Greatest Test Batsmen Of All Time

1. Don Bradman

Without getting into any technicalities, Don Bradman could be rated as the greatest test batsman of all time  just for his outstanding average of almost 100 runs. Some people are recently heard saying that Don played on only a couple of grounds, and may be even the bowling was also ordinary, and hence he has that kind of average. Then the others at that time too played on limited number of grounds and against the same bowlers. No one of them could even come near Don Bradman. We have not heard of any of the other great batsmen averaging near 100 even in first class. Hence Bradman can be easily dubbed as the greatest batsman in the history of test cricket.

2. Brian Lara

Brain Lara could play both pace and spin as well as or better than anybody else in the history of game, and at the same time do things that have been rarity throughout the history of cricket, and of course his records boasts of unique feats. He is the only batsman in the history of the game to have scored a 500 in first class cricket, only batsman to have scored a 400 in test cricket, one of only four batsmen to have scored two triple hundreds throughout the history of the game, and of course is among those batsmen to have scored most number of double century. Hanif Mohammad is another cricketer who came close to scoring 500 in first class matches. He was a flamboyant batsman and has two entries in a list for scoring most number of runs in an over.

He also dominated the best bowlers of his time. Murali described him the best batsman he has ever bowled to. Similarly he dominated both McGrath and Shane Warne and scored a match winning 153 in the fourth innings chasing a tricky target. He also has quite a number of double hundreds against Australia, which boasted of McGrath and Shane Warne in their bowling lineup. Another great bowler of his time, Waseem Akram too rated him as the best batsman in the world when Lara was playing.

3. Vivian Richards

His attacking style of play might deter some to consider among the very top test batsmen of all time, but very few cricketers in the history of the game have played test cricket like Viv did and had as much success. He was one of the very few batsmen who could actually dominate the ball irrespective of the format of the game. You look throughout the history of the game and you will find very few successful batsmen who played as aggressively as Vivian Richards did. Despite his attacking and aggressive style of batting, he maintained an average of more than 50 runs per innings. He boasts of the fastest hundred in terms of the number of balls, and scored a 100 of just 56 balls.

4. Adam Gilchrist

A test batsman batting at #7 to have an average of around 50 runs is as exceptional as Don's test average. He scored those runs at an exceptional strike rate of more than 80, and only a couple of other batsmen have a strike rate to match Adam Gilchrist. He has the second fastest test hundred against his name, scoring a hundred of just 57 deliveries. He played many crucial innings that won matches for Australia.

5. Virender Sehwag

He could come up with exceptional things like the top four in this list. He is one of only four batsmen to have gone past 300 mark twice in their career. He is also one of the few to have a strike rate of more than 80. Ther other batsman to have a strike rate of more than 80 in test cricket is Adam Gilchrist. Arguably, one of the main reasons for India being #1 in ICC test ranking.

6. Javed Miandad

Undoubtedly, the greatest fighter on a cricket field. Javed Miandad new knew what the pressure and excelled when the team was back to the wall. I do not believe in any test or one day World XI without Javed Miandad. I think he is the greatest match winning batsman that the cricketing world has ever seen. Very few batsmen in the history of the game of cricket have won more games than Javed Miandad did for his country. I also do not understand why he has not featured in Espnstar cricinfo's XI's series of programs on Legends of Cricket.

7. Greg Chappell

One of the most gifted batsmen of all time. Greg Chappell had all the shots in his armory. He excelled against pace and spin alike. He batted outstandingly well during the super series cricket and scored more than 600 runs in five test matches against a fearsome West Indian bowling attack. He could pick gaps better than anyone else in the game. He was also one of the most elegant batsmen the game has ever seen.

8. Sunil Gavaskar

Another outstanding test batsman in the mould of Hanif Mohammad. He could spend hours on the pitch without even scoring. His feats against the mighty West Indies team of 1980s are legendary. He scored most number of hundreds against the fearsome West Indies bowling attack.

9. Sachin Tendulkar

One of the greatest batting talent the game has ever seen, and equally good in all forms of the game. He is one of the youngest batsmen to have made test debut. His hunger for runs and records is exceptional. His desire for more and more records has kept him going after 21 years of International cricket. He carried the hopes of million of Indian fans, although he was well supported and often excelled by the other Indian batsmen of his time.

10.. Hanif Mohammad

An exceptional batsman in terms of concentration and defending abilities. Hanif Mohammad's endeavor to bat for almost three days to save a test match and score 337 runs during the course is one of the most exceptional feat in the history of the game. The feat came on fast and bouncy pitch of West Indies and against the fearsome bowlers of his time. He also scored 499 runs in one innings of a first class game. The only other player besides Brian Lara to have a test triple hundred and First quadraple hundred.

Greatest One Day Batsmen Of All Time

There have been quite a few batsmen who have enthralled spectators with their exceptional hitting. We will have a look at the most capable batsmen that have played one day cricket.

1. Vivian Richards

Inarguably the greatest one day batsman of all time. Nobody in the history of one day cricket has ever hit the ball as hard as Viv Richards did and maintained an average of 47 with a strike rate in excess of 90. Viv Richards had only one style of playing cricket and that is to hit the ball hard irrespective of the situation of the game. Some batsmen in the recent times could manage higher average than Viv did, but they do not measure up to him in terms of strike rate. Viv had a strike rate in excess of 90 at times when a strike rate of 70 was considered awesome.






