Harsh Thakor

This is my selection batsmen who most defined perfection in order of merit. My criteria is not based on pure statistical or overall merit but extent to which they fused technical correctness with inventiveness, artistry and aggression. 1.Donald Bradman-Even if unorthodox his strokemaking was sublime and technique faultless. Bradman resembled a propelled cricketing machine accumulating gigantic scores at a staggering rate but never disobeying the textbook. He could even invent strokes on his day. Noone equally adept in devising the correct stroke for a delivery. Man who ultimately defined art of batting. For his era his average strike rate stood on another plane, taking domination to regions unimaginable, and invincibility when batting to mythical levels. 2.Barry Richards-No batsman as clinically dissected bowling attacks apart posessing an eye beyond compare. Even when executing mercurial strokes his bat remained the straightest. Barry made a perfect fusion of attacking aggression with technical skill. Ultimate connoisseur of batting after Bradman. Elevated all-round batting perfection to realms surreal. When scoring 325 runs in day and 356 overall for South Australia in 1972 took batting skill to transcendental heights. Topped batting averages in World Series cricket supertests averaging 79. 3.Sachin Tendulkar-Arguably no player batted as similarly to Bradman as Tendulkar, who made the most perfect concoction of strokemaking power with aesthecism. Sacin destroyed attacks all over the world, in all types of conditions. In the ‘V’ he did not have an equal. His timing had transcendental overtones. Tendulkar played close to the perfect cricket innings when scoring 98 v Pakistan at Bloomfontein in 2003 world cup, century in Perth in 1991-92,169 at Trent Bridge in 1996 and 169 at Johannesburg in 1996-97. 4.Gary Sobers-His shots were packed with mercurial power but his technique remained impeccable. He had as wide an array of strokes as the greatest of batsmen and at his best in difficult conditions. Sobers was the best ever left-hander on the backfoot. Relished square driving and square cutting, with a majestic hook and pull shot. Brilliant as a match-winner and in a crisis with his 132 in the tied test at Brisbane and 254 at Melbourne for rest of the world setting new parameters in batting skill. 5. Greg Chappell-Epitome of elegance and ultimate master in the v’ and in in onside driving. Greg could execute the most stunning shots to turn games displaying the most refined technique. and characteristic composure. He could bisect the most impregnable gaps and mercilessly punish even good length deliveries. Most successful batsmen of his era against the top Caribbean pace attack and most prolific in World Series Cricket supertests from 1977-79. topping averages in West Indies, averaging 69. Equally at home on te bouncy surfaces of Australia and West Indies seaming tops of England and subcontinent tracks in Pakistan. 6.Sir Jack Hobbs-Responsible for invoking the path breaking transition to the art of batting. From a defensive mould he could all of a sudden switch to launching an attacking blitzkrieg. Hobbs caressed the ball as if it was a child. He could manipulate a ball like a juggler, with his technique highly balanced. His strokes exuded effortlessness. He could find a gap at will and could dictate the length of the ball in the most adverse conditions. His footwork was lightning quick, going either back or forward instantly. Hobbs had the knack of sending bal crashing through the exact spot a fielder was placed. On bad wickets better than Bradman, scoring majority of his 197 centuries on under prepared tracks. 7.Walter Hammond-One of cricket’s most majestic strokemakers of all time, who epitomized the pure classics of the game. His batting was a perfect medley of confidence, poise, radiance, grace, power and mathematical organization. Hammond was neither a compulsive inventor or a mercurial batsman. At best could match domination of Bradman with his 240 at the Oval against Australia a true monument to the game. 8.Zaheer Abbas- Elegance in transcendental heights, with classical strokeplay. Best ever exponent of the drive through extra cover in post-war period and best timer of the ball of his time. Dubbed the Asian Bradman with his stupendous achievements in first class cricket. Best ever improviser from the subcontinent ,being close to the very best in ODI cricket. Murdered bowling on flat pitches, scoring 4 double centuries in test matches. 9.Rohan Kanhai-Took batting artistry or inventiveness to regions unexplored, transcending regions even Bradman did not , but still possessed watertight technique. No one his equal in executing falling hook or pull stroke. A master on bad wickets who topped averages in 1960-61 Australian tour aggregating 503 runs, topped aggregate in India on 1958-59 tour and scored a fifty every third match. Averaged remarkable 58 in games won. His 115 at Perth for rest of the world in 1971-72 was arguably one of the best ever innings played by an overseas batsman in Australia till then, tearing apart Dennis Lillee at his quickest. 