Peakiest Peaks

[AndrewB]

Dilip Vengsarkar had a 3-year spell of 19 matches (late 1985-88) in which he averaged 101. Helped by 10 not outs in 28 innings, but even so, that's a pretty high peak for a batsman not generally thought of as an ATG.

 

[adub]

There aren't many blokes I've watched who, when they're at their best, look like it doesn't matter what's bowled to them. Not talking in terms of overall records, but just the feeling that you can bowl them a ****ing great nut or a piece of **** ball, and in that moment/ innings they'll hit either one for four. They seem to have some ridiculous extra gear no one else does. Blokes like Tendulkar, Ponting, Kallis, Sanga, Gavaskar, TOTAB, TPC - great players with better records, but not quite utterly god-like in the moment like some other blokes.

Since I've been watching, I reckon only (in no order) Clarke, Viv, Lara, Sehwag and KP had that ability when they were right on song. May was well just lob something to them underarm and run, they were so imperious.

Yeah, that's my feeling. Never watched one of Sehwag's real daddy doubles but his Melbourne 190 was this sort of thing, so happy to add him to Pup, VIv and Lara. Don't know about KP. Obviously there's not a clear point where you can say yes or no on the question, but my gut feeling on him would be not quite. Absolutely agree on all the others not being quite this level, but Sanga wasn't far off.

Viv's double in Melbourne was just toying with us. **** was batting down at 5 and we'd done a pretty good job working through the top order for not too many. Then Viv just decided today was the day to go Full Viv. Those on drives man. No one could drive through wide mid on like the King.

https://youtu.be/EKVdAwsyYxM

 

[CricAddict]

Has anyone mentioned Sachin's 1996 already? That was the year that he got the God status among Indians and he was amazing.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Has anyone mentioned Sachin's 1996 already? That was the year that he got the God status among Indians and he was amazing.

Eh? He averaged 41.53 (8 matches) in 1996 in tests. Incredible World Cup and even in tests had some amazing knocks (was that the year he had some great knocks in South Africa?) but weird looking back at it with stats.

Average and matches played in brackets
1997: 62.50 (12)
1998: 80.87 (5)
1999: 68.00 (10)
2000: 63.88 (6)
2001: 62.68 (10)
2002: 55.68 (16)

Insane few years though...consolidated it together. From 1997 to 2002, he played 59 tests averaging 63.38 with 21 centuries, scoring 5705 runs.

Going into this further, during this period he played 1 test vs Bangladesh and averaged 18.

Others below during this period:

AUSTRALIA: 9 matches, average of 64.25
ENGLAND: 7 matches, average of 70.80
NEW ZEALAND: 7 matches, average of 69.27
PAKISTAN: 3 matches, average of 30
SOUTH AFRICA: 6 matches, average of 51.00
SRI LANKA: 6 matches, average of 83.25
WEST INDIES: 13 matches, average of 54.47
ZIMBABWE: 7 matches, average of 85.60

1993-2010 (a 17-year career!) he averaged 58.97 across 156 matches scoring 46 of his eventual 51 centuries.

 

[CricAddict]

Eh? He averaged 41.53 (8 matches) in 1996 in tests. Incredible World Cup and even in tests had some amazing knocks (was that the year he had some great knocks in South Africa?) but weird looking back at it with stats.

Average and matches played in brackets
1997: 62.50 (12)
1998: 80.87 (5)
1999: 68.00 (10)
2000: 63.88 (6)
2001: 62.68 (10)
2002: 55.68 (16)

Insane few years though...consolidated it together. From 1997 to 2002, he played 59 tests averaging 63.38 with 21 centuries, scoring 5705 runs.

Going into this further, during this period he played 1 test vs Bangladesh and averaged 18.

Others below during this period:

AUSTRALIA: 9 matches, average of 64.25
ENGLAND: 7 matches, average of 70.80
NEW ZEALAND: 7 matches, average of 69.27
PAKISTAN: 3 matches, average of 30
SOUTH AFRICA: 6 matches, average of 51.00
SRI LANKA: 6 matches, average of 83.25
WEST INDIES: 13 matches, average of 54.47
ZIMBABWE: 7 matches, average of 85.60

1993-2010 (a 17-year career!) he averaged 58.97 across 156 matches scoring 46 of his eventual 51 centuries.

I am sorry. I meant 1998. Typed 1996 in haste. He was God-like in both tests and ODIs this year. I still have the Sharjah twin hundreds in my eyes.

And this shows I am growing old

 

[andruid]

I feel we should also be looking at peak versus career average differential here.

 

[Victor Ian]

What about that Vogues guy? Now that is a f'in peaky peak.