Thala_0710
International Regular
We have 12 test nations, which gives us 66 bilateral series possibilities. Let's take the ones with big sample sizes. Who are the greatest performers (overall career) in those particular bilaterals?
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Each Bilateral's Greatest
- Thread starter Thala_0710
- Start date
Thala_0710
International Regular
I'll start off with the ones for India:
India vs Australia:
India: Tendulkar, Australia: Smith,
Overall: Tendulkar
India vs Bangladesh:
India: Tendulkar, Bangladesh: Rahim,
Overall: Tendulkar
India vs England:
India: Dravid, England: Botham,
Overall: Botham
India vs New Zealand:
India: Dravid, New Zealand: Mccullum
Overall: Dravid
India vs Pakistan:
India: Gavaskar, Pakistan: Imran
Overall: Imran
India vs South Africa:
India: Kohli, South Africa: Donald
Overall: Donald
India vs Sri Lanka:
India: Sehwag, Sri Lanka: Jayawardene
Overall: Sehwag
India vs West Indies:
India: Kapil, West Indies: Sobers
Overall: Sobers
India vs Zimbabwe:
India: Dravid, Zimbabwe: Flower
Overall: Flower
India vs Australia:
India: Tendulkar, Australia: Smith,
Overall: Tendulkar
India vs Bangladesh:
India: Tendulkar, Bangladesh: Rahim,
Overall: Tendulkar
India vs England:
India: Dravid, England: Botham,
Overall: Botham
India vs New Zealand:
India: Dravid, New Zealand: Mccullum
Overall: Dravid
India vs Pakistan:
India: Gavaskar, Pakistan: Imran
Overall: Imran
India vs South Africa:
India: Kohli, South Africa: Donald
Overall: Donald
India vs Sri Lanka:
India: Sehwag, Sri Lanka: Jayawardene
Overall: Sehwag
India vs West Indies:
India: Kapil, West Indies: Sobers
Overall: Sobers
India vs Zimbabwe:
India: Dravid, Zimbabwe: Flower
Overall: Flower
Johan
International Coach
For England
England vs Australia
England: Len Hutton
Australia: Don Bradman
Winner: Bradman
England vs India
England: Ian Botham
India: Rahul Dravid
Winner: Botham
England vs South Africa
England: Sydney Barnes
South Africa: Graeme Smith
Winner: Barnes
England vs West Indies
England: Fred Trueman
West Indies: Garfield Sobers
Winner: Sobers
England vs New Zealand
England: Ian Botham
New Zealand: Richard Hadlee
Winner: Botham
England vs Sri Lanka
England: Joe Root
Sri Lanka: Muttiah Muralitharan
Winner: Muralitharan
England vs Pakistan
England: James Anderson
Pakistan: Imran Khan
Winner: Tie
England vs Australia
England: Len Hutton
Australia: Don Bradman
Winner: Bradman
England vs India
England: Ian Botham
India: Rahul Dravid
Winner: Botham
England vs South Africa
England: Sydney Barnes
South Africa: Graeme Smith
Winner: Barnes
England vs West Indies
England: Fred Trueman
West Indies: Garfield Sobers
Winner: Sobers
England vs New Zealand
England: Ian Botham
New Zealand: Richard Hadlee
Winner: Botham
England vs Sri Lanka
England: Joe Root
Sri Lanka: Muttiah Muralitharan
Winner: Muralitharan
England vs Pakistan
England: James Anderson
Pakistan: Imran Khan
Winner: Tie
Thala_0710
International Regular
MoYo maybe for Eng vs Pak? The rest I definitely agree with
capt_Luffy
Hall of Fame Member
Maybe McGrath for Australia?
Thala_0710
International Regular
I thought of him but he's only played 11 (1996-04 only) games against us, although he was of course exceptional in them. Smith though has more than double the sample size with 24 games (2013-25) and great performances both home and away so went with him. Was quite close though.
The closest though for me was our pick vs WI. All 3 of Kapil, Gavaskar and Ashwin have a good case imo
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Sachin against SA close? 4 hundreds against Donald and Steyn, though was admittedly modest at home.
Thala_0710
International Regular
Yeah he was close for me. I actually prefer Sachin to Kohli in SA for his exceptional 2010-11 tour against Steyn, though most go for Kohli. But considering home performances too, it has to be Kohli imo.
Coronis
Hall of Fame Member
Question; do you rate Hutton over Hobbs?
Johan
International Coach
No but I'd like to
Coronis
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah not sure how Hutton > Hobbs vs Australia but maybe that’s just me
Johan
International Coach
you're right, Hobbs has 12 Ashes tons to Hutton's 5
OverratedSanity
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Would put Hobbs above, but Hutton's two epic post war Ashes reduce the gap a bit. Faced very strong attacks in both 1950/51 and 1953 and was the best batsman on either side by miles.
