Aravinda played up to 2003. The 2001 WI attack would have been a breakfast served to him with big fast bowlers bowling with brawn, not brains.If he had faced the West Indies more between 97-99 then yes he might have had a better record.
Anywhere else it's questionable. Through 94- early 97 Aravinda played 19 Tests and averaged 20. If he had faced the Windies during that period his record could've been worse.
There's a reason I said he was a discount Viv. Very similar number of hundreds/50s to Viv over a similar number of tests. But he was worse than Viv, by a decent margin.Waugh played 27 innings more than Viv. Just looking at the number of tests doesn't give a fair idea about the gulf between them.
Viv Richards innings per hundred - 7.58
Mark Waugh innings per hundred - 10.45
Viv Richards innings per fifty- 2.64
Mark Waugh innings per fifty- 3.12
The gulf in consistency between them is pretty big. So it was not just down to Waugh's inability to go big.
It depends on whether he played them home or away. There's a pretty big disparity in those records. Though I'm sure most batsmen would have loved to have played more against the post- Walsh WIndies sides. I'm pretty sure the discussions were about playing the WIndies while Ambrose was still the spearhead.Aravinda played up to 2003. The 2001 WI attack would have been a breakfast served to him with big fast bowlers bowling with brawn, not brains.
And 89 - 93 Aravinda played 13 tests (only!) and averaged 53.2 as well, and that was the time he was at his destructive best against fast bowling. Would have loved to play a West Indian quartet with no spinners, whom he struggled against in his early career.
That 4 year peak of his co - incided with the worst time in SL history with civil war.
He hit 167 at Brisbane and 267 at Aukland. Almost all those tours, other than for an Indian tour was away. And West indies wickets are not same as in SENA countries, so extrapolation using above stats is erroneous.It depends on whether he played them home or away. There's a pretty big disparity in those records. Though I'm sure most batsmen would have loved to have played more against the post- Walsh WIndies sides. I'm pretty sure the discussions were about playing the WIndies while Ambrose was still the spearhead.
Viv intimidated bowlers not to drop short. No other batsmen put **** scare into fastest of bowlers' minds than him. The next comes Aravinda. No wonder as he looked up to Viv as his role model.Aravinda had a busy vibe at the crease, gardening the wicket between deliveries and looking quite industrious in his strokeplay. Not my definition of elegance but he certainly looked classy and solid. Waugh Jr's playing style however was as much an extension of his personality as anyone I've ever seen. Gower's in the same bracket, Viv too but a different personality type altogether. The way he batted, the way he moved on the field, even the "ah **** it" air he now exudes in commentary (a bit of an ignorant dick there but still): the cricketing artist of my time and the batsman I wanted to look like more than anyone else.
No can't agree. Give me Ponting's or M Crowe's pull shot or Robin Smith's square cut ahead of Aravinda any day (and I rated De Silva).Viv intimidated bowlers not to drop short. No other batsmen put **** scare into fastest of bowlers' minds than him. The next comes Aravinda. No wonder as he looked up to Viv as his role model.
So he had a purple patch. He also had extended periods of rubbish overseas or he would have a much better overall overseas average than he actually does.He hit 167 at Brisbane and 267 at Aukland. Almost all those tours, other than for an Indian tour was away. And West indies wickets are not same as in SENA countries, so extrapolation using above stats is erroneous.
As you have requested, during the said time, Aravinda averages home 47.7,, away 61.2.
Perhaps, but Mahela 2nd imoIs Desilva Srilanka's 2nd best Test batsman after Sangakkara?
(That was the time he changed his back lift and the game overall to play spinners better, as the SL wickets were getting slower and slower. He had to unlearn few things from his past.)So he had a purple patch. He also had extended periods of rubbish overseas or he would have a much better overall overseas average than he actually does.
Edit: from January 1994 onwards he averaged under 32 overseas.
He was a hooker (lol) more than a puller (lol)No can't agree. Give me Ponting's or M Crowe's pull shot or Robin Smith's square cut ahead of Aravinda any day (and I rated De Silva).
One of the great personifications of going big or going home - six Test double centuries (as many as Tendulkar and Ponting, more than Dravid) from only 90 matches. And yet averaged just 39.Marvelous Marvan Athapattu was 2nd best Sri Lankan batsman
He made an amazing century in 04 against peak Aust attack at Cairns i thinkOne of the great personifications of going big or going home - six Test double centuries (as many as Tendulkar and Ponting, more than Dravid) from only 90 matches. And yet averaged just 39.