Did Brian lara waste is oneday cricket talent?

[Richard]

I've seen both do such a thing plenty - and do it far more often and keep going far more often, too... that's why both average about 8 or 9 runs more than him.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Even if gilly scores a quickfire 50 then more or less his team wins, so therefore it underlines his ability to destroy an attack.

Not much to do with the team around him then?

 

[cover drive man]

Brian lara arguably is one of the top Test batsmen in history. But what about oneday cricket?. In his early career from 1990 to 1997 he served his potencial talent fully, he was averaging almost 47 at one point, but since 1997 his average in oneday matches just keeps dropping and now in 2007 its just over 40. so in the second half of his career has he wasted his talent?

Maybe it's because he's well I don't know maybe getting OLD.

 

[Richard]

But he wasn't getting old in 1998...???

 

[Dick Rockett]

I still maintain Lara should have forged a career as a ODI opener.

IIRC, Lara did initially open in ODIs.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

IIRC, Lara did initially open in ODIs.

He didn't debut there, but he did open the batting very early in his career. And he has an outstanding record opening the batting too, though in 6 of his last 8 attempts at opening, he has failed to reach double figures.

 

[Anil]

I've seen both do such a thing plenty - and do it far more often and keep going far more often, too... that's why both average about 8 or 9 runs more than him.

i agree with you richard! his one day average and his general inconsistency doesn't justify his position as an opener in any all-time xi....

 

[silentstriker]

i agree with you richard! his one day average and his general inconsistency doesn't justify his position as an opener in any all-time xi....

So who else do you pick as a keeper? Or do you just want him to bat lower?

 

[Anil]

So who else do you pick as a keeper? Or do you just want him to bat lower?

i wouldn't mind him as a one day 'keeper, lends a fair bit of middle-to-lower order big-hitting ability but he doesn't have enough performances to support a claim for opener in a world xi, in australia, an occasional burst from him was ok given their star-studded lineup but the concept of a world xi itself is to have the best players in each position and gilly just doesn't make the cut as an opener....

 

[Don]

You think BCL cares more about saving the Universe than most, then?

of course he does. no universe = no trini carnival = very very very very sad lara

 

[Arrow]

Lara has sucked in ODI's for the last few years. Since his last century of 156 2 years ago hes played 40 games @ 26.51, with only 5 fifties. Thats terrible. I think its just father time. Hes been very brittle.

Viv Richards last 46 games, all after his last century. avg 27.19 with 4 fifties.

Dean Jones last 29 games @ 32.64 with 8 fifties.

 

[C_C]

Ganguly & Anwar > Gilchrist IMO.

As opener, perhaps but Gillchrist slots in because he is quite good himself as an opener and he makes my keeping headache less. I prefer it this way than having Flower/Boucher down the order.

 

[Richard]

I was, really, talking purely as opening batsmen.

 

[dass]

lets just hope lara will stay above the average 40 by then of this world cup

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Lara has sucked in ODI's for the last few years. Since his last century of 156 2 years ago hes played 40 games @ 26.51, with only 5 fifties. Thats terrible. I think its just father time. Hes been very brittle.

Viv Richards last 46 games, all after his last century. avg 27.19 with 4 fifties.

Dean Jones last 29 games @ 32.64 with 8 fifties.

As opposed to him coming in down the order very often and playing more of a cameo role in the West Indies lineup? Lara hasn't had a settled position in the West Indies lineup in a long long time. It's enough to take a toll on any player.

 

[Richard]

Some of that has been self-inflicted, though...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Some of that has been self-inflicted, though...

Indeed, which goes directly against the common claim that he's selfish. He's been the one giving Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin etc. a chance to bat up the order at his expense. It's certainly not to preserve his batting average.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Ganguly & Anwar > Gilchrist IMO.

 

[silentstriker]

Purely as a batsman, Ganguly is better than Gilchrist in ODI's. I'm not sure if many people will argue otherwise. Gilchrist makes it over Ganguly due to his keeping.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Purely as a batsman, Ganguly is better than Gilchrist in ODI's. I'm not sure if many people will argue otherwise. Gilchrist makes it over Ganguly due to his keeping.

So Pietersen < Ganguly?