Ian Botham vs Barry Richards

[Johan]

Two Cricketers who are similar in the sense, that their rating by modern generations are far different to how they were rated in their primes by the people around the world. Two guys who can win you games with relative ease.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Should be one sided

 

[Thala_0710]

Beefy

 

[Johan]

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Barry wouldn’t even beat Moeen on here let alone players who had great test careers like Botham

 

[Johan]

Barry wouldn’t even beat Moeen on here let alone players who had great test careers like Botham

He equalled Boycott and beat Greenidge...

Barry Richards vs Greenidge

Who is the better opener?

www.cricketweb.net

Barry Richards vs Geoffrey Boycott

realized @kyear2 hasn't voted yet.

www.cricketweb.net

 

[DrWolverine]

Barry equalling Boycott is a bloody joke

 

[Johan]

Barry equalling Boycott is a bloody joke

They actually used to play english county cricket at the same time.

 

[DrWolverine]

Maybe he was more talented.
But I can’t say he was a better batsman.

 

[sayon basak]

Maybe he was more talented.
But I can’t say he was a better batsman.

When judging players like him, FC is given some weight too.

 

[Johan]

FC should be taken into account when judging almost every player pre 1980

 

[ma1978]

Barry Richards played four tests. We have no idea if he was good or not really. Botham ridiculously underrated here and arguably had the greatest six year stretch of any player bar Bradman.

 

[sayon basak]

Barry Richards played four tests. We have no idea if he was good or not really. Botham ridiculously underrated here and arguably had the greatest six year stretch of any player bar Bradman.

Sure, Botham was (clearly) better. But Barry played against some decent attacks in FC and did pretty good.

 

[Johan]

agreed on the Botham ridiculously underrated part, for 55% his career he was elite ATG on par with anyone, next 25-30% he was still a very good player and regularly won games, it's just the last 15 or so percent where he became a trick to attract viewers and sell out stadiums.

 

[akilana]

Barry Richards played four tests. We have no idea if he was good or not really. Botham ridiculously underrated here and arguably had the greatest six year stretch of any player bar Bradman.

the title didn't say test cricket.

 

[ma1978]

the title didn't say test cricket.

we have no idea if he’s good if he didn’t play cricket. We can surmise but we have no real idea. See Graeme Hick.

 

[ma1978]

agreed on the Botham ridiculously underrated part, for 55% his career he was elite ATG on par with anyone, next 25-30% he was still a very good player and regularly won games, it's just the last 15 or so percent where he became a trick to attract viewers and sell out stadiums.

we are in violent agreement

 

[Johan]

we are in violent agreement

Nice.

 

[kyear2]

FC should be taken into account when judging almost every player pre 1980

This....

I don't know how people somehow forget that. It was a sizeable part of player ratings.

Tour games were especially highly rated for players on both sides.

 

[kyear2]

we have no idea if he’s good if he didn’t play cricket. We can surmise but we have no real idea. See Graeme Hick.

There is zero correlation between him and Hick. Hick was always known as a ftb who bullied medium pacers and shrunk vs the best of competition.

That's the exact opposite of everything Richards was.

I know it's an easy comp, but not remotely a good one.

His record vs the best bowlers of his era is unmatched as is his record vs touring teams.