Greatest ODI batsman ever.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/537629.html

According to some number crunching by Cricinfo's statto's, Viv 'The Master Blaster' Richards is, by far, the greatest ODI batsman of all time, having a record that was 2.19 times better than the average record of a top 7 batsman during the period in which he played.
Even if he had played in the current era and hadn't improved on his record (which I reckon he would have done), he'd still have been the 2nd best ever, which shows how ahead of his time he truly was.
All hail the greatest ever!!!!

Him and Sachin stand out.

If you are talking about middle order,Dhoni isnt far behind.

Dhoni and Bevan have slightly different roles to Viv and Sachin who both had the time to build an innings almost from the start and in Sachin's case nearly always from the start.

Dhoni and Bevan are probably the two best finishers that there has been.

Stella wrote:Dhoni and Bevan have slightly different roles to Viv and Sachin who both had the time to build an innings almost from the start and in Sachin's case nearly always from the start.

Dhoni and Bevan are probably the two best finishers that there has been.

And Hussey
I think Dhoni is the best of the lot.More destructive than Bevan.

Hussey to a lesser extent.

Eion Morgan as well although again to a lesser extent.

Stella wrote:Hussey to a lesser extent.

Eion Morgan as well although again to a lesser extent.

Still a long way to go for Eoin.Maybe another year and a half.

Tendulkar.... by a mile.

Most runs (5K more than next best)
Highest score
Most runs in a calendar year
Most hundreds (18 more than next best)
Most fifties
Most fours

Of course, Tendulkar has played the most matches. His greatness lies in maintaining his high standard for so long and over four hundred matches.

You see purely statistical analysis of the type done in this article is meaningless as:
1) it ranks all matches the same (doesn't it? If it doesn't I apologise). So 140 in a dead heat against Bangladesh is worth more than 120 in a WC final.
2) It relies on considering some data above others. Or considering all data equally which is just as bad.

I would say:
top order: Richards, Tendulkar, Ponting.
Middle-order: Bevan, Dhoni, Hussey.

Have to agree with Leff.

There have been some cracking suggestions but Sachin Tendulkar is the real stand out, in terms of weight of runs, centuries, longevity and just all round ability.

Fists of Fury wrote:Have to agree with Leff.

There have been some cracking suggestions but Sachin Tendulkar is the real stand out, in terms of weight of runs, centuries, longevity and just all round ability.

Often went missing on the biggest stage though...

*lights torchpaper and walks away.

Sachin by a country mile

Then:
Mike Hussey
Ricky Ponting
Chris Gayle
AB de Villiers

Gregers wrote:Sachin by a country mile

Then:
Mike Hussey
Ricky Ponting
Chris Gayle
AB de Villiers

is that ever?

Just off the top of my head and probably just in the past 5 years.

However Sachin would be top of my list for all time on any batting list

Agree with all the names being mentioned so far, but shcoked at the emission of Adam Gilchrist. One of the most destructive players of all time, and certainly an all time great ODI keeper/batsman and probably an ATG batsman in his own right, especially in ODI's.

IMO, Gilchrist would be among the top ten ODI batsmen, even without his keeping contribution.

Just looked at Gilly's ODI stats, and he only averages 35 at a s/r of 96 and someone (was it you Leff?) posted the stats of England's current ODI batsman on another thread and Kieswetter averaged 29 at 94, so it is now a scientific fact, that he is only 6 runs worse than Gilly per innings.

But I am a little surprised at Gilchrist's average, thought it would be much higher.

JDizzle wrote:Just looked at Gilly's ODI stats, and he only averages 35 at a s/r of 96 and someone (was it you Leff?) posted the stats of England's current ODI batsman on another thread and Kieswetter averaged 29 at 94, so it is now a scientific fact, that he is only 6 runs worse than Gilly per innings.

But I am a little surprised at Gilchrist's average, thought it would be much higher.

Which goes to show stats... Gilly played 3 WC finals: first one he smashed 50, second one he smashed 50 (and IMO had India beaten before Ponting came into bat), 3rd one, well we know what happened.

Don't forget for late 90s and early 00s 30+ in ODIs and 40+ in tests were considered the bench-mark (now I would hazard it is 10 runs higher).

My top 5

Viv Richards
Michael Bevan
Michael Hussey
Sachin Tendulkar
MS Dhoni

GG wrote:My top 5

Viv Richards
Michael Bevan
Michael Hussey
Sachin Tendulkar
MS Dhoni

My top 5 would be the same players, though with Sachin pushed up to #1

Richards undoubtedly

JD, Gilchrist's ODI avg is 7.2 runs more than that of Kieswetter's and strike rate is 3 runs greater. In ODIs, a difference in batting avg of 7 runs is a significant difference. It's too early to say whether Kieswetter will last as long as Gilchrist did. Furthermore, as Selig stated, Gilly made several match-winning contributions during his long career.

I was being a little tongue in cheek when I suggested that Kieswetter was only 6 runs worse than Gilchrist, but it does show that Craig isn't doing as badly in his England career as we would be led to believe.

My top 5

Sachin Tendulkar
M.S.Dhoni
Viv Richards
Michael Bevan
Michael Hussey

Dhoni would defintely be up there

Dean Jones as well.

Brian Lara's record is pretty good but he won't go down as one of the greats.

Stella wrote:Dean Jones as well.

Brian Lara's record is pretty good but he won't go down as one of the greats.

Lara would definitely go down as an ODI great as well but he might not make it to an All Time World XI though.

My Top 5

Viv
Sachin
Dhoni
Hussey
Ponting

For me it has to be Sachin Tendulkar.
Most runs, hundreds,4s, matches....... pretty good strike rate, and there always has been that pressure.
Then it has to be Viv.
Dhoni, Jayasuriya, Ponting, Hussey, Bevan, Gayle, Gilchrist, Ganguly........

