Warne's 50 list

[Gambit]

It's a subjective 'My Favourites' list.

[Guest dada_rocks]

Kya bhai log ab wo apna list bhi public se poochh ke banayega..

[Chandan]

Ok. So the list of next 10 players is out. Nos 30-21 30 Kevin Pietersen (England) Test matches 30 Runs 2,898 at 52.69 If I do this in a couple of years, he will be higher, but it is hard to push him above players who have performed over longer periods. Even before his England debut, I said that he had that X-factor. His hits to unusual areas and his 158 at the Oval in 2005 underlines his confidence. 29 Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) Test matches 43 Wickets 169 at 25.30 and Craig McDermott (Australia) Test matches 71 Wickets 291 at 28.63 Different bowlers, but not a pair I could separate. Shoaib has had controversy on and off the field but, on his day, he is the fastest bowler in the world and his action makes him hard to pick up. He is great to watch and brings people to the game. McDermott was excellent when conditions were right, but probably needed those things to be in his favour more than some others. 28 Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) Test matches 55 Runs 4,052 at 45.52 and Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) Test matches 75 Runs 6,553 at 56.00 Saeed could adapt to any conditions and was equally good against all bowling. He was not one of those who began to struggle if the spinner came on early and looked to be positive as his Plan A against all attacks. Yousuf is up there with him because of his form over the past two years. He is a top-class off-side player with great placement and an ideal temperament for any situation. 27 Jacques Kallis (South Africa) Test matches 107 Runs 8,430 at 55.09 Wickets 213 at 31.71 and Shaun Pollock (South Africa) Test matches 107 Wickets 416 at 23.19 Runs 3,781 at 32.31 Kallis has an impeccable technique and is an excellent all-round player but, of late, his batting seems to have become slower and he wants to let people bat around him. Pollock has been the South African Glenn McGrath, just not quite as successful, but he is a destructive lower-order batsman who has been really effective in both formats. 26 Steve Waugh (Australia) Test matches 168 Runs 10,927 at 51.06 Catches 112 This may raise a few eyebrows. Yes, he scored a lot of runs, but to me he was a match-saver rather than a match-winner. That is why he is not higher. There were also times when he struggled against the short ball. But he had good all-round capabilities and was always reliable in the gully. Mark Taylor handed him a wonderful team. 25 Darren Lehmann (Australia) Test matches 27 Runs 1,798 at 44.95 “Boof” was one of the hardest batsmen for spinners because he was unorthodox and had a wonderfully light touch. He had the same qualities as Brian Lara in his pomp, hitting brilliantly square of the wicket, and improvised brilliantly in one-day cricket. It was a shame that he did not play more Tests. Also a handy left-arm pie-thrower. 24 Brett Lee (Australia) Test matches 59 Wickets 231 at 31.60 One of those bowlers we always want in our side because he offers something extra. He can blast away lower orders with his pace. After bursting on to the scene he had a couple of setbacks, but he has been around long enough now to know his own game, his line and length is more consistent and he has developed a really good outswinger. 23 Stephen Fleming (New Zealand) Test matches 104 Runs 6,620 at 39.64 Catches 159 Definitely the best captain I have played against, which is why he is in the 20s rather than the 40s. His understanding of tactics and plans are second to none, and he has the temperament to stay calm when things are going against him. Also a classy left-handed batsman and excellent slip fielder. 22 Martin Crowe (New Zealand) Test matches 77 Runs 5,444 at 45.36 “Flem” will bristle at ranking below Crowe –– but 23 is my favourite number so he can’t take it the wrong way. I played against Crowe early in my career and did not bowl to many more elegant batsmen in the years after he retired. He picked up length early and seemed to have all the shots, allowing him to score quickly. 21 David Boon (Australia) Test matches 107 Runs 7,422 at 43.65 Catches 99 The “keg on legs” was a wonderful player, a rock-solid citizen and outstanding fielder at bat-pad. Batting at No 3 against some of those bowling attacks in the Eighties was perhaps the toughest job in the game and nobody ever questioned his bravery. They would have received very short shrift from anyone in our dressing-room. _____________________________________ Can't believe it!! Steve Waugh even below Fleming???:confused_smile:

[zubinpepsi]

yeah shockingggggggg steve waugh is below lehmann whos has played only very few matches compared to steve.. yday were saying steve waugh cud b 1 or 2.. but anyway the list looks like his favourite.. and naturally will b very biased.. n morever hes BLOND.. so....

