Build the perfect test batsman

[vvvslaxman]

6 minutes ago, Gollum said:

I wanted to put Kohli's name in placement ability but pulled out last moment and put Lara's name instead, created a new category (strike rotation) to put the brat's name. Warne rated Sachin and Lara as his toughest adversaries, in an old documentary I saw him explaining the strengths of the 2 titans against spin. Sachin apparently is very quick to judge the length by reading the trajectory when the ball leaves the bowler's hands, this way either he is fully committed on front foot or rocks back, no half measures. This is exactly the opposite of how Rahane plays spin . According to Warne Lara was not that good in judging the length and often made mistakes but he compensated because of his ability to pierce the gaps at will no matter how bad his body balance. For other batsmen playing in the air means giving catch practice but with Lara he played in the air in between 2 fielders close to each other, he always had a mental 2D picture of the field positions and forced himself to only play in the gaps (his own words). May be Kohli has that unique ability that makes maneuvring so easy for him. 

Definitely Kohli is probably one of the best placer of the ball. I have seen Laxman playing one dayers. lol He would hit every single ball straight to fielder. Even if he tries hard he won't be able to place the ball. Gambhir, Sehwag also places the ball well. Azharuddin is another. Azhar was master of "2s" .

[Gollum]

Have heard songs and ballads about G R Vishwanath's square cut, apparently no one in the entire history of the game has played that shot better. Old timers in Eden Gardens still reminisce about his 100 against Lloyd's WI in 1974. He scored a match winning 100 where Andy Roberts received special treatment. Lloyd had many slips, gully and third man for Roberts against Vishy and each time he got width Vishy would play a latish square cut with such incredible timing that it would reach the boundary before anyone reacted. Vishy and Azhar are 2 perennial favourites of Kolkata, albeit goodwill for the latter has diminished because of the bitter fixing saga.

[Gollum]

6 minutes ago, Tattieboy said:

 Didn't see Kanhai play he was ending as I was starting . Fredericks just exited me seeing him playing it like nobody else .

What age is a senior citizen? 

In India it is above 60 years of age. 

[SK_IH]

Mettle and Determination of Steve Waugh and Elegance of Mark Waugh 

[Tattieboy]

2 minutes ago, Gollum said:

In India it is above 60 years of age. 

Not there yet but not far off it 

Best charger of a seamer. ..Kim Hughes 

[Tattieboy]

8 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Have heard songs and ballads about G R Vishwanath's square cut, apparently no one in the entire history of the game has played that shot better. Old timers in Eden Gardens still reminisce about his 100 against Lloyd's WI in 1974. He scored a match winning 100 where Andy Roberts received special treatment. Lloyd had many slips, gully and third man for Roberts against Vishy and each time he got width Vishy would play a latish square cut with such incredible timing that it would reach the boundary before anyone reacted. Vishy and Azhar are 2 perennial favourites of Kolkata, albeit goodwill for the latter has diminished because of the bitter fixing saga.

He was great player and yes it was his best shot 

[sandeep]

25 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Have heard songs and ballads about G R Vishwanath's square cut, apparently no one in the entire history of the game has played that shot better. Old timers in Eden Gardens still reminisce about his 100 against Lloyd's WI in 1974. He scored a match winning 100 where Andy Roberts received special treatment. Lloyd had many slips, gully and third man for Roberts against Vishy and each time he got width Vishy would play a latish square cut with such incredible timing that it would reach the boundary before anyone reacted. Vishy and Azhar are 2 perennial favourites of Kolkata, albeit goodwill for the latter has diminished because of the bitter fixing saga.

Vishy was considered very good on his day.  But there's a lot of hagiographical hyperbole when it comes to players of yesteryear.  

[Tattieboy]

46 minutes ago, Gollum said:

@Tattieboy You must be the 2nd person after my dad who reckons Ponting isn't the greatest player of the hook shot. My dad says Kanhai, you say Fredericks .

You listen to your dad he knows his cricket I think 

[vvvslaxman]

Just now, sandeep said:

Vishy was considered very good on his day.  But there's a lot of hagiographical hyperbole when it comes to players of yesteryear.  

Actually his square cut was famous. His ability to pierce through off side cordon was impeccable.  There is one more guy who i saw live and thoroughly enjoyed. Master of Lords. Dilip Vengsarkar. What a brilliant cover driver. There was none to match his cover drives in his days.

[sandeep]

54 minutes ago, Gollum said:

He is my favourite but you are overselling him. Perfection won't entail having such a poor 4th innings record and susceptibility to so many great bowlers like Mcgrath, Donald, Saqlain etc. He was technically infallible but mentally quite vulnerable. 

To each his own.  All cricketers will have their chinks, statistical or otherwise.   Tendy's no different. 

 

But in all the years that I've watched cricket, I have yet to see a batsman come close to matching Tendulkar as a package - There are always statistical contenders every couple of years, and you can nitpick away to glory about any sliced and diced subset of stats. 

 

But as a pure batsman, Tendy of the late 90s came very close to perfection.  Technically, and also in terms of efficacy.   Not talking about Tendy after his elbow injury, strictly speaking of the 1995 to 2001 version or so.  

[vvvslaxman]

1 minute ago, sandeep said:

To each his own.  All cricketers will have their chinks, statistical or otherwise.   Tendy's no different. 

 

But in all the years that I've watched cricket, I have yet to see a batsman come close to matching Tendulkar as a package - There are always statistical contenders every couple of years, and you can nitpick away to glory about any sliced and diced subset of stats. 

 

But as a pure batsman, Tendy of the late 90s came very close to perfection.  Technically, and also in terms of efficacy.   Not talking about Tendy after his elbow injury, strictly speaking of the 1995 to 2001 version or so.  

Without a doubt. Tendulkar was able to pull good length balls. He did that too Mcgrath in 1996 world cup during his 90.

[Tattieboy]

9 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

Actually his square cut was famous. His ability to pierce through off side cordon was impeccable.  There is one more guy who i saw live and thoroughly enjoyed. Master of Lords. Dilip Vengsarkar. What a brilliant cover driver. There was none to match his cover drives in his days.

Good batsman yes but I could watch Azhar's wrist skills all day 

[Deleted_User_1]

From a technical standpoint, I have yet to see a batsman as pure as Tendulkar or Gavaskar. Gavaskar was probably more copybook than SRT, but both were a joy to watch in defense and offense. 

 

Although Viv Richards was an attacking batsman of his generation, he had a very traditional technique that I found enjoyable to watch as well. His drives were sublime. He always got his feet to the line of the ball and played with his bat close to his pad as it came down. 

 

This is one aspect that has changed a lot with modern players (post 2000). During pre-helmet days or even in the 80s when body protection gear was not that great, good players generally played close to their body. Now, even a lot of good players play away from their body which is OK if you have good hand-eye coordination and the pitch does not have a lot of lateral movement. Otherwise, you are inviting trouble. 

[adi B]

1)Younis' ballet dancing skills 

2) lara's late cut and leg glance from literally off stump 

3) kp's switch hit

4) misbah's reverse sweep 

5) dhoni's advancing down the track to defend 

[lamellavig]

3 hours ago, adi B said:

1)Younis' ballet dancing skills 

2) lara's late cut and leg glance from literally off stump 

3) kp's switch hit

4) misbah's reverse sweep 

5) dhoni's advancing down the track to defend 

Dhoni is one of the most frustrating batsmen of all time