Greatest opener of the last 20 years?

[Shri]

Yes England every cricket team played more in the 90s than now.

 

[GIMH]

Cook underrated as a whole based on recent form IMO

Not a lot between him and Smith as a whole surely.

Hayden probably the best of those quoted though Burgey has a case with Taylor. All of the top openers of this century have had lean patches and technical faults that have been exposed for long periods or often IMO

 

[Furball]

Yeah Cook's getting massively under-rated when the only team he's struggled against has been Australia.

 

[morgieb]

Yeah Cook's getting massively under-rated when the only team he's struggled against has been Australia.

And even then, his best series was against Australia.

 

[Shri]

And even then, his best series was against Australia.

Wait you mean the series where he made 294 against us was not his best? Fmd.

 

[GIMH]

Wait you mean the series where he made 294 against us was not his best? Fmd.

Did nothing the rest of that series

 

[Jono]

Cook underrated as a whole based on recent form IMO

Not a lot between him and Smith as a whole surely.

Hayden probably the best of those quoted though Burgey has a case with Taylor. All of the top openers of this century have had lean patches and technical faults that have been exposed for long periods or often IMO

Yeah Cook's getting massively under-rated when the only team he's struggled against has been Australia.

Yeah that's fair. Perhaps there's also the fact his career isn't anywhere near over which may have people waiting to see where he ends up. Could trump everyone if he plays for another 5 years.

 

[Red]

Out of that bunch I'd probably take Langer.

Alec Stewart a very decent call. So are Tubby and Slats.

Plenty of respect for Smith and Sehwag also. Always liked Trescothick.

Hard call.

 

[watson]

After reflection, my gut feeling is that I'd want Langer and Kirsten opening the batting for my team because of their consistent allround success against some exceptional bowlers (conveniently ignored Kirsten's failure during a singular series in the West Indies)

Unfortunately, Smith's mediocre averages against India and Sri Lanka, and not one single century against them after a stack of Tests, takes him out the picture IMO

 

[hendrix]

it's funny that Mark Richardson almost comes into consideration

 

[OverratedSanity]

Should've put Taylor in the poll,pretty big oversight. Probably forgot him because he's from a slightly earlier timeline than the others. Also, Cook has a long career still ahead of him... Doesn't feel right to include him yet

 

[watson]

Should've put Taylor in the poll,pretty big oversight. Probably forgot him because he's from a slightly earlier timeline than the others. Also, Cook has a long career still ahead of him... Doesn't feel right to include him yet

I've always found it a bit odd that we can make a judgement on a batsman like Barry Richards after only 4 Tests, but cannot make a judgement on Cook who's played more than a 100 Tests.

 

[Jono]

Haha, whilst true, I guess the point is Cook could become even better, and its not like he's near the end (like Sachin, Punter etc. were) so probably feels a little weird including him. He's definitely played enough already to be included though, so I get your point.

No doubt if this thread was posted in 2012 Cook would have gotten more votes in this poll.

 

[African Monkey]

it's funny that Mark Richardson almost comes into consideration

Seriously under-rated on this thread, especially with some of the pitches he had to play on. 4 test centuries doesn't do him justice tbh.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Seriously under-rated on this thread, especially with some of the pitches he had to play on. 4 test centuries doesn't do him justice tbh.

If ...

a) he had been picked earlier
b) had a better conversion rate (it was sadly Flemingesque)
c) had a better S/R (even 47 instead of 37)

His record might have been exceptional.

Anyway, regardless of what ifs, in terms of crease occupation/balls faced and consistency he'd be one of the highest

 

[Jono]

I respect the hell out of Richardson but you want your openers scoring tons nowadays - and by modern I mean his time as well.

Not in the conversation when you're talking about the names on that poll. IMO at least.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I've always found it a bit odd that we can make a judgement on a batsman like Barry Richards after only 4 Tests, but cannot make a judgement on Cook who's played more than a 100 Tests.

Ftr, I don't rate Barry Richards. Atleast not as a test batsman. Cook is borderline for me... He debuted in 2007 didn't he? Probably has done enough to be in the conversation, especially if people are mentioning Richardson

 

[hendrix]

think he'd be a pretty useful pick. Obviously not in the class of the others but there are plenty of weaknesses that the other players had that Richardson didn't. Almost all of them have poor records against the top teams of their era and away from home. I mean, that's not a surprising stat at all, but Richardson's relatively short career and limited batsmanship are comparable to a number of flaws that some of those batsmen had.

Think Smith or Taylor take it though.

 

[hendrix]

Ftr, I don't rate Barry Richards. Atleast not as a test batsman. Cook is borderline for me... He debuted in 2007 didn't he? Probably has done enough to be in the conversation, especially if people are mentioning Richardson

we're not seriously mentioning Richardson, I just found it funny that you can almost make a case. Cook has done miles more.

 

[morgieb]

Should've put Taylor in the poll,pretty big oversight. Probably forgot him because he's from a slightly earlier timeline than the others. Also, Cook has a long career still ahead of him... Doesn't feel right to include him yet

Given the timeline I probably can't really consider Taylor the best. A large proportion of his time at the Test level in the last 20 years was spent with him in a major slump.