10=Viv Richards and Brian Lara-Both took domination and inventiveness to surreal realms, sensationally switching the fortunes of games. Viv was the more mercurial or punishing and Lara the more artistic and wristier. Flawed technique but still razor-sharp footwork and reflexes. Viv better against pace, Lara better against spin. Viv won games for a champion side while Lara caried the mantle of the weakest of batting sides to turn and win matches. Viv Richards at peak from 1976-1980 and Lara at his best were arguably next to only Bradman. 12.Graeme Pollock -The thinnest of linings could not separate Pollock and Gary Sobers. Some great players of his era chose Pollock in their all-time XI. His best innings took batting prowess to unexplored realms like when scoring 125 at Trent Bridge in 1965 and 274 against Australia at Durban in 1979-70. No left hander equally impressed Sir Don Bradman as Pollock. He could score at a whirlwind pace, transcending metaphysical levels in domination. This evaluation and choice of perfection is subjective where I have adjusted technical skill, grace and pure genius with aggression and power. The likes of Lara, or Viv Richards not ranked at the top because they tore attacks apart with flawed genius. It was those like Bradman, Barry Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Gary Sobers and Greg Chappell who executed stunning strokeplay with watertight technique, and thus ranked at the top. Hammond and Hobbs ranked high considering impact in era and contribution to transition of the game. Artistry of Zaheer Abbas and Rohan Kanhai spoke for itself. with Graeme Pollock an ultimate powerhouse of talent.

This is my selection of the best teams of all time to play test cricket chosen in order of merit. I have attempted to strike a balance between the statistical performances achieved and level of strength or talent within a side. I admit is a very subjective venture. 1.Australia from 1999-2004 No team has been on rampage with such intensity or dominated the cricket world in such realms. Registered a record 16 consecutive test match wins in 2001, pulverising powerful South African teams’ home and away, as well as teams like England and Pakistan on their soil. In 2001 won 5 consecutive tests against South Africa, a phenomenal feat. Losing a series in India in 2001 was a blot or scar on their record. Players like Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne and Glen Mcgrath made this team defining myth of invincibility in realms arguably unparalleled. Adam Gilchrist, Glen Mcgrath and Shane Warne were ultimate match-winners, Steve Waugh the epitome of tenacity, Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh class acts and Hayden and Langer giving the most impetuous of starts. Arguably no team has ever escalated professionalism to such levels or as intensely expressed a desire to win. It surpassed the bating strike rates of all previous teams, had the best pace-spin bowler combination ever. In my view more professional, with higher killer instinct than even the West Indies teams led by Clive Lloyd. 2.West Indies from 1977-1985 This all-powerful team led by Clive Lloyd scaled invincibility in mythical realms, sweeping or rolling over opposing teams, ruling the cricket world for an unmatched tenure in cricket history.. It pulled the wool out of the eyes of the most powerful opponents, in every part of the world, be it the seaming tops of England, bouncy tracks of Australia or the turning pitches on the subcontinent. The presence of the most lethal or potent pace bowling attacks ever of Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Andy Roberts fortified with great batsmen like Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge and Clive Lloyd made this Calypso team arguably the best ever team in cricket history. In 1984, won then record 11 consecutive test matches in a row. 3.South Africa of 1966-1970 No team ever had as many genuine allrounders or demolished a powerful team like Australia by a 4-0 margin .as the South African team of this era. It contained the likes of specialist batsmen like Barry Richards, and Graeme Pollock, talented all-rounders like Mike Procter, Eddie Barlow, Trevor Goddard and a fine wicketkeeper batsman Le Ervine. Debarred from official cricket from the 1970’s due to apartheid, thus denying the cricket world from witnessing arguably the most talented side ever. 4.Australia from 1974-1976 In this period Australia gave a comprehensive thrashing to a strong English side in 1974-75 by a 4-1 margin and a multi-talented West Indies team in 1975-76.by margin of 5-1. It also won an Ashes series in England in 1975. This team possessed the most lethal pace duo of all in Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, an all-conquering batting line up in likes of Ian Chappell, Greg Chappel, Doug Walters, Keith Stackpole, Ian Redpath supported by allrounder Gary Gilmour. It had the cutting edge of being led by arguably the best of al captains, Ian Chappell. 