ankitj
Hall of Fame Member
Taking a leaf from a discussion in another thread, I thought I will put up this poll. I am naming following 5 batsmen that span more than last 100 years between them:
Jack Hobbs
Don Bradman
Garry Sobers
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
By no means, am I suggesting that these 5 have to be the best 5 of all time, but they are an easy choice because they form a near continuum with minimal overlaps; one starts his test career when his predecessor ends his. I want to know, if we were to normalize their batting averages, who do you think will get his average knocked down by maximum %? Exactly how much is a matter of speculation but let's see who CW thinks had it easiest among these. Consider both the general playing conditions in their days, and the specific oppositions they played against (Viv never faced Marshall, Bradman never faced O'Reilly, Hobbs never faced Barnes etc).
PLEASE NOTE: Don't knock me down for having an agenda. I am not out to prove Tendulkar is better than Bradman; I don't consider Tednulkar even the second best batsman and don't usually pick him in my AT world XI, so that's out of question (if you have followed my posts in past, you'd know it). This is a very genuine question and I am hoping for some healthy discussion. *fingers crossed*
Jack Hobbs
Don Bradman
Garry Sobers
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
By no means, am I suggesting that these 5 have to be the best 5 of all time, but they are an easy choice because they form a near continuum with minimal overlaps; one starts his test career when his predecessor ends his. I want to know, if we were to normalize their batting averages, who do you think will get his average knocked down by maximum %? Exactly how much is a matter of speculation but let's see who CW thinks had it easiest among these. Consider both the general playing conditions in their days, and the specific oppositions they played against (Viv never faced Marshall, Bradman never faced O'Reilly, Hobbs never faced Barnes etc).
PLEASE NOTE: Don't knock me down for having an agenda. I am not out to prove Tendulkar is better than Bradman; I don't consider Tednulkar even the second best batsman and don't usually pick him in my AT world XI, so that's out of question (if you have followed my posts in past, you'd know it). This is a very genuine question and I am hoping for some healthy discussion. *fingers crossed*
Last edited: