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Your Greatest "5 year Peak" Test XI (post 1970)
- Thread starter Zinzan
- Start date
flibbertyjibber
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So hard for a 5 year period, obviously Murali will have a stupid one as will Warne but lots of people have a spell of brilliance for shorter or very short like Cook and Vaughan did.
flibbertyjibber
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Viv had a 5 year record between 1976-81 of 29 matches 3112 runs 10 hundreds with an average of 72.37
Zinzan
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Good spotting, Miandad had a freakish start to his career around that same period too.
flibbertyjibber
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Would imagine the openers will be harder to find, particularly from the 70's and 80's with so many top bowlers around. Had a quick look at Greenidge and Haynes and best I can find are a 52 and a 49 for each.
The Battlers Prince
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I'll get the openers going, 4507 @ 59.30 for Sunny between 1976-80.
Zinzan
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Ridiculous, guess I could make an exception to the post-1970 thing for him.
Howe_zat
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He is.
51 tests, 2833 runs 38.80 with 11 hundreds, 231 wickets at 23.06 with 19 five-fors.
Difference is the huge number of tons and 5wh, and getting them in the same match more than anyone else in just that period.
Howe_zat
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Incidentally, opener is Jack Hobbs 1909-14. Scored over 2000 runs at 60.
Context being that no one in history had averaged more than Jackson's 48 and he only played 20 tests for half the runs. At the outbreak of WW1 Hobbs was the 3rd leading test run scorer of all time (behind Hill and Trumper) but Hobbs averaged 57 compared to their 39.
Context being that no one in history had averaged more than Jackson's 48 and he only played 20 tests for half the runs. At the outbreak of WW1 Hobbs was the 3rd leading test run scorer of all time (behind Hill and Trumper) but Hobbs averaged 57 compared to their 39.
OverratedSanity
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Yeah, ridiculous in terms of sheer output.
Zinzan
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Yes, I've always maintained had Botham retired from Tests around 1987 averaging around 36 with bat & 25 with ball, he'd be talked in a very different light by this generation. Obvious point, but Botham's numbers deteriorated considerably in his last 5-6 years.
Still only Botham could do some the the things he did in the '81 Ashes.
It's not a 5 year peak but botham's first 25 test he averaged 40.48 with bat with 6 centuries, with ball 18.52 with 14 5fers and 3 10fers.
To make a comparison with the ball, Shaun pollock ending his career after 108 matches, averaging in the low 23s had taken 16 5fers and 1 10fer.
To make a comparison with the ball, Shaun pollock ending his career after 108 matches, averaging in the low 23s had taken 16 5fers and 1 10fer.
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wpdavid
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, retiring after the 1986/87 Ashes would have been perfect.
Although I think he only played about 10 tests after that series anyway.
subshakerz
International Coach
Imran's bowling peak 81-86, he had a bowling average of 14.85!
Blogs: Anantha Narayanan: Test streaks: 52 and 27 matches long | Cricket Blogs | ESPN Cricinfo
Blogs: Anantha Narayanan: Test streaks: 52 and 27 matches long | Cricket Blogs | ESPN Cricinfo
adub
International Captain
Which I why I have always rated him as a better bowler than some here have given him credit for. As good as anyone ever. The batting just makes him irresistible. Walks into my best XI.
smash84
The Tiger King
That's an insane run
Not many matches because of WSC - he averaged about 55 in that.
subshakerz
International Coach
To me, the noteworthy ones are:
Imran Khan 80/81 - 86 - Combined pace and mastery of normal and reverse swing to be the most effective fast bowler ever. Did well in England, Australia and decimated strong batting lineups at home on dead pitches.
Malcolm Marshall 83 - 88 - Second only to Imran, in an attack full of greats, he averaged 6 wickets test and conquered all conditions.
Viv Richards 76 - 80 - At the height of his brutal powers, Viv dominated attacked everywhere and scored against the best in WSC. His performance against Australia in 79/80 particularly noteworthy.
Botham 77 - 82 - Somewhat overrated as he played against Packer depleted sides and didnt perform as well against the WI, but still produced outstanding all-round performances with shocking frequency.
Sachin 1996 - 2002 At at time when bowler standards were at their height, Sachin averaged 60 and scored all across the globe and had notable innings against virtually every major attack.
Murali - 2001 to 2006 - Took wicket-taking to an extreme, averaging over 7 wickets a test.
Sobers 1961 - 1968 - A bit outside the five year limit, but he was at his peak as a bowler averaging 27 and around 4 wickets a test, and was in sublime form as a batsman in this time.
Also give special mention to Warne between 93 and 98, when he had the tight control, the loop and the flipper to be a package unlike any we have seen.
Imran Khan 80/81 - 86 - Combined pace and mastery of normal and reverse swing to be the most effective fast bowler ever. Did well in England, Australia and decimated strong batting lineups at home on dead pitches.
Malcolm Marshall 83 - 88 - Second only to Imran, in an attack full of greats, he averaged 6 wickets test and conquered all conditions.
Viv Richards 76 - 80 - At the height of his brutal powers, Viv dominated attacked everywhere and scored against the best in WSC. His performance against Australia in 79/80 particularly noteworthy.
Botham 77 - 82 - Somewhat overrated as he played against Packer depleted sides and didnt perform as well against the WI, but still produced outstanding all-round performances with shocking frequency.
Sachin 1996 - 2002 At at time when bowler standards were at their height, Sachin averaged 60 and scored all across the globe and had notable innings against virtually every major attack.
Murali - 2001 to 2006 - Took wicket-taking to an extreme, averaging over 7 wickets a test.
Sobers 1961 - 1968 - A bit outside the five year limit, but he was at his peak as a bowler averaging 27 and around 4 wickets a test, and was in sublime form as a batsman in this time.
Also give special mention to Warne between 93 and 98, when he had the tight control, the loop and the flipper to be a package unlike any we have seen.
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