Zimbabwe's second greatest batsman

[Noble One]

The highlight of watching Zimbabwe during the 1990's and early 2000's was the batting spectacle displayed by Andy Flower. Undoubtedly the finest player to ever represent Zimbabwe and a player just shy of all time great status. Outside of Brian Lara quite possibly the second best player of spin bowling in the modern era, and a player who's exploits in India will rarely be surpassed.

Beyond Andy Flower though, who would you rate as Zimbabwe's second best batsman of all time? I don't mind if you vote based on Test cricket, One Day International Cricket or Domestic cricket. Zimbabwean cricketers have had varying degrees of success across all formats, and given the relatively short history of Zimbabwe at international level more weight may be given for some of the performances at first class level (Goodwin in Sheffield Shield and County Cricket as an example).

The reason I ask is because there are no obvious candidates. Some of Zimbabwe's longest serving Test cricketers were barely of international batting standard (Campbell, Grant Flower, Whittall) or perhaps didn't play a large enough sample of games (Johnson, Goodwin, Houghton and Taibu) or are perhaps more highly regarded for bowling over batting (Streak and Paul Strang).

Tests: Leading run scorers

ODI: Leading run scorers

 

[Pothas]

Goodwin been churning out the runs for years and years now, seen him score far to many runs against Hampshire.

Obviously not in the same class but Sean Ervine is one of my favourite players and having a good season this time around, still young enough that I hope his best years are still ahead of him.

 

[Spikey]

That'll teach me for not reading the post before answering the poll.......

 

[pskov]

That'll teach me for not reading the post before answering the poll.......

Me too.

Change one Streak vote to Goodwin, he has been an excellent performer in county cricket for a decade, I don't think his test match average is a fluke at all.

 

[Noble One]

Ok maybe the Poll title is a little misleading. If a mod could change it to something more obvious like "Zimbabwe's second greatest batsman". Although I blame those who don't read the opening post.

 

[Athlai]

I read the poll question and the greatest after Andy is Streak.

 

[turnstyle]

Dave Houghton must be up there. Like many emerging nations before they're granted full membership, some of their greatest players never got to play in their peak at test/odi level so their records on cricinfo aren't going to reflect just how good they were.

 

[Noble One]

Dave Houghton must be up there. Like many emerging nations before they're granted full membership, some of their greatest players never got to play in their peak at test/odi level so their records on cricinfo aren't going to reflect just how good they were.

Does anyone recall Dave Houghton 266? What an incredible innings considering the next highest run-score in the Zimbabwe innings was Andy Flower with 50.

 

[Sir Alex]

The highlight of watching Zimbabwe during the 1990's and early 2000's was the batting spectacle displayed by Andy Flower. Undoubtedly the finest player to ever represent Zimbabwe and a player just shy of all time great status. Outside of Brian Lara quite possibly the second best player of spin bowling in the modern era, and a player who's exploits in India will rarely be surpassed. [/URL]

You mean "non-subcontinental" right?

 

[turnstyle]

Does anyone recall Dave Houghton 266? What an incredible innings considering the next highest run-score in the Zimbabwe innings was Andy Flower with 50.

And at 37 years old too!

 

[Noble One]

You mean "non-subcontinental" right?

Just adding some colour to the opening post. This thread is not for debating who was the best player of spin in recent times and I would appreciate it if the discussion was kept on topic.

 

[Sir Alex]

Just adding some colour to the opening post. This thread is not for debating who was the best player of spin in recent times and I would appreciate it if the discussion was kept on topic.

No need to add "undue" credit... that was my only point. Besides I agree that outside the subC he is the second best player of spin I've seen too... So it's more like a defining well a compliment..

 

[Goughy]

Clearly Houghton. Quality, quality player.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I have a lot of time for Houghton being the answer to this one, though I went with Johnson - just thought his style and temperament were superb.

 

[turnstyle]

No need to add "undue" credit... that was my only point. Besides I agree that outside the subC he is the second best player of spin I've seen too... So it's more like a defining well a compliment..

but refering to Tendulker as 'god' isn't?

 

[Sir Alex]

but refering to Tendulker as 'god' isn't?

Irrelevant

 

[Matt79]

but refering to Tendulker as 'god' isn't?

People responding to Sir Alex by dragging everything he says back to his views on Tendulkar got old a while back, maybe we just keep it on topic hey?

 

[Anil]

houghton for me, clearly...

 

[Migara]

Close contest between Goodwin, Houghton and Johnson

 

[zaremba]

Murray G. Houghton close behind, but he never played for the land of the rising Martlet