[Lurker]

Good list there. Shocking to see Waugh at #26. Warne also comments on Waugh's leadership with a "Mark Taylor handed him a wonderful team."...Hahaha interesting. The 20-30 list is the most impressive thus far.

[Cricketics]

well i am not surprised to see warne rating steve waugh under lehmann.. i remember reading an article long back which had this line "Lehmann is the best batsman i have every bowled to in domestic cricket." by Warney i am curious to know where did he rate Mark Taylor.. did he even rate him???

[Lurker]

i remember reading an article long back which had this line "Lehmann is the best batsman i have every bowled to in domestic cricket." by Warney

Warne is not the only player to rate Lehmann so highly. Lehmann was widely regarded as the next best thing in Australian cricket. I remember reading Michael Bevan's book where he clearly mentions that Boof was rated far ahead than any of his peers. And in domestic cricket it certainly shows, 25000 plus@ 55 plus much better than likes of Steve Waugh and Alan Border. And I suppose we can all agree on the fact that Australian domestic cricket is sometimes as tough as International cricket if not more. No cake walk there for sure. When Lehmann went to play for Yorkshire he was a big success there too. So no I am not surprised to see Lehmann being rated so highly either. xxx

[Cricketics]

^i think he also happenz to be the person who has scored most centuries in F.C Cricket

[Lurker]

^he also happenz to be the person who has scored most centuries in F.C Cricket

Do you mean Australian FC cricket? Because in FIrst class cricket overall the most centuries are by Jack Hobbs(197). I would say there would be atleast 10 batsmen with more FC centuries than Boof. But of course if you are talking about Australian FC cricket it would be different.

[Cricketics]

yes aussie cricket.. 81 centuries.. .. nevermind lurker.. juzt checked Don bradman has 117 centuries lol

[Chandan]

Okay. So the next 10 are out as well! Warne's 20-11 20 Adam Gilchrist (Australia) Test matches 90 Runs 5,353 at 48.66 Catches 344 Stumpings 37 That every country is trying to find an Adam Gilchrist shows his impact. Wicketkeepers now have to bat as well. If we were ever under the pump he could turn around the situation by counter-attacking and he has settled one-day games in the first hour. He is still a batsman-keeper rather than the other way round, but his keeping is improving. 19 Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka) Test matches 93 Runs 6,361 at 42.97 At team meetings we would spend more time talking about Aravinda than the rest of the Sri Lanka batsmen — but our plans rarely came off. He was sheer class, a lovely strokemaker and his hundred in the 1996 World Cup final ranks among the best one-day innings. His off spin was also underrated, especially in his home country. 18 Merv Hughes (Australia) Test matches 53 Wickets 212 at 28.38 Nobody in our dressing-room will be surprised that Merv is so high. For all the clowning, the moustache and his physique, he was a thoughtful bowler with incredible mental strength. However flat the pitch or well-set the batsmen, you could always throw him the ball. His resilience to play through injuries set him apart. 17 Matthew Hayden (Australia) Test matches 89 Runs 7,739 at 53.00 There is something individually special about most of the top 20. In Hayden’s case it is his refusal to give up after struggling in his first go at Test cricket. He kept fighting for his spot, scored heavily in domestic cricket and the tour to India in 2001 was a breakthrough. Since then he has been a phenomenal run-scorer and is now recognised as one of the best openers Australia have had. 16 Andrew Flintoff (England) Test matches 67 Runs 3,381 at 32.50 Wickets 197 at 32.02 I don’t mean this in a disrespectful way to Michael Vaughan, but it was “Fred” who carried England through the 2005 Ashes with his batting, bowling and sheer presence. He was great for the game in Australia as well as England; our crowds were desperate to see him play in the series last winter. He is still the best all-rounder in the world and I really hope he can now put his injuries behind him and enjoy a clear run. 15 Graham Gooch (England) Test matches 118 Runs 8,900 at 42.58 Professional in every sense of the word, Gooch was the toughest opponent from England I faced, which is remarkable given that he had been playing Test cricket for 18 years by the time my first Ashes series came around in 1993. Even then he was the wicket we most wanted. When I called him “Mr Gooch” he thought I was taking the mickey. I wasn’t; it was out of respect. 14 Rahul Dravid (India) Test matches 112 Runs 9,492 at 56.50 Dravid grew in my estimation the longer I played Test cricket. He will not destroy you like a few batsmen lower in my list, but he can grind you down. As a bowler you know that once he is in, you need to produce a very good ball. That sounds obvious, but he is so strong technically that he makes fewer mistakes than other batsmen. And he should have captained India far earlier than he did. 13 Anil Kumble (India) Test matches 118 Wickets 566 at 28.73 I can empathise with Kumble as a wrist-spin bowler. He is a real fighter, a bloke who will give you nothing on the field but has always been a true gentleman off it. With his height and bounce he comes into his own when the pitch is up and down, but he adapts well to most conditions. To score a maiden Test hundred in his 118th game was amazing; I wish that I’d matched that. 12 Mark Waugh (Australia) Test matches 128 Runs 8,029 at 41.81 Whether he was batting, standing at slip or in the outfield, everything about this guy was graceful. Of all our great batsmen, he was my favourite to watch. The key was his timing and rhythm. He and Darren Lehmann have been the best Australian players of spin in my time. “Junior” had so much talent; he could bowl fast or really spin an off break. A good team man. 11 Courtney Walsh (West Indies) Test matches 132 Wickets 519 at 24.44 He began his career at a time when West Indies could pick from seven or eight genuinely world-class fast bowlers and ended as their stock and strike man in one. For a paceman to pass 500 Test wickets is an incredible achievement given the rigours of the game. He gave you very little to hit and also had a very quick ball when he decided to use it. ________________________________________________ So there you go! Dravid and Kumble have made the list. But no Laxman yet?? Will Warne rate him in top 10? And no Bhajji? I can't believe that he'll make the top 10. So Warne has not included him even in top 50?

