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The Greats

sqwerty

U19 Cricketer
Not long ago (six months?) someone started a thread with the same title as this one asking who in the current era people considered as the 5 greats.

Names such as Warne, Tendulkar, Lara etc were regularly thrown up. I included Ponting and was rubbished by most people.

Just wondering if anything has changed.

I'd have (not necessarily in order)

Warne
McGrath
Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting.

Some are in form and some aren't and one isn't even playing at the moment (but I expect he will again) but for me, their full careers considered, these are the modern day greats.

So who would Murali replace? I bet many sould say Ponting still. Much easier to have 6 and be done with it I guess.
 

Dasa

International Vice-Captain
It'd be ridiculous not to have Murali in there.
Current greats are (IMO) Warne, Murali, McGrath, Tendulkar and Lara, in no particular order.
 

howardj

International Coach
sqwerty said:
Not long ago (six months?) someone started a thread with the same title as this one asking who in the current era people considered as the 5 greats.

Names such as Warne, Tendulkar, Lara etc were regularly thrown up. I included Ponting and was rubbished by most people.

Just wondering if anything has changed.

I'd have (not necessarily in order)

Warne
McGrath
Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting.

Some are in form and some aren't and one isn't even playing at the moment (but I expect he will again) but for me, their full careers considered, these are the modern day greats.

So who would Murali replace? I bet many sould say Ponting still. Much easier to have 6 and be done with it I guess.
Yeah, as fabulous as he is, I'd reserve my judgement on Ponting. After all, nobody would have bracketed him with (or anywhere near) this company three years ago, so it's difficult to see that he now could be, based on his achievements over that relatively brief period. By contrast, the other chaps have excelled over at least a decade.
 

Beleg

International Regular
I'll wait for the end of their respective carriers before calling any current players 'GREAT'.
 

Goughy

Hall of Fame Member
Beleg said:
I'll wait for the end of their respective carriers before calling any current players 'GREAT'.
Beleg, I don't always agree with you but this is spot on.

Look at the American Football system for the hall of fame. Players are only eligable 5 years after hanging up their boots. It is only after they have retired for at least a couple of seasons that a true perspective on and evaluation of their careers can be given.

Look at the case of Abdul Qadir. During his career he would be classed as a 'great' as he was the best modern exponent of a dying art. Then just after he retires along comes SK Warne and he overshadows Qadir and moves him from the great category to the very good.

It can also work the other way where a player is ahead of their time and never truly appreciated until they have gone.
 
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SJS

Hall of Fame Member
Dasa said:
It'd be ridiculous not to have Murali in there.
Current greats are (IMO) Warne, Murali, McGrath, Tendulkar and Lara, in no particular order.
DITTO
 

luckyeddie

Cricket Web Staff Member
sqwerty said:
I'd have (not necessarily in order)

Warne
McGrath
Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting.
sqwerty, old son, those are the same 5 names I came up with too. I'd then add (in no particular order) McDravid, Kallis, Murali and Churchy (cut-off point being the retirement of the Pakistani and West Indian pace greats).

Can't force myself to put Fred in there just yet but I'm working on it.
 
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