5.Australia in 1948 This team led by Bradman swept aside a strong English team transcending invincibility at it’s zenith. In Bradman it contained two great batsmen into one, which was it’s trump card, in addition to possessing the ultimate match-winner as an allrounder in Keith Miller, arguably the best ever pace bowling duo till then in Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller. And till then perhaps the best left-handed middle order batsmen the world ever knew, in Neil Harvey. 6. West Indies of 1966-70 With Gary Sobers possessed arguably the greatest cricketer let alone all-rounder ever, in addition to having batting stalwarts like Rohan Kanhai, Seymour Nurse, Basil Butcher, and class fast bowlers like Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths. Demolished England in 1966, but did not overpower Australia down under in 1968-69. 7.England from 1926-1930 Defeated powerful Australian sides home and away, propelled by great opening batsmen like like Jack Hobb sand Herbert Sutcliffe, great allrounders in Wilfred Rodes and Frank Wooley. 8.Pakistan of 1987-90 Few teams ever in test cricket history had such deep batting depth or a more versatile bowling attack. It was backed by one of crickets most inspirational leaders and finest allrounders in Imran Khan, accompanied by the wizardry of spinner Abdul Qadir, left arm pacer Wasim Akram and mercurial batting of Javed Miandad and Salim Malik. Won series on Indian and English soil against the strongest team sever and drew a rubber in West Indies in 1988, coming within the skin of it’s teth to wining the series, before bad umpiring decisions robbed Pakistan of a series. Victory. 9.South Africa from 2008-2015 Blended lethal pace with a talented batting line up, containing arguably cricket’s best all-rounder after Sir Gary Sobers. Never lost a series overseas for six years and defeated Australia and England twice away. Still did not win as many series as it should have.Great batsmen reprented the Protas like Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith and AB Devilliers,in addition to classical fast bolwer Dale Steyn ,and the premier al-rounder of his era ,Jacques Kallis.Defeated a stong English side away in 2012 to reach the top of the test table. 10.Pakistan in 1976-79 This team led by Mushtaq Muhamad secured it’s first ever drawn rubber on Australian soil and all but drew a series in the Caribbean in 1977.Contained one of the most powerful batting line ups in the game, with likes of Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Majid Khan, Asif Iqbal and Wasim Raja, backed by the pace bowling of Imran Khan and Sarafraz Nawaz.and al-round skill of skipper Mushtaq Muhammad.

Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, is marked among cricket grounds for its poetic beauty. For India, it held a legacy of glory., when it re-wrote cricket history. 50 years ago., in 1976, it demonstrated to the cricketing world what metal it was made of. On April 12th, Indian cricket commemorates the 50th anniversary of achieving the then highest fourth innings total, in the history of test cricket, chasing down a record fourth-innings target of 406 at Port of Spain. The fact that only Don Bradman’s ‘Invincibles’ (in 1948 against England) had chased over 400 to win a Test before this match lends perspective to the magnitude of this achievement. On that day Indian cricket had climbed an unprecedented zenith or wrote a new episode, creating one of cricket’s most stunning upsets or miraculous turnabouts. It was evidence that Indian cricket had come of age. It underlined or showcased how cricket produced uncertainties like no other sport. It gave vibrations of reading the climax an epic novel with dramatic twist and turn at the conclusion Very rarely in cricket or sport has a team risen from the depths of despair to transcend untold glory as India did here. India resurrected from the grave like a phoenix from the Ashes. It was without doubt one of the most stupendous achievements in cricket history. The manner India sailed along facing such daunting or herculean task symbolised or was a testament to how much cricket is played in the mind. India had transcended mental resilience in realms almost surreal. The manner the Indian batsmen coasted along facing such a mammoth total made fans at the ground literally search their soul. India’s batting was a lesson or exercise in the art of playing spin bowling on a slow turner. Rarely has cricket witnessed such an organised run chase or every member of a side performing his role so clinically. India’s historic victory was orchestrated by the tenacity and solidity of Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath