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Each Bilateral's Greatest

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?
 

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
 

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
 

Thala_0710

International Regular
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
MoYo maybe for Eng vs Pak? The rest I definitely agree with
 

capt_Luffy

Hall of Fame Member
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
Maybe McGrath for Australia?
 

Thala_0710

International Regular
Maybe McGrath for Australia?
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
 
Last edited:

Bitmap

International 12th Man
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
Sachin against SA close? 4 hundreds against Donald and Steyn, though was admittedly modest at home.
 

Thala_0710

International Regular
Sachin against SA close? 4 hundreds against Donald and Steyn, though was admittedly modest at home.
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.
 

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