Most perfect batsmen of all fusing technical correctness with grace and attacking aggression

[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.

Edited June 8 by Harsh Thakor

[govinda]

What is ftb zaheer abbas doing there group lo dupe zaisa

[MechEng]

I'd put Viv Richards right on top. His attacking game against the swinging ball in England is in its league of its own.

[Suhaan]

Mere Majid ko dhund ke lao Haris

[diga]

49 minutes ago, MechEng said:

I'd put Viv Richards right on top. His attacking game against the swinging ball in England is in its league of its own.

Would have liked to see a peak Richards vs Steyn in SA

[vvvslaxman]

Wasim Jaffer

[Lord]

Dodda Ganesh

[Ultimate_Game]

Answer is Sooryavanshi

[putrevus]

Where did you get this list.Barry Richards sample size is too small. Pollock was more stand and delivery kind of guy.Zaheer could not play express pace nor could he play swing/seam bowling.He was FTB of highest order,

 

Rohit Sharma is 100 times better than Zaheer Abbas in all aspects of batsmanship.Everyone know his struggles away from home.

 

Only guy who really is technically correct plus could play attacking shots is Sachin. Lara or Viv were not technically correct.

 

Greg Chappell was not good in England plus he had his share or struggles against express pace and bounce.

 

Stop presenting things for which you have no clue.

Edited June 8 by putrevus

[zen]

Perfect (less observable weaknesses and technical brilliance) batsman has to be one from Gavaskar or Tendulkar from those on the poll. Kallis and Sangakkara can be considered too.
 

However, you don’t need to be perfect to be effective in cricket as shown by Don Bradman, Viv Richards, Brian Lara, S Smith, etc.