Top 50 Greatest test batters

[Burgey]

My current opinion
GOAT : Don Bradman
Tier 1 : Hobbs. Hutton. Sobers. Viv. Sachin. Smith.
Tier 2 : Sutcliffe. Hammond. Headley.Sunny. Lara.
Tier 3 : Ken. Chappell. Ponting. Kallis. Sanga. Root.

You need to reassess your opinion then.

 

[Johan]

Chappell should probably be in tier 2

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Playing well against Australia, especially in Australia, should basically be the benchmark achievement for any halfway decent test playing batsman. They've been consistently the best test playing country in history, and you can count on one hand the number of eras where they've ever been outside the top two or three sides in the world. Of course it's a huge thing if you suck against them because generally speaking, especially over a career the length of Root's, they are more likely to consistently challenge you than any other country.

You poor people don't get it. If Australia is ranked two, the team is seen as weak and not up to standard. That's how it should be if you have decent standards. Three or lower and it's a national embarrassment. Again, as it should be.

The WSC-era test side and that of the mid-80s (except of course for TOTAB) rightly had their citizenships revoked, only to be reinstated once they began performing after the 87 WC and 89 Ashes. If you're an Australian and you consistently played mediocre-to-**** against England over a career for as long as Root has against Australia, you'd be nothing more than an embarrassing footnote, a stubborn piece of old chewing gum to be scraped off the sole of the shoe of Australian cricket.

Didn’t you say Doug Walters was a great player?

I assume you think Dravid was mediocre with his record against Aus in an easy batting era?

 

[Johan]

and Ricky Ponting who averages 44 in Ashes tests

 

[kyear2]

It's not nostalgia. I am fine with them being grouped together. I just think Ponting was more dominant in his prime and higher rated, both of which I think aren't that debatable.

Basically this

 

[kyear2]

2002-2006
Ponting
57 Tests. 99 innings.
6141 runs @ 72.
24 100s

2021-2024 :
Root
55 Tests. 101 innings.
5149 runs @ 55.
19 100s.

It isn’t just Ponting’s record alone but the manner in which he dominated the opposition was sight to behold.

Punter was so incredibly dominant, it was the way he took on and apart attacks.

Separates him from the rest for me.

 

[Johan]

Ponting's peak is like Alec Bedser's, the stars aligned for it.

 

[Burgey]

Didn’t you say Doug Walters was a great player?

I assume you think Dravid was mediocre with his record against Aus in an easy batting era?

Doug Walters is an under rated player. I don't think he's an ATG player.

Dravid had a good series out here in 03/04. Made a double in a winning side in Adelaide ffs. Root wishes he'd done something half as good as that ffs.

 

[Johan]

Dravid had a good series out here in 03/04. Made a double in a winning side in Adelaide ffs. Root wishes he'd done something half as good as that ffs.

Yeah I remember the fire McGrath and Warne bowled in that series.

 

[Burgey]

and Ricky Ponting who averages 44 in Ashes tests

Which puts him four points per knock higher than the bloke you've apparently got in the top 15 players of all time. Root's a plodder, let's be honest.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Surely Walters is a mediocre player though with his record against Eng? Average at best if only ashes records matter

 

[Johan]

Which puts him four points per knock higher than the bloke you've apparently got in the top 15 players of all time. Root's a plodder, let's be honest.

be honest brother, You and I both know the Australian attack that emerged circa 2017 with Cummins/Haze/Starc/Lyon is exponentially beyond any English attack since the 1950s, let alone the ones that Ponting played against.

 

[Burgey]

Walters comfortably better than Root. Didn't **** the bed when it bounced above waist height or play that effete dab cut straight to second slip all the time because he was incapable of adjusting to extra pace and bounce. Wish Doug had been picked for the 81 series. Only needed 15 minutes of him at Headingly and the series result is reversed.

 

[Burgey]

be honest brother, You and I both know the Australian attack that emerged circa 2017 with Cummins/Haze/Starc/Lyon is exponentially beyond any English attack since the 1950s, let alone the ones that Ponting played against.

England 05 attack was very good. They cheated, of course, miraculously getting reverse swing after 8 overs on the greenest swards in world cricket, but they were formidable. Ponting is streets ahead of Root as a batsman. root is in his peak now and is just reaching the level at which Ponting tailed off to finish his career. Doesn't belong in the same sport as Ponting.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Walters comfortably better than Root. Didn't **** the bed when it bounced above waist height or play that effete dab cut straight to second slip all the time because he was incapable of adjusting to extra pace and bounce. Wish Doug had been picked for the 81 series. Only needed 15 minutes of him at Headingly and the series result is reversed.

But you would agree Walters was mediocre based on the logic below right? Don’t have a problem with your logic but just making sure you’re consistent with it

If you're an Australian and you consistently played mediocre-to-**** against England over a career for as long as Root has against Australia, you'd be nothing more than an embarrassing footnote, a stubborn piece of old chewing gum to be scraped off the sole of the shoe of Australian cricket.

 

[Johan]

England 05 attack was very good. They cheated, of course, miraculously getting reverse swing after 8 overs on the greenest swards in world cricket, but they were formidable. Ponting is streets ahead of Root as a batsman. root is in his peak now and is just reaching the level at which Ponting tailed off to finish his career. Doesn't belong in the same sport as Ponting.

I can't tell if you're serious or not, but that's just one series, the attacks in 2007 were hopeless, pitches were roads in 2009-10 too, the 1997 attack was pretty hopeless too. Also, not the same type of players, Root is actually passing the age where Ponting started his decline (~32) and no signs of stopping, nudgers decline less.

 

[Burgey]

Root is actually passing the age where Ponting started his decline (~32) and no signs of stopping

He'll be stopped in his tracks come November, as you well know. Will likely end up retiring after that series, having never won a test in Australia.

 

[Johan]

He'll be stopped in his tracks come November, as you well know. Will likely end up retiring after that series, having never won a test in Australia.

he'll beat Bradman's 974 run record that series

 

[Burgey]

But you would agree Walters was mediocre based on the logic below right? Don’t have a problem with your logic but just making sure you’re consistent with it

You sound like one of those mentally deficient libertarians, who pride themselves on being consistent by their own stupid standards, even though those standards have little to no place in the real world.

Walters played match winning innings against England, including famously blazing a ton in a session against them. There's no comparison between he and Joe Root. Root isn't fit to lace up Doug's boots.

 

[Burgey]

he'll beat Bradman's 974 run record that series

Runs conceded off his bowling? I quite agree.