2. Adam Gilchrist

His amazing ability to hit the ball cleanly and frequently separates him from the rest. One of only few batsmen to have a strike rate of more than 90. His ability to rise to the occasion sets him apart from most of the rest. His hard and clean hitting was one of the reason for Australia's dominance for most part of the last two decades. He played one of the most enthralling and match winning innings in the 2007 World cup final against Sri Lanka, and played significant part with the bat in the finals of two previous editions of World cup competition. He is easily one of the five cricketers of all time.






3. Michael Bevan

A one day specialist and a busy batsman. Michael Bevan guided Australia to umpteen victories from a losing position. He has played many marvels chasing the targets playing in the lower middle order. His ability to remain calm under pressure, picking gaps at will, and hitting well-timed boundaries made him an asset to the Australian cricket team that dominated during the later half of 90s and most part of 2000s. Coming lower down the order he boasts of an average in excess of 50 in one day format of the game.



4. Sanath Jaysurya

Sanath Jaysurya's fearless hitting in the 1996 World cup was one of the main reason for the Sri Lankans becoming the World Champion in 1996 even though he failed in the finals. It was his hard hitting that transformed the team from a mediocre side to one of the top teams in the world. His batting in 1996 World cup not only won Sri Lanka the World cup, but enhanced the confidence and consequently the performance of his other teammates. It was Jaysurya at the top who transformed the fortunes of the Sri Lankan team. He batted down the order for initial part of his career, and that has affected his average, but he maintains an strike rate of above 90.



5. Javed Miandad

No batting list can be ever complete without the indomitable Javed Miandad. May be it was his batting style and approach that has inspired the later batsmen like Michael Bevan, Inzimam-ul-Hq, Steve Waugh, and more recently Mahendar Singh Dhoni to play the way they play under pressure and orchestrate the innings. Javed Miandad knew no pressure and adversity brought best out of him. He stood up for Pakistan whenever chips were down, and like Michael Bevan in the recent times, won many games for Pakistan from a losing situation.



6. Dean Jones:

 Dean Jones was phenomenal in one day cricket. He was aggressive and had unique attractive style of batting. He was exceedingly effective in one day format of the game. He used to play delightful shots to all parts of the ground. He looked better than Brian Lara when he executed those exquisite boundaries for fours and sixes. He was swift between the wickets.



7. Yuvraj Singh: For sheer talent, Yuvraj Singh should be at #3 in this list. But because of the significant contribution by those  batsmen above him, Yuvraj is pushed down this list. Easily the most talented batsman India has ever produced. Tendulkar and Sehwag are great batsmen, but Yuvraj is exceptional. Like Vivian Richards and Adam Gilchrist, Yuvraj Singh can hit the ball to the cleaners at will and with equal ease. His ability to excel under pressure also makes him superior to his other Indian counterparts. He has anchored many chases for Indian team with Dhoni.



8. Zaheer Abaas: An average of 47.62 with a strike rate of 84.80 speaks volumes about Zaheer Abbas' ability as a one day batsman. Very few batsmen have a higher average in one day cricket than Zaheer Abbas' 47.62, and of those few batsmen who have a higher average than Zaheer Abbas' 47.62, only a couple of them have a higher strike rate than Zaheer Abbas' strike rate of 84.80. If ever anybody wanted to know how Brian Lara looked batting if he was a right hander watch Zaheer's batting. The high back lift, the magic and elegance of Zaheer are mirrored in Brian Lara's batting.



9. Mahender Singh Dhoni

He has the ability to his the ball as hard like some of the names mentioned above and at the same time can play anchor role like a Michael Bevan or Javed Miandad. Indian captain has anchored many an Indian innings to fashion victories for the Indian team. He orchestrated many Indian chases winning the tough games for Indian team. May be by the end of his career will move up in this list.



10. Martin Crowe

One of the greatest one day batsmen of all time. Martin Crowe could play all shots in the book and could score runs briskly in the middle order. He was adept against both pace and spin bowling. He carried the New Zealand hopes on his shoulders. He was at his peak in the 1992 World cup and could have seen the New Zealand team its maiden World cup success, but for an unpredictable Pakistan team in Semi-Final stole the limelight from Martin Crow.



11. Brian Lara:

Brian Lara was an exceptional batsman across all formats of the game. He could dominate pace and spin bowling alike. He had the ability score runs quickly and stay at the wicket if the situation demanded him to. He probably underachieved being part of a weaker West Indian team.

 12. Sachin Tendulkar

Prodigiously talented batsman who excelled across all formats of the game and against all kinds of bowling. Sachin Tendulkar batting in the middle order in the initial stages of his career and contributed significantly with his bat. His full talent came to the fore when he was promoted to open the innings in one day format of the game by then Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin. Sachin Tendulkar had not scored a single hundred in his 80 games batting in middle order, but since he became the opener, he kept on churning 100 after 100 in possibly every 10th game. He now has the highest number of test hundreds to his name, way ahead of the second entry on the list.



13 Saeed Anwar: Saeed Anwar was a poetry in motion when he batted. He would have been the first to 200 in one day cricket if he restrained from his penchant for getting the milestones off a six. He tried to hit a six when he was on 194 and was caught just short of the ropes. Saeed Anwar was one of the finest one day batsmen that has ever played the game. During that innings of 194 he almost destroyed Anil Kumble with his onslaught of the bowler. Saeed Anwar was effortlessly swashbuckling.