Who are your all-time favourite players? A question that is a nigh-on impossible challenge; to separate one player from another in a game that makes one feel such a gamut of emotions.
I came to my decision by remembering the ones who compelled me to share in their experience and walk a mile in their shoes.
These are the five I settled on, but Roarers, who are yours?
1) Allan Border (Australia)
They say that Sport embodies Life, and when Allan Border came to real prominence in the mid 80’s as Australia’s Captain, he became an inspiration.
He was the epitome of the little Aussie battler with everything against him, which mirrored my life at the time with skyrocketing mortgage rates forcing my family to the wall.
He made me live through his example, no matter the challenge, and taught me to find a way.
Through that strength, he inspired a steely determination inside one to rise.
Winning the 1987 World Cup was the first flicker of hope, with regaining the Ashes in 1989 adding to the revival.
The 90’s saw Australia’s re-emergence, and eventually dominance, largely propelled by Allan Border.
2) Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India)
The man known as Chandra was a vindicated genius with a reputation for bettering the batting greats in his time.
His bowling had a Cobras edge to it in its unpredictability, bowling leg spin off a long run at medium pace with an eclectic assortment of deliveries with real venom.
But it was only part of the reason why I loved the man so much.
He embodied the idea that success in the game is about ability, but it is as much about the determination to overcome obstacles, as well as the passion and enthusiasm one has for the game.
He overcame Polio as a child that withered his bowling wrist to be a test great.
That was a life lesson he gave to all, but he took it a step further in his on-field demeanour.
Few would debate that he was a genuine star, but he possessed such self-effacing charm that saw him viewed as a man that was humble, proud, but still confident.
Sadly, these qualities are so foreign in this age of player histrionics.
3) Viv Richards (West Indies)
When I hear the new-age cricket fans claim how T20 had globalised the game, I laugh, for the great West Indies team did it back in the 1970’s.
The standout in that team was the masterful batsman Viv Richards, who was a combination of sublime genius and pervasive charisma that intimidated like no other.
People used to beg, borrow and steal to watch him play, as seen at his time at Somerset in the English County competition, with fans sleeping overnight at the ground to guarantee a sight of Richards.
He was unparalleled brilliance as a batsman, but it was more his character that made one idolise him – he was just that damned cool!
4) John Snow (England)
I always loved the loosed-from-Hell quicks who were intent on destruction.
John Snow was one that stood out because of his unpredictable and untethered nature that never saw a line in the sand that he would not cross.
He paid scant regard to unwritten conventions as he tried to behead tail-enders, hip checked batsmen at the non strikers end sending them into the middle of next week, and even tried to decapitate superiors in net sessions.
Despite his unhinged nature, he was a great fast bowler, seen best in his bettering of Garry Sobers in a victorious English tour to the Caribbean in 1968, and his Ashes plunder Down Under in 1972.
5) V.V.S Laxman (India)
Everything about this great Indian batsman was pristine style, from his characteristic chic red scarf draped around his neck, to the sublime elegance in technique.
This captivated viewers, but his genius, coupled with his match winning substance from any position made one hang off his every move.
I loved his puristic style, which never saw him hit a ball in the air. His game was all about the dexterity of his footwork, fool-proof technique, and irresistible timing that saw the ball rocket off his every caressed shot.
How he mastered Shane Warne belonged in the dream factory, with the leg spinner ripping deliveries out of the rough outside leg to Laxman just to see the genius of VVS hit against the rearing spin through the vacant leg side with an effortless flick of his wrists, or surgically dissecting the packed off side field.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
John Snow, Albert, what a spectacular bowler to watch. i truly idolised that guy, and he so en-captured a rebellious time in my life, when he was such a rebel in his manner
Albert Smith
Guest
Favourites I've seen: 1, John Snow 2, David Gower 3, Clive Lloyd 4, Dennis Lillee 5, Geoff Boycott Would love to have seen: 1, Harold Larwood 2, Frank Tyson 3, Sidney Barnes 4,Jack Hobbs 5, Wally Hammond
Luke Smyke
Roar Pro
Oh yes that is certainly an apt description of the Prince of Calcutta's contribution to the Indian national team!