fused with the refined artistry of Gundappa Viswanath and belligerence of Brijesh Patel, re-wrote cricket history by chasing down a record fourth-innings target of 406 at Port of Spain. . Gavaskar, Vishwanath and Amarnath were the architects or pillars of the victory setting a perfect platform, while Brijesh Patel gave the chase the perfect finishing flourish. The chase marked a testament to the greatness of Gavaskar, Vishwanath and Amarnath .and the Indian batsmen’s mastery on turning tracks or spin bowling. The chase marked a testament to the greatness of Gavaskar, Vishwanath and Amarnath .and the Indian batsmen’s mastery on turning tracks or spin bowling. Gavaskar, Vishwanath and Amarnath rolled into one would constitute the perfect batsmen., making a concoction of technical skill, solidity, temperament and stroke making flair or artistry. Significant it was the first test in which both Gavaskar and Vishwanath scored a century. Flashes of Australian win in 1948 The victory in many ways resurrected the Australian triumph of 1948. The target of 403 around on par to what the Australians had faced in Leeds in 1948, when Don Bradman (173 not out) and Arthur Morris (182) had taken Australia home. The Australians won by seven wickets and India by one less, but morally, India lost only two wickets - Anshuman Gaekwad and Gavaskar - to the bowlers; the two others, Gundappa Viswanath and Mohinder Amarnath were run-out. The Australian opening pair, Morris and Lindsay Hassett, put on 57 runs, while Gavaskar and Gaekwad added 69. The second-wicket partnership between Bradman and Morris was worth a staggering 301. In contrast to this, Gavaskar and Amarnath put on 108 - a humble contribution, patient and studious Background. West Indies had been tormented after facing a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Australia a few month before, overseas. India came to the third Test at Trinidad after being literally blown to the dust in the first match of the four-Test series at Barbados. They had come within hairs breadth of winning the drawn second Test at the Queen's Park Oval, and when the third Test, scheduled to be played in Guyana, was rained off and the venue shifted back to Trinidad, they felt that they were had a fighting chance. Match Summary India were 131 runs adrift of the West Indies score of 359 in the 1st innings, being dismissed for a paltry 228., with Michael Holding claiming six scalps. .West Indies, with a lead of 131, put up a challenging target. They owed this to a blistering hundred from Alvin Kallicharran who made amends for his duck in the first innings, where he was one of BS Chandrasekhar's six victims, with an unbeaten 103 to enable Clive Lloyd to declare with two hours remaining on the fourth day., giving India a target of 406 to chase. Before the start of the run chase, the situation appeared bleak for India, with the target of 406 runs looking an impossible milestone. Even that choiceless optimist, India's captain Bishan Bedi, was convinced that the game was lost bar the shouting Still close of play on the penultimate day India were 134 for one. Gavaskar and Gaekwad had put on 69 runs and then Gavaskar and Amarnath came in unbeaten at stumps having made 86 and 14 respectively. The optimism of defying the most staggering odds brimmed in the hearts of Indian cricket fans and commentator Tony Cozier commented ‘'we could witness history in the making.’’Gavaskar laid the foundation setting up the perfect launching pad, personifying water tight technique, unwavering solidity, and concentration. Although it lacked some of the flow and conviction of his 156 in the second Test, he did exactly what the doctor ordered. He orchestrated calypso, "Gavaskar, the Little Master", to be again played in Trinidad. He looked in regal touch from the very first ball, and took the attack to Holding and Julien. Amarnath's perfectly fused technical prowess with power, as he guided the ball through the gaps in the wide web that Raphick Jumadeen tried to trap him, or drove it through Albert Padmore's leg-side setting. On the final day Gavaskar looked subdued or tied down and although tried his level-best, unable to find the timing of the previous day. After scoring 102, Gavaskar departed. while attempting to drive Jumadeen, Gavaskar missed the line, and was stumped by Murray. With the score 177 for two Viswanath joined Amarnath to continue the trail left by Gavaskar. and in no time got into the act. Viswanath took over the mantle where Gavaskar ended, giving a dazzling and classical exhibition of strokeplay, majestically cutting and driving. Viswanath reached his first overseas hundred with an exquisite cover-drive just after tea, with India now looking coasting towards a miraculous victory. Viswanath ‘s eye was completely in square-cutting rising deliveries of Holding to the point boundary with uncharacteristic power, personifying artistry...The