The best batsmen of all time list is always subject to debate. However there have been certain batsmen that have made an undeniable mark on our collective memory. They have ruled the cricket ground every time they stepped in. They had something special which the others didn’t. For these batsmen, getting a hundred was only a matter of concentrating. These batsmen made batting look so simple. The following are those batsmen. The best batsmen of all time.
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Although many may argue that Don Bradman is the better batsman, Sachin is definitely the greatest based on people’s choice. Sachin played against some of the best bowlers in the world such Wasim Akram, Glen McGrath and Waqar Younis. He also played against great spinners such as Shane Warne and Muttaiah Muralidharan. Sachin has scored hundreds in both forms of the game – test cricket and one day cricket. He is a versatile cricketer having adapted well to the Twenty20 format too.
2. Sir Donald Bradman
Sir Don had an unconquerable average of 99.94. No other batsman has this average in tests. He played in an era where pitches were uncovered. There was uneven bounce and batting was difficult on these pitches. This is a far cry from the pitches of today. Contemporary pitches are made for free stroke making. Bradman scored a huge number of runs time and again on these pitches. Many may contend that during those times there were fewer teams and few good fast bowlers. Nevertheless, Bradman was able to pile runs with ease consistently. This aspect was definitely the mark of a great batsman.
3. Brian Lara
Lara was a classy batsman with a unique batting style. One of the problems with Lara was his consistency. But once he got his eye in, he went on to make huge scores. In modern cricket, the two batsmen that are compared are Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar. Many feel that Lara is a better batsman given his destructive batting style and the wins he gave for his team. On the other hand, Sachin has been lauded for his consistency.
4. Ricky Ponting
After Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting is probably the greatest batsman that Australia produced. He has to his credit more centuries in tests and one day internationals than any other Australian batsman. Ricky Ponting is known for his aggressive batting style. He never yields no matter what the situation is. He is also an accomplished test batsman having modified his aggressive game to the test format.
5. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid is one of the greatest test batsmen of our times. He is known of his impeccable technique. He can play any bowler on any pitch. He has the technique for all types of conditions. These aspects make him an easy fit into any test team in the world. Rahul Dravid is compared on par with Sachin Tendulkar overseas.
Conclusion
As more cricket is being played, more players will emerge. You can expect more great players in the making in the coming century.
