TOP TEN GREATEST BATSMEN OF ALL TIME

Cricket is a sport which includes three activities viz. batting, bowling and fielding. A batsman is a player who specializes in batting. He is to watch and hit the ball to score as many runs as possible so as to help his team to build a large score. Since the very start of the history of cricket, there have occurred many changes at many levels, from batting equipment batting styles, attitudes etc... In the very beginning, runs were scored at so slow rate and bowlers were dominant. As the time passed by, new formats like ODI and T20 were introduced later and due to which batsman changed attitudes and played attacking cricket and became dominant. There is a lot to talk about this thing, but let's start sorting out 10 greatest batsmen ever. The list goes as follows:

10. Mahadevan Sathasivam:

M. Sathasivam, nicknamed Satha was former Sri Lankan cricketer who never got a chance to play international cricket. He was a cricketer in the days when Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon and captained Malaysian and Singapore sides too. According to Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Frank Worell, Satha was the best batsman on the planet ever, who had the ability to outclass,even Sir Don. Its only due to his inability of playing at International level, that he is kept at no. 10; had he played at international level, could have been the greatest batsman of all time. His batting technique was amazingly perfect and could play variety shots, sort of unconventional at that time.

 9. Ricky Ponting:

Ricky Ponting is probably second best Australian batsman of all time after Donald Bradman. In a career of 17 long years, he remained the key batsman in the success of the team. The batsman, averaging more than 50 and 40 in tests and ODI formats respectively has been the second highest run scorer in both the formats after Sachin. Ponting's aggressive batting style makes him the most brilliant cricketer to watch to Sir Vi Richards. He is also a record holder for hitting second most ODI and third most Test centuries. His batting stance is technically unfair but still he qualifies to the list of ten best batsman ever.

8. Sunil Gavaskar :

Sunil Gavaskar, nicknamed 'The Little Master' is the former Indian test and ODI cricketer. He is widely regarded as the best opening batsman of all time and very first to score 10000 test runs. His record of most test centuries lasted for years. He holds a lot of records and ruled the test cricket in 1970s and 1980s as a batsman. He was excellent against the pace attack, in particular and went on to score 12 odd centuries against the West Indian pace attack of that time, the best fast bowling attack of the history. His technique was so genuine and according to Richie Benaud was close to perfect. His square drive and late cut are unmatched shots till date. 

7. George Headley :

George Alphonso Headley was a West Indian cricketer who played 22 Test matches in the 1930s and 1940s. He batted at number three, scoring 2,190 runs in Tests at an average of 60.83, and 9,921 runs in all first-class matches at an average 69.86.  His timing and placement of the ball was perfect and his on drive on back foot was just awesome. He went on to make as many as 25 percent of the total runs and two thirds of the centuries of team. C. Grimmett, the finest bowler of his time has rated him the greatest batsman, he bowled to. The great player was nicknamed as 'The Black Bradman' due to his resemblance to Sir Don.

6. Brian Lara:

Lara is a former international cricketer who is considered one of the greatest batsman of the history. Lara, a left handed batsman mastered in batting technique and compared to Sachin. He holds so many cricket records to his name like  most centuries for a West Indian,  centuries against all Test-playing nations and scored an 20% of his team runs. He is the only batsman to have ever scored a hundred, a double century, a triple century, a quadruple century and a quintuple century in first class cricket out of which 400 not out is the largest individual score in test history.He is one of only three cricketers to receive the prestigious BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year. Muralitharan has rated him as the finest batsman he ever bowled to.

Top ten batsmen :
(6) Brian Lara, (7) George Headley, (8) Sunil Gavaskar, (9) Ricky Ponting, and (10) M Sathasivam

5. Sir Viv Richards :

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, is a former West Indian cricketer and probably most fearsome batsman of all time. He  was a very powerful right-handed batsman with an extremely attacking style and was termed as the greatest batsman against genuine fats bowling. According to Imran Khan, Lilee, Hadlee, Botham and many other great bowlers of his time, he was the greatest opposition batsman ever. He had a natural ability to guess the speed, bounce and extent of swing of a delivery and responded so quickly with boundaries with his heavy bat. In December 2002, he was chosen by Wisden as the greatest ODI batsman of all time, as well as the third greatest Test batsman of all time.

4. Graeme Pollock: 

G. Pollock is a former south African cricketer who belongs to Pollock cricketing family. He is one of the unfortunate players whose career got destroyed due to apartheid. Pollock represented the proteas from 1963 to 1970. He opened the batting attack and scored 2256 runs in 23 matches at average of 60.97, second best after Bradman. Bradman described Pollock, along with Sir Garfield Sobers, as the best left-handed batsman he had ever seen play cricket. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, he used to utilize his height and played splendid cover drive with his heavy bat and upright stance.

