SA Footy

Sure, I'm not old. I'm not young. Well, I'm more younger than older. Maybe?

But I'll put money on the fact that Ricky Ponting is the best batsman I'll ever see. In my eyes, of course - open to interpretation. Brian Lara is second for mine.

Totally agree. Ponting is one of those real special players, always makes runs, against everyone, everywhere. He is also one of the best batsmen to watch, and has the best pull shot in the game.

Lara is second best in my opinion, seeing him break the record last year, and watching him bat in the nets for about 10 minutes sitting 1m behind the stumps was very special indeed, something I'll never forget. After he finished batting, he took his gloves off and gave them to a kid in the crowd, which was good to see.

Special mentions also go to Dravid, S Waugh, Tendulkar and Kallis. Exceptionally good players.

I'd probably say Lara is the best for mine, but Ponting comes a very close second. Love watching both of them bat. Dravid would come in third. All top class batsmen.

SCOTT ..re dravid 3rd best

Cant be mentioned as 3rd best, makes runs in
the sub continent, even Gillespie makes runs there.

Not sure if this was meant to be about current players but Richards leaves all those blokes for dead. Bowling attacks are shite these days..Punter got sconned by one of the Banga's medium pacers the other day FFS, wasn't even watching the ball. Viv batted throughout his career sans lid and faced Lillee and Thomson amongst others. For anyone who is about to say 'sure but he didn't have to face the West Indians', well, neither do todays stars and how do you think Viv got selected for the Windies for the first place? He had to face up to plenty of chin music in the Red Stripe.

Viv Richards. The greatest batsman I have seen so far.

regards,

REB

Rik E Boy wrote:Not sure if this was meant to be about current players but Richards leaves all those blokes for dead. Bowling attacks are shite these days..Punter got sconned by one of the Banga's medium pacers the other day FFS, wasn't even watching the ball. Viv batted throughout his career sans lid and faced Lillee and Thomson amongst others. For anyone who is about to say 'sure but he didn't have to face the West Indians', well, neither do todays stars and how do you think Viv got selected for the Windies for the first place? He had to face up to plenty of chin music in the Red Stripe.

Viv Richards. The greatest batsman I have seen so far.

regards,

REB

I hear what you're saying REB. I agree, IVA was great! I didn't see him at an age where I could appreciate him I don't think. My point though is that when Punter retires, I beleive he'll be the best batsman I'll ever see.

Sorry mate, I thought you might have been Tassie's vintage

regards,

REB

Rik E Boy wrote:Sorry mate, I thought you might have been Tassie's vintage

regards,

REB

Haha - No.
My Dad would have different comments to me too, he's 58 and seen a lot more!

REB - Viv Richards superb, fearless and brilliant to watch.
2 = Brian Lara

Lara's an interesting case Kiwi. He is the type of batsman you want to see score runs because of his exciting batsmanship but I find it hard to rate him up there with the best I have seen in the game because he has disappointed me on many occasions on Australian soil. Yes, he's had some gems in Oz but when the Windies have really needed him most, he has often gone missing. A bit harsh maybe as Lara hasn't had the same level of talent around him as Viv but I just don't rate Lara up there with the best I have seen of all time as I reckon he cashes in on mediocre attacks and is more of a flat track bully.

Having said that though, it could be a case of REB bad call #1,300,456!!

regards,

REB

Ponting is a great batsman, no doubt.

But I've been lucky enough to See VIV RICHARDS and GREG CHAPPELL.

Hey REB, what about LARA's series against Australia - Steve Waugh's first as captain?

Pretty much played a lone hand with the bat and almost did the impossible to win back the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy.

Best batsman I've seen is the South African Barry Richards. The others don't some close to him IMHO. What a cricketing tragedy that he wasn't able to play more than 4 Test Matches.

Ponting is a great batsman but it must be considered that the standard of bowling around the World is quite poor in comparison with the 1970s and 1980s. Greg Chappell continually made runs against some of the greatest bowlers in the game's history, including the 4 man pace attack of the West Indies. Every country had a quality pace attack and Chappell made runs against them all. For that reason I still place him ahead of Ponting.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Best batsman I've seen is the South African Barry Richards. The others don't some close to him IMHO.

What about his fellow countryman?

Magpiespower wrote:Ponting is a great batsman, no doubt.

But I've been lucky enough to See VIV RICHARDS and GREG CHAPPELL.

Hey REB, what about LARA's series against Australia - Steve Waugh's first as captain?

Pretty much played a lone hand with the bat and almost did the impossible to win back the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy.

Yep, didn't actually see much of that series though.

regards

REB

Rik E Boy wrote:
Yep, didn't actually see much of that series though.

regards

REB

No, unfortunately.

And as a West Indies fan...

I wasn't happy!

Magpiespower wrote:

Rik E Boy wrote:
Yep, didn't actually see much of that series though.

regards

REB

No, unfortunately.

And as a West Indies fan...

I wasn't happy!

You can't be a bigger frontrunner to follow West Indies and Port Adelaide at the same time LOL. Thank farg both of em are finished for a while

regards,

REB

HEY! Port will be back at the top quicker than a Curtly Ambrose bouncer hitting the end of your nose!

Magpiespower wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Best batsman I've seen is the South African Barry Richards. The others don't some close to him IMHO.

What about his fellow countryman?

what Hansie?
LOL...ooops

Magpiespower wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Best batsman I've seen is the South African Barry Richards. The others don't some close to him IMHO.

What about his fellow countryman?

If you're talking about Graeme Pollock, he must have been a wonderful player but I only saw him bat once, he made 8, so it's a bit hard to rate him among the best I've seen.

Rik E Boy wrote:You can't be a bigger frontrunner to follow West Indies and Port Adelaide at the same time LOL. Thank farg both of em are finished for a while

regards,

REB

It was the '91 Carribbean tour that made me turn against the Aussies.

Might have to turn back soon.