Who is the 2nd best Australian batsman of alltime?

[aussie_ben91]

Who is the 2nd best Australian batsman of alltime?

 

[King Cricket]

I have very little knowledge about Australian cricket. And I can only compare the players I have seen playing. If I take it that way, it's Ricky Ponting. Another player I really love is Victor Trumper. I remember reading his biography somewhere. Amazing cricketer! I don't know whether it's true, but in the book it was written that Trumper was so kind-hearted that when he got settled in the crease, instead of playing big shots or carrying on with his innings he used to spot the unluckiest fielder/bowler in the ground, and he used to give his wicket away immediately to that unluckiest bowler/fielder of the day. Another funny incident about Trumper, once a 12 year old boy went to Trumper and asked him to sign his bat. He also requested Trumper to play the upcoming match against England with that bat. Trumper agreed. The bat was quite heavy, in fact it was really heavy. It was almost half of Trumper's weight. When Victor reached the ground with that bat his teammates got a real shock. One of them asked, "Trumper, is that a bat or a real willow tree? My goodness, how will you play with this bat!!" Trumper first narrated him the whole story and then said , "What to do? If I don't play with this bat the kid will get disheartened" Eventually Trumper entered the stadium and really played with that heavy bat. That day he was not out on 92.

Although I don't know whether these stories are true or not.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Gay.

Matthew Hayden got the pink colour on the poll.

 

[mrtwisties]

King Cricket, how is it that you write Ricky Ponting, and then vote for Matthew Hayden?

 

[King Cricket]

King Cricket, how is it that you write Ricky Ponting, and then vote for Matthew Hayden?

I actually wanted to vote for Victor Trumper. But I pressed the vote button too early when the option was in Matty Haydos. It was a bad mistake. I'll be glad if some mod cancels my vote and allows me to vote again.

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

Steve Waugh for me. I remember some truly great innings from this man. Quality stuff and was a treat to watch.

Matthew Hayden comes a close second and maybe Ricky Ponting too along with Hayden.

LOL at Ben for including Hughes in the poll!

 

[King Cricket]

Steve Waugh for me. I remember some truly great innings from this man. Quality stuff and was a treat to watch.

Matthew Hayden comes a close second and maybe Ricky Ponting too along with Hayden.

LOL at Ben for including Hughes in the poll!

Ben has actually put all the Aussie batsmen who have played test cricket in the poll. This is the biggest poll I've ever seen.

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

Ben has actually put all the Aussie batsmen who have played test cricket in the poll. This is the biggest poll I've ever seen.

Have only ~25 batsmen ever played test cricket for Australia?

 

[King Cricket]

Have only ~25 batsmen ever played test cricket for Australia?

Just a general calculation. And dear me, have you counted all those names!

 

[aussie_ben91]

There is actually 30. I crossed out Michael Clarke's name at the end and I had to think of someone else to put in there so I put in Phillip Hughes but I wish I still had Clarke in there.

 

[mattfb]

Ponsford, Trumper, Waugh, Ponting, Hayden and Border. I find it hard to split them, but it's out of them for mine.

Ponsfords record is amazing, scoring 7 tons and 6 half tons in 29 matches. To average 48 in Test cricket around the time of the mid 1920's is great. He was one of the first Australian batsmen to finish with an average of over 40 (I have the inside cricket special with all 400 Australian players.) He also averages 65 after 162 first class matches, scoring 47 tons and 43 half tons. That's a fantastic conversion rate.

Victor Trumper is known as one of Australia's most dominant batsmen, who averaged an amazing 39 in Test Cricket playing in the early 1900's which is superb. He also scored over 16000 first class runs with 42 tons. He is known for his aggressive attitude and dominating attacks. He changed the way players batted.

Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting have been very successful captains, and Ricky Ponting is one of the best batsmen of the modern era, but we can't forget that Steve Waugh took an under performing Australian team, from getting hammered by the West Indian bowlers to being world champions. Whilst doing it, he scored over 10000 runs and averaged over 50. Matty Hayden has been extremely dominating, and has torn attacks apart with brute force, but I wouldn't rank him as high as some of the others I have listed.

Border even had a harder job then Waugh, in the prime of the West Indian fast bowling attack, yet he still scored over 110000 runs which is unbelievable. I am probably leaning to Ponsford or Border here, but I think I'll go with Ponsford, as he was very skillful and managed to be involved in some huge partnerships.

 

[Chetan0304]

I m confused what one option i see is MATHEW HAYDEN, reason? all thanks to comparing threads X vs.Y and Ben Brings Hayden into it as "Z"

 

[mattfb]

I m confused what one option i see is MATHEW HAYDEN, reason? all thanks to comparing threads X vs.Y and Ben Brings Hayden into it as "Z"

What are you saying? You don't think Hayden can be considered as Australia's 2nd best batsmen of all time?

 

[surendar]

Do you mean, test or OD or just cricket? I wonder how Bevan was missed? A perfect example of match winner.. Even we remember calling Yuvraj (during his initial period) as Bevan of India and Hussey ( long time back even before we called, Mr.Cricket) as next Bevan for Aus. With such a huge reputation, I am clueless why you have eliminated Bevan. But oh well, if you again choose centuries and avg statistics as criteria, you can't have Bevan.

You know, people who win Ms.Universe and Ms.World( like calling Mr.A as best in cricket) are not selected based only because they are beautiful ( like the criteria of Hundreds you have here in cricket) but also selected based on many other criterias ( like dynamic factor I prefer ).


Anyways, I have gone with Steve Waugh. Genuine person on/off the field. Excellent cricket. 110% talented. Saved many matches with tail enders. Played heroic roles in many matches with tail enders. One of the toughest batsman i have seen to get out. " As long as Stevie is on crease, Aussies are almost assured of victory ", existed during his period. Apart from that, gem of a person in character though his winning streaks continued.

I will call him the BEST of Australian cricketers I have watched playing. I don't go by stats or average or number of hundreds.. I only believe what I have seen. Hence Stevie is my option.

 

[mattfb]

It's test cricket, hence Victor Trumper and Bill Ponsford being in the poll for example.