third wicket partnership swung the fortunes of the match irrevocably India’s way With Mohinder Amarnath's he added 159 to carry India to 292 for two by tea. Mohinder seemed content to rotate the strike, while Viswanath attacked with supreme authority. Lloyd even tried the Chinamen of Fredericks, but to no avail. The West Indian bowling was clueless as the duo with their contrasting styles cruised along. Looking down in the barrel by the failure of his spinners, Lloyd claimed the second new ball. It made no change to the proceedings, as 37 came from the eight overs shared by Bernard Julien and Michael Holding - who limped off the field after his opening stint. Viswanath registered his fourth Test century but was run out when India was 70 runs adrift, as he misjudged a run responding instinctively to Amarnath and fell short of his ground. Viswanath was run out for 112 from 220 minutes with 15 fours, and India were 336 for 3, still requiring 67. India reached the final hour with 65 to score from the mandatory overs. Five minutes skipper Bishen Bedia made the wisest tactical move wise move to send Brijesh Patel ahead of Eknath Solkar. Patel, who literally took the bowling by the scruff of the neck to keep the scoreboard racing. plundering runs. Patel with Amarnath coasted along towards the target with a flurry of boundaries. Everything was operated in perfect tune - mishits and byes accompany some dazzling strokes as Patel and Amarnath cruised along. Sadly, on the very brink of seeing India home, Amarnath was run out as Lloyd's accurate throw from cover ran him out. Dejection, weariness and strain was written on Amarnath’s face as he returned to the pavilion. He had battled for over 400 minutes and was unlucky to miss a well-deserved century by 15 runs. Amarnath played role of catalyst in the unbelievable chase batting for 442 minutes epitomising great craft, unwavering solidity and intense concentration. Not only did he occupy the crease for over 7 hours, he ensured that the strike was rotated and thus turned out to be the pillar of the Indian run-chase. When Patel took India over the line with six mandatory overs remaining, with a superb cut executed off Imtiaz Ali that went scuttling to the boundary. the crowd were jubilant with almost unprecedented ecstasy and came racing to the pavilion, with the cheers of the Indian supporters resonating from the Northern Hills which gazed the skyline. That stroke came in the 13th of the 20 mandatory overs and India were home with six wickets and seven overs to spare. ''The greatest victory in Indian cricket’’ and ''Indian cricket’s finest hour’’ was resonated. It was a red letterday , for cricket history had been

On October 16th the cricket world celebrates the 50th birthday of Jacques Kallis, one of the greatest cricketers to have strode on our planet, who has a strong case for being rated the 2nd best allrounder to Sir Garfield Sobers if not the best allrounder ever and the best cricketer of his generation. Kallis was not the run of the mill entertainer or as explosive like Ian Botham or Kapil Dev, not as charismatic as Sachin Tendulkar or Imran Khan or as artistic as Gary Sobers or Wasim Akram. However possibly he surpassed them all for all round cricketing tenacity or endurance, with his prolonged tenures at the crease, making a habit of saving games. Kallis ended up with skyrocketing figures, scaling horizons unscaled statistically and setting new parameters by an all-rounder, piling on 13,289 runs at an average of 55.37., scoring 45 centuries, in 137 tests,capturing 292 wickets and taking 200 catches. In ODI’s he scored 7995 runs at an average of 43.93 with 13 centuries at and captured 203 wickets at an average of 32.33. He twice had purple patches where he made five hundreds in the space of eight innings or fewer, statistically surpassing the likes of Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Gary Sobers or Sachin Tendulkar, in this respect, as a run machine. He finished with over 2000 runs against each of Australia, England and West Indies. He took five wickets in an innings five times in Tests, including 5 for 30 against West Indies in Cape Town in 1999 and 6 for 67 against them in Bridgetown two years on. There is heated debate in the cricketing world on whether Kallis ranks above or on par with Sir Garfield Sobers , 2nd best allrounder of all time ahead of the likes of Imran Khan, Keith Milller, Ian Botham and Kapil Dev and 2nd best ever cricketer to Don Bradman. Without the slightest hesitation I would not rank Kallis on par with Sir Garfield Sobers. No doubt Kallis’s staggering statistical figures were overwhelming and superseded Sobers, but comparative figures do not convey the unequalled aesthetic qualities of Sobers or overpowering influence as match-winner. Kallis did not posess the diversity of the bowling armoury of Sobers which had genuine pace, fast, medium spin and chinaman, nor as wide