ICF All Time Test XI : Middle Order (Numbers 4 & 5)

[Marut]

Then IMO Lara was very, very selfish, even more selfish than Gayle. Look at how WI cricket suffered for lack of good players for many, many years, yet jut for the sake of retiring 'on a high', Lara put himself ahead of his country and his country suffered. How is that not selfish? BTW, I dont believe the above, Lara didnt feel he could continue and quit, and no, he didnt have years of cricket ahead of him

There were lots of cricketers who retired on a high, they may have personal reasons. Pietersen retired from some forms of the game recently. Who are we to question what they should do or should not? Lara may have come to the conclusion that he had contributed enough to the WI side. It could be seen as selfish, but what has that do with evaluation of Lara as a batsman? It is possible that he had some problems with the joke of a WI management. And why you do not beleive this? Is that based on prejudice or non verification of the relevant stats? During the last two/three years 2004-2006 Lara averaged 57 against his career average of 53 ( at an astonishing SR of 62), scoring 11 hundreds and six fifties in 30 tests, which included that fabulous 400 ( see that 50 to 100 conversion rate!). It does makes sense to think that Lara retired a bit prematurely and could have gone on for at least two more years. I don't know why he retired because he seemed to be at his very best when he retired.

[Marut]

Yes' date=' thats why Sachin is ahead of Lara in any world XI made by any cricket critic, any ex and current player including Bradman's XI, wsden and cricinfo all time XI[/quote'] Could be, but there may not be so many difference in votes. You may note that Lara as a batsman did not put as much price on his wicket like Tendulkar, and played more exciting and risky brand of cricket. Many top bowlers, including Murali described Lara as the most difficult batsman to contain or bowl to, because Lara scored very fast and took the match away very much like Sehwag. Some of the innings played by Lara in a match winning effort ( esp against Australia) can only be dreamed of Tendulkar. Tendulkar forte is remarkable consistancy and Lara's is making big scores and making the impossible things happen - that is why I had this terrific combination in my team.

[Number]

^ unnecessary glorification of lara like he was Sehwag and Sachin was a snail like Dravid. ffs barely a difference of 5-6 % in their test strike rate, that's immaterial in tests. He played big knocks which Tendulkar couldn't.. that I agree.

[Sidhoni]

Who chose De Silva? Who chose Miandad? And for fu The ones in bold were Jairamesh's choices. Miandad was chosen by Naaz-neesh, a Pakistani fan.

[psrb4u]

Tendulkar is the living legend before us.

[Ultimate_Game]

The ones in bold were Jairamesh's choices. Miandad was chosen by Naaz-neesh, a Pakistani fan.

How do you find out who voted for which option/choice in a poll?

[Sidhoni]

How do you find out who voted for which option/choice in a poll?

Just click on the no. of votes..

[King Tendulkar]

Pieterson in the poll:hysterical:

[The Dark Horse]

Damn how did I miss viv

[Vilander]

There were lots of cricketers who retired on a high, they may have personal reasons. Pietersen retired from some forms of the game recently. Who are we to question what they should do or should not? Lara may have come to the conclusion that he had contributed enough to the WI side. It could be seen as selfish, but what has that do with evaluation of Lara as a batsman? It is possible that he had some problems with the joke of a WI management. And why you do not beleive this? Is that based on prejudice or non verification of the relevant stats? During the last two/three years 2004-2006 Lara averaged 57 against his career average of 53 ( at an astonishing SR of 62), scoring 11 hundreds and six fifties in 30 tests, which included that fabulous 400 ( see that 50 to 100 conversion rate!). It does makes sense to think that Lara retired a bit prematurely and could have gone on for at least two more years. I don't know why he retired because he seemed to be at his very best when he retired.

at the risk of trolling the thread into tend vs lara, i have to add. Sachin > Lara this discussion is done and dusted.

[Era of Gold]

Lara and Tendulkar. Prefer Lara though.