3. Sir Garry Sobers:

Sir Sobers is probably one of the finest batsmen of history. He, initially left arm bowler, transformed into a fine batsman gradually and shook the cricket world with his performances. His amazing footwork and capability of judging the flight and bounce of the ball and suitably quick response made him a great all rounder. He was a batsman with intellectual cricketing brain and went on to score more than 8000 test runs on an average of over 57. According to Sir Bradman , he was the finest batsman ever.

2. Sir Don Bradman :

Sir Don Bradman is no doubt only batsman in the history of cricket who comes close to Sachin in terms of batting abilities. Some of the critics consider him the greatest.His batting style was unique at that time. He used to utilize the crease that no one could. His batting average of 99.94 is already a great figure in the sports world. But on several grounds, he lags behind Sachin e.g. he did not play as many cricket at International level, he did not face as many great bowling and bowlers, there was nothing like swing, doosra, carom ball kind of bowling in his time. Also, even Australians, in an survey chose Sachin over him by a big margin.

1. Sachin Tendulkar :

Sachin is probably the best ever batsman of all time. Throughout the career spanning more than 23 years, he ruled the cricket world. His amazing batting technique, shot-selection, temperament and reflexes make him the greatest batsman ever. The great cricketer has almost every record in his name regarding batting. He made Indian team win several big tournaments on his own. Several great cricketers of his time and the previous time too, admit him to be the greatest ever batsman. He gave tough competition to almost each bowler of his time and invented many strokes. He is a player who has the ability to hit any sort of deliveries to boundary.

Top ten batsmen of all time:
(1) Sachin Tendulkar, (2) Sir Don Bradman, (3) Sir Garry Sobers, (4) Graeme Pollock, (5) Sir Viv Richards

2012 : A CRISIS FOR INDIAN CRICKET

So here we are; the end of the calender year 2012 is far near and we are gonna enter 2013. This year was a major astonishing in many aspects and the same is true about the Indian cricket. This year remained a major disappointment for the Indian cricket fans. This year, at one hand , we had to face some totally unexpected losses and on the other hand, our very best players of the past two decades retired from cricket. So we can say that this year was a shocking too. We are a bit helpless and sad that we will never ever be able to watch the legends like Draid, Laxman and Sachin batting and scoring lots of runs. Although, Sachin has announced retirement from ODI only; its a major shock for the whole cricketing nation. Many of the veterans have agreed and others seem to be shocked at this untimely and sudden decision of the legend.

   Apart from the retirements this year, if we talk about the performance of the Indian squad, we come to conclude that it was nothing but a "POOR SHOW". Starting from the very start of 2012, we performed poorly well, went on to loss key matches and even got some defeats full of shame. In the month of January  we were playing the very unfortunate series in Australia and lost three test matches in a row, out of which two defeats were awarded with loss with innings and we completed the track of 8 test loss in a row shamelessly. In the subsequent month, we were not even able to qualify to the finals of the CB series. At least  such performances raise questions over the reputation of a team which is a world champion. Now, let's talk about the month of March, when we lost to a team like Bangladesh and could not qualify to the finals of Asia Cup. It was harassing and every fan was forced to criticize the team  Then, we come across the NZ tour of India, where we demonstrated brilliant game against a team which is gonna be new Zimbabwe and largely boasted of our spin attack. Then the same spin attack was killed so brutally in the World T20 by Australian batsman that they could not get even little space for hiding their faces. This was the same spin attack which pretended to trying for getting wickets in the home series against England. Prior to that, series win against Sri Lanka was the consolation win of the year.

    Now, coming to the batting, we find that no batsman other than Virat Kohli performed well in any format. Opening pair, the so called Sehwag and Gambhir, looked struggling for getting runs. Sachin's most anticipated super-hundred made him so nervous that he hardly managed to hit it in a match against Bangladesh that India lost. He too did perform so bad that ultimately had to decide to retire  Ashwin batted well more than to bowl, which is his prime responsibility and his words of inventing a new mystery bowling style proved to be all wrong. Pujara and Bhuvaneshwar were the two biggest gifts for India of the departing year. 

   As far as the captaincy and selection process is concerned, the respected captain of our Indian team, who was considered the lucky charm, proved to be a very fake leader. He, taking from selection of the team to the strategic plans, individual performance, decisions after winning the tosses to the demand of desired pitches, proved to be a fake captain. Boasting of revenge, the beloved team could not even make the series draw against the White people. And how shamelessly smart he is that every time the team lost, our dear captain praised the opposition instead of describing their own failure. There is a lot to say as the reality of the false captain, but I would end my words by simply stating that this captain was good and lucky because of the performances by the fellow players and now its an alarming condition when appointment of a new captain is badly needed.

    So, above all, we are gonna enter the new year with the hope of  Indian team to overcome this crisis and retain the image of being the true world champion.

