Players who were indisputably the best of their time

[Bijed]

Basically, who can you think of who has been just flat-out better than everyone playing at the same time as them?

I'm not expecting to hear of a gulf like there was between Bradman and everyone else, but anyone head and shoulders above.the rest is a good answer assuming that they remained so for a reasonably extended period.

Question applies to batsmen and bowlers.

Edit: Sorry about the typo in the title

 

[Slifer]

Gary Sobers. Steyn among fast bowlers post McGrath retirement. The bias in me says Viv in the late 70s through the 80s but the best player in the 80s was undoubtedly Imran Khan. Also, I suppose Lillee was the undisputed best fast bowler of the 70s. Can't think of anyone else.

 

[smash84]

WG Grace

 

[Zinzan]

There's actually not too many I can think of who were clearly the best of their time, certainly no modern players from the 80s forward, given they all had players close enough to them. In Warne's case, Murali, in Sachin's case, Lara and Ponting.

Probably the names mentioned so far of Bradman, Sobers & Grace are the obvious ones. Possibly Barnes as well.

Could Kallis be considered as being out on his own during his era since he was an ATG bat who just happened to take 290 odd wickets?

And Gilchrist as a keeper, prior to Sanga and AB taking the gloves?

 

[Justo]

I'd put McGrath in there from 2000-2007 when it comes to fast bowling. After the retirements of Donald, Akram, Ambrose and co you've basically got McGrath ahead of Gillespie and Pollock then a lot of guys who tend to be brilliant one series and poor the next.

 

[Zinzan]

I'd put McGrath in there from 2000-2007 when it comes to fast bowling. After the retirements of Donald, Akram, Ambrose and co you've basically got McGrath ahead of Gillespie and Pollock then a lot of guys who tend to be brilliant one series and poor the next.

You're stretching it making it a 7 year period given the likes of Akram & Donald didn't retire until around 2003/4 IIRC & did actually cross paths with McGrath for most of his career starting in 1993. Also factor, that period when they had retired 2004-07, I'm not sure McGrath was out on his own then was he? And if so, she's a pretty microscopic period.

 

[mr_mister]

Hobbs in the 1920s?

 

[Daemon]

Steyn post McGrath. Anderson the closest to him but still a fair way off.

 

[Zinzan]

Steyn post McGrath. Anderson the closest to him but still a fair way off.

Think that's a decent shout, certainly more so than McGrath crica 2000-2007, but that did come from an Australian.

 

[Zinzan]

Hobbs in the 1920s?

Not with his mates Sutcliffe and Hammond around... Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[S.Kennedy]

Gary Sobers. Steyn among fast bowlers post McGrath retirement. The bias in me says Viv in the late 70s through the 80s but the best player in the 80s was undoubtedly Imran Khan. Also, I suppose Lillee was the undisputed best fast bowler of the 70s. Can't think of anyone else.

With the great West Indian quartet arriving, 1974 onward?

 

[morgieb]

You're stretching it making it a 7 year period given the likes of Akram & Donald didn't retire until around 2003/4 IIRC & did actually cross paths with McGrath for most of his career starting in 1993. Also factor, that period when they had retired 2004-07, I'm not sure McGrath was out on his own then was he? And if so, she's a pretty microscopic period.

Last Tests in both cases were around 2001. And who else was there between 04-06 apart for McGrath?

 

[Zinzan]

Last Tests in both cases were around 2001. And who else was there between 04-06 apart for McGrath?

OK, I remember them both playing in the 2003 WC.

Now to the two year period between 2004-06, we're not really calling that an era are we?

Otherwise several others players we haven't yet mentioned are in the running. I got the impression from the OP we were looking at decent periods of time when players were out on their own.

 

[Slifer]

With the great West Indian quartet arriving, 1974 onward?

I did say: "I suppose." But I do think that the concensus was that Lillee was the undisputed best of that time.

 

[smash84]

agreed, for the 70s it has to be Lillee. The only competition could be Michael holding but he was only starting to come into his own 76 onwards. Imran and Hadlee wouldn't hit their strides until 1979. Marshall came later. Roberts in the 70s was very good but not at Lillee level. Lillee a good shout

 

[mr_mister]

Graeme Pollock in the 60s?

 

[Burgey]

Graeme Pollock in the 60s?

Nah, not with Sobers around.

For test matches in the period 1993-2000 it's indisputably Steve Waugh.

 

[Athlai]

GIMH at his peak had a great run.

 

[Zinzan]

GIMH at his peak had a great run.

Never undisputed though, always had the Brumbys, Blockys and Furballs of this world nipping at his heels.

 

[mr_mister]

Oh wow forgot about Sobers. I'm dumb


This is tricky