Which batsmen performed best against express pace in test cricket in order of merit?

[Harsh Thakor]

This is my selection of batsman who performed best against genuine or express pace in order of merit.I have only considered scores against extreme pace and not fast-medium.

 

1.Graham Gooch

 

No opening batsman ever played express pace of the Calypsos better ,which is proved when he averaged over 57 in West Indies in 1981 and averaging over 46 overall including classic 1541 at Leeds. Averaged over 44 against Australia facing likes of Geoff Lawson and Craig Mcdermott.Averaged above 45 versus Pakistan,Australia and West Indies as an opener which is remarkable and also 45+ in both Australia and West Indies.

 

 

 

 

2.Mohinder Amarnath

 

At his peak in 1982-83 played pace better than nay batsman ever.In West Indies and Pakistan in 1982-83 aggregated around 1200 run sin 11 tests scoring 4 centuries and averaging around 70.In that time played Imran at his best and the greats Carribean pace batttery.Averaged over 55 in Pakistan,West Indies and Australia which is truly outstanding.

 

 

 

 

3.Greg Chappell

 

 

In the 1970's no batsman was as successful against the Calypso pace battery as Greg who in 1979 in West Indies averaged 69 scoring 521 runs with 3 centuries.Scored 246 and 174 against a rest of the world attack in WSC supertests in 1977-78.Ever consistent facing Imran and co against whom he averaged over 55.From early 1980's relative form diminished agaisnt hostile pace with the short ball causing him problems.

 

 

 

 

4.Steve Waugh

 

An epitome of combat and consistency who was prolific on testing pitches in South Africa and the Carribean.Few batsmen were as meritorious facing Ambrose,Donald and co as Steve ,who above all won tests.Averaged over 50 in South Africa facing the likes of Donald and over 60 in West Indies facing Ambrose and Walsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.Wasim Raja

 

The most consistent batsman against the fiery Calypso attack in the 1970'swho averaged over 57 in 3 series overall home and away.In 1977 averaged 57.44 in West Indies,aggregating more than 500 runs.

 

 

 

 

6.David Gower

 

Most prolific middle order batsman in the Carribean in the 1980's who scored 743 runs at 43.88 over there.Ever consistent against Australia averaging over 44 at home and away facing likes of Lillee,Lawson,Thomson and Mcdermott.Also played many a useful knock facing likes of Imran and Wasim.At his best when scoring an unbeaten 154 at Kingston in 1981 and averaging over 44 down under in 1982-83.

 

 

 

 

7.Majid Khan

 

 

Averaged 53 as an opener in 1977 in a 5 test series in the Carribean which was remarkable.Facing the likes of Lillee and Hogg averaged over 35 as an opener in Australia and overall averaged over 40 against them.Majid was consistency personified facing the likes of Garner,,Lillee,Roberts and Willis.His 167 at Georgetown in 1977 virtually ressurected Pakistan from the grave.His 92 at Barbados all but won the game for Pakistan in the 1st test. in 1977.Mjaid also scored a 158 facing Lillee and a 108 facing Rodney Hogg.

 

 

 

 

 

8.Mark Waugh

 

At his best overshadowed brother Steve against top pace like when playing South Africa ta home in 1997-98 or West Indies in 1996-97 or Pakistan in 1995-96.Mark played the short ball on the rise with greater fluency than Steve and was abetter player on a bouncy surface.His 124 at Johannesburg in match-winning run chase in 1997 was one of cricket's classics.Averaged over 40 against powerful attacks of South Africa Pakistan and West Indies and averaged over 43 in South Africa and 49+ in Pakistan which is commendable.Has to his credit around 3 centuries each against Wasim and Donald.

 

 

 

 

 

9.Alan Border

 

Very prolfic in the Carribean in 1984 averaging over 74 and at home agaisnt the Calypsos in 1981-82 averaging over 67.Overall averaged 39 and not so successful on fast pitches at home facing West Indies attacks.The ultimate to bat for your life in his day and the best batsman overseas.

 

 

 

 

 

10.Sunil Gavaskar

 

Not successful against Lillee but the ultimate epitome of consistency facing Imran at his best.Sadly could not prove himself completely against express pace by dropping out of WSC cricket and facing second string Aussie and Calypso pace attacks from 1977-79.Facing the Carribaen battery he averaged around 43 in 1983-84,scoring 3 centuries,including a double hundred in addition to a classy 90.Comparatively he was a failure in West Indies in 1983 and was not consistent at home in 1983-84 with a string of low scores.Nevertheless  scored a classic 129 at Delhi,unbeaten 147 at Guyana and unbeaten 236 at Madras.Significant that most of Gavaskar's runs scored against West Indies were against lesser attacks and not agaisnt the great quartet.