array of batting strokes or as contemptuous power. Kallis has never come up with innings equalling Sobers’s majestic 254 at Melbourne in 1972 and 132 in the tied test in 1961, nor turned in all round performances in a single series in the stature of Sobers in England in 1966 or playing for Rest of the World in 1970 in England. However, Kallis was the more durable and more effective in saving match and in peak stints surpassed Sobers in batting consistency., like in 2003-04. No allrounder in cricket history displayed equal consistency with the bat as Kallis or transcended as superlative heights in run scoring in peak periods. As great fast bowlers win matches more than great batsmen the likes of Imran Khan, Keith Miller, Ian Botham and Kapil Dev could win more matches than Kallis. Kapil Dev, Miller and Botham were also more dynamic with the bat. Still had Kallis played in their era, he may well have overshadowed them all, having to carry less workload as a bowler. -with half as much cricket played then than in his era. Pertinent that Kallis was not at his best with both bat and ball like Sobers, Botham or Miller, but one has to take into account the transition in the game, which acted against a cricketer’s all-round prowess. Even if the verdict may well result in dead heat between Keith Miller, Ian Botham, Jacques Kallis and Imran Khan with a gun on my head I place Kallis as the runner up to Sobers, in the plethora of great all-rounders of all time. To replace Gary Sobers in an all-time test team, my first choice would be Kallis. In comparison to the greatest cricketers like Bradman, Sobers, Viv Richards, Tendulkar and Brian Lara, Kallis lacked the crucial ‘x’ factor. Still, I would choose him amongst my top 15 cricketers of all time.

Everton Weekes turns 100 today,who expired at age of 95,in year 2020. When batting, Weekes often exuded vibrations of an incarnate of Donald Bradman, with a striking similarity: in the manner he pulverised the bowling. Bradman, and with similar effect, even if with a slightly less spectacular (though still highly impressive) average of 58.61. At best, possibly no batsman came more within striking distance of Bradman, as Weekes. No Caribbean batsmen arguably executed attacking aggression in such a methodical, calculating or clinical manner, or was more pugnacious. Hard to visualise any batsman more mercurial, displaying more breathtaking exuberance, or plundering runs more mercilessly. His batting, was unorthodox in nature, revelling off the backfoot. He cut, hooked and drove with incredible power of either foot facing the fastest bowlers of his time. He drove hard in many directions, frequently giving himself room to lace the ball to penetrate the offside. No Caribbean batsmen arguably executed attacking aggression in such a methodical, calculating or clinical manner ,or was more pugnacious. Weekes could dance down the pitch, before you said ‘Jack Robinson’ to the spinners. His characteristic and invented defensive stroke was stealthily played late, as though he mentally conceived every possible aggressive shot, planning until the last moment for a method of attacking the bowling before judging that the particular ball could only be played with a defensive stroke ,which he then executed with remorseless ease. Weekes retired, scoring 4455 runs, at an average of 58.61, scoring 15 centuries, in 81 test innings and 48 test matches. Weekes averaged 69.14, scoring 2420 at home and 49.63 overseas, scoring 2035 runs Weekes averaged 111.28.i n India, and overall 106.78 against India. He averaged 39.66 against Australia and 45.27 against England. In England he averaged33.31 while in Australia, 24.50. Weekes has a strong case for being placed in contention for the title of the best ever West Indies batsman and top 5-10 batsmen ever. At best, possibly no batsman came more within striking distance of Bradman, as Weekes., scaling aura of invincibility in run making in inexorable heights. Noteworthy that Bradman ranked Weekes, as the best West Indies batsmen he ever saw. What went against Weekes being rated as the best ever Calypso batsmen or amongst the best 5 batsmen of all time, was his premature retirement at age of 32, and not as impressive record overseas. In my view, considering all factors Weekes ranks just a whisker below Gary Sobers, George Headley, Viv Richards and Brian Lara. Although more consistent than them Viv Richards and Brian Lara were proven against more diverse bowling and conditions, more innovative and at best turned games more. Gary Sobers was more tested and impactful. George Headly rates ahead because he championed the cause singlehandedly, like a one-man army. Cristopher Martin Jenkins placed Weekes at 32nd place in his top 100 cricketers ever and Geoff Armstrong at 35th place. With a gun on my head, Weekes may just scrape into my list of 5 best Caribbean batsmen ever, best dozen batsmen ever and best 50 cricketers ever.

