Bublu Bhuyan
School Cricketer
Any sensible fan would regard these two men as the 2 finest ODI batsmen to have ever laced up a pair of boots. After Viv finished his career, no one probably believed that there would be someday a player who could challenge him for the spot of the greatest ever ODI batsman. But one man came out of the blue and did exactly that - Sachin Tendulkar. To average 45.12 at a strike rate of 86.26 over 442 ODI matches is simple extraordinary. Comparing those figures to Viv's average of 47 and strike rate of 90 over 187 ODI matches, I feel inclined to pick Sachin due to the longevity factor. Sachin has maintained those figures after player a hell of a lot more matches than Viv.
But before that, there are certain factors that need to be issued -
1. Viv retired in 1991, while the 15 over fielding restrictions was implemented from 1992. Sachin started opening the innings on a very regular basis from about 1998. Sachin has enjoyed that rule for almost 12 years now, which Viv never did.
2. It's true that the bowling attack in the 90's used to be far better than the attack from 2000 onwards. Sachin made his name during the 90's itself. However, what's also true is that the bowling attack in the 70's and 80's when Viv played used to be even better than that of the 90's.
3. Viv enjoyed the liberty to play against the then minnows Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Sachin has got the liberty to play against more than just 1 minnow team (not including Zimbabwe, since it used to have a bowling attack far better than India until Sachin last played them in an ODI match). Let's look at their averages after removing the minnows -
Viv - 46.72
Sachin - 43.80
4. Viv used to play at a strike rate of 90, in an era where a strike rate in the 60's used to be the norm. Most of the good ODI players of that time like Miandad, Haynes, Greenidge, etc used to have a strike rate in the 60's. Most importantly, India's Kris Srikanth with a strike rate of 71 used to be considered an aggressive batsman. Imagine what a strike rate of 90 used to mean at that time.
Looking at the above factors, I feel inclined to rate Viv as the best ever ODI batsman, with Sachin running in a close second. To put it, "Richards the king, Tendulkar his heir".
But before that, there are certain factors that need to be issued -
1. Viv retired in 1991, while the 15 over fielding restrictions was implemented from 1992. Sachin started opening the innings on a very regular basis from about 1998. Sachin has enjoyed that rule for almost 12 years now, which Viv never did.
2. It's true that the bowling attack in the 90's used to be far better than the attack from 2000 onwards. Sachin made his name during the 90's itself. However, what's also true is that the bowling attack in the 70's and 80's when Viv played used to be even better than that of the 90's.
3. Viv enjoyed the liberty to play against the then minnows Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Sachin has got the liberty to play against more than just 1 minnow team (not including Zimbabwe, since it used to have a bowling attack far better than India until Sachin last played them in an ODI match). Let's look at their averages after removing the minnows -
Viv - 46.72
Sachin - 43.80
4. Viv used to play at a strike rate of 90, in an era where a strike rate in the 60's used to be the norm. Most of the good ODI players of that time like Miandad, Haynes, Greenidge, etc used to have a strike rate in the 60's. Most importantly, India's Kris Srikanth with a strike rate of 71 used to be considered an aggressive batsman. Imagine what a strike rate of 90 used to mean at that time.
Looking at the above factors, I feel inclined to rate Viv as the best ever ODI batsman, with Sachin running in a close second. To put it, "Richards the king, Tendulkar his heir".
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