Lillee Vs Viv Richards

[Jumno]

Who was the better cricketer?

 

[Jumno]

Viv for me.

 

[ataraxia]

We seem to have moved very quickly from comparisons of the top 5 to comparisons of the top 50.

 

[Coronis]

@PlayerComparisons style OP:

Two overrated 70’s players

 

[subshakerz]

Viv easily.

 

[kyear2]

Sir IVA. Absolute top tier bat, one of the greatest fielders ever and under rated slip.

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

Viv Richards quite easily

 

[Migara]

Viv easily. Not even a comparison.

 

[Qlder]

Viv Richards was in his purple patch of 1975-82 when he played against Lillee. In tests vs Australia with Lillee playing he averaged 48.73. In all other tests in same period without Lillee he averaged 69.09

I'll put that 20 run difference down to Lillee

 

[Migara]

Viv Richards was in his purple patch of 1975-82 when he played against Lillee. In tests vs Australia with Lillee playing he averaged 48.73. In all other tests in same period without Lillee he averaged 69.09

I'll put that 20 run difference down to Lillee

You miss the point that almost all those matches were played in Australia. Lillee didn't even pick a non-Viv Richards in tests in WI. If he played enough in WI, then that gap would have narrowed big time.

 

[Qlder]

You miss the point that almost all those matches were played in Australia. Lillee didn't even pick a non-Viv Richards in tests in WI. If he played enough in WI, then that gap would have narrowed big time.

This is what I find amazing in these silly compare threads. Lillee is downgraded because he apparently didn't choose a West Indies tour.

In the real world, there were no Australian tours when Lillee and Viv both played Test cricket, so how was he supposed to "pick a tour against Viv". The only tour in that time was the 1978 tour when Lillee and all other best players were off playing WSC

 

[Migara]

This is what I find amazing in these silly compare threads. Lillee is downgraded because he apparently didn't choose a West Indies tour.

In the real world, there were no Australian tours when Lillee and Viv both played Test cricket, so how was he supposed to "pick a tour against Viv". The only tour in that time was the 1978 tour when Lillee and all other best players were off playing WSC

The silly thing to start with is showing Viv averaged 20 less while playing in conditions tailor made for Lillee. Knowing that Lillee has not performed well in WI would have stopped making such generalizations like "Lillee brought down Viv's average" sort.

 

[Qlder]

The silly thing to start with is showing Viv averaged 20 less while playing in conditions tailor made for Lillee. Knowing that Lillee has not performed well in WI would have stopped making such generalizations like "Lillee brought down Viv's average" sort.

How did Lillee not perform well in West Indies? He injured his back vs Pakistan and the next Test vs WI in 1973 he broke down and was out of cricket, most thought forever. He never played another Test in WI because none were scheduled while he was a Test player

Maybe Lillee would have been a bowling God in West Indies if given the chance, just as much speculation as you saying he'd bowl badly there

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

The silly thing to start with is showing Viv averaged 20 less while playing in conditions tailor made for Lillee. Knowing that Lillee has not performed well in WI would have stopped making such generalizations like "Lillee brought down Viv's average" sort.

Plus he averages 48+ @ a mighty high SR, and the average would be above 50 if WSC included. That is sheer domination

 

[BazBall21]

The silly thing to start with is showing Viv averaged 20 less while playing in conditions tailor made for Lillee. Knowing that Lillee has not performed well in WI would have stopped making such generalizations like "Lillee brought down Viv's average" sort.

Lillee did well in WI in WSC. Never really played tests there.

 

[Qlder]

Lillee did well in WI in WSC. Never really played tests there.

Yep, Lillee outbowled Roberts, Holding and Croft on their home turf in 1978 WSC, but apparently he couldn't bowl in West Indies

Holding - 24 wkts - 10 innings
Lillee - 23 wkts - 8 innings
Croft - 20 wkts - 10 innings
Roberts - 16 wkts - 8 innings
Thomson - 16 wkts - 8 innings
Pascoe - 14 wkts - 6 innings

 

[Coronis]

Yep, Lillee outbowled Roberts, Holding and Croft on their home turf in 1978 WSC, but apparently he couldn't bowl in West Indies

Holding - 24 wkts - 10 innings
Lillee - 23 wkts - 8 innings
Croft - 20 wkts - 10 innings
Roberts - 16 wkts - 8 innings
Thomson - 16 wkts - 8 innings
Pascoe - 14 wkts - 6 innings

He definitely did not outbowl Holding.

 

[Daisy The Cow]

Viv for me mooooooooo mooooooooo mooooooooo

 

[Qlder]

He definitely did not outbowl Holding.

So you think Holding's 24 wkts in 10 innings is better than Lillee's 23 wkts in only 8 innings?

 

[Migara]

How did Lillee not perform well in West Indies? He injured his back vs Pakistan and the next Test vs WI in 1973 he broke down and was out of cricket, most thought forever. He never played another Test in WI because none were scheduled while he was a Test player

Maybe Lillee would have been a bowling God in West Indies if given the chance, just as much speculation as you saying he'd bowl badly there

Not knowing how Lillee would have performed in WI, it is daft to conclude Lillee reduced viv's average by 20 odd runs./