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Too true Tim. I'm assuming that your thread is about crowd favourites based not just on sheer ability, but a combination of qualities that sets a player apart from the rest. Hence no Boycott, Brearley, Jardine etc. Just to balance it a bit, I could also mention Bill Lawry in that shunned group as well. I recall him declaring the Aus innings closed when Rod Marsh was not out 90 odd. If he thought us school kids were going to let that one pass, he was sadly mistaken. Cheers.
fadida
Guest
:)
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Just ask the old patrons on the beloved Sydney Hill about that Floyd
mactheblack
Guest
1. BRIAN LARA 2. GRAEME POLLOCK. 3. VIV RICHARDS. 4.ROY FREDERICKS 5. KEITH MILLER 6. SACHIN TENDULKAR. 7. SHANE WARNE. 8. BARRY RICHARDS. 9. ADAM GILCHRIST 10. WASIM AKRAM.
Vikramsinh
Guest
adam gilchrist he must be in (and one of the great sports men too ) waqar younis, poor man people always out of freem (think about 'dead tracks )
Sydney Kiwi
Guest
Here my a few of my favs, Firstly the two top Kiwis I grew up idolising as a kid Martin Crowe-could play all the shots and always looked at ease at the crease. Richard Hadlee-our best ever bowler of course. Ozzies Warnie-I always made sure I was at the TV when he came to bowl. Two Aussies I didn't get to see play- Bradman the man and Thomson sheer pace. Finally as previously mentioned Wasim and Viv with the addition of Gower- elegance personified. Only 3 more for a team! Ok add Gilly(power), Steve Waugh (Guts) and maybe Barry Richards or Sunil Gavaskar to open :)
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
But seriously, in the sheer popularity stakes, the boy from Dungog, Doug Walters. Not as revered as some, but few have been as well liked.
alex
Guest
jonty rhodes richard hadlee kallis ponting gilly my faves phranie devilliers (sorry about spelling he used to open bowling with white lightning) chris harris rhodes gilly john wright
josh
Roar Rookie
I loved when Bill Lawry would say Alan Mulally.
Jak
Guest
Gus Logie Larry Gomes Martin Crowe Sir Richard Hadlee Barry Richards Graham pollock
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I have no doubt with modern bats and small grounds Viv would have scored 300 in an ODI and 200 in a T20
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I loved the 'GURU', a lovely fellow, and very under rated player. Aravinda arguably played one of the best WC innings ever in the 96 Final, and how can you not love little Kalu? I must admit my fav SL player would be Roy Dias
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I do not know you vintage JGK, but any who saw Davo would never ever doubt ( not saying you are ) his legend. Great write up on him by the way with the only thing you miss was how dexterous he was in the field- truly brilliant
Prosenjit majumdar
Guest
Gilchrist, sehwag, sachin,devillears, steyn..and lately johnson.haven't seen much of viv richards live.,but few clips of his strokeplay in australia against the white ball.wonder what he would've done with modern bats!!
Zubes
Guest
I don't know if Sachin was the best ever. In some ways he has a strong case to be, but to play cricket at the highest level under such intense scrutiny for so long and be held to unfailable unhuman standards and stay calm and composed is absolutely amazing. When Sachin failed in an important game - even if he scored big (e.g. 136 vs Pak) - he would come under intense criticism from his own fans. I think he was once boo'ed off the field when he got a low score. Yet, he was never broken. I think thats why Warnie rates him so highly... more than the runs he scored.
Zubes
Guest
My band of 6 (with a Sri Lankan flavour) would be: 1. David Boon - Keg on legs who took on the might of the WI pace bowlers at their peak. 2. Asanka Gurusinga - I still remember the crowd chanting 'GURU GURU' when he got to his hundred on a tour of Oz. 3. Aravinda De Silva - Mad Max, totally fearless. 4. Rumesh Kaluwitharana - Took on Glen McGrath and helped change the way the one day game was played. 5. Martin Crowe - Effortless and pure artistry. 6. Phil Tuffnell - Great partnership with Tony Greig, who did the commentary on a lot of his antics.
JGK
Roar Guru
Here is what I said about Davo in my article on the all time D Team: http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/05/03/crickets-all-time-alphabetical-d-team/ 8. Alan Davidson Aus, LHB, LFM, 44 Tests, 1,328 runs at 24.59, 186 wickets at 20.53 The only true rival to Wasim Akram for the title of best left-arm quick, Davo had a relatively slow start to his career (possibly overwhelmed by the legends of Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller), only taking 16 wickets at 34 in his first 12 Tests. However, his next 170 wickets took 32 Tests and cost 19. While he wasn’t a true all rounder (only five times past 50 in 44 Tests) he was more than useful as a batsman. His legend, of course, was set in stone in the first Tied Test where he became the first player to score 100 runs and take 10 wickets in a match. Davidson was superb in all conditions, including in India where he took 30 wickets at 15. A favourite of Benaud’s, the two of them formed one of the great spinner-paceman combinations.