 

 

 

 

11.Viv Richards

 

Had the luxury of not having to negotiate his own great pace quartet but at his best ripped apart the likes of Imran  or Willis at their fastest or Lillee at his best.Never proved himself agaisnt Lillee and Thomson at their fastest.In WSC supertest averaged over 86,but did not face Thomson and Lillee was not at his quickest.Still no mean feat to average 96.5 in 1979-80 facing Lillee and Pascoe,over 70 facing Imran in 1980 in Pakistan and 86.2 facing Lillee,Pascoe or Imran.Also took Willis to the sword like noone else.

 

 

 

 

 

12.Sachin Tendulkar

 

No batsman was as consistent in South Africa against top pace like Tendulkar who stood upto Donald and Steyn better than anybody.However hardly played much agaisnt Wasim and Waqar or Walsh and Ambrose  and most of his runs in Australia came against top fast-medium bowling.

 

 

 

 

 

13.Colin Cowdrey

 

Prolific against in the Carribean in 1959-60 and 1967-68 and in 1974-75 mastered Lillee-Thomson duo like no batsman ever.His unbeaten match-winning151 against the Aussie attack at its most fiery height,speaks for itself.Avergaed over 60 in West Indies which was remarkable.At his best when scoring 1012 out of 191 at Melbourne in 1954.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.Ian Chappell

 

In a crisis a better batsman than even brother Greg and Viv.In 1975-76 amassed 449 runs against the Calypsos which arguably was more impactful than the 702 run aggregate of brother Greg.In WSC cricket played some outstanding knocks overshadowing brother Greg at home against West Indies and averaging 0ver 35 as an opening batsman in the Carribean in 1979.The cricketing world greatly missed Ian Combating the great Carribaen quartet of the 1980's .In 1967-68 season. scored 5 centuries agaisnt West Indies including first class games.The most defining innnings of his career was at Perth agaisnt est Indies in 1975-76 when he scored 156 out of 328.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.Clive Lloyd /Ricky Ponting

 

 

No batsmen was as prolific of successful as Lloyd against Lillee and Thomson at their fastest who in 1975-76 averaged 46.90 and aggregated 469 run sin 6 tests.Lloyd also scored a classic 151 facing Imran at Barbados in 1977 and an unbeaten 197 in a WSC supertest in 1979 at home.Overshadowed greatly by Viv in WSC cricket in Australia.Ponting dispelled the likes of Shoiab Akhtar like no batsman in 2005-6 or even Wasim Akram earlier.Sadly Ponting hardly was at his best against express quick  West Indies or South African paceman,apart from Mkya Ntini.

 

 

 

 

The likes of Viv Richards,Ricky Pointing,Ian Chappell or Inzamam Ul Haq were truly outstanding facing express pace but lost out statistically.Viv never played his own pace quartet and never conquered Lillee and Thomson at their fastest.Ian did not match his brother Greg's incredible stats  although he was a better player in a crisis.Ponting hardly played the best attacks ,basically plundering weaker attacks.Inzy was hardly consistent facing Australian and South African attacks at home and away,inspite  of mastering the Calypso quickies.Ironically Lara did not score a single test hundred against an all-time great  great express pace bowler like Wasim,Waqar  or Donald..Lara was a genius and probably 2nd to Bradman,but amongst express paceman only conquered Brett Lee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 10, 2020 by Harsh Thakor

[Harsh Thakor]

Any response ICF members.Rankings fair?

[MechEng]

Kamran Akmal should be number one for his 100 on a spicy Karachi pitch where Irfan Pathan was getting the ball to curve like Saturn's rings. He fought back like a true cornered tiger and not only won the test match but also the permanent position of a wicket keeper for years.

 

Gooch is rated too high, can he resurrect England from grave like Majid Khan?

[zen]

Miandad in WI in 87-88 if I am not wrong. Struggled against pace but resurrected his reputation by getting 2 100 in that series, enabling Pak to draw the series (many believe Pak should have won) 

 

 

[putrevus]

What an utter nonsense, these rankings are made by person who has no clue about batsmanship and cricket.

[Vilander]

Mmmmaaajid Khan....

[zen]

@Harsh Thakor though I do not necessarily agree with all your choices, it is good to see that you have made an effort to make a list  

[VT87]

So 

On 10/5/2020 at 4:00 PM, Harsh Thakor said:

This is my selection of batsman who performed best against genuine or express pace in order of merit.I have only considered scores against extreme pace and not fast-medium.

 

1.Graham Gooch

 

No opening batsman ever played express pace of the Calypsos better ,which is proved when he averaged over 57 in West Indies in 1981 and averaging over 46 overall including classic 1541 at Leeds. Averaged over 44 against Australia facing likes of Geoff Lawson and Craig Mcdermott.Averaged above 45 versus Pakistan,Australia and West Indies as an opener which is remarkable and also 45+ in both Australia and West Indies.

