Very D and MNot saying that they're not similar, and followers to a degree of his example, but that doesn't change Viv's uniqueness, anymore than the bowlers who were inspired by Larwood or Lillee make those players not unique.
it is a tribute to the champ that his style of batting is now considered genuine test match batting. before viv you have to go back 80 years, to the trumper - hill era, to find genuine batsmen with such high SR. back then it was also a bit of village green fun. richards was probably the first batter to make aggro batting a match winning weapon in fully professional test match cricket. sanath, viru, kp and gilly have all learnt to follow their instincts by watching the master at work. am sure dickhead selectors have also allowed these players to be themselves only because they knew viv batted like that and made a difference to his team.Not saying that they're not similar, and followers to a degree of his example, but that doesn't change Viv's uniqueness, anymore than the bowlers who were inspired by Larwood or Lillee make those players not unique.
Would substantially disagree with statement highlighted my young friend..While the Test matches prior to the Packer era were not palyed as "professionals" they, those players , considered them selves to be and to all intent and purpose they were.The cricket Boards around the world msde milllions out of those players by forcing them to retain their amateur status. So if it was all professional then Bradmans 334 shows true aggro winning formula to name just one inning from "back then"it is a tribute to the champ that his style of batting is now considered genuine test match batting. before viv you have to go back 80 years, to the trumper - hill era, to find genuine batsmen with such high SR. back then it was also a bit of village green fun. richards was probably the first batter to makebatting a match aggro winning weapon in fully professional test match cricket. sanath, viru, kp and gilly have all learnt to follow their instincts by watching the master at work. am sure dickhead selectors have also allowed these players to be themselves only because they knew viv batted like that and made a difference to his team.
mccartney and miller?The Guv'nor-General and Nugget to disagree with BP.
Going off on a pedantic tangent here, but that certainly isn't true of Sehwag. He's on record saying that he's never seen Viv bat. Not once. This revelation was made as recent as the SL test series. That's probably the thing about genius. Its more inherent than inspired. The only man he claims to be influenced by is Sachin. Sehwag certainly started off as a 90's Sachin clone before developing his own distinctive style.it is a tribute to the champ that his style of batting is now considered genuine test match batting. before viv you have to go back 80 years, to the trumper - hill era, to find genuine batsmen with such high SR. back then it was also a bit of village green fun. richards was probably the first batter to make aggro batting a match winning weapon in fully professional test match cricket. sanath, viru, kp and gilly have all learnt to follow their instincts by watching the master at work. am sure dickhead selectors have also allowed these players to be themselves only because they knew viv batted like that and made a difference to his team.
didnt mean to say he was not unique. coz he was. very.
i remembered sehwag saying that... that is why i added the note about the selectors.... selectors need to see a particular strategy work before they can back it full on... in this case the record of viv richards assures them it is good to have an aggressive batter in your teamGoing off on a pedantic tangent here, but that certainly isn't true of Sehwag. He's on record saying that he's never seen Viv bat. Not once. This revelation was made as recent as the SL test series. That's probably the thing about genius. Its more inherent than inspired. The only man he claims to be influenced by is Sachin. Sehwag certainly started off as a 90's Sachin clone before developing his own distinctive style.
This.yeah. should be top 5. can accept bradman, sobers, hobbs and grace above viv. but imran, sachin and warne themselves would agree richards was a marginally, but definitely, superior cricketer
or loss of sight altogether, so they say