subject: Top Five Batsmen in Cricket to Ever Play the Game [print this page] Top Five Batsmen in Cricket to Ever Play the Game
As a cricket buff, I know I am among the minority in the developed first world. Only a handful of western countries play the sport, and its largest following is limited to England, South Africa, Australia, and the Indian subcontinent (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh). Nevertheless, cricket remains one of the most popular sports in the world (in terms of sheer numbers).
Cricket can be incredibly hard to explain to a layman who has never played or seen it before. Basically, a 'batsman' holding a cricket bat is supposed to score as many runs he can by hitting a ball bowled by a 'bowler'. Think of it as a much, much more complicated version of baseball.
The batsmen and bowler are intrinsic to the game. In my opinion, the top five batsmen to ever play the game are:
1. Donald Bradman
A legend of a man with a batting average of 99.96, Bradman has a recording that will perhaps never be bettered. Bradman is easily one of the greatest sportsmen produced by Australia (and they have produced lots of them), and his legend has only continued to grow after his death.
2. Sachin Tendulkar
The man picked by Bradman to be his successor, the Indian batsman has a ferocious following in his home country and is considered by many to be the very embodiment of a God. Tendulkar is the highest scorer in both tests and ODIs, had the highest score in ODIs, and the most centuries in both formats of the game. When you consider the fact that Tendulkar has been playing non stop cricket for over 20 years and is still able to retain the hunger for runs, his achievement seems all the more phenomenal.
3. Viv Richards
One of the greatest batsmen produced by West Indies, Sir Viv Richards completely dominated any bowling attack he faced. A man who walked into the field with an unmatched swagger, refused to wear a helmet even in the face of 90 kmph bowls, Viv Richards was aggression personified - but only on the cricket field.
4. Brian Lara
Another West Indian great, Brian Lara's record stands second only to Sachin Tendulkar in the modern context. With a score of 400 not out in tests, over 10,000 runs, and an average of over 50, Lara single handedly guided his team to victory in match after match even as his team mates floundered.
5. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting remains the most complete Australian batsmen in the modern context of the game and has a record that has threatened to overshadow Tendulkar's. Ponting has the second highest number of test centuries, the second highest test runs, and an enviable record as captain. Truly, one of the greats of the modern game.