 

 

 

 

2.Mohinder Amarnath

 

At his peak in 1982-83 played pace better than nay batsman ever.In West Indies and Pakistan in 1982-83 aggregated around 1200 run sin 11 tests scoring 4 centuries and averaging around 70.In that time played Imran at his best and the greats Carribean pace batttery.Averaged over 55 in Pakistan,West Indies and Australia which is truly outstanding.

 

 

 

 

3.Greg Chappell

 

 

In the 1970's no batsman was as successful against the Calypso pace battery as Greg who in 1979 in West Indies averaged 69 scoring 521 runs with 3 centuries.Scored 246 and 174 against a rest of the world attack in WSC supertests in 1977-78.Ever consistent facing Imran and co against whom he averaged over 55.From early 1980's relative form diminished agaisnt hostile pace with the short ball causing him problems.

 

 

 

 

4.Steve Waugh

 

An epitome of combat and consistency who was prolific on testing pitches in South Africa and the Carribean.Few batsmen were as meritorious facing Ambrose,Donald and co as Steve ,who above all won tests.Averaged over 50 in South Africa facing the likes of Donald and over 60 in West Indies facing Ambrose and Walsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.Wasim Raja

 

The most consistent batsman against the fiery Calypso attack in the 1970'swho averaged over 57 in 3 series overall home and away.In 1977 averaged 57.44 in West Indies,aggregating more than 500 runs.

 

 

 

 

6.David Gower

 

Most prolific middle order batsman in the Carribean in the 1980's who scored 743 runs at 43.88 over there.Ever consistent against Australia averaging over 44 at home and away facing likes of Lillee,Lawson,Thomson and Mcdermott.Also played many a useful knock facing likes of Imran and Wasim.At his best when scoring an unbeaten 154 at Kingston in 1981 and averaging over 44 down under in 1982-83.

 

 

 

 

7.Majid Khan

 

 

Averaged 53 as an opener in 1977 in a 5 test series in the Carribean which was remarkable.Facing the likes of Lillee and Hogg averaged over 35 as an opener in Australia and overall averaged over 40 against them.Majid was consistency personified facing the likes of Majid,Lillee,Roberts and Willis.His 167 at Georgetown in 1977 virtually ressurected Pakistan from the grave.His 92 at Barbados all but won the game for Pakistan in the 1st test. in 1977.Mjaid also scored a 158 facing Lillee and a 108 facing Rodney Hogg.

 

 

 

 

 

8.Mark Waugh

 

At his best overshadowed brother Steve against top pace like when playing South Africa ta home in 1997-98 or West Indies in 1996-97 or Pakistan in 1995-96.Mark played the short ball on the rise with greater fluency than Steve and was abetter player on a bouncy surface.His 124 at Johannesburg in match-winning run chase in 1997 was one of cricket's classics.Averaged over 40 against powerful attacks of South Africa Pakistan and West Indies and averaged over 43 in South Africa and 49+ in Pakistan which is commendable.Has to his credit around 3 centuries each against Wasim and Donald.

 

 

 

 

 

9.Alan Border

 

Very prolfic in the Carribean in 1984 averaging over 74 and at home agaisnt the Calypsos in 1981-82 averaging over 67.Overall averaged 39 and not so successful on fast pitches at home facing West Indies attacks.The ultimate to bat for your life in his day and the best batsman overseas.

 

 

 

 

 

10.Sunil Gavaskar

 

Not successful against Lillee but the ultimate epitome of consistency facing Imran at his best.Sadly could not prove himself completely against express pace by dropping out of WSC cricket and facing second string Aussie and Calypso pace attacks from 1977-79.Facing the Carribaen battery he averaged around 43 in 1983-84,scoring 3 centuries,including a double hundred in addition to a classy 90.Comparatively he was a failure in West Indies in 1983 and was not consistent at home in 1983-84 with a string of low scores.Nevertheless  scored a classic 129 at Delhi,unbeaten 147 at Guyana and unbeaten 236 at Madras.Significant that most of Gavaskar's runs scored against West Indies were against lesser attacks and not agaisnt the great quartet.

 

 

 

 

11.Viv Richards

 

Had the luxury of not having to negotiate his own great pace quartet but at his best ripped apart the likes of Imran  or Willis at their fastest or Lillee at his best.Never proved himself agaisnt Lillee and Thomson at their fastest.In WSC supertest averaged over 86,but did not face Thomson and Lillee was not at his quickest.Still no mean feat to average 96.5 in 1979-80 facing Lillee and Pascoe,over 70 facing Imran in 1980 in Pakistan and 86.2 facing Lillee,Pascoe or Imran.Also took Willis to the sword like noone else.

