with 24 tons.
His 11 Tests against Australia were disappointing with a meagre average of 29.6. He fared little better against South Africa (29.7). He was a bully at home (65.2) and much less convincing away (44.9).
He holds the record for the most runs in a calendar year with nine centuries and 1788 runs at 99.3 in 2006.
He seemingly played later than most other batsman with his willow coming down from an extremely high back lift.
He played 11 Tests against the minnows, scoring 1,119 runs at 101.7.
So, there you have it – 23 candidates in all. Why did I decide to do this?
This is my top ten
1 Brian Lara
2 Sachin Tendulkar
3 Greg Chappell
4 Viv Richards
5 Sunil Gavaskar
6 Ricky Ponting
7 Jacques Kallis
8 Allan Border
9 Kumar Sangakkara
10 Javed Miandad
Once again, it’s now over to you.
And, if I survive the wrath of the Roarers, I’ll be back with my top-10 all-rounders of the last four decades.
Ajkima
Guest
i) Vivian Richards- With him its not about the statistics. Sometimes it is the ability, the presence. Even the greatest of bowlers feared him. No one carried that kind of an aura. And he never wore a helmet. ii) Sunil Gavaskar- The greatest opening batsman in test for me.His technique is better than Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. And scored runs without a helmet against greatest of Pace bowlers. He also carried the batting of a team which did not have a strong batting line up. And scored highest runs aginst the best team at that time the mighty West Indies iii) Sachin Tendulkar- Holds the best records. But comes third because he has not played enough match saving or match winning innings as his statistics suggest. iv) Brian Lara- When he gets going great sight to watch. Again took the burden of a weak west indies team on his shoulders. But not as consistent as the other big names. v) Greg Chappell vi) Inzamam Ul Haq- Most effortless batsman vii) Zaheer Abbas- Greatest timer of the ball according to Imran Khan. viii) Javed Miandad- Greatest Pakistan Batsman. ix) Martin Crowe x) Graham Gooch xi) Allan Border
Bashir khan
Guest
My top ten in order, G.Sobers,Tendulkar,Lara,G.Pollock,B.Richards,IVA.Richards,Ponting, GS.Chappell,Gavasker,Sangarkarra
Harsh Thakor
Guest
If it comes to pure test cricket Glen,Brian Lara just edges Sachin Tendulkar.I applaud your selection for pure test cricket.Lara has borne the brunt of a weak batting line up more than nay other modern great and had a penchant for registering mammoth scores more than any great batsman ever.Above all his batting combined phenomenal destructive ability with feline grace like no other modern great.At his best he surpassed Tendulkar as a match-winner and in a crisis.Lara could single-handedly carry his team to victories .His batting in the 199 Frank Worrel trophy which literally turned the tables has not been equalled by Tendulkar nor his match-winning 153 n.o in the 3rd test of thta series in Bridgtown.Overall Tendulakr was more consistent and dominated the game at the top for 22 years-a feat that no sportsman has acheived let alone a cricketer.Sachin posessed every ingredient for the perfect batsman -be it consistency,technique ,innovative ability,temperament etc.As a match-winner Sir Viv Richards was the greatest of them all who could turn the complexion of game like no other batsman and was the best against pace bowling.From 1976-81 ,including Packer World series Cricket he was the best of the modern batsman.Tendulkar or Lara could never equal Sir Viv Richards against lethal pace bowling. Glen,I disagree with your placing Greg Chappel above Viv Richards.Greg may have been statistically better but did not posess Viv Richard's flair,ability to destroy short-pitched pace bowling or to turn games.Greg had the leading aggregate of 1416 runs in Packer Cricket and averaged 69 runs aggregating 621 runs versus West Indies in supertests in 1979 on Carribaen tracks and was a champion statistically.However remember Greg had problems with the bouncing ball as revealed in the 1979-80 Frank Worrell trophy. Sunil Gavaskar set records facing the greatest bowling and should just edge above Greg Chappell.Infact in a crisis Ian Chappell was the best batsman of the 1970's who would outplay brother Greg when the chips were down.Ian was master against pace and averaged above 59 at a one down position.Gary Sobers rated Ian Chappell the best batsman in the world in 1979. It is also a serious mistake to forget Rahul Dravid,the best batsman of his era in a crisis whose test centuries made a greater impact to his team's cause than Tendulkar.At one down he had a staggering average and played a major role in India's important triumph sin Australia,West Indies and Pakistan . My list in order 1.Brian Lara 2.Sachin Tendulkar 3.Viv Richards 4.Sunil Gavaskar 5.Greg Chappell 6.Ricky Ponting 7.Rahul Dravid 8.Alan Border 9.Jacques Kallis 10.Javed Miandad
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Mmm, tough contract Brian. I will give it some thought.
Matt h
Guest
And who knows how invincible they would have been without Bradman averaging his below par 90 odd.
pope paul v11
Guest
Alec Stewart average 50 while batting only and 30 while keeping. The english selectors duiring that period did many stupid things but that was the jewel in their crown.
Richard
Guest
I'm coming in late as usual. Nice won Glenn, the politically correct top ten ! You could travel the globe as a commentator spruiking that and we would all love you.... I'm Aussie and I could argue for days over minor positioning, but I think you have it almost right :)
TJ
Guest
Great call. His figures are impressive and he rarely had a supporting cast and was constantly under pressure when batting.