[Holysmoke]

my prediction for top 10 sachin ponting lara mcgrath jonty??????????? kp inzi? yousuf? laxman?imran khan?murali? ambrose? andy flower? wasim?

[Chandan]

Warne probably never played against Imran. Hence he did not include him. Yusuf was included earlier. Inzi hasn't come as yet. My guess for top 10: McGrath Ponting Sachin Lara Ambrose Wasim Murali?? Laxman? Inzi?? Border? Can't guess more!!

[King]

Tendulkar, Akram and Lara usually tops everyone's list. I won't be surprised if they make it to the top 5 of Warne's list.

[King Tendulkar]

Clearly does not rate s waugh very much as captain or player. I sense clash of egos btwn the two.

[Lurker]

Good list there. Warne has come under severe criticism for the selection of the players but I must say I have find his selection fascinating to say the least. I mean come on how many great players(and Warne is one of the greatest ever) would include Graham Gooch as one of the top 15 players they faced? But make no mistake Gooch was worth his weight in gold. An obdurate customer who was at his best against a tough opposition. Good to see him get his dues ahead of batsmen with 10 runs or more average. I wish Warne would make this as a book so he could elaborate a little more on each player. Somehow one paragraph per person leaves me wanting for more. xxx

[Chandan]

Now the top 10 is out as well: 10- 1 10 Ian Healy (Australia) Test matches 119 Runs 4,356 at 27.39 Catches 366 Stumpings 29 He was the best wicketkeeper I saw. I can’t remember him making a mistake during the 1993 Ashes series either standing up to the spinners or back to the quicks. What people did not see was the practice he put in to reach that level. He was a dangerous lower-order batsman, but these days the requirement seems to be for keeper-batsmen, not batsmen-keepers. 9 Mark Taylor (Australia) Test matches 104 Runs 7,525 at 43.49 I played under four Australia captains but “Tubby” was the pick. He seemed to have an instinct for what was right and was never afraid to break conventions if he thought it was right. His sharp brain has now made him a good commentator. I owe him for holding some incredible slip catches, but his first role was as a very, very solid player. 8 Ricky Ponting (Australia) Test matches 110 Runs 9,368 at 59.29 By the time he finishes I think Ricky will have smashed all Test batting records. He can play for at least another two Ashes series. People say that he was gifted with natural talent, which is true, but he has built on that and has improved beyond recognition against the short ball and spin. He is a really athletic fielder and the 2005 experience helped to turn him into an excellent captain. 7 Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) Test matches 113 Wickets 700 at 21.33 No matter what anybody thinks about his action, he is wonderful to bat against for the experience of facing a ball that turns so much. He has helped to turn Sri Lanka into a formidable side at home. It is also worth remembering the work he did in the aftermath of the tsunami when he gave so much hope to people in despair. And we all love that smile. 6 Wasim Akram (Pakistan) Test matches 104 Wickets 414 at 23.62 Runs 2,898 at 22.64 Being a left-armer gave an advantage but the ability to swing the ball from over or round the wicket, reverse or conventional, puts him among the great bowlers of my time. His whippy action made him harder to face and there was a spell at Rawalpindi in 1994 that was as fast as anything I have seen. Good enough with the bat to score a Test double-hundred. 5 Glenn McGrath (Australia) Test matches 124 Wickets 563 at 21.64 He kept everything simple but effective. Although batsmen knew exactly what McGrath was about, he still beat them almost every time. He had that ability to take the big wicket and his longevity was incredible. By keeping things so tight he helped me to get a lot of wickets at the other end. Don’t let him fool you over his batting: it really was terrible. 