Which left-handed batsman performed best against express pace?

[Harsh Thakor]

Very Strangely although Brian Lara ,Gary Sobers and Graeme Pollock were the best left-handed batsman ever they wee not the best performed against genuine pace.Potentially they may have been at the top but statistically they do not equal the performances of Wasim Raja,Alan Border and David Gower or even Clive Lloyd.

 

If I had to stick my neck out I may give the mantle to Wasim Raja because of his outstanding record facing the best West Indies bowlers home and away in 3 series to average over 57.He overshadowed the likes of Zaheer Abbas,Majid Khan and Javed Miandad all but enabling Pakistan from drawing a rubber on what was arguably the best side in the world in 1977.Dubious umpiring robbed Pakistan of a famous win at Barbados in 1977.His batting revealed subtle artistry with resolute determination like a poet and Tiger blended into one.Averaging 57.44  and aggregating 517 runs was no mean feat facing Croft,Roberts and Garner at their fastest.Overall he scored 919 runs at an average of 57.43 facing West Indies

 

Just a whisker behind my choice would be David Gower because he was not only the most prolific in the Carribean in the 1980's but also successful against top Australian pace bowling in 1982-83,1985 and 1989-90..I can never forget the effortlessness with which Gower drove,hooked or cut the Carribean pace battery at its best on their soil averaging 43.88 and aggregating  743runs.He was equally effortless tackling the likes of Lille and Lawson down under in 1982-83 to avergae over 44 as well as in 1990 when facing likes of Rackerman.No batsman was as prolific in the Carribean statistically in the 1980's.His unbeaten 154 at Kingston in 1981 was a true classic.In and against Australia he averaged around 44.

 

In 3rd place I would place Alan Border who averaged more than anyone in the Carribaen against the top attack in 1984averaging over 74  and also consistent at home in 1981-82 averaging around 67..However not at his best facing Imran or Wasim.Overall averaged 39.4 against West Indies ,finding the Calypsos harder to face at home,on bouncy strips.At Trinidad in 1984 literally ressurected Australia from the grave like no left-hander ever did.

 

 

In 4th place my choice is Clive Lloyd who was more prolific than any batsman facing Lillee and Thomson at their quickest in 197-076.He averaged 46.9 aggregating 469 runs with 2 centuries.Also scored a super 197 n.o in WSC supertest at home in 1979.I can also never forget his brilliant 151 facing Imran at Barbados in 1977.

 

Adam Gilchrist was outstanding facing likes of Wasim and Alan Donald and at his best facing the lethal South African pace attack.

 

 

Significant that Lara never scored a test century against a great express pace bowler with Mcgrath fast-medium and only scoring centuries facing Wasim or Donald in ODI's.Pollock did not face the quickest Australian bowlers in 1966 or 1969-70.Sobers was not so prolific against top pace in Australia and was only at the top against Fred Trueman and Brian Statham in 1966 and John Snow in 1968-69.

Edited September 26, 2020 by Harsh Thakor

[velu]

gilchrist kahan hain ?

[maniac]

Here is how I will vote in Harsh’s thread going forward 
 

1.Look for the most obscure Name in a list

 

 2. Check that player’s nationality. 
 

3.If it is Pakistani go ahead and vote for him

 

4. If it is not then confirm if the Op is Harsh Thakur

[nevada]

14 hours ago, maniac said:

Here is how I will vote in Harsh’s thread going forward 
 

1.Look for the most obscure Name in a list

 

 2. Check that player’s nationality. 
 

3.If it is Pakistani go ahead and vote for him

 

4. If it is not then confirm if the Op is Harsh Thakur

My favorite is Gower but Raja does have an amazing record against the WI. People talk about Jimmy Amarnath's batting against the WI in 82-83 but Wasim Raja's performance is not talked about much. I only watched him in the final stages of his career where he used to bowl legspin and bat down the order, like a bits and pieces type of player. If not for a Cricinfo article, I would have never known about his brave batting against the WI.

[Suhaan]

Har woh cheez kaynaat me jo paxtani nai hai woh bemeisal kaise ho sakti hai janab

 

Aji maine kaha "Adaab arz hai janab"

[Sean Bradley]

Majid Khan in the mirror. On a serious note how does that matter? Some left hander in the past who played Express Pace better. Itna specific kyun ? How about which right handed batsman played China Man better ? 

[punjabi_khota]

Wheres daddy Graeme Smith?

[Harsh Thakor]

On 9/27/2020 at 11:05 AM, nevada said:

My favorite is Gower but Raja does have an amazing record against the WI. People talk about Jimmy Amarnath's batting against the WI in 82-83 but Wasim Raja's performance is not talked about much. I only watched him in the final stages of his career where he used to bowl legspin and bat down the order, like a bits and pieces type of player. If not for a Cricinfo article, I would have never known about his brave batting against the WI.

Great post.appreciate views.