My top five openers:

Tendulkar
Gilchrist
Jayasuria
Anwar
M Waugh

Middle Order/Finishers

V Richards
Ponting
Bevan
Dhoni
D Jones

Sourav Ganguly has to be there among the greatest ODI openers alongside someone like Chris Gayle. Even Big Mat Hayden has to be there, possibly ahead of Mark Waugh

msp83 wrote:Sourav Ganguly has to be there among the greatest ODI openers alongside someone like Chris Gayle. Even Big Mat Hayden has to be there, possibly ahead of Mark Waugh

I did forget about Ganguly and Gayle.

Who for?

Possibly Waugh. Jayasuria? He done a great job for Sr-Lanka.

Think Sanath has to be in there. I'd have Anwar(good player he was) replaced for someone like Gayle.

Missed Greenidge and Haynes as well.

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:Dean Jones as well.

Brian Lara's record is pretty good but he won't go down as one of the greats.

Lara would definitely go down as an ODI great as well but he might not make it to an All Time World XI though.

True.

On a side note, yesterday's London Evening Standard had an interview with Murali. He rated Lara as the best player he bowled to.

Kiwireddevil wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:Dean Jones as well.

Brian Lara's record is pretty good but he won't go down as one of the greats.

Lara would definitely go down as an ODI great as well but he might not make it to an All Time World XI though.

True.

On a side note, yesterday's London Evening Standard had an interview with Murali. He rated Lara as the best player he bowled to.

Yeah against spin,Lara was probably the best ever.I have seen him make Murali look like a club bowler in that 2001 series so no surprises that Murali rates him so highly.

Kiwireddevil wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:Dean Jones as well.

Brian Lara's record is pretty good but he won't go down as one of the greats.

Lara would definitely go down as an ODI great as well but he might not make it to an All Time World XI though.

True.

On a side note, yesterday's London Evening Standard had an interview with Murali. He rated Lara as the best player he bowled to.

Lara is the best test batsmen of his era IMO but he didn't always re-produce his heroics in the 50 over format.

Stella wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:Dean Jones as well.

Brian Lara's record is pretty good but he won't go down as one of the greats.

Lara would definitely go down as an ODI great as well but he might not make it to an All Time World XI though.

True.

On a side note, yesterday's London Evening Standard had an interview with Murali. He rated Lara as the best player he bowled to.

Lara is the best test batsmen of his era IMO but he didn't always re-produce his heroics in the 50 over format.

Quite clearly Sachin>Lara even in Tests.

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:Dean Jones as well.

Brian Lara's record is pretty good but he won't go down as one of the greats.

Lara would definitely go down as an ODI great as well but he might not make it to an All Time World XI though.

True.

On a side note, yesterday's London Evening Standard had an interview with Murali. He rated Lara as the best player he bowled to.

Lara is the best test batsmen of his era IMO but he didn't always re-produce his heroics in the 50 over format.

Quite clearly Sachin>Lara even in Tests.

Not according to Murali and many experts.

Stella wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:Dean Jones as well.

Brian Lara's record is pretty good but he won't go down as one of the greats.

Lara would definitely go down as an ODI great as well but he might not make it to an All Time World XI though.

True.

On a side note, yesterday's London Evening Standard had an interview with Murali. He rated Lara as the best player he bowled to.

Lara is the best test batsmen of his era IMO but he didn't always re-produce his heroics in the 50 over format.

Quite clearly Sachin>Lara even in Tests.

Not according to Murali and many experts.

Against spin,Lara was better.

Sachin has got more runs,more centuries,better average than Lara.Also Better AWAY record than Lara.

shanks
I once saw you write that you never saw Lara at his best.
If so, how can you say 'quite clearly'?

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Sachin has got more runs,more centuries,better average than Lara.Also Better AWAY record than Lara.

Please see above.

Stella wrote:shanks
I once saw you write that you never saw Lara at his best.
If so, how can you say 'quite clearly'?

Look at their records
Sachin is ahead in almost each and every department.Sachin more consistent than Lara.Lara was perhaps better at his peak.But overall for his superior record in almost each and every department,his longevity,his consistency,I would have to take him over Lara.

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:shanks
I once saw you write that you never saw Lara at his best.
If so, how can you say 'quite clearly'?

Look at their records
Sachin is ahead in almost each and every department.Sachin more consistent than Lara.Lara was perhaps better at his peak.But overall for his superior record in almost each and every department,his longevity,his consistency,I would have to take him over Lara.

Fine but it isn't clear.

Stella wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

Stella wrote:shanks
I once saw you write that you never saw Lara at his best.
If so, how can you say 'quite clearly'?

Look at their records
Sachin is ahead in almost each and every department.Sachin more consistent than Lara.Lara was perhaps better at his peak.But overall for his superior record in almost each and every department,his longevity,his consistency,I would have to take him over Lara.

Fine but it isn't clear.

Maybe I exaggerated a little.

Dhoni, Bevan and Yuvi. In the mentioned order.

In ODIs, Sachin's record is clearly better than Lara's.

Tendulkar - 18K runs, avg 45, centuries 48, scoring rate 86
Lara - 10K runs, avg 40, centuries 19, scoring rate 79

Leff wrote:In ODIs, Sachin's record is clearly better than Lara's.

Tendulkar - 18K runs, avg 45, centuries 48, scoring rate 86
Lara - 10K runs, avg 40, centuries 19, scoring rate 79

Yes, as far as ODI's go, Tendulkar is well ahead.

Stella
mate,i would like to know why you rate Lara higher in Tests.