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Great comments by Ooooolll and mikeh re Viv and Tendulkar....Viv for me too fellas....just on pure arrogance and out n out intimidation....love ya politeness comment about Tendulkar mikeh.....absolutely spot on....both fantastic batsmen....but as you say how would they have gone against wave after wave of that 1980s WI bowling attack....Border was really one of the few to score runs against them on a consistent basis....didn't he score back to back 150s in the same match v WI?.....Great stuff Ark.....no doubt a few more comparisons will come up

Viv Richards- without doubt the best batsman I have seen (and probably only 2nd all time to the incomparable Don Bradman).
He intimidated bowlers at the wicket, wearing his cap (no Helmet ever), chewing his gum, built like a brick shithouse (could get a game for SD now) he was the man growing up in the late 70s/80s.
I would walk over hot coals to watch I.V.A Richards bat and what a fieldsman to boot.

Sachin Tendulkar- no doubt India's greatest batsman (ahead of Sunil Gavaskar with Virat Kohli tho coming with a bullet) with beautiful wrist work and capable on all wickets but I actually rate Brian Lara above him from that era and Ricky Ponting at least equal to Tendulkar.

And not only did Viv have the swagger when he came out to bat, on top of his fielding there was also his bowling in ODI's.

Used to come on quite often as the 5th bowler in the one day games in Australia and FMD he would usually with end up with either 1/40 or 0/38 off his ten overs. Right arm flat mediums that our bats always struggled to get away.

Goodd posts lads
Border was a national hero -- two 150 scores in West Pakistan amongst many other feats
Llyodd a great captain whom made a big score in Perth in 1975

ooollllrrrrrry2 wrote: And not only did Viv have the swagger when he came out to bat, on top of his fielding there was also his bowling in ODI's.

Used to come on quite often as the 5th bowler in the one day games in Australia and FMD he would usually with end up with either 1/40 or 0/38 off his ten overs. Right arm flat mediums that our bats always struggled to get away.

Haha yeah you are not wrong Oooll you could just imagine the Aussie batsmen knowing they had 40 overs of Marshall, Garner, Holding, Roberts et al to get through were looking to feast off the other 10 from a non express machine and Viv and or Larry Gomes would somehow eek out an economical 10 between them with our bats usually pinning the ears back to have a dash only to fall victim to the two straight break/flat mediums!

Look at Sir Vivian on an Australian Tour.Would score on a swinging ,seaming Gabba.Come to the Waca and maul our bowlers on the bouncy track.Go to Adelaide on a slow wicket that plays tricks on day 4+5.Then would go to boxing day on a slow+low Mcg and concur that.Wouldnt fancy himself up in Sydney.And attack the spinners and get a 40 to 50.He could score everywhere on any wicket.
Sachin a teenage superstar.Beautiful hitter of the ball all over the place.Done as much as any other player to promote Cricket all over the world.

Let us not get too soft on IVA Richards, a great eye and player, but statistically GS Chappell out-batted him

1975-6
in world series cricket
both made a century each in 1980
and, as others have pointed out, Chappell played against the better bowlling attack
Viv had an exceptional record in England, but in Australia he failed from 1981-1985

just to set out a bit more on Sir Viv:

in 1981-2 he averagged 26.00
in 84-5 he made one double hundred but just 342 runs in the series -- his average is inflate by a'not out'
88-9 he made 100 against a fairly average Australian bowlling attack -- again his average is infalated by a 'not out'

just illustrate that we nee to take 'not outs into consideration, just look at Wessels' record in 84-5
He averaged 56.00 against a better bowlling attack, a fat which was not inflated by 'not outs'.

How about another comparison?
Kallis and Lara.