CMS Test XI of last 50 Years- Openers.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The Indians still holding on.

Should have a strong candidate at three and four as well.

Please add your votes, if not cast so far.

[Aidan11]

Greenidge and Haynes were excellent together.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, they, and Langer and Hayden stand out as combos.

Taylor and Slater?

Smith and Gibbs?

[Dr Cricket]

Voted for G Smith, Gavaskar.
Not really a fan of Sehwag.
He a player of great innings rather than a great opener.

[sussexpob]

Voted for G Smith, Gavaskar.
Not really a fan of Sehwag.
He a player of great innings rather than a great opener.

Smith was a great player at certain times..... more often than not against England when they dropped him multiple times, or when Umpire Hair was deciding not to give him out, or more often than not when confronted with a very poor team to bash around for fun.

Never scored a hundred against Murali.... never scored a hundred against India (probably the second best team consistently through his career) both in enough games to give a good indication.... never scored consistently well or had a good record against Australia

Brilliant record against Bangladesh...... stunning record against Zimbabwe.... brilliant record against the Windies, especially in 2004 when he smashed hundred after hundred against an attack of Pedro Collins, Ryan Hinds, Daren Powell and Dwayne Bravo.... although in some tests I believe Chris Gayle led the Windies attack and bowled the most overs.

Days legends are made they are..... pitches which were made for draw cricket, bowlers mostly with averages between 50 and 70 or part timers brought in to stop the bleeding in desperation......

Must remember to watch the videos again... stirring stuff that

[sussexpob]

In fact, Id probably estimate that Hayden's third test hundred in India 2001 was worth as much in character and guts as 20 of Smith's career ones

[Dr Cricket]

I be honest Apart from Gavakar I don't actually rate any of the openers in that list.
Would have voted for Sehwag if he made more effort overseas/outside Asia.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Voted for G Smith, Gavaskar.
Not really a fan of Sehwag.
He a player of great innings rather than a great opener.

That's the attraction of Sehwag. On his day, he could destroy the game. You have the team's dad coming in at three usually anyway, so if he doesn't come off, a normal game will then commence.

Fair point about his away record. Few players don't have gaps in their records somewhere. Mainly SRT and Bradman.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I be honest Apart from Gavakar I don't actually rate any of the openers in that list.
Would have voted for Sehwag if he made more effort overseas/outside Asia.

Who do you rate? This list looks pretty exhaustive to me. Jayasuriya? Gambhir? Strauss?

There are openers who arguably might be on this list at the expense of a few of these,but I don't think they'd pick up votes as the best of the last fifty years.

[Arthur Crabtree]

In fact, Id probably estimate that Hayden's third test hundred in India 2001 was worth as much in character and guts as 20 of Smith's career ones

My link takes off Zimbabwe and BD, and Smith still averages 47.4. Haydos' average drops a lot with those teams taken off. Not that I don't think he was very good.

[Making_Splinters]

Well, I suspect it won't be any suprise who I went for.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cheers Splinters. Did you have a second vote?

[Dr Cricket]

I be honest Apart from Gavakar I don't actually rate any of the openers in that list.
Would have voted for Sehwag if he made more effort overseas/outside Asia.

Who do you rate? This list looks pretty exhaustive to me. Jayasuriya? Gambhir? Strauss?

There are openers who arguably might be on this list at the expense of a few of these,but I don't think they'd pick up votes as the best of the last fifty years.

TBH I never actually gave it much thought.
A lot of the openers I have seen have a major flaw, which isn't a surprise Opening is the hardest job in the world.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Someone's got to do it though.

[Dr Cricket]

Someone's got to do it though.

Voted for Cook afterwards lol, but actually did want a Sehwag type opener but just couldn't do it in the end.
Sehwag the best sehwag type opener though.
I just don't like Sehwag because of his Away performances I actually think his laziness cost him runs overseas he was so talented that he could have scored more if he wanted too.