OverratedSanity
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Mostly ok but I'd definitely go Steyn over Donald. Had so many amazing spells vs India.
morgieb
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For Australia:
Australia v England
Australia: Don Bradman
England: Herbert Sutcliffe
Overall: Don Bradman
Australia v India
Australia: Steve Smith
India: Jasprit Bumrah
Overall: Jasprit Bumrah
Australia v New Zealand
Australia: Adam Gilchrist
New Zealand: Richard Hadlee
Overall: Richard Hadlee
Australia v Pakistan
Australia: Shane Warne
Pakistan: Imran Khan
Overall: Shane Warne
Australia v South Africa
Australia: Neil Harvey
South Africa: Graeme Pollock
Overall: Neil Harvey
Australia v Sri Lanka
Australia: Mike Hussey
Sri Lanka: Rangana Herath
Overall: Mike Hussey
Australia v West Indies
Australia: Glenn McGrath
West Indies: Curtly Ambrose
Overall: Glenn McGrath
Some surprise ones.
Australia v England
Australia: Don Bradman
England: Herbert Sutcliffe
Overall: Don Bradman
Australia v India
Australia: Steve Smith
India: Jasprit Bumrah
Overall: Jasprit Bumrah
Australia v New Zealand
Australia: Adam Gilchrist
New Zealand: Richard Hadlee
Overall: Richard Hadlee
Australia v Pakistan
Australia: Shane Warne
Pakistan: Imran Khan
Overall: Shane Warne
Australia v South Africa
Australia: Neil Harvey
South Africa: Graeme Pollock
Overall: Neil Harvey
Australia v Sri Lanka
Australia: Mike Hussey
Sri Lanka: Rangana Herath
Overall: Mike Hussey
Australia v West Indies
Australia: Glenn McGrath
West Indies: Curtly Ambrose
Overall: Glenn McGrath
Some surprise ones.
OverratedSanity
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Aus v WI has to be Ambrose, hasn't it?
morgieb
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McGrath's record was marginally better. Though it's admittedly very close and McGrath benefited from the post-90's West Indies collapse.
capt_Luffy
Hall of Fame Member
Hobbs should be ahead of Sutcliffe imho
OverratedSanity
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I'll do WI:
West Indies vs India:
West Indies: Sobers, India: Kapil/Ashwin/Gavaskar tough to pick one
Overall: Sobers
West Indies vs Australia:
West Indies: Ambrose, Australia: McGrath
Overall: Ambrose
West Indies vs England:
West Indies: Sobers, Not many standouts for England here ... maybe Gooch? Dunno
Overall: Sobers
West Indies vs South Africa:
South Africa: Kallis. Tough to go past batting avg 73, bowling avg 30. West Indies: Probably Lara or Walsh. Slim pickings otherwise.
Overall: Kallis
West Indies vs New Zealand:
West Indies: Gayle seems to have a good record vs them so maybe him. New Zealand: Hadlee
Overall: Hadlee
West Indies vs Pakistan:
West Indies: Others like Sobers have gaudier numbers, but Hooper is a sneaky good pick here imo. Some very high quality runs. Pakistan: Imran
Overall: Imran
West Indies vs Sri Lanka:
West Indies: Lara. Sri Lanka: Vaas.
Overall: Might actually go for Vaas here, surprisingly. Has 3 gaudy series vs them . 26 wickets @15 in 2001, 13 wickets @5 (!) in 2005 and 12 wickets @19 in 2007.
West Indies vs India:
West Indies: Sobers, India: Kapil/Ashwin/Gavaskar tough to pick one
Overall: Sobers
West Indies vs Australia:
West Indies: Ambrose, Australia: McGrath
Overall: Ambrose
West Indies vs England:
West Indies: Sobers, Not many standouts for England here ... maybe Gooch? Dunno
Overall: Sobers
West Indies vs South Africa:
South Africa: Kallis. Tough to go past batting avg 73, bowling avg 30. West Indies: Probably Lara or Walsh. Slim pickings otherwise.
Overall: Kallis
West Indies vs New Zealand:
West Indies: Gayle seems to have a good record vs them so maybe him. New Zealand: Hadlee
Overall: Hadlee
West Indies vs Pakistan:
West Indies: Others like Sobers have gaudier numbers, but Hooper is a sneaky good pick here imo. Some very high quality runs. Pakistan: Imran
Overall: Imran
West Indies vs Sri Lanka:
West Indies: Lara. Sri Lanka: Vaas.
Overall: Might actually go for Vaas here, surprisingly. Has 3 gaudy series vs them . 26 wickets @15 in 2001, 13 wickets @5 (!) in 2005 and 12 wickets @19 in 2007.
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OverratedSanity
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Sobers' numbers vs India are hilarious by the way. He played 4 different series vs them and his worst series was one where he averaged 74 with the bat and 33 with the ball.