Meh, to me Knight never had that something special even though I admit his twin hundreds against firey W's in the 96 ODI series were pretty good.Gary Kirsten - http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/45813.html
Nick Knight - http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/15913.html
Chris Gayle - http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/51880.html
Common there's got to be room for Knight somewhere
Who would be your top 5 ODI openers circa 71-90No point lumping Haynes in with that lot IMO, was from a different age.
A list of the 1990s and 2000s... in no particular order...
Ganguly
Anwar
Jayasuriya
Mark Waugh
Knight
Tendulkar
Astle
Smith (G)
Kirsten
Gilchrist
Gayle
Trescothick
O.K very good but no way near any top 50 ODI inningsPretty good?
Hmm, that's a tricky one... the list would certainly be much shorter...Who would be your top 5 ODI openers circa 71-90
Not many are there really, for Pakistan maybe Majid Khan and Ramiz RajaHmm, that's a tricky one... the list would certainly be much shorter...
Gooch
Amiss
Broad
Greenidge
Haynes
are the only names that come immediately to mind. This doesn't mean much - I must say, ODIs of that time aren't something that have ever held innate fascination for me, I'm far more interested in the stuff of 1990 onwards. Someone who has more of a memory of the time would be much better-placed to compile said list.
Because his whole career was rather average, apart from his latest stint.why isn't mathew hayden in top ten openers for one day game??
Chanderpaul 3, Knight 4? Wow.I am only going to rate players that i actually watched bat, and therefore i cannot make any judgement on players before 1992. As Richard as already mentioned ODIs since and including the 92 world cup were of a completely different genre to the ones before anyways, so it fits in nicely:
1. Sachin Tendulkar- undoubtedly the best opener ever
2. Brian Lara- given that he played over 50 innings in that position with distinction, i dont see why he shouldnt be included on this list.
3. Shivnarine Chanderpaul- played more innings at the top than anywhere else, and as good an ODI opener as you will ever see.
4. Nick Knight
5. Mark Waugh
6. Saurav Ganguly
7. Matt Hayden
8. Graeme Smith
9. Marcus Trescothick - IMO what really makes me like Trescothick is that when he gets in, he gets to 3 figures consistently. Further, theres always a settling feeling when hes at the crease because he paces his innings brilliantly while batting first or second with the minimum of risk.
10. Sanath Jayasuriya/Adam Gilchrist
I was going to include Anwar, but then had a look at his record and realised that he only managed he only managed one 50+ score against both Australia and SA(the two best teams of his era) in his entire career.
I am only going to rate players that i actually watched bat, and therefore i cannot make any judgement on players before 1992. As Richard as already mentioned ODIs since and including the 92 world cup were of a completely different genre to the ones before anyways, so it fits in nicely:
1. Sachin Tendulkar- undoubtedly the best opener ever
2. Brian Lara- given that he played over 50 innings in that position with distinction, i dont see why he shouldnt be included on this list.
3. Shivnarine Chanderpaul- played more innings at the top than anywhere else, and as good an ODI opener as you will ever see.
4. Nick Knight
5. Mark Waugh
6. Saurav Ganguly
7. Matt Hayden
8. Graeme Smith
9. Marcus Trescothick - IMO what really makes me like Trescothick is that when he gets in, he gets to 3 figures consistently. Further, theres always a settling feeling when hes at the crease because he paces his innings brilliantly while batting first or second with the minimum of risk.
10. Sanath Jayasuriya/Adam Gilchrist
I was going to include Anwar, but then had a look at his record and realised that he only managed he only managed one 50+ score against both Australia and SA(the two best teams of his era) in his entire career.
They werent in order. If it were, it would be more like this:Chanderpaul 3, Knight 4? Wow.
I just never rated him that highly TBH.despite the fact that he was averaging 40 odd before his latest stint?
They werent in order. If it were, it would be more like this:
Tendulkar>Waugh>Ganguly>Lara>Knight>Chanderpaul>Trescothick>Hayden>Smith>Jayasuriya/Gilchrist