Stepper05
Guest
I think that Viv Richards has more than 100 first class centuries to his name. One of only four outside of England.
sittingbison
Guest
That day at the WACA was my first ever day at the cricket Ajax (10yo)
Ajax
Guest
1975
Ajax
Guest
Mate, I was at the WACA as a 9 year old kid when Fredricks scored 100 in a session... up until then, I had never seen anyone flay Dennis Lillee, or even survive for very long...Dennis Lillee with the Fremantle doctor at his back must have been the most terrifying sight in the history of cricket, given it often used to blow at over 30 knots late in the day.. I asked my dad why Dennis couldnt get Fredricks out.... he just said "hes too good" No helmet, just a cloth Red WI cap... Lillee AND Thompson flinging them in at nearly 160kms per hour... Thomo was so quick he bowled a bounder and it hit the sight screen with only one bounce... possibly the best batting performance of all time IMO.
Ajax
Guest
That is a great article, yes, I recall Kallis was pretty quick in his early days, used to bowl first change... and was one of the few batsmen who did alright against Shane Warne. Didnt realize he was so good till I read your stats... I suspected he might be up there with Hadlee, Botham, Kapivl Dev, Flintoff, as an all rounder but your analysis indicates he is the best out of all of them... hard to argue with isnt it??
Johnno
Guest
James good analysis. Kallis is the greatest cricketer ever, he is just modest, but he is number 1, better than Keith Miller, or Sobers, or Shane Warne.
The Greatest Game Of All
Guest
Jaques Kallis is a great cricketer, may end up averaging 60 by the time he retires, takes wickets when it matters, along with Sobers and Gilchrist are rare all-round talents.
Mikey
Guest
Well done James - I knew Kallis was great but your analysis and comparisons against other greats puts his record in a much better perspective. Based on those stats it is hard to argue against giving him the title of greatest player ever.
James
Guest
I have got fed up with all these comparisons especially insofar as Kallis is concerned. So I spent time with the stats. As an Englishman I certainly learnt a lot. I started with 6's and 4's per game and the results will astonish you. As will scoring rates when analysed in time periods. Thank you Glenn for one of the few to acknowledge the greatness of Kallis. Did you know that Kallis over the past few years is consistently achieving a scoring rate well over 60? Some other stats worth looking at and recommended for Ian Chappell who who does not want to acknowledge Kallis as a batsman(or bowler for that matter). Feel free to check the stats.on Kallis. What is indisputable even to statisticians is that the the longer the period and the more data , the more the stats will define and show who is really the best. As they say - check the scoreboard. 1. Fastest to 13,000 test runs 2. Fastest 50 in test cricket. 2nd only to Tendulkar in no of test centuries - in far fewer innings. 3. 283 test wickets - strike rate ahead of Sobers. Numerous times he has broken key partnerships that turned a game. Almost 40% of his wickets are from the top 5 batsman. 70%of his wickets are from top 7 batsmen. Yet you still read nonsense about he gets his wickets from tailenders! 4. First 7 years he was 1st change fast bowler and often bowled long spells. For many years he operated as a genuine fast bowler 140kmph plus. 5. Over 200 test catches - unquestionably a great slip fielder. In probably the most difficult slip position - second slip. 6. 2nd most sixes in test cricket history. Only the amazing Gilchrist is better. Averages more sixes per test than Sobers - almost 33% more! He average number of 4's per test innings is almost 50% greater than Sobers!!! Over a much greater period of time. Summary - he averages more 6's and more 4's per test innings - by a long way - than Sobers ever did. So where does this myth about his lack of attacking batting come from? Swashbuckling Sobers? Must have been the running between wickets that excited everyone so much. And he did not bat No 6 as did Sobers - which is much more comfortable. His no of 4's per innings is on a par with Viv Richards and he is only marginally behind average 6's per innings vs Viv as well. 7. For his first 6 years he batted at No3 - and most times really opened because of brittle batting. For at least 10 years he held the SA side together because of their brittle batting so had to be patient to help build a reasonable total. Yet his run rate is only marginally behind Tendulkar and Ponting. In the last 5 years his run rate is superior to both of them. 8. Played against all the best fast bowlers and spinners in world on all pitches in all countries. 9. One of best players in other formats such as ODI and T20 - tremendous versatility. 10. SA has most friendly pitches in world for fast bowlers and Kallis has had to play a lot there. 11. Only in last 5 years has he been able to relax more because SA now has a strong batting line up. Kallis now averaging almost 70 in tests at strike rates greater than Ponting/Tendulkar. 12. Second only to Bradman in number of consecutive test hundreds 13. Contrary to nonsense written, when Kallis posts a hundred, SA usually win the match. So much for the repeated rubbish about that he does not win matches. Then there is bowling and catching.......... 14. Easily the best cricketer in the history of the game and, because of his quiet, modest approach, is not given his full due. Ian Chappell, for example, wrote a long article about the modern batting greats (Lara,Tendulkar,Ponting) and did not even mention Kallis! "He is awesome. When he got out I went up to him and told him it was the greatest batting I've ever experienced, for or against." Brian Lara on Jacques Kallis
Jason
Guest
Agree. Flower was a vastly underrated batsman.
The Greatest Game Of All
Guest
Isnt it, as rohan mentioned above, Stewart was a talented player, great off the back foot, tough and consistent.
Nick
Roar Guru
I hope one day Andy Flower gets a bit more recognition. I feel his immense talents will always be forgotten due to everyone always removing Zimbabwean and Bangladeshi players from any analysis.