TOPIC:

Thought I would start thread concentrated on the game's greats comparred. How would you rate the first two below:

DI Gower
M Vaughen

Vaughen was more orthodox than Gower.Straight elbow most runs scored fwd of the wicket.Very rairly hit the ball in the air.Similar to the Indian batsman.Could bat for long periods.
Gower a lot more unorthodox batsman.Use to shuffle around the crease. Loved to cut.pull +hook.Scoring runs behind the wicket.Gower also liked to hit the ball in the air fwd of the wicket.Can remember Gower playing some great innings against fast bowling attacks.Including Clive Lloyd's West Indians.Gower was famous for brain fades -soft dismissals.

David Gower- a classical left handed top order batsman, made batting look easy at times

Michael Vaughan- turned himself into a fine opening bat who saved his best for the all conquering Aussies at the time.

Vaughan for me

is a Yorkshireman
a brillant cover drive
played against stronger Ashes opposition
a successful captain

Gower wasted his ability, even in 1982, where he batted pretty well, I can't help but re-call the player of lesser ability made equally important scores for th MCC -- Fowler, Tavare, Hemmings.

How about

Allan Border
Clive llyodd

CL+AB a really tough one.Clive captained probably the greatest team in cricket history.And Allan captained probably the weakest Australian cricket side.
From memory Clive Lloyd didn't use his feet that we'll against spin bowlers. Think he had a horrible time in India+Pakistan.Loved the mediums +quicks.Like all windie players of that era.Had brute strength +great timing+wonderful eye.And excellent shot selection and would wait for the hittable ball.Like to play square of the wicket,from memory.
How many times did AB save Australia. With long patient innings in losing teams.Pretty sure he had good feet against spin.Like to hit the ball in the air if he had the chance.Straight,midoff,mid-on.Windies use to allways set the bat pad Gus Logie+Fine leg to AB.But rairly got him out in thoes positions.

Allan Border- loved AB as a young fella, Captain Grumpy as tough as teak was no stylist with the bat but didn’t give up his wicket easily, a good cutter, puller off the back foot but also a strong square drive as well, he virtually single handedly carried the Aust batting line up in the mid 80s.

Clive Lloyd- the big cat could flay attacks with some fearsome striking of the ball but as GTR made comment he was susceptible to good spin bowling, Skipper of that fearsome WI side of the late 70s-80s.

Considering Border had to bat against the bowling attack Lloyd skippered....and Border scored runs v that great WI attack of Lloyds, Border for me....though the Big Cat was great to watch.....but usually by the time he batted the likes of Greenidge and Richards had well n truly soften up the red ball and the bowling attack too.

Gower for me over Vaughan purely for aesthetic reasons....yep Vaughan was fantastic in Oz v that great Oz attack....Gower just made batting look so easy and effortless....a true indication of natural batting talent....

How about Viv Richards v Sachin Tendulkar.....

Freezin wrote: Considering Border had to bat against the bowling attack Lloyd skippered....and Border scored runs v that great WI attack of Lloyds, Border for me....though the Big Cat was great to watch.....but usually by the time he batted the likes of Greenidge and Richards had well n truly soften up the red ball and the bowling attack too.

Gower for me over Vaughan purely for aesthetic reasons....yep Vaughan was fantastic in Oz v that great Oz attack....Gower just made batting look so easy and effortless....a true indication of natural batting talent....

How about Viv Richards v Sachin Tendulkar.....

Bloody hell freezin, You sure ask the tough questions. At a pinch I reckon Viv just because of his imperious manner and the way he dismissed bowlers. Tendulkar was much more polite in the way he dismantled an attack. I agree with you on Border and Gower.

mikeh wrote:

Freezin wrote: Considering Border had to bat against the bowling attack Lloyd skippered....and Border scored runs v that great WI attack of Lloyds, Border for me....though the Big Cat was great to watch.....but usually by the time he batted the likes of Greenidge and Richards had well n truly soften up the red ball and the bowling attack too.

Gower for me over Vaughan purely for aesthetic reasons....yep Vaughan was fantastic in Oz v that great Oz attack....Gower just made batting look so easy and effortless....a true indication of natural batting talent....

How about Viv Richards v Sachin Tendulkar.....

Agree too on Border and Gower.

Mike your analysis on Viv spot on also, although I do wonder how he (and the likes of Tendulkar and Lara) would have gone if they had to have faced that West Indies express attack. Would Viv had have been so dismissive against a relentless pace attack including Roberts, Holding, Garner, Croft, Marshall, Walsh, Ambrose et al. Seriously this production line continued for years, I get Richards faced Lillee and Thomson at their peak with pace but they did have injuries and not the same flow of bowlers behind them.
One of the things that made Border so great, he faced the best and fastest with the next best and fastest backing them up.