Note: I am including only those players whom I’ve seen live in action so please don’t expect any Bradman’s in my list.
Before writing my opinion, I would like to say that it easily is one of the most difficult topic to write on. Picking five cricketers out of so many talented players is indeed a very difficult task. After a lot of thought, deleting, re writing, taking breaks, bathroom visits, drinking coffee, here goes my finalised list which is strictly my opinion::
5. Adam Gilcrist: It would be unfair not to include a wicket keeper in the top 5 list. Adam Gilcrist is a complete natural wicketkeeper. 155 catches in tests and 233 catches in ODI’s. What makes him a great cricketer though are his batting abilities. He averages over 58 in tests and 34 in one day internationals. The fact that he comes in to bat at number 7 in test matches and still averages over 58 is just amazing. I for one think, Australia could have never won 16 tests in a row if it wasn’t for Adam Gilcrist. He has scored 11 hundreds in his test career and all of those have been match winning. A great gift to Australian cricket.
2.Steve Waugh: A great Australian batsman who definately has mastered one art of playing cricket, the mental toughness. He is tough as steel and is regarded as the best captain Australia has ever produced. He averages just below 50 in test matches, and over 32 in one day internationals. He has also taken 195 wickets in one day internationals. But his real strength is his never say die attitude. He has played some amazing innings for Australian cricket, and the greatest thing is that most of them came when Australia was not in a dominating position. Hats off to this great man.
3. Shane Warne: The most exciting spin bowler ever. His dismissal of a New Zealand batsman in 1992 when the batsman left a bowl outside his legstump thinking its wide only to see his off stump falling down signalled the arrival of a spin magiciain. Warne combines a complete armoury of leg-breaks, top-spinners, googlies and flippers with enormous spin and considerable accuracy. He has had his bad days especially against Indians who play spin very well, but he has won several games for Australia on his own. Don’t forget it was Shane Warne who four wickets each in the semifinal and the final of the cricket world cup 1999 and won the man of the match award in both the games.
2. Wasim Akram: Over 400 wickets and close to 3000 runs in test match cricket. Close to 4000 runs and 502 wickets in one day internationals. 17 man of the match awards in Test matches, which is the highest by any. Can bowl six different bowls in an over with ease. A short run up backed up with a brilliant high speed arm action and amazing control over the swing of the delivery. He has won several games for Pakistan be it tests or one day games. He is nightmare for the tailenders because they feel it almost impossible to handle his late swinging yorkers. He is equally devastating for the opening batsman because his moving deliveries can easily induce an edge or get a batsman LBW. More than a useful batsman since he can use his long handle to a good effect hitting sixes with extreme ease.
And finally the numero uno, the number 1 choice is:
1. Sachin Tendulkar: 34 one day hundreds, 31 test hundreds. Over 12000 one day runs, and over 8800 test runs. And he is still 29 years of age. Those who doubt his match winning abilities, should notice that he has won more man of the match awards than anyone else in one day matches. I for one strongly believe that his best years, especially in test cricket are ahead of him. Statistics show why he is the best batsman of the world. In order to find out why I regard him as the best cricketer ever please read my review on Sachin Tendulkar. May God Bless this extremely committed and talented cricketer.
Comments would be appreciated.
Piece.
Prince