Who were the best left-handed batsmen ever on bad or broken wickets ?

[Harsh Thakor]

This is my choice of best left-handed batsman ranked in order of merit,on wickets unfit for test cricket or untrue.They could turn games on bad pitches ,with an uneven bounce.

 

 

1.Neil Harvey

2.Brian Lara

3.Alan Border

4.Alvin Kalicharan

5.Graeme Pollock /Gary Sobers

 

 

I wish we could have seen a video of Harvey when scoring his unbeaten 151 out of total off 336 in a run chase on a broken wicket.Rarely was anyone as innovative or creative in hi sera,who resembled a surgeon operating.A master on wet Englsih pitches.

 

 

Lara was artistry personified on the most treacherous pitches waving the handle of bat in the most majestic fashion .His 153 not out at Barbados and 211 at Kingston versus Australia in 1999  perfectly illustrate this.

 

 

Border was the ultimate epitome of grit,particularly on turning tracks.Absolutely classical when scoring 2 150's at Lahore in 1980,on  a turning track.

 

 

Kalicharan too technical perfection to unsurpassed regions by  a left-hander .Complete mastery in India in 1974-75 at Bangalore as well as at Mumbai in 1979.

 

 

 

Pollock and Sobers took cricketing prowess to magnitude unsurpassed by  a left-hander,embodiment of perfection.I can never forget Sober's 113 at Kingston versus England in 1967-68 and Polock's 125 out of 160 at Trent Bridge in 1965.

Edited August 2, 2021 by Harsh Thakor

[velu]

some random cat pics

 

[CodeOfWisden]

@Harsh Thakor

Most of these left handed batsman are associated with elegance, I don't think there are many who are the best in grinding it out in tough conditions. 

 

For example Graeme Pollock was a batsman who had minimal footwork, and was really known for aggression rather than  fightin' it out. 

 

Same goes with Gower, Ganguly was never the best batsman on tough tracks. 

Lloyd, same old same old. Out and out aggressor. Same for Sanath

 

I"ll pick  these two out of the choices you have given plus one player who you haven't mentioned 

1.Allan Border (easy choice) 

2.Brian Lara

3.Andy Flower. 

 

[Nikola]

Bill Lawry?

[Harsh Thakor]

22 minutes ago, CodeOfWisden said:

@Harsh Thakor

Most of these left handed batsman are associated with elegance, I don't think there are many who are the best in grinding it out in tough conditions. 

 

For example Graeme Pollock was a batsman who had minimal footwork, and was really known for aggression rather than  fightin' it out. 

 

Same goes with Gower, Ganguly was never the best batsman on tough tracks. 

Lloyd, same old same old. Out and out aggressor. Same for Sanath

 

I"ll pick  these two out of the choices you have given plus one player who you haven't mentioned 

1.Allan Border (easy choice) 

2.Brian Lara

3.Andy Flower. 

 

Great choice of Border.Almost my no 1.What about  Harvey? Kalicharan?I almost placed Border ahead of Lara on bad wickets,but he was not as attacking.