shortpitched713
International Captain
If you look at it in terms of their nominal stats, even era adjusted stats, the trio of Hobbs, Sutcliffe, and Hutton scored at a far better rate than any opener who has ever played or is playing in the era after.
Hobbs > Sutcliffe > Hutton >>>>>>>> Gavaskar, Hayden, etc.
But once you start looking at the scorecards, you realize that these guys rarely had to ever play anyone of much note using the new ball. In particular, Hobbs stands out in this regard, especially his big pre Great war scores, he's racking them up against absolute new ball no names. The only threats he looked to have were spinners. At least Hutton eventually had to face Miller, Lindwall, Johnston, etc, but even that was against one particular team, for a portion of his career.
Looking into that context not only do I bring them a lot closer, so for me
Hutton > Sutcliffe > Hobbs > Gavaskar > Hayden, with roughly equal gaps between.
But also I have to re-envision their roles, because they really weren't a dourly defensive "protection" minded opener that became the standard in the modern pace era. They really had reign to be accumulating more freely right from the off, akin to a middle order bat but starting at the top, and their scoring record obviously would show that.
Anyway, just some thoughts I had on this. Digging through old scorecards and reading up really does one a treat.
Hobbs > Sutcliffe > Hutton >>>>>>>> Gavaskar, Hayden, etc.
But once you start looking at the scorecards, you realize that these guys rarely had to ever play anyone of much note using the new ball. In particular, Hobbs stands out in this regard, especially his big pre Great war scores, he's racking them up against absolute new ball no names. The only threats he looked to have were spinners. At least Hutton eventually had to face Miller, Lindwall, Johnston, etc, but even that was against one particular team, for a portion of his career.
Looking into that context not only do I bring them a lot closer, so for me
Hutton > Sutcliffe > Hobbs > Gavaskar > Hayden, with roughly equal gaps between.
But also I have to re-envision their roles, because they really weren't a dourly defensive "protection" minded opener that became the standard in the modern pace era. They really had reign to be accumulating more freely right from the off, akin to a middle order bat but starting at the top, and their scoring record obviously would show that.
Anyway, just some thoughts I had on this. Digging through old scorecards and reading up really does one a treat.