CMS Test XI of last 50 Years- Openers.

[sussexpob]

Hayden seems an easy pick for me. Some people say he was a flat track bully, and its true that his record was always better at home, but his finest hour came at a time in 2001 when Australia most needed him in a high profile series that they were challenged in. Hayden smashes a double in the decider, spanked a 100 in the first innings with aggression in the first innings of the series to get India on the backfoot, and scored I think 99 in the 2nd test. Top quality batting in challenging turning conditions for Australia, saving his best innings at the most important stage. He was more fallible then other batsman at the crease, but also destructive.

Sehwag was the other I picked. Gavasker retired when I was a kid so I have no reference (other than his record against a famously brilliant 4 man Windies attack.... which is bradmanesque!!)... put simply, there was no greater match turning opener than him. Gilchrist did it at 7, Sehwag against a new ball.

[sussexpob]

He's never mentioned being lucky on commentary.

Probably because everyone knows if England could catch, his record would look comparable to Mark Ramprakash.....

A stylish, classy, gritty, aggressive batsman..... but only after you put him down 4 times before he reaches 17

[Gingerfinch]

Gavasker's record is a bit mis-leading when it comes to facing the west indies as an opener. He did score a double in the early 1980's against Marshall, Roberts etc but that was batting at five/six.

[sussexpob]

Gavasker's record is a bit mis-leading when it comes to facing the west indies as an opener. He did score a double in the early 1980's against Marshall, Roberts etc but that was batting at five/six.

Didnt know that. Probably similar to Langer in the opposite. I think Langer's record at 3 was much worse, so as an opener he averages 50 or just under over a lot of tests.

[Gingerfinch]

Gavasker's record is a bit mis-leading when it comes to facing the west indies as an opener. He did score a double in the early 1980's against Marshall, Roberts etc but that was batting at five/six.

Didnt know that. Probably similar to Langer in the opposite. I think Langer's record at 3 was much worse, so as an opener he averages 50 or just under over a lot of tests.

I don't think the West Indies attack was as that great (still decent) when Gavasker scored all those runs in his debut (I think) series.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I was going to do three, then four and five together. Then six as a choice between spare batters and all rounders.

I've looked ahead to 3,4&5. I said there might not be anymore England players qualifying, but Gower, Trott and Thorpe should just get on the starting grid.

[Gingerfinch]

KP?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Haydos is probably best known for his batting in that series in India isn't he? His reputation seems to be going through a lull (I don't think he was too popular among opposing fans) but he was a fearsome opponent. But maybe not as much as Viru. And Sunny was the best of the traditional openers. Gavaskar used to open the bowling for India as well!

[Arthur Crabtree]

KP?

He just misses out by about one place. Downton and Flower's fault.

[Arthur Crabtree]

He's never mentioned being lucky on commentary.

Probably because everyone knows if England could catch, his record would look comparable to Mark Ramprakash.....

No Ramps though.

[Arthur Crabtree]

According to statsguru, Gavaskar only didn't open against WI once (batted at four). He did play a series against the Packered team, but that included Marshall and Clarke. He got thirteen tons against the WI, including seven in the Caribbean where he averaged seventy. Fair to say he played some of those before they were great, in the early seventies, but they were still good back then.

[Gingerfinch]

He must have got that 236 batting at four.

[sussexpob]

He must have got that 236 batting at four.

He did

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63355.html

[Arthur Crabtree]

In the few scorecards I've looked at of him v WI, he seemed to have to contend with his colleagues not making too many.

[Gingerfinch]

Cheers, sussex.