 

 

 

 

 

12.Sachin Tendulkar

 

No batsman was as consistent in South Africa against top pace like Tendulkar who stood upto Donald and Steyn better than anybody.However hardly played much agaisnt Wasim and Waqar or Walsh and Ambrose  and most of his runs in Australia came against top fast-medium bowling.

 

 

 

 

 

13.Colin Cowdrey

 

Prolific against in the Carribean in 1959-60 and 1967-68 and in 1974-75 mastered Lillee-Thomson duo like no batsman ever.His unbeaten match-winning151 against the Aussie attack at its most fiery height,speaks for itself.Avergaed over 60 in West Indies which was remarkable.At his best when scoring 1012 out of 191 at Melbourne in 1954.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.Ian Chappell

 

In a crisis a better batsman than even brother Greg and Viv.In 1975-76 amassed 449 runs against the Calypsos which arguably was more impactful than the 702 run aggregate of brother Greg.In WSC cricket played some outstanding knocks overshadowing brother Greg at home against West Indies and averaging 0ver 35 as an opening batsman in the Carribean in 1979.The cricketing world greatly missed Ian Combating the great Carribaen quartet of the 1980's .In 1967-68 season. scored 5 centuries agaisnt West Indies including first class games.The most defining innnings of his career was at Perth agaisnt est Indies in 1975-76 when he scored 156 out of 328.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.Clive Lloyd /Ricky Ponting

 

 

No batsmen was as prolific of successful as Lloyd against Lillee and Thomson at their fastest who in 1975-76 averaged 46.90 and aggregated 469 run sin 6 tests.Lloyd also scored a classic 151 facing Imran at Barbados in 1977 and an unbeaten 197 in a WSC supertest in 1979 at home.Overshadowed greatly by Viv in WSC cricket in Australia.Ponting dispelled the likes of Shoiab Akhtar like no batsman in 2005-6 or even Wasim Akram earlier.Sadly Ponting hardly was at his best against express quick  West Indies or South African paceman,apart from Mkya Ntini.

 

 

 

 

The likes of Viv Richards,Ricky Pointing,Ian Chappell or Inzamam Ul Haq were truly outstanding facing express pace but lost out statistically.Viv never played his own pace quartet and never conquered Lillee and Thomson at their fastest.Ian did not match his brother Greg's incredible stats  although he was a better player in a crisis.Ponting hardly played the best attacks ,basically plundering weaker attacks.Inzy was hardly consistent facing Australian and South African attacks at home and away,inspite  of mastering the Calypso quickies.Ironically Lara did not score a single test hundred against an all-time great  great express pace bowler like Wasim,Waqar  or Donald..Lara was a genius and probably 2nd to Bradman,but amongst express paceman only conquered Brett Lee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

facing the likes of Majid,Lillee,Roberts     so Majid faced himself  ,whaaaat a ultra legend he was.

[First class]

I think the way Majid Played in 1976-77 twin tour of Australia and WI and faced Lillee, Thommo, and the famous WI pace battery , without helmet and then scored a test century before lunch in the first morning of a test match again Richard Hadlee , he got to be the best ever batsman against pace. 

[Harsh Thakor]

On 10/8/2020 at 7:30 PM, zen said:

@Harsh Thakor though I do not necessarily agree with all your choices, it is good to see that you have made an effort to make a list  

Thanks,appreciate.What is your list?Is Miandad right up there?Kindly tell me your selections.

Edited October 10, 2020 by Harsh Thakor

[Harsh Thakor]

On 10/8/2020 at 9:51 PM, VT87 said:

So 

facing the likes of Majid,Lillee,Roberts     so Majid faced himself  ,whaaaat a ultra legend he was.

Made correction.Replaced name Garner.Put Majid by mistake.I am sure you understood.Any view on my list and rankings?

[Harsh Thakor]

On 10/9/2020 at 8:15 AM, First class said:

I think the way Majid Played in 1976-77 twin tour of Australia and WI and faced Lillee, Thommo, and the famous WI pace battery , without helmet and then scored a test century before lunch in the first morning of a test match again Richard Hadlee , he got to be the best ever batsman against pace. 

You have given me a complement.The best?Ahead of Gooch,Amarnath and Chappell?Any way appreciate.

[putrevus]

I don't think even a moronic Pakistani fan will  rate Wasim Raja and Majid Khan higher than Sachin, Ponting and Gavaskar in any aspect of batsmanship. David Gower was fricking bunny against WI in 1984-86 when his team lost 0-10  but only in OP's mind he is better batsman of fast bowling than ATGs like Sachin, Lara.