brian lara vs viv richards?

[don_corleone840]

Who was much better batsman?

[Robelinda]

Brian Lara. Massive fan of both, but Viv struggled against Australia, especially in the WI, never scored a test ton vs Aus in WI. Lara completely OWNED Aus in WI.

[vamos_rafa]

Brian Lara. Massive fan of both, but Viv struggled against Australia, especially in the WI, never scored a test ton vs Aus in WI. Lara completely OWNED Aus in WI.

I think it had a bit to do with the pitches as well. In viv's time, pitches in WI were a lot more spicier while in the late 90's pitches had slowed down a bit. Not taking anything form Lara though as both were majestic players. :hatsoff:

[Bublu Bhuyan]

Viv.

[Laaloo]

sachin

[Trichromatic]

How can you not mention Sachin along with words 'better batsman'? There are only 2 types of batsmen comparisons Sachin v Bradman Sachin v everyone else.

[bablankalhan]

How can you not mention Sachin along with words 'better batsman'? There are only 2 types of batsmen comparisons Sachin v Bradman Sachin v everyone else.

No mate it should be Sachin v Lara Sachin/Lara v everyone else

[bablankalhan]

did not watch Viv bat........... Lara was a genius who should not have retired early...!

[ganeshran]

Tests: Lara ODIs : Viv

[Trichromatic]

Viv's SR was almost 70 in test cricket. :omg:

[Raghav_12]

did not watch Viv bat........... Lara was a genius who should not have retired early...!

Lara retired at the age of 38. What is proper retirement age if that is early?

[Executioner]

only in recent times are players starting to think about retiring at a later age. this could be due to better fitness of the players i didnt see viv batting but i did see lara. It will be wise not to make any comments on that. Probably lara because he was one great cricketer!

[Bublu Bhuyan]

did not watch Viv bat........... Lara was a genius who should not have retired early...!

Lara was almost 39 when he retired.

[punjabi_khota]

Both were much better.

[Number]

ODIs Viv hands down. Tests I'll chose Lara.

[Trichromatic]

Brian Lara. Massive fan of both, but Viv struggled against Australia, especially in the WI, never scored a test ton vs Aus in WI. Lara completely OWNED Aus in WI.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63370.html

[rkt.india]

I think it had a bit to do with the pitches as well. In viv's time' date=' pitches in WI were a lot more spicier while in the late 90's pitches had slowed down a bit. Not taking anything form Lara though as both were majestic players. :hatsoff:[/quote'] False perception. Not every pitch in WI has been spicy, not even in 70s or 80s. Jamaica and Barbados are traditional hard pitches to bat on and they still are two of the toughest pitches to bat on. Port of Spain has traditionally been batting friendly. Guyana has mostly been a slow surface. People normally think there were all fast and bouncy pitches in WI in 70s and 80s, but not. Even Desmond Haynes said that in an interview which I watched on TV. Every pitch had its own nature, not everyone was fast and bouncy. Barbados pitch still has pace and bounce if people remember Ishant's 10-fer last year or T20 WC 2010 where Indians were found wanting against WI and Aus pace bowlers.

[vamos_rafa]

False perception. Not every pitch in WI has been spicy, not even in 70s or 80s. Jamaica and Barbados are traditional hard pitches to bat on and they still are two of the toughest pitches to bat on. Port of Spain has traditionally been batting friendly. Guyana has mostly been a slow surface. People normally think there were all fast and bouncy pitches in WI in 70s and 80s, but not. Even Desmond Haynes said that in an interview which I watched on TV. Every pitch had its own nature, not everyone was fast and bouncy. Barbados pitch still has pace and bounce if people remember Ishant's 10-fer last year or T20 WC 2010 where Indians were found wanting against WI and Aus pace bowlers.

I agree. But, if you actually check the 96 and 2001 series that India played, barring Barbados and Sabina Park in 2001, none of the other pitches were spicy. Port of spain, was pretty slow in 2001 when we won there. Yes, the 2006 series and this time around were more difficult to bat on. But, if you see Antigua was as flat as a pan cake which I believe was not the case earlier on.

[rkt.india]

I agree. But' date=' if you actually check the 96 and 2001 series that India played, barring Barbados and Sabina Park in 2001, none of the other pitches were spicy. Port of spain, was pretty slow in 2001 when we won there. Yes, the 2006 series and this time around were more difficult to bat on. But, if you see Antigua was as flat as a pan cake which I believe was not the case earlier on.[/quote'] That has always been the case, only Sabina park and Barbados have been spicy, others not. Port of Spain has always been batting friendly, remember our chase of 406 there. We played first 2 tests at Sabina park and Barbados and they were bowler friendly, while last test was played on slow and low surface. So Sabina park and Barbados are two grounds where pitches have mostly been bowler friendly, especially fast bowlers. Even in 2006, only Sabina park was a real tough pitch to bat on. Antigua cricket ground is newly made, Sir Viv Richards Stadium is now used there since 2007 WC. Old Antigua recreation stadium pitch has mostly been batting friendly and it was established in 1978. We have seen 57 test centuries on this ground and this ground is not used for cricket now. 5 ODI centuries have been scored at the ground, the first of these, and highest, was scored by Desmond Haynes in 1978. Haynes's innings of 148, from 136 balls, was scored against Australia in 1978

[Robelinda]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63370.html

:winky: I was watching that ton just earlier today, fail of me to forget it!!!!!!! quite brutal partnership too.