BHUVNESHWAR : A NEW HOPE FOR INDIAN CRICKET

Recently the new face in the Indian cricket squad made a brilliant debut. The guy with his brilliant bowling demonstration amazed all the spectators and analysts of the cricket world. The guy who has recently turned 21, made a brilliant show of the swing bowling in the debut match against the arch rival Pakistan. The young lad was somewhat looking under pressure when he was chosen to bowl the opening over. He showed brilliant bowling strategy by bowling effective and surprising out swingers continuously to the left handed batsman and suddenly with a brilliant in swing, uprooted the stumps of the strike batsman and made whole ground full of excitement. In the very next over, he devised the same strategy and got important wicket of Ahmad Shehzad. In the same over, he bowled Umar Akmal, a very young talent of Pakistan, cleanly, on a very top quality in-swinger. Ultimately he finished his bowling spell with ultra-impressive figures of  4-1-9-3. The guy surprised all the cricket world with his swinging ability and greats like Kapil Dev were seen praising the man in commentary box. Despite Pakistan won the match but it was Bhuvaneshwar, who went on to win the millions of hearts. Prior to that he also had to bat, when all the Indian batting order collapsed badly and batted carefully with 6 runs unbeaten and helped India to bat for full 20 overs. Despite the fact that India lost the T20, but spectators got the full enjoyment in the first spell of Bhuvaneshwar. I think, this is the best Indian bowling debut since that made by Hirwani in test match.

The guy, with an innocent looks and perfectly sporty persona, hails from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He has been key member of U.P. Ranji squad since his debut at 17 and has played 46 first class matches so far. He is also known for his comprehensive batting skills and scored hundred recently and many other useful innings.His 149 wickets at an average of 26 nad more than 1800 runs at considerable batting average of 30 prove his all-round status. He, in fact, has all the characteristics to become the new Kapil Dev of Indian cricket.Thanks to the Indian selectors, who put the guy in the team at the pretty right time, while he was performing well in Ranji. Now, let's wait and see, how long this race-horse runs and how many wickets he takes in the following ODI series against Pakistan?

TOP TEN CRICKETERS OF ALL TIME

TOP TEN CRICKETERS OF ALL TIME

Cricket is second most popular and most watched sport today. Although it has been very ancient game and is believed to be started in England and played by shepherds; this game became the possession of royal families and upper class people later. As time passed by, the game spread to the various parts of the globe, ruled by English government. The very first reputed tournament called "County Championship" started in the early eighteenth century and popularized the game. First test match was played in 1877. Since then the sport has made advancements by leaps and bounds, being played at many levels, in many formats, in many countries and has become a cultural symbol in many nations. But the main thing is to sort out ten most brilliant cricketers of all time, that too out of several thousands who have played the game. Still I have made some efforts to put out these ten names to be called the ten greatest cricketers of all time. Although GREATNESS does not have a basis to be measured but still this list has been framed on many grounds like the span, stats, achievements, spirit, contribution in win, consistency, skills, technique and popularity. So let's begin now with the list:

10. Wasim Akram:

Wasim Akram born 3 June 1966 is a former Pakistani left arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman in cricket, who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International matches. He went on to take 502 wickets in ODI and 414 in test matches. He was finest ODI bowler of all time who could bowl six different deliveries in six different valid manners. He was a fine aggressive left handed batsman too. He played key role in team success in 1992 CWC and was man of the match of the final game. He was a 17 times player of the match in test cricket. Throughout his career of 18 long years, he always remained consistent and broke records. He was a good captain and master of reverse swing bowling. His 881 wickets record in List A cricket still stands.

9. Wally Hammond:

Walter Reginald "Wally" Hammond (19 June 1903 – 1 July 1965) was an English test cricketer who played for English side from 1927 to 1947. He was a brilliant top order batsman of England who scored more than 7000 test runs at an average of 58. He was the best counterpart of Sir Bradman And their rivalry is one of the most famous rivalries in cricket. He was a good medium pace bowler and excellent slip fielder who took more than 100 catches. He is also known for his bad boy image, giant personality, bold captain and multiple marriages. Still Wally Hammond without eligibility qualifies to the top ten greatest cricketers of all time.

8. Imran Khan:

Imran Khan Niazi, most popularly known as the "Lion Of Pakistan"is by far the best cricketer from the Pakistani soil. He was the most completely cricketer with brilliant bowling skills, attacking batting stamina, natural leadership qualities, best fitness levels and long career. The man is credited to be the finest artist of swing bowling, who mastered the in, out and reverse swing. By many critics, he is viewed as the most brilliant all-rounder in the history of cricket  He was a cricketer having skills and courage to open the innings with bat and bowl both. He is by far the best Pakistani captain who at the age of over 40 went on to make Pakistan the champion of cricket world. He finished his career with 362 test and 182 ODI wickets at averages of 22.81 and 22.61 and batting averages of over 33 and 37 respectively. He was the superstar of the game in his time.

