Current greats and all time greats

[Ju7]

Jadeja is probably the batsman I trust the most in the Indian team right now. He’s very calm at the crease and never looks in a hurry to play shots. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends his career with a batting average above 40 and a bowling average under 25. For me, he’s already an ATG.

Fair enough.That's the beauty of these conversations.Opinions.

 

[Coronis]

This is a very common but a fundamentally flawed perception wrt batting.

Can’t agree more

 

[Jane Austen]

This is a very common but a fundamentally flawed perception wrt batting.

On the contrary Burgey I think it is your goodself who may be mistaken.
Let me explain why.
The execution of a batting stroke is a combination of mental and physical responses to a moving ball.
So the bowler sends down their delivery---through the relevant brain cells the eye will judge the speed of the ball,it's length,swerve and spin---thereafter the relevant messages will be delivered to hands,feet etc and,if all goes well,the appropriate stroke will be played.

Now let us compare the procedure of executing a stroke with playing the violin or guitar.
Concentration,hard work and diligent practice will enable a competent musician to improve and if they have talent,they may become professional musicians.But if mere diligence,practice etc was enough then there would be millions of Eric Claptons and Paganinis plucking and bowing all over the world,lauded as musical geniuses.Of course,the reason this is not the case is because,as with the art of batting,the phenomenal SPECIAL gift of sensationally a quick brain and physical coordination reaction is NOT something which can be acquired through practice,diligence etc-----if you believe in God then describe it as " God-given".

So,coming back to batting,and talking at the top level,a young talent can learn to concentrate,can ascertain their ultimate range of shots available for their ability and play within those limits ie create a passable imitation of a Dom Sibley.
However,if that young player is NOT given the extreme genius of of that "God-given" sublimity previously described then,whilst they might learn how to play the strokes of a Rishabh Pant,at the highest level they will NOT have that genius to play them SUCCESFULLY.

Please feel free to disagree Burgey.
Regards

 

[Burgey]

I disagree.

 

[Jane Austen]

I disagree.

Witty? Or merely halfway there.

 

[Jane Austen]

Smith has regressed in regards to patience and technique weirdly from when he came around

I agree Johan but I reckon he's talented enough to come again as a batter.I wouldn't mind the elder Rew taking over the gloves for England though.

 

[Ju7]

Who are your ATGs? Share with us when you can.

Off the top of my head.
Sobers.
Warne.
Marshall.
Tendulkar.

 

[Coronis]

Off the top of my head.
Sobers.
Warne.
Marshall.
Tendulkar.

That’s it?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Off the top of my head.
Sobers.
Warne.
Marshall.
Tendulkar.

I like it. Refreshingly exclusive

 

[Ju7]

That’s it?

These were off the top of my head but i wouldn't add many more anyway.It should be exclusive.I'm going post WW2 but would obviously add Bradman.

 

[Agonizingly Awkward]

Off the top of my head.
Sobers.
Warne.
Marshall.
Tendulkar.

This is the best post in this entire thread lol

 

[Coronis]

These were off the top of my head but i wouldn't add many more anyway.It should be exclusive.I'm going post WW2 but would obviously add Bradman.

I’m confused by this argument sometimes. Hypothetically even if there were 100 ATGs that’s less than 3% of test players ever. Seems pretty exclusive to me.

 

[Ju7]

I’m confused by this argument sometimes. Hypothetically even if there were 100 ATGs that’s less than 3% of test players ever. Seems pretty exclusive to me.

I take your point but everyone has their own benchmark.