For a short period, it looked as though Ricky Ponting was heading towards breaking all the important batting records, with his phenomenal consistency in one phase. Arguably after 2004 for periods, Ponting was the best batsman in the world. Ponting was one of the chief architects of Australia turning into one of the best 3 cricketing teams of all time. Possibly, no Australian batsmen more resembled the great Vivian Richards, as much as Ponting. On his day he virtually scaled Everest, in terms of sheer domination of bowling. At his best .in his era, no batsman was as explosive and clinical at the same time. No Australian batsmen played a more stellar role, in Australia ruling the cricket world. Ricky Ponting is a strong candidate for the best Australian batsmen after Don Bradman, and the best cricketer of his time. Still he did not excel in as diverse conditions as Stalwarts like Alan Border and Steve Waugh. With a gun on my head, I would place Ponting as the 4th best Australian batsmen of all, after Don Bradman, Greg Chappell.and Alan Border. Facing express pace, possibly Ponting was the best of all Australian batsmen and amongst the top half dozen batsmen of all. He did not champion the seaming English tops or turning subcontinent strip nor weathered a crisis countless time as Border and Waugh shouldered. Ponting also did not face as lethal express pace bowling as Greg Chappell. With a gun on my head, I would place Ponting as the 4th best Australian batsmen of all, after Don Bradman, Greg Chappell.and Alan Border. Statistically, Ponting would rank amongst the best dozen batsmen ever if not in the best 10. Where Ponting fell below the greats like Tendulkar, Lara or Viv Richards, was his record overseas, and on turning tracks in the subcontinent or against the moving ball in England. Ponting also had an advantage of representing one of the strongest teams ever, and thus was not tested sufficiently in a crisis. 30 of his centuries were scored in winning causes in which he averaged 59. 46., where he scored 9157 runs. At one down position Ponting averaged 56. 27, scoring 9904 runs and scoring 32 centuries. , surpassing even great Viv Richards ,statistically. As a skipper Ponting flourished as a batsman, averaging 51.51. In peak era from 2001-2007 Ponting aggregated 6501 runs at an average of 71.43, scoring 25 centuries, in 62 tests. In his 100th test at no 3 he averaged 72.72. From January 1999 to December 2006, Ponting averaged 65.43, aggregating 8114 runs, in 87 tests. This was better than Lara and Tendulkar. His average declined in his last 58 tests where he averaged 40. 83, scoring 4083 runs. What prevented Ponting from carving a place on par with Tendulkar and Lara, was his inability to flourish at the closing stages of his career. Had he sustained the temp from 1999 to 2006, he may have become the most successful test batsmen ever. Even if statistically on par, Ponting ‘s batting did not have the aesthetic essence or flair. of Lara or Tendulkar. Ponting also was never successful on Indian tracks, which caused the demise of his side in 2008-09 and 2009-10, in India.