4 Allan Border (Australia) Test matches 156 Runs 11,174 at 50.56 AB is the top Australian in my list. I probably learnt more from him than anybody bar Ian Chappell. The toughest cricketer I have played with, he was also an outstanding batsman and had been for more than a decade by the time I came into the side. People remember his determination but he also had plenty of shots. He led from the front and remains a great example to youngsters. 3 Curtly Ambrose (West Indies) Test matches 98 Wickets 405 at 20.99 It was very difficult to split Curtly and Glenn McGrath, but I think Curtly had that extra half-gear as well as being just as accurate and clinical. He could take your head off if he wanted, and he did have that nasty streak. I don’t remember him ever giving me a half-volley – or anybody else for that matter. He turned a game – and the series – in Perth in 1992-93 with a spell of seven wickets for one run. Early in my career, I watched in amazement at his brilliance. 2 Brian Lara (West Indies) Test matches 131 Runs 11,953 at 52.88 Whether you played with him or against him, you were in awe of Brian Charles Lara. I loved his strut, his swagger and his ability to hit four after four with his high backlift and incredible placement. He had an amazing knack of playing match-winning innings all through his career and has constructed two of the three highest scores in Test history. He reserved some of his best batting for Australia. At times I felt as though we could bowl 100mph or spin it 14 feet and he still would not get out. 1 Sachin Tendulkar (India) Test matches 140 Runs 11,150 at 54.92 You have to watch India in India truly to appreciate the pressure that Sachin Tendulkar is under every time he bats. Outside grounds, people wait until he goes in before paying to enter. They seem to want a wicket to fall even though it is their own side that will suffer. This is cricket as Sachin has known it since the age of 16. He grew up under incredible weight of expectation and never buckled once – not under poor umpiring decisions or anything else. I place him very slightly ahead of Lara because I found him slightly tougher mentally. It is such a close call, but here is an example of what I mean: in Australia in 2003-04 he was worried about getting out cover driving so he decided to cut out the shot. I saw the wagon wheel for his next innings: he scored 248 without a single cover drive. Like Lara, he has scored runs all over the world. I have seen him run down the pitch and hit Glenn McGrath over the top for six, and I have seen him hit me for six against the spin going around the wicket. I have been lucky to get to know him off the field as well. He is quiet and humble. A great player and a great man. The list in full 50 Jamie Siddons 49 Darren Berry 48 Brian McMillan 47 Chris Cairns 46 Dilip Vengsarkar 45 Waqar Younis 44 Alec Stewart 43 Michael Atherton 42 Ravi Shastri 41 Justin Langer 40 Kapil Dev 39 Stuart MacGill 38 Sanath Jayasuriya 37 Stephen Harmison 36 Andy Flower 35 Michael Vaughan 34 Bruce Reid 33 Allan Donald 32 Robin Smith 31 Tim May 30 Kevin Pietersen 29 Shoaib Akhtar / Craig McDermott 28 Saeed Anwar / Mohammad Yousuf 27 Jacques Kallis / Shaun Pollock 26 Steve Waugh 25 Darren Lehmann 24 Brett Lee 23 Stephen Fleming 22 Martin Crowe 21 David Boon 20 Adam Gilchrist 19 Aravinda de Silva 18 Merv Hughes 17 Matthew Hayden 16 Andrew Flintoff 15 Graham Gooch 14 Rahul Dravid 13 Anil Kumble 12 Mark Waugh 11 Courtney Walsh 10 Ian Healy 9 Mark Taylor 8 Ricky Ponting 7 Muttiah Muralitharan 6 Wasim Akram 5 Glenn McGrath 4 Allan Border 3 Curtly Ambrose 2 Brian Lara 1 Sachin Tendulkar

[Chandan]

So Laxman is not there in Warne's top 50, even though he smashed him to pieces in whatever match he played against him. I had not guessed Healy to be in top 10, to be frank.

[apocalypse]

so he is still having nightmares about sachin :cantstop:

[Cricketics]

some pickz by warne were awesome.... @ same time some were crap pickz too how can't u pick VVS in top 50..