Test Player of the 1950s

[chasingthedon]

For those of you who have been following this developing series, the latest instalment, covering the 1950s, can be found here.

 

[bagapath]

thanks. interesting read. i clicked on the link assuming it would be keith miller or len hutton and actual winner is a surprise for me. deserving? yes but surprising nevertheless.

 

[chasingthedon]

thanks. interesting read. i clicked on the link assuming it would be keith miller or len hutton and actual winner is a surprise for me. deserving? yes but surprising nevertheless.

Thanks, Bagapath. You and me both as far as Miller is concerned, but as you say, Benaud is deserving nonetheless. It was also nice to see Mahmood ranked so highly.

 

[Ikki]

Actually, Miller is not that surprising. The best part of Miller's career was in his first half.

 

[chasingthedon]

Actually, Miller is not that surprising. The best part of Miller's career was in his first half.

Won't disagree with that - he had his moments in the 50s, but was more consistent in the late 40s.

 

[bagapath]

Actually, Miller is not that surprising. The best part of Miller's career was in his first half.

mmm. may be not

KR Miller
filtered 1950-1956 37 2080 147 34.66 6 122 6/107 23.59 5 19 0

I think these numbers are great too

and check this out


KR Miller (Aus) 5 439 147 73.16 3 20 6/107 32.05 1 1 0 26 Mar 1955 Australia
Australia in West Indies Test Series, 1954/55

 

[chasingthedon]

mmm. may be not

KR Miller
filtered 1950-1956 37 2080 147 34.66 6 122 6/107 23.59 5 19 0

I think these numbers are great too

and check this out


KR Miller (Aus) 5 439 147 73.16 3 20 6/107 32.05 1 1 0 26 Mar 1955 Australia
Australia in West Indies Test Series, 1954/55

It's rather like the question "Which is the highest mountain, Everest or K2?" - they're both still huge! Likewise in discussing MIller's numbers in the 1940s and 1950s, he was great in both decades, but slightly better in the 40s.

 

[Burgey]

Great read mate, very enjoyable stuff. Must say Benaud surprised me. I thought it would be Miller as well.

 

[chasingthedon]

Great read mate, very enjoyable stuff. Must say Benaud surprised me. I thought it would be Miller as well.

Thanks Burgey. It's a bit like a Christmas number one not being the best-selling song of the year, because the sales are split over two years. Similarly, Miller's performances are split over two decades - it may well be that he was #1 between 1946-1956 when he played. In fact, I might run the numbers to see

 

[chasingthedon]

Thanks Burgey. It's a bit like a Christmas number one not being the best-selling song of the year, because the sales are split over two years. Similarly, Miller's performances are split over two decades - it may well be that he was #1 between 1946-1956 when he played. In fact, I might run the numbers to see

Here are the total points and PP5 (in parentheses) for players during the years of Miller's career:-

1023 Keith Miller (93.0)
921 Len Hutton (69.8)
866 Dennis Compton (65.6)
839 Alec Bedser (82.3)
798 Ray Lindwall (72.5)
664 Vinoo Mankad (79.0)
634 Godfrey Evans (44.0)
622 Trevor Bailey (70.7)
608 Neil Harvey (63.3)
580 Everton Weekes (76.3)

So Miller was certainly superior measured over the decade of his career, rather than a given calendar decade.

 

[bagapath]

Here are the total points and PP5 (in parentheses) for players during the years of Miller's career:-

1023 Keith Miller (93.0)
921 Len Hutton (69.8)
866 Dennis Compton (65.6)
839 Alec Bedser (82.3)
798 Ray Lindwall (72.5)
664 Vinoo Mankad (79.0)
634 Godfrey Evans (44.0)
622 Trevor Bailey (70.7)
608 Neil Harvey (63.3)
580 Everton Weekes (76.3)

So Miller was certainly superior measured over the decade of his career, rather than a given calendar decade.

just add Arthur morris and this is what you get

Hutton (C)
Morris
Weeks
Harvey
Compton
Miller
Mankad
Bailey
Evans (wk)
Lindwall
Bedser

that is a rocking team !

 

[Ikki]

mmm. may be not

KR Miller
filtered 1950-1956 37 2080 147 34.66 6 122 6/107 23.59 5 19 0

I think these numbers are great too

and check this out


KR Miller (Aus) 5 439 147 73.16 3 20 6/107 32.05 1 1 0 26 Mar 1955 Australia
Australia in West Indies Test Series, 1954/55

Yes, I know my friend; Miller was good in the 50s, but in the 40s (or 1st half of his career) he was something else. IMO, the best all-rounder in history...easily - he was averaging 45 with the bat and 21 with the ball.

 

[bagapath]

after 55 test matches, the same as keith miller, botham's records stood at...

55 3008 208 37.13 11 251 8/34 23.68 20 60 0

another candidate for greatest ever?

anyways, will look forward to the best player of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

my guesses, based on stats, are

gary sobers
ian botham
imran khan
brian lara

and my choices would be

gary sobers
dennis lillee
malcolm marshall
sachin tendulkar

 

[chasingthedon]

just add Arthur morris and this is what you get

Hutton (C)
Morris
Weeks
Harvey
Compton
Miller
Mankad
Bailey
Evans (wk)
Lindwall
Bedser

that is a rocking team !

HA HA! Morris was #11 in the rankings with 554!

 

[chasingthedon]

after 55 test matches, the same as keith miller, botham's records stood at...

55 3008 208 37.13 11 251 8/34 23.68 20 60 0

another candidate for greatest ever?

anyways, will look forward to the best player of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

my guesses, based on stats, are

gary sobers
ian botham
imran khan
brian lara

and my choices would be

gary sobers
dennis lillee
malcolm marshall
sachin tendulkar

Working on the 60s now.