How highly do you rate Kallis, the batsman?

[Old guy]

rate him higher then rohit :agree:

[Bublu Bhuyan]

There s absolutely no denying his greatness. He has been an absolute rock for the SAffers who has been constantly improving. He has also been a part of a very strong side since his beginning so his runs scored have always had a high degree of value attached' date=' specially because of the bowling+fielding of SA.His records against Oz and England are a bit debatable but I am pretty sure he would be making up for them this time around. Overall, IMO, as a batsman, he is in the 2nd grade, i.e below Sachin, Lara and alongside Ponting and Dravid.[/quote'] I personally rate Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting in the same breath. Kallis and Dravid comes below that category for me. I don't rate Kallis as high as his average would suggest.

[vamos_rafa]

I personally rate Tendulkar' date=' Lara and Ponting in the same breath. Kallis and Dravid comes below that category for me. I don't rate Kallis as high as his average would suggest.[/quote'] The reason why I choose to put Ponting in the same bracket as Dravid is that both of them were phenomenol during one deep purple patch that they had hit. Both were absolutely brilliant between 2000-05/06. But since then, they have not been able to keep the same level. similarly, Kallis int he latter part of the decade(though I am not dead sure of the numbers here), has been simply a run-making machine. so, you just can't ignore him can you. And as far as your bracketing goes, is it because Ponting at his pomp could match Sachin/Lara in terms of strokeplay while Dravid and Kallis are more of the grinders?

[Bublu Bhuyan]

The reason why I choose to put Ponting in the same bracket as Dravid is that both of them were phenomenol during one deep purple patch that they had hit. Both were absolutely brilliant between 2000-05/06. But since then, they have not been able to keep the same level. similarly, Kallis int he latter part of the decade(though I am not dead sure of the numbers here), has been simply a run-making machine. so, you just can't ignore him can you. And as far as your bracketing goes, is it because Ponting at his pomp could match Sachin/Lara in terms of strokeplay while Dravid and Kallis are more of the grinders?

Exactly, it's because Ponting at his best could easily go head to head with both Sachin and Lara. I'm personally not fond of stonewallers like Dravid and Kallis, Sunny Gavaskar being an exception.

[rkt.india]

I personally rate Tendulkar' date=' Lara and Ponting in the same breath. Kallis and Dravid comes below that category for me. I don't rate Kallis as high as his average would suggest.[/quote'] How can you rate Ponting as high when he has not scored anything in India. does your method of rating not include scoring runs in India or in subcontinent? As you said Kallis did not score in Aus so it shuld go same for Ponting too. He struggled in India.

[Bublu Bhuyan]

How can you rate Ponting as high when he has not scored anything in India. does your method of rating not include scoring runs in India or in subcontinent? As you said Kallis did not score in Aus so it shuld go same for Ponting too. He struggled in India.

I rate Ponting because of his breathtaking stroke making ability at his peak. Even Dravid averages below 30 in South Africa, do you not rate him?

[ravishingravi]

How can you rate Ponting as high when he has not scored anything in India. does your method of rating not include scoring runs in India or in subcontinent? As you said Kallis did not score in Aus so it shuld go same for Ponting too. He struggled in India.

Yup, I think even Lara hasn't played well enough to bring his team to major finals and Tendulkar's record is major finals esp. the WC. Ponting pawns both of them in that regard. So, you can always be nitpicking.

[Bublu Bhuyan]

Yup' date=' I think even Lara hasn't played well enough to bring his team to major finals and Tendulkar's record is major finals esp. the WC. Ponting pawns both of them in that regard. So, you can always be nitpicking.[/quote'] Even Lara averages a mere 35 in India. I've always put Ponting alongside Tendulkar and Lara because of his gifted stoke playing ability.

[rkt.india]

I rate Ponting because of his breathtaking stroke making ability at his peak. Even Dravid averages below 30 in South Africa' date=' do you not rate him?[/quote'] That is why Ponting is in Dravid and Kallis category.

[rkt.india]

Yup' date=' I think even Lara hasn't played well enough to bring his team to major finals and Tendulkar's record is major finals esp. the WC. Ponting pawns both of them in that regard. So, you can always be nitpicking.[/quote'] Here we are talking about test matches, not ODIs. Lara has won tests to WI alone.

[Jimmy Cliff]

Rate Kallis slightly behind the big 4 (SRT, Lara, Ponting and Waugh) but it seems he (along with Sangakkara) would end up with better stats than all these guys.

[Bublu Bhuyan]

I'm one of the biggest admirers of Ponting. His stroke plays during his peak were mesmerizing to be honest. I'd rate him the 3rd best batsman of his era after Sachin and Lara.

[rkt.india]

Yes. Certainly ability wise SRT, BCL, and Ponting are three best batsmen of this generation, but that alone does not decide who stands where. Likes of Kallis and Dravid showed what sheer hard work can do even when one does not have enormous natural talent. They are 5 of the best batsmen of the last 20 years and I would not like to degrade any one of the to prove other superior. With regards to natural ability, one one comes close to SRT.

[Bublu Bhuyan]

Yes. Certainly ability wise SRT, BCL, and Ponting are three best batsmen of this generation, but that alone does not decide who stands where. Likes of Kallis and Dravid showed what sheer hard work can do even when one does not have enormous natural talent. They are 5 of the best batsmen of the last 20 years and I would not like to degrade any one of the to prove other superior. With regards to natural ability, one one comes close to SRT.

Gavaskar was probably the best technician of all time. Yet, he is always rated behind King Viv (natural talent). That's reality. A player with natural talent and ability is always rated above someone who is hard working.

[rkt.india]

I'm one of the biggest admirers of Ponting. His stroke plays during his peak were mesmerizing to be honest. I'd rate him the 3rd best batsman of his era after Sachin and Lara.

Then You should have opened the thread about Ponting, now Kallis.

[Bublu Bhuyan]

Then You should have opened the thread about Ponting' date=' now Kallis.[/quote'] I rate Ponting highly, why should I open a thread about him? It's Kallis whom I don't rate anywhere near Sachin, Lara or Ponting, hence a thread on him.

[rkt.india]

Gavaskar was probably the best technician of all time. Yet' date=' he is always rated behind King Viv (natural talent). That's reality. A player with natural talent and ability is always rated above someone who is hard working.[/quote'] How Gavaskar is rated behind Viv. Both players find their places in most world XIs.

[rkt.india]

I rate Ponting highly' date=' why should I open a thread about him? It's Kallis whom I don't rate anywhere near Sachin, Lara or Ponting, hence a thread on him.[/quote'] But if you dont rate him then why thread on him?

[Bublu Bhuyan]

How Gavaskar is rated behind Viv. Both players find their places in most world XIs.

You're telling me Gavaskar is rated alongside King Viv? ESPN Legends of Cricket in 2001, Rated Viv the 3rd greatest cricketer of all time while Gavaskar was placed at 10th. Viv found a place in Cricinfo's World XI, Gavaskar couldn't.

[Bublu Bhuyan]

But if you dont rate him then why thread on him?

Simply because I don't rate him as high as his average suggests. Wanted to know how high the rest rates him.