7.  Shane Warne:

Shane Keith Warne is the former Australian leg spinner. Debuting in the very start of the 1992 against India, this finest leg spinner ever went on to achieve milestones in cricket. His very first ball in the Ashes was termed as the 'ball of the century'. He was a miraculous bowler whom people called a bowler with the ability to spin the bowl on even glass or ice. He went on to grab 1000 tests and ODI wickets in all and played most important role in the success of the Oz team in 1990s and 2000s. He bowled excellently in the WC 1999 and several Ashes victories. He was chosen one of the five cricketers of the century by Wisden in 1999. He was so popular and a sex symbol in the cricket media.

 

  6. Sir Richard Hadlee:

Sir Richard John Hadlee is the greatest cricketer of New Zealand of all time. He belonged to the reputed Hadlee cricket family of NZ and his father Walter was the former captain of NZ cricket team. Hadlee made his debut in 1973 but could not fix his position till 1977. After that he became a deadly fast bowler with balanced out swing bowling and remarkable batting performances and went on to break almost all the bowling records. He became the very first bowler to take 400 test wickets and was key player in making NZ win on their English,Oz and WI tours. He was awarded knighthood in 1990, only player to get this prestigious award during his career  His bowling performance of 15/123 is by far the best bowling performance int he test cricket. He finished his career with 431 test wickets at an average of 22.29 and 146 ODI wickets at 21.56.

Top ten greatest cricketers:
(6) Sir Richard Hadlee, (7) Shane Warne, (8) Imran Khan, (9) Wally Hammond, and (10) Wasim Akram

5. Sir Viv Richards:

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards is doubtlessly the most dangerous batsman of the cricket history. He was the key player of the West Indian team in 70s and 80s. He batted in top order and killed almost all the top bowlers of that time. He played the key role in the success of the caribian team in the world cup victory of the first two editions. He was a brilliant test cricketer with a batting average of over 50 and most brilliant ODI cricketer with man of the match per 6 matches. He also captained WI team for more than 50 test matches without even a single series loss.

4. Sir Jack Hobbs:

Sir Jack Hobbs was an English cricketer who played for England in the very start of the twentieth century.He was a brilliant master of batting technique and went on to play more than 800  first class matches and scored 199 centuries, a first class cricket world record. He at the international level played 61 matches and scored over 5000 runs at an average of over 55. The man went on to play cricket till the age of 52 and was awarded knighthood in 1953 for his services for cricket. He died on December 21, 1963 at the age of 81.

3. Sir Garry Sobers: 

Sir Garfield Sobers is the most brilliant West Indian cricketers of all time. The man went on to play at international level from 1954 through 1974. The cricketer who had a reputation of being a left arm china-man bowler, transformed into a skilled batsman who went on to hit 6 sixes in a single over and became the first t do so in first class history. He is also considered the greatest all rounder of all time by many  His record for 365 not out in test stood for many years...

 2. Sir Don Bradman:

If there is any sportsman who even makes the stats amazed by his performances, no doubt he is DON. He was a man with normal physique who ruled the cricket world in 30s and 40s. He went on to make Oz team became "THE INVINCIBLE"in his captaincy. Negative tactics like body-line were also devised against him but he overcame all though this. Not only in cricket, but also in all ball sports, he has been mathematically proved to be far ahead than the players like Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan  His batting average of 99.94 has become a famous figure in the sports world. His dismissal for a duck in the very last inning of his career is considered as the greatest sports shock of all time. He is greatest Australian of all times too.

  1. Sachin Tendulkar:

Sachin Tendulkar is doubtlessly the greatest cricketer of all time. He is the real mega-superstar of the game. Born in Mumbai, the largest city of India on April 24, 1973 ; the guy made his first class debut at the age of 15 with a hundred. He debuted in tests in December  1989 against Pakistan at an age of just 16. Since then this man has contributed as much in the Indian cricket that almost half of the credit of its success goes to the man itself. Sachin has achieved numerous achievements throughout his career  has created so many records that almost half the record-book is associated to him. As an sportsman, he is the most humble and gentle cricketer ever seen. His skills as a batsman are most close to perfect and many of the amazing shots have been invented by himself. He is the most popular cricketer of all time too. He takes the credit of bringing the stardom and popularity to this sport solely. He is the only Indian every person of India will like to get sacrificed over. He very recently announced the retirement from the limited over format. Its his true and holiest kind of dedication towards the cricket that he is still serving cricket. I personally feel proud in mentioning him as the greatest cricketer....

Top ten greatest cricketers:
(1) Sachin, (2) Sir Don Bradman, (3) Sir Sobers, (4) Sir Jack Hobbs, (5) Sir Viv Richards