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Rahul Dravid vs AB de Villiers (talent)

Who was the more talented test batsman?


  • Total voters
    25

Thala_0710

International Captain
How do you know that the unorthodox shots weren't achieved by practice?
It's not about the unorthodox shots. I'm not just talking about the scoops, the sweeps etc to pace. Ofc he would have practiced them. But it's much more. It could be simply playing high pace or high bounce or great bowling much easier than others can. Like aravinda had, like de Villiers had. As he himself said, that day on a green wkt he was in the zone, against prime Johnson on a green wkt, but when he was on it he felt like the pacers were basically bowling underarms. He had no trouble at all facing them. That's what the guys with such natural talent could do.
 

ma1978

International Regular
It's not about the unorthodox shots. I'm not just talking about the scoops, the sweeps etc to pace. Ofc he would have practiced them. But it's much more. It could be simply playing high pace or high bounce or great bowling much easier than others can. Like aravinda had, like de Villiers had. As he himself said, that day on a green wkt he was in the zone, against prime Johnson on a green wkt, but when he was on it he felt like the pacers were basically bowling underarms. He had no trouble at all facing them. That's what the guys with such natural talent could do.
ever seen Dravid play swing bowling on a cloudy English morning
 

Coronis

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
What output has to do with talent ? Anyway what do you mean by performing worse ?
Well for one talent is useless without output. And a large majority of people rate Dravid over de Villiers.

But anyway as I’ve previously said, I don’t think AB was born with any natural ability over Dravid. All the skills a batsman (in particular) needs can be learnt and aren’t a result of some innate ability. (unless someone has say, exceptional eyesight, though in fact many great batsmen have had poor/lower than average eyesight anyway).

Bowling one could argue height would be natural talent to help, but Marshall and Steyn were of an average height and are two of the best 5 pacers ever. Hyperextension one could argue, as well as Murali’s situation.
 

blackdevil95

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
// a large majority of people rate Dravid over de Villiers. // The poll doesn't say so. But there will be always biasness towards Indian cricketers since they enjoy long fan base and followers.

AB had an exceptional Test career which is no inferior than Dravid's. He could block all the day, can save collapses like Dravid. But I don't see Dravid possess any talent to go after bowlers. He can't counter attack like AB did against India or Australia in 2018. AB has answer to all kinds of balls in the white ball format. I don't think Dravid possess such.
 

ma1978

International Regular
// a large majority of people rate Dravid over de Villiers. // The poll doesn't say so. But there will be always biasness towards Indian cricketers since they enjoy long fan base and followers.

AB had an exceptional Test career which is no inferior than Dravid's. He could block all the day, can save collapses like Dravid. But I don't see Dravid possess any talent to go after bowlers. He can't counter attack like AB did against India or Australia in 2018. AB has answer to all kinds of balls in the white ball format. I don't think Dravid possess such.
there is no cricket commentator the world over who rates De Villliers higher than Dravid on tests, its longevity, average, iconic innings. Don’t put this on Indian fans to justify whatever biases you have. And of course AB was incredible but the output is not objectively the same
 

blackdevil95

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
there is no cricket commentator the world over who rates De Villliers higher than Dravid on tests, its longevity, average, iconic innings. Don’t put this on Indian fans to justify whatever biases you have. And of course AB was incredible but the output is not objectively the same
The question is about talent though. Tell me what talent Dravid possess which AB doesn't.
 

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