On November 22, 2024, Sir Vivian Alexander Richards will mark 50 years since his Test debut against India in 1974, in Bangalore. Richards, a batsman who epitomized ferocity, possessed an extraordinary eye, and treated a cricket ball like a football, dismantled the world’s best bowling attacks with unmatched aggression. With a swagger that exuded imperial dominance, Viv would stride onto the field with a grin that made his bat seem to smile. His ability to turn even the most dangerous deliveries into attacking strokes defined a batsman who believed cricket balls existed to be hit. Since his retirement, no batsman has commanded the same aura of dominance combined with finesse. Viv Richards carried the spirit of the Afro-Caribbean race, transcending cricket to become a symbol of resistance and pride. Meeting him briefly at the JW Marriott six years ago, his warm smile reminded me of the joy he brought to cricket. The Master of the Hook and Front Foot Play Richards was unmatched as a master of the hook shot and a fearless front-foot player. He refused to wear a helmet, even against the fastest bowlers, and his forward stretch placed his left foot outside off stump, crafting his unique leg-stump line for powerful strokes through midwicket or extra cover. Early Career Brilliance Viv debuted during the 1974-75 tour of India, scoring 192 in Delhi but struggled for consistency in the series, often falling to Chandrasekhar. In the 1975-76 tour of Australia, he offered glimpses of his brilliance, hooking the fiery Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee with audacity. By 1976, he had reached his prime, scoring three centuries against India at home, including a majestic 177 at Trinidad. The 1976 England tour solidified Viv’s place in cricketing lore. Scoring 829 runs at an average of 118.42, with three centuries, including a colossal 291 at The Oval, Richards embodied dominance reminiscent of Sir Donald Bradman. His record-breaking 1,710 runs in 1976 remain a testament to his consistency and flair. World Series Cricket and ODI Heroics In Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket, Viv obliterated the world's best bowlers, averaging 86.2 in 1977-78. He continued this dominance in Australia during the 1979-80 season, with performances such as a commanding 140 in Brisbane and 158 in an ODI. His 138 in the 1979 World Cup final remains one of the most aggressive and iconic innings in cricket history. In the 1984 ODI against England at Old Trafford, Viv's unbeaten 189 off 170 balls, featuring five sixes and 21 boundaries, was a masterclass in power and improvisation., penetrating domination in realms unconquered. Consistency and Leadership After succeeding Clive Lloyd as West Indies captain in 1985, Richards led with distinction. He never lost a Test series as captain and averaged over 50 in several series, including against England in 1985-86 and India in 1987-88. Even in his later years, he played match-winning innings, such as his 108 on a turning Delhi wicket and 146 on a challenging Perth track. Richards’ Test career yielded 8,540 runs at an average of 50.24 with 24 centuries. Including his World Series Cricket feats, he scored over 9,200 runs at an average of 52. In ODIs, his 6,721 runs at a strike rate of 90.20 and 11 centuries were groundbreaking, often steering his team to victory. Legacy and Impact While Viv lacked statistical dominance in the second half of his career and rarely faced a crisis akin to players like Sunil Gavaskar or Sachin Tendulkar, his ability to dominate express pace bowlers was unparalleled. Critics note his occasional struggles against quality spin and inconsistency, but his impact transcended numbers. Among contemporaries, Greg Chappell may have been more technically correct, and Gavaskar more consistent, but neither matched Viv’s ability to intimidate bowlers. Players like Imran Khan, Ian Botham, and Dennis Lillee considered Richards the finest batsman of their era. Viv’s ODI record is arguably unmatched, with a near-perfect strike rate, impactful centuries, and consistent match-winning efforts. Combining Test and ODI performances, Richards ranks among the greatest batsmen in history. Richards remains the greatest West Indies batsman and among the top right-handed batsmen in cricket history. Despite minor shortcomings, his ability to transform matches places him in the pantheon of cricketing legends. For his match-winning prowess, Viv Richards is an indispensable member of any all-time Test or ODI XI. Viv played an integral part in shaping the prospects of Windies team went from February 1980 to March 1995 without losing a single test match - a feat unparalleled in the history of the sport. A Stand Against Apartheid Richards wasn’t just a cricketing icon; he was a humanist. We must treat him as a human being and not an apostle., who radiated the true spirit of sport and instilled joy to the game. His carried his bat like a sword manifesting the glory of the Afro-American race, to overcome the barriers of racism. Sir Viv’s stance against racism was magnified when he refused blank-cheque offers to play for a rebel West Indies squad in South Africa during the apartheid era in 1983, and again in 1984, asserted his ability with the bat was a weapon to stand up for his race, his brothers who could not defend themselves. His refusal was a beacon of integrity, highlighting his commitment to equality. Viv Richards symbolically wore a sweatband with the Rastafari tricolour when he went out to bat - green (representing the green lands of Africa), yellow (the gold stolen by empire), and red (the blood of slaves)- manifesting the ongoing global fight against racism and empire – personifying black talent, and active self-conscious political agitation off the field of play. D Viv asserted that he derived true satisfaction came from witnessing the pride and joy instilled in every single Black fan in and around the stadium, every time his team would emerge victorious.