Wisden's Cricketers of the Century

[Neil Pickup]

Hammond was not far behind in terms of weight of runs and centuries. At both first class and Test level he averaged more than Hobbs and had a better innings per century ratio. If you also add his slip fielding and bowling I think he should be ranked higher.

If you rank people purely on weight of runs and centuries then Tendulkar and Steve Waugh should be placed above Bradman.

You know full well what my point was

 

[Tom Halsey]

Some people aren’t agreeing with Warne being in there.

His record isn’t great compared to Murali, but he has a disadvantage of playing in Australia rather than Asia. Also, look what he’s done for cricket. I don’t mean being a goody-2-shoes, of course, but if it wasn’t for him, spin would probably be dead by now.

 

[Deja moo]

Firstly you're looking at records post 2000 which are irrelevant.

Secondly, Viv's character was immense and makes him all the more memorable.

I don't recall too many complaints about him at the time.

I dont know what you mean by ' immense character '.

Didnt he have 2 or 3 illegitimate kids ?

 

[Sehwag309]

I dont know what you mean by ' immense character '.

Didnt he have 2 or 3 illegitimate kids ?

Neena Gupta!!

 

[Swervy]

I dont know what you mean by ' immense character '.

Didnt he have 2 or 3 illegitimate kids ?

whats that got to do with anything

 

[Deja moo]

Neena Gupta!!

exactly.

 

[Deja moo]

whats that got to do with anything

pointing out flaws in the " immense character "

 

[Swervy]

pointing out flaws in the " immense character "

why is a flaw

 

[Deja moo]

Some people aren’t agreeing with Warne being in there.

His record isn’t great compared to Murali, but he has a disadvantage of playing in Australia rather than Asia. Also, look what he’s done for cricket. I don’t mean being a goody-2-shoes, of course, but if it wasn’t for him, spin would probably be dead by now.

People keep bringing up that point about him reviving leg spin and all that ****. Spin would have been dead maybe in Australia or england, not in the subcontinent. Shane warne hasnt done anything to revive spin in South Africa or England.

 

[Deja moo]

why is a flaw

I dont know.....if people uphold someone as the paragon of virtue, I like to bring them down.

 

[Sehwag309]

exactly.

Who else?

 

[bennyr]

Hammond was not far behind in terms of weight of runs and centuries. At both first class and Test level he averaged more than Hobbs and had a better innings per century ratio. If you also add his slip fielding and bowling I think he should be ranked higher.

Let's not forget that Hobbs was an opener, and that by the nature of their positions openers tend to average less than middle order batsmen. Hobbs also dominated his era, whereas the same cannot be said for Hammond, and I reckon such things are important when you discuss "Cricketers of the century".

This may also partially explain the inclusion of Warne, something I'm not comfortable with. I reckon other bowlers such as Dennis Lillee, Sidney Barnes and Imran Khan have possibly equal claims to the bowler's spot. Methinks Warne could be the token modern day player.

 

[Neil Pickup]

People keep bringing up that point about him reviving leg spin and all that ****. Spin would have been dead maybe in Australia or england, not in the subcontinent. Shane warne hasnt done anything to revive spin in South Africa or England.

I'm sorry, but that's rubbish.

Warne has had a huge influence on spin in England, ever since "that" ball.

I know it inspired me, for one.

 

[Deja moo]

I'm sorry, but that's rubbish.

Warne has had a huge influence on spin in England, ever since "that" ball.

I know it inspired me, for one.

You mean the ball that Abdul Qadir had already bowled before Warne but wasnt inspiring coz he wasnt Australian or English ?

 

[Scallywag]

You mean the ball that Abdul Qadir had already bowled before Warne but wasnt inspiring coz he wasnt Australian or English ?

Explain what you mean.

This will be interesting to see your intestional fortitude.

 

[Ford_GTHO351]

Jack Hobbs Test Batting Record
61 Matches, 5410 runs@ 56.94

Jack Hobbs FC Batting Record
834 Matches, 61760 runs@ 50.70


Wally Hammond's Test Batting Record
85 Matches, 7249 runs@ 58.45

Wally Hammond's FC Batting Record
634 Matches, 50551 runs@ 56.10

Now whilst Hammond has a better Test & FC average, as mentioned previously, Hobbs was an opener and by being an opener your average tends to be lower than a middle order batsman. Also you have to wonder if Hammond could of maintaned his FC average of 56.10 considering he played exactly 200 less FC matches than Hobbs.

 

[Neil Pickup]

You mean the ball that Abdul Qadir had already bowled before Warne but wasnt inspiring coz he wasnt Australian or English ?

How many kids of my generation and younger saw Qadir in action?

Most of them won't even have heard of him, while everyone knows who Warne is.

 

[Deja moo]

Explain what you mean.

This will be interesting to see your intestional fortitude.

AAAahh , big words. So you did graduate from Kindergarten !

 

[Ford_GTHO351]

warne hasnt done anything to revive spin in South Africa or England.

Well you must be on a different planet then

Ever since he bowled that famous first ball to Mike Gatting in 1993, England have been mentally scared ever since by Warne

 

[Deja moo]

Regarding the " ball of the century "....Abdul Qadir had already bowled the delivery that pitched outside leg and clipped off stump. Only it didnt recieve much attention . But when Warne bowls it in an Ashes match, it becomes an inspiration.