For a while in the mid 80s, Vengsarkar was in the top 3 batsmen in the world. This during a time of Viv, Border, Crowe, Miandad, Gower, Gooch. So I will have him as a bat ahead of Jimmy. Jimmy's away form was special, I agree with you. But the inconsistency was special too. He is right behind Vengsarkar, though, I agree.
few notes
1. Does it mean that Dilip Vengsarkar is a better player than Amarnath because for a while in the 80's he was in the top 3 batsmen in the world? I didn't get the logic there...
2. Jimmy's inconsistency was special means what really? By saying that are you also saying that he had put up good performances as well? sometimes? Frankly Vengsarkar was consistently poor in his performances all through his career (specially if you are talking about quality fast bowling outside India). Yes, Vengsarkar did well in England (though Jimmy never got a fare share of matches in England, only 4 in a career spanning over 2 decades, while Dilip had 13 matches there), though it can't be compared with that of Jimmy because of inadequacy, still if this team plays in England, I will keep Vengsarkar ahead of Jimmy. I will do the same if the team plays in India as well (Dilip Vengsarkar was a home giant of Indian cricket, you can, of course, find few others as well). But what about West Indies? Australia? Pakistan? here is a look.
Dilip Vengsarkar
In West Indies Against West Indies
M I N.O 50 100 best runs avg
11 18 0 3 0 94 449 24.94
In Australia Against Australia
17 28 2 4 0 78 746 28.59
In Pakistan Against Pakistan
11 17 2 5 0 89 503 33.53
Overall (in these 3 countries)
39 63 4 12 0 94 1698 28.77
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Mohinder Amarnath
In West Indies Against West Indies
M I N.O 50 100 best runs avg
9 16 0 6 2 117 877 54.81
In Australia Against Australia
8 13 1 3 2 138 668 55.67
In Pakistan Against Pakistan
11 18 3 4 4 120 856 57.07
Overall
28 47 4 13 8 138 2401 55.83
Amarnath scored 703 runs more than Vengsarkar playing 11 tests and 16 less innings in these 3 countries in their own den. And here we are talking about some of the best bowling sides that have ever played the game, specially West Indies in the 70's and 80's, Pakistan with Imran and co. and Australia with Lilee and Thompson in their own backyard. And we don't have a case of comparison between the performances of Vengsarkar and Amarnath. Jimmy just stands far far taller. In fact Vengsarkar never even got a century in these 3 countries even after playing 39 test matches!!! what a supreme consistency...
To cut the crap short, if the match is played in India or in England, Dilip Vengsarkar.
Anywhere else in the world, Mohinder Amarnath.
Overall, Mohinder Amarnath, because of his far superior performances against the best bowling sides of his time (and probably of all times).