Who was the best batsman to watch?

[Craig]

Out of VVS Laxman, Mark Waugh and Damien Martyn, as they were in my time of watching cricket, some of the most elegant batsmen and a joy to watch (that and it is my thread so I will make it about anything I like ). This is not about how good they are, so stats do not count, nor does first chance average etc. But if you had to pick one and that he was your favourite to watch and could continue to watch over and over again.

This was inspired after VVS Laxman's big ton v Australia in Delhi ATM. No irrelevent 4th option this time. Also I put them down since it was a lot easier then try and remember all sorts of batsmen, and get shouted down because I had missed player 'x' but had player 'y' instead.

 

[masterblaster]

1. VVS Laxman
2. Mark Waugh
3. Damien Martyn

Those would be my three choices in order.

 

[archie mac]

VVS is more wristy but not as elegant as Waugh, DM a distant third

For those who can remember him, Gower was very nice to watch

 

[duffer]

Surprised Azharuddin didn't get a mention. I loved watching him play.

 

[Athlai]

Have this strange love of Chanderpaul's style, its like watching a giraffe in the wild, awkward yet so strangely elegant.

 

[Craig]

Surprised Azharuddin didn't get a mention. I loved watching him play.

Read my first post, if I started to add more names, I would do something like that. I never go to see a whole great deal of Azharuddin, except on the 1998/99 tour of New Zealand in particular where at Wellington where Simon Doull took 7 wickets and Azharuddin got a century IIRC. But aside from that the commentators waffling on that he (Doull) might get all ten and that Sir Richard Hadlee would have to interview him, I don't recall too much about the game or series. Why I remember that bit I have no idea.

 

[zaremba]

Gower

 

[duffer]

Read my first post, if I started to add more names, I would do something like that. I never go to see a whole great deal of Azharuddin, except on the 1998/99 tour of New Zealand in particular where at Wellington where Simon Doull took 7 wickets and Azharuddin got a century IIRC. But aside from that the commentators waffling on that he (Doull) might get all ten and that Sir Richard Hadlee would have to interview him, I don't recall too much about the game or series. Why I remember that bit I have no idea.

Fair 'nuff.

 

[zaremba]

Hard to pick between them.

I've seen more of Waugh and Martyn, both of whom were beautiful to watch, than of Laxman, who seems to save his runs for Australia. My vote goes to Martyn because he's fallen unfairly behind in the poll.

I know you've chosen options according to people you've seen play, but David Gower should never be ignored when it comes to aesthetically beautiful batting.

Other options I'd vote for would be Lara and Vaughan.

 

[Xuhaib]

Mo Yo.

 

[Richard]

Mark Waugh was always pretty well my favourite batsman to watch - of any I've seen. Vivian Richards esque in his ability to hit straight balls to leg and just not miss. Obviously he didn't have Richards' all-round game, but in that one respect he was close to an equal.

Laxman is wonderful as well, and I never particularly liked Martyn due to his hot-headedness and impulsive nature so I was a bit biased against him despite the fact his strokeplay was attractive in the extreme.

And yeah, I watched David Gower bat live once or twice. But I've seen highlights of him countless occasions and he's just unbeatable. He wasn't an excessively quick scorer, but that doesn't bother me in the slightest. I've never seen a more attractive batsman. He made a leave look good.

 

[TT Boy]

Waugh for me. Not the biggest fan of Laxman, although I love the way he works balls miles outside off stump onto the onside with a mere flick of the wrist.

 

[Redbacks]

Having had the pleasure to see all 3 of them make a score of 74 or greater live, I would have to say M Waugh was the best to watch, clipping the ball off his legs with an ease that made it look so attractive, pleasure to watch.

With VVS, that wonder partnership with Dravid, the amazing thing to watch was his play against Stuart McGill, his ability to adjust his strokes to balls of similar line, dependent on the length of the ball, and still play sweetly through the covers for 4 was a marvel to watch day. These small subtleties don't get beamed down the camera.

 

[Richard]

Partnership with Dravid in 2003/04 at Adelaide Oval, I presume you're on about (rather than the more famous one at Eden Gardens)?

 

[NUFAN]

Mark Waugh was my favourite player, I just loved his shots of his pads for four and just his general elegance.

 

[pup11]

All the three batsman had an elegance of their own and tbh they all were very good to watch when on song, but i guess Laxman has to considered the best to watch among the three, his wristy shots, his impeccable gift of timing the ball effortlessly and placing it anywhere he feels like is almost like an watching an artist at work.

 

[Indipper]

Personally I enjoyed Mark Waugh the most, but Viv Richards, David Gower and VVS are great to watch too.

Also heard several times that Tom Graveney was fantastic so thought I'd mention him, but have yet to confirm.

 

[GotSpin]

Mark Waugh for me

 

[R_D]

Mark Waugh was my favourite player, I just loved his shots of his pads for four and just his general elegance.

Yeah i loved that shot.... could watch it over and over.
Mark Waugh for me as well.

 

[fredfertang]

I don't ever remember seeing Martyn or Waugh bat in circumstances other than when I wanted them